Windsock Datafile 126

Albatros C.XII

Volume 1

by Peter Grosz

Reviewed by Rob Baumgartner

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Sadly this is the last Datafile from the redoubtable Peter Grosz. He passed away in September 2006 so this work has been completed with the help of his colleges.

It focuses on the Albatros C.XII, which was planned to succeed the C.X. The fuselage borrowed the sleek lines of the company’s fighter series which made it one of the most aesthetically pleasing two-seaters of its time.

The wing section was not efficient enough to allow much of an improvement on previous designs but the type never-the-less soldiered on until the end of the war. It saw quite a bit of service on the Western Front where it performed reconnaissance and general purpose duties.

This is volume 1 which concentrates on the Albatros-built versions of this machine. Part 2 of the series will highlight the license-built C.XIIs.

Thirty two pages are contained within the soft card covers. There are over 70 period black and white photographs, most of which will be new to the avid reader. Also included are some remarkable images of the 260-hp Mercedes D.IVa engine; these having come from both a technical manual and capture report.

Martin Digmayer supplies the general arrangement drawings and these are available in both 1:72 and 1:48 scales. His excellent work is accompanied by three colour profiles from the capable hands of Bob Pearson.

Another interpretation of one of these schemes can be gleaned from the front cover. This comes in the form of a wonderful piece of evocative artwork from Robert Karr.

Colours and markings are the domain of Ray Rimell and this is addressed in the final section of the book. An appendix rounds out the publication and here we find a series of tables that cover production orders, “Frontbestand” inventory, specifications and performance.

Albatros Productions continue to supply the World War One aviation enthusiast with valuable reference material.

The C.XII is an interesting aircraft and Peter Grosz does a sterling job in unveiling the story of the Albatros-built versions. His encyclopedic knowledge of WWI German aviation will be sorely missed, as will his unique style of delivering a thorough analysis of his subject.

Highly Recommended

Thanks to Albatros Productions for the review sample

Review Copyright © 2007 by Rob Baumgartner
This Page Created on 18 December, 2007
Last updated 24 December, 2007

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