BY BILL ENGAR

DER DREIDECKER:  ATLANTIS #A103 -- 1/48 FOKKER DR.1 "DEATH ANGEL"  MODEL KIT -- 33 PARTS MOLDED IN BLACK POLYSTYRENE PLASTIC -- PAINT AND GLUE (SOLD SEPARATELY) REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY -- RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 14 AND ABOVE -- LENGTH 4.75" -- WINGSPAN 5.9" -- COLLECTOR CARD INCLUDED -- MSRP ONLY $US18.99

Atlantis Models has released the former Aurora 1/48 Fokker DR.1 triplane.  This is a legendary model kit from Aurora’s collection of WWI aircraft.  It has not seen a re-release in nearly half a century!

Atlantis Models' new Fokker DR.1 "Death Angel is a fresh take on a beloved classic with all-new box art by Rusty Cowart and a unique black color scheme!  Option for an iconic "Red Baron" is included as well.

We love that Atlantis has released the aircraft in a distinctive scheme, Josef Jacobs’ black “the God of the North.”  Most of the DR.1 kits we’ve seen in the past feature Manfred Von Richtofen’s well-known Red Baron, but Atlantis decided to distinguish their 1/48 DR.1 with the awesome Jacobs scheme.  Josef Jacobs downed 30 Allied aircraft flying the DR.1, exceeding the 20 kills that The Red Baron scored in the type.  Did you know that Atlantis has had a red Fokker DR.1 Triplane model kit in their catalog since 2020?  Keep reading!

Atlantis' DR.1 has 33 parts molded in black plastic.

Decals for Red Baron are included for those modelers who prefer the traditional scheme that most often seems to adorn DR.1 models.  Stay tuned for our Bonus Features where we’ll compare the “new” Atlantis version of the kit to the original Aurora release.

Aurora's 1/48 WWI aircraft kits had exquisite detailing for the period (1950's!) when they were originally tooled.

This model was originally released by Aurora Models in 1956; it’s a true classic.  With this in mind, it will be a vintage build, all around.  There are some sinkholes, ejector pin marks, and minor flash that the contest modeler  may want to correct.

The wings and fuselage of Atlantis' DR.1 have a rough "fabric" surface.

The DR.1 had minimal rigging thanks to the triplane design with stout interplane struts.  This kit is a good one for a builder who has never built a WWI aircraft.  Instructions show where to add rigging (note that rigging material is not included in the kit).

A closer look at the fuselage and bottom wings.

Landing gear wheels have raised spoke detail.

Aurora’s DR.1 was originally tooled with a smooth surface and decal / paint locator markings molded in as raised details.  For 1976, Aurora attempted to modernize the DR.1 by adding a fabric texture and the raised marking guides were removed.  Additional detailing was added.
 
Alas, Aurora went out of business a year later and Monogram Models bought their tooling.  While Monogram re-released a handful of the WWI kits by the late 1970's, the DR.1 was not one of them.  Finally, after nearly 50 years, Atlantis brings it back.

Decals have two options for Josef Jacobs' "God of The North" scheme.  AND you could do an iconic "Red Baron".  So technically there are three decal schemes available for this model.  Also included with the kit is a special collector card!  You'll just have to buy the kit to see what's on the back.

Unusual for a WWI biplane, the DR.1 had no major wing rigging.  There were some control wires that went from fuselage to wings between the inboard wing struts and cross bracing on the landing gear.  Instructions also show where to put minor control rigging for tail and ailerons.

If you’ve never rigged a biplane before, Atlantis' DR.1 is probably a great kit to learn how..

Instructions have three diagrams that show how the relatively simple kit goes together.  Note that rigging diagrams are also included.

We love that the decal and painting instructions are in color on high-grade paper!

One minor item where the vintage kit shows its age is with the guns.  They lack some details that you'd see in more modern kits such as perforations on the jackets.  The contest modeler could certainly add these details or 1/48 Spandau aftermarket guns are easy to find from aftermarket sources.

We wanted to provide a better look at that fantastic paint/decal digram from the instructions.  We're pretty sure that the bottom of the "Red Baron" scheme should be red, not duck-egg blue as shown in the diagram.

Atlantis has really done a nice job with this model kit as they usually do with all their re-releases of beloved model kits from long ago.  Our expectations are always exceeded whenever we open a new Atlantis kit for the first time.  I was curious as to how they could keep the price (just $18.99!) so low with a new (2025) release.  The kit comes in a smaller box (the DR.1 was a tiny airplane).

The diminutive DR.1 in 1/48-scale fit in a box you'd expect to see with a small 1/72 aircraft model.

This is what you'll see upon opening the inner parts bag

Add Atlantis' DR.1 to your Amazon order today!!!

The model could be built in a weekend by a less-experienced builder with little or no painting needed or the seasoned modeler will enjoy a leisurely, nostalgic build from an inexpensive kit.  The kit still makes a nice base for the contest modeler to add detailing and a spectacular finish.  At only $18.99, this kit is an amazing value -- and it's Made in the USA!

Atlantis didn't provide this kit to us gratis for a review, I added it to one of my Amazon orders, attracted by the low price.  Our unbiased assessment is that Atlantis went above and beyond what you'd normally expect to see nowadays compared to traditional model kit companies.  When it comes to box art, packaging, decals and the little extras (the cool collector card!), you always get a lot more for your money from an Atlantis model kit!

We give Atlantis Models' 1/48 Fokker DR.1  "Death Angel" a solid Four Thumbs up!  Order yours now!

BONUS FEATURES

A COMPARISON OF THE VINTAGE AURORA DR.1 OF 1956 AND THE ATLANTIS DR.1 OF 2025

Upon first inspection of both sets of parts for the DR.1 kit, you'll notice that layout is different between the two.  Decal guide markings were replaced with an overall pebbly texture.  That original Aurora plastic was red metallic!

Aurora's DR.1 model kit was first released in 1956.  So it is very old; 70 years at time of posting!!!  Retail price was 69 cents (US).  Our kit seen here is the second issue from 1957.

As was common at the time, the model had markings for the decals etched into the tooling.  The model had a separate sprue with black parts (guns, wheels, prop, engine, etc).

A closeup of small parts molded in that shiny metallic-red plastic!

Interestingly, the original version had a separate tail.  This standing figure went AWOL at some point (not included in the Atlantis issue).

The model was originally made in two colors of plastic so the young builder wouldn't have to use any paint if desired.  In order to mold the black parts, groups of these black parts for multiple kits were put on a single mold.  This worked great assuming all the kits on the black-plastic mold were being sold at the same time.

My vintage kit (second issue, 1957) did not include any decals.  Instructions included text about how to paint inside the lines of the molded-in markings to create the insignias.  I believe decals were included in later issues of the kit.

Eventually, it was decided to retool the kit to have all parts molded at once; this likely happened in the 1970's.  The kit was modernized with removal of the raised decal/paint guides for the insignias.  New steps and handles were added as enhanced details.

The black-parts sprue.

This manhole cover-like nameplate is not included with the current version of the DR.1.

Aurora's 1/48 DR.1 became part of a series of "Famous Fighters."  The kits were all released in a standard-sized box.  Over the years, the original tooling was scattered among several manufacturers, even beyond Revell-Monogram.  Thanks to the diminutive size of the DR.1 plastic, Atlantis made the decision to package the kit in a smaller box.  This allows a lower retail price point than a typical aircraft kit (such as the B-58).  We don't think you can find any other 1/48-scale model aircraft released in 2025 at or near this price!

The original 1956 box had the same box art with a different logo.  Note that the artwork wrapped around the side of the box.

Instruction sheet for Aurora's original DR.1 had a single exploded diagram and very detailed description--English only--of the assembly sequence.

Box comparison:  at top, the 1957 box.  Center, current Atlantis version.  Note size difference at bottom showing the box used in many of Atlantis' aircraft kits.

ATLANTIS MODELS' "OTHER" FOKKER TRIPLANE

ATLANTIS MODELS HAS TWO FOKKER TRIPLANE MODELS ??!!

Way back in 2020, Atlantis Models released "Red Baron," companion to Snoopy and His Sopwith Camel.  Well, the five-year license for the Snoopy models has expired and the kits featuring Snoopy have been discontinued, but Red Baron is still as popular as ever!  He's actually seen several kit runs and has landed in the Atlantis 2026 catalog.  This caricature-model of the DR.1 is an absolute blast to build.  Check out our popular review and buy the kit now on Amazon!

We built our Red Baron kit in a jiffy!  Only the character's face was painted and weathered with pastels.  Everything else is unpainted--the kit is molded in color.  This has to be one of the most fun kits we've ever built and it goes together very easily.

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