Pfalz D.XII

Orders for the Pfalz D.XII were placed in the summer of 1918 as insurance against shortages of the hugely-popular Fokker D.VII. When it first arrived at the front, pilots viewed it as inferior, but in combat it was the D.VII's equal and faster in a dive. With ground crews it was less popular since it was at two-bay conventionally-rigged aeroplane requiring more fine-tuning than a D.VII.

Like the Pfalz D.III, the fuselage was formed of wrapped plywood, making it quite strong at the expense of extra weight. German tactics had been evolving into 1918, and flight speed and dive speed were given increasing attention, the latter at which the D.XII shined.

Just as the Fokker D.VII was much improved with the BMW IIIa engine, the Pfalz D.XII also saw marked improvement. The D.VII had captured the lion's share of attention, though, and most BMWs went toward Fokker D.VII use.

Card Links

 * Jasta 23B
 * Jasta 23B - Vogel
 * Jasta 35B - Kammerer
 * Jasta 43 - Raesch
 * Jasta 52
 * Jasta 77B

1:144 Scale

 * Shapeways: Decapod, Kampfflieger (early), Kampfflieger (late), wow
 * Metal kit:

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

 * Shapeways: Decapod

1:350 Scale

 * Shapeways: Decapod, wow