Dewoitine D.21 C1 – 1/16 – Scratch Build
1. The Turkish Nation donated about 300 aircraft to the Turkish Air Force between 1925 and 1935. The donor or the name of the province, county, village was written on the airplane. Dewoitine D.21 C1 donated by Akşehir Town was one of them.
2. In 1926 TuAF organized a competition for the procurement of new fighter planes. Three firms from France and two firms from Germany participated. They were namely as follows:
Nieuport Delage 42C & 62… (France)
SPAD 51, 56 & 61… (France)
Dewoitine D21C-1… (France)
Rohrbach Rofix… (Germany)
Junkers A35… (Germany)
Rofix and A35 were found insufficient and they were eliminated. The French planes which were composed of 2 of Nieuport Delage 42C, 3 of SPAD 61 and 2 of Dewoitine D21C-1 were bought for further evaluation at the operational units. In 1927 further 10 Dewoitines were purchased. The planes were deployed at the 10th Hunter Co., 41st Hunter Co., and 42nd Hunter Co.. They remained in active duty until 1936 then they were replaced by PZL P-24s.*
3. Unfortunately there’s not much information, high resolution photos or technical drawings of specifically Dewoitine D.21 C1. Due to this situation the first two weeks of the project passed by drawing a relativly reliable plan. The result of this period was a plan which is the starting point for this project which is based on some tiny three dimensional drawings, low resolution photos, RC aeroplane plans and material like this.
4. After that, I tried to decide the construction techniques and materials of each piece. I used high density insulation foam to reveal the overall body form. I made a simple foam cutter to process this material.** I prepared section templates to build the body form in pieces.
5. I used styrene sheets and rods for cockpit, Vickers machine guns, radiator and some other details. I will make the two bladed fixed pitch propeller by using balsa wood. The work is on. Keep in touch for updates…
Cheers, Çetin…
For more information about DewoitineD.21 C1’s in TuAF service check http://www.tayyareci.com/digerucaklar/turkiye/1923ve50/dewoitine-d21.asp
* http://www.tayyareci.com/bagisucak/aksehir.asp
** http://www.studyopera.com/workbench.htm
26 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Robert Royes said on April 26, 2020
An amazing project, interesting piece of aviation history.
Çetin SARF said on April 26, 2020
Thank you Robert… 🙏
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 26, 2020
That’s an amazing skill, Cetin. I am deeply impressed. Cannot wait to see it finished.
All the best!
Çetin SARF said on April 26, 2020
Thank you for your kind words Spiros. I also wander about the final… 😊🙏
Greg Kittinger said on April 27, 2020
What a project – love to see master scratch builders in action! And such a cool subject – first I’ve ever seen it.
Çetin SARF said on April 27, 2020
Thank you Greg, you’re so kind… 🙏
Çetin SARF said on May 15, 2020
Two bladed fixed pitch propeller carved from balsa wood. Colored with Vallejo sand yellow, pale sand, yellow ochre and oils. I made the propeller hub with styrene sheet and detailed by using Meng’s amazing nuts and bolts sets.
http://www.studyopera.com
9 attached images. Click to enlarge.
Dion Dunn said on May 17, 2020
Impressive work on a rare subject. I love to more obscure subjects!
Çetin SARF said on May 17, 2020
Thank you Dion.
Çetin SARF said on June 13, 2020
I finished the windshield. The rivet details still need to be added. I prepared a decal sheet for the cockpit indicators. I will start painting interior soon.
http://www.studyopera.com
5 attached images. Click to enlarge.
Çetin SARF said on July 30, 2020
Some little progress…
http://www.studyopera.com
4 attached images. Click to enlarge.
Allan J Withers said on July 31, 2020
Some nice work there Cetin !!
Çetin SARF said on July 31, 2020
Thank you Allan. =)
Çetin SARF said on August 3, 2020
A little dirt in the office…
http://www.studyopera.com
4 attached images. Click to enlarge.
Çetin SARF said on August 24, 2020
I fixed the harness to the seat and cockpit to the fuselage. Then I glued the lower part of the middle section of the fuselage in its place with silicone glue and covered the middle section of the fuselage with water-based putty.I prepared the place of the radiator in the front part of the fuselage.
http://www.studyopera.com
6 attached images. Click to enlarge.