Albatros CV
With the recent release of Datafile #81 on the Albatros CV, this fairly rare aircraft gets a little (deserved) attention. Although a seemingly minor type, the CV served, in various capacities, from mid 1916 until mid 1918. The heart of the CV was its geared, 'straight 8' engine, the Mercedes DIV; basically an interim design, the DIV was essentially a Mercedes DIII with two more cylinders added, to provide the power requested by Idflieg, while development continued on the better known DIVa, the improved six cylinder engine, that would power the majority of bombers and two seaters in the last half of the war.
The Albatros CV was designed around the DIV engine, with the geared engine completely enclosed, and powering a spinnered prop of enormous proportions , 13' long with a cord of over 12". Although the Mercedes had a bad reputation as an interim bomber engine, it performed very well in single engine aircraft. The CV was a very large single engined plane for it's day, and as a result, was not very maneuverable, so it was quickly moved from general duties to reconnaissance, especially long range high altitude reconnaissance. In the recon role, the CV was a star, especially in its first year at the front, where it's speed, high rate of climb, and high ceiling made it invulnerable to interception, like the much later SR-71.
Although successful in it's role, the CV became slightly vulnerable by mid 1917 to improved Allied fighters, and was phased out of front line service, serving until mid 1918 in various school posts, by which time it's DIV engines were virtually extinct.
Two variants of the CV were made, the CV/16 with fuselage mounted 'ear' type radiators, and the CV/17, with an airfoil radiator in the upper wing.
The CV is the Sierra 1/48 Vac, the interior is mostly scratch, guns and seatbelts are from Toms Modelworks, the wheels are from Aeroclub, the prop is from Marty Digmayer, via Eric at CSM, the spinner is the 'spare' from a DV kit, reworked for the opposite pitch of the prop; extra PE parts from Tom Modelworks and Eduard Albatros sets were used, the wing radiator (which is only so-so) was made from railroad car siding (Evergreen). Cabane and landing struts are bent Strutz brass, interplane struts are Contrail strut, rigging is nylon thread. Decals are out of the spares box, the '4's' are from a 1/35 armor set, or cut from trim film.
