The Fokker D.XXI of LVA
This article is part of a series:
- My first post, the RNLAF (KLU) F-104G Starfighter
- Here’s another one. The F84G Thunderjet.
- A 3rd RNLAF fighter I want to show you.
- The RNLAF Northrop NF-5A Freedom Fighter
- The North American F-86K(aasjager) of the RNLAF (1956-1964)
- RNLAF Spitfire Mk. IX 1/48
- RNLAF Noorduyn AT-16 Harvard IIB
- The Fokker D.XXI of LVA
- The RNLAF F-86F Thunderstreak
- F-16A MLU RNLAF 322nd Squadron "Polly Grey" 60th anniversary 2003
- Brewster B-339 of ML-KNIL Ve Vliegtuiggroep 2e Afdeling (Tamiya 61094 1/48)
Hi all,
This is another kit I built last year. There are several things that could have been done better, but still I think it's a lovely little plane.
The kit is a Special Hobby 48181 and built OOB.
Hope you like it.
A bit of background info on the Fokker:
The Fokker D.XXI' (also known as the Fokker D.21) was a small Dutch fighter aircraft designed for intercepting enemy aircraft. It was developed by Fokker in the 1930s. The aircraft was initially produced for the ML-KNIL in the West-Indies, however on second thought they chose for American aircraft such as the Curtiss H75 A-7.
However, the D-21 for sure was operated by the LVA, the Aviation Department of the Dutch army, which put the first aircraft into service in 1938. LVA was the predecessor of the RNLAF. Hence the absence of the RNLAF roundels, but orange triangles as Air Force insignia.
Although it was considered an advanced fighter for its time, by the start of World War II, it was already obsolete. Despite this, the Fokker D.21 played a significant role in the early stages of the war.
During the German invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940, the LVA had a total of 44 Fokker D.21s, which were used to defend the country against the German Luftwaffe. The Fokker D.21s were flown by experienced Dutch pilots who were able to use the aircraft's maneuverability to their advantage, shooting down a number of German fighters in the early days of the war.
Sad to say, but the D.21s were no match for the far more advanced German fighters, and by the end of the battle, most of the D.21s had been destroyed or captured by the Germans. After the Dutch surrendered, the remaining Fokker D.21s were used by the Luftwaffe for training purposes.
What an amazing result, Alfred @alfred
I did build this same D.XXI and I loved the kit, not to much issues if I remember correctly. Looking at yours, I could have done so much better.
It is great to see that a D.XXI is recently restored in airworthy condition.
Beautiful result, Alfred! Great write-up too!
Well done!
A great result. I love D XXIs!
Very Unique! Very Nice!
An excellent result - I've always wanted to build a D.XXI and I hope mine can be as good as this.
The Finns did rather well with it too. Very nice model, and display.
Beautiful build, I have always liked this aircraft especially in Dutch markings, well done!
That Special Hobby release is actually the Classic Airframes kit, a notoriously "difficult kit" in whichever iteration it was released. Your achievement with this is thus even more than with any other model you have produced. This really looks excellent.
Really impressed with your build & photos with hangar setting.
Very nicely built and photographed, another one to be proud of.
I want to thank you all for your comments. Very much appreciated and your kind words give me even more motivation to carry on with this wonderful hobby of scale modelling and I'm happy to be part of this lovely community.
@johnb @fiveten @chasbunch @gwskat @christopher @billkoppos @robertandy @tcinla @tony-prince @chinesegeorge
G'day Alfred (@alfred),
This is a great build.
And I love three colour camo schemes.
Liked!
Thank you, Michael.
@michaelt
Very nice! Love the Dutch schemes. Looks great!
Great job on this build, you have made an excellent looking Fokker D.XII.
Thanks guys!
@gkittinger @v1pro
Brilliant Build Alfred @alfred, that is a really nicely done scheme, I really really like it.
Thanks Anthony. @anthonyricco