Designed by Robert Thelen then refined and lightened, the Albatros D.V was the preeminent fighter during the period of German aerial dominance- first flown in 1917. Fundamental version improvements in wing design such as mounting the radiator in the center of the upper wing section, improved pilot visibility- critical in dog fighting tactics. The Albatros could now attain altitudes of over 3,000 feet in only five minutes and with improved stability and firepower and the Albatros system continued to dominate the skies. The Allies responded to the success of the Albatros series with new fighters including the SPAD VII, Sopwith Camel, S.E.5a, Bristol F2B, and others.

Great War German fighter ace Otto Kissenberth has been described as being something of a character, brave and tenacious in the air, but a fighter pilot with a rather unusual trait - he flew combat missions whilst wearing his spectacles, something only two other Luftstreitkrafte fighter aces were known to have done. Given command of Royal Bavarian Jasta 23 at the beginning of August 1917, Kissenberth would continue his association with the Albatros D series of fighters and in particular, aircraft serial number D2263/17, a machine in which it is thought he would go on to score the majority of his 20 aerial victories. As his personal aircraft, it was distinctive by virtue of its smart black fuselage and the large yellow and white Edelweiss emblem it sported on either side of the fuselage, just behind the cockpit. Further adding to the fascinating story of this particular Great War Albatros ace, Kissenberth would claim a British RNAS Sopwith Camel for himself, an aircraft which had been forced down intact by another one of his unit's pilots. Overpainting the aircraft's British insignia with new, highly visible German markings (for obvious reasons), he apparently flew the aircraft on many occasions and incredibly, used this captured aircraft to score the last of his 20 victories on 16th May 1918, when he used it to bring down a British SE5a fighter near the town of Tilly-Neuville.

Corgi's 1:48 scale Albatros D.V series captures the unmistakable lines of the real aircraft with simulated stretched fabric covering and brilliant early cammo patterns. Fine gauge wire is used to represent the structurally significant bracing wires found on the actual aircraft. The water-cooled Mercedes engine is wonderfully replicated, with six cylinder heads, engine exhaust stacks and a liquid cooling system leading to the radiator on the top wing. A detailed pilot figure sits behind the twin LGM 08/15 machine guns. The model rests on rolling rubber tires that accurately simulate the gray color that vulcanized natural rubber takes on after prolonged exposure to sunlight.

Info: Albatros D.V Luftstreitkrafte Jasta 23, 2263/17, Otto Kissemberth, Western Front, 1917