Guillow's Fokker DR1 Triplane Laser Cut Model Kit

This is a stick and rib balsa model so be aware of that. Ideally you need a proper building surface to make it. The laser cut parts are outstanding and with some cyanoacrylate glue it goes together fast. The plans are great but I found a mistake in them - it has to do with the wood sheathing on the bottom of the 'wing' between the wheels - but it's not a big deal, the two pieces are reversed on the plan (or the labellng on the parts is backwards, take you pick). Parts are clearly labeled, they pop out easily. One surprise was instead of getting a bundle of 1/16thx1/16th stringers, along with some 1/16x3/32" stringers, the box contains a strip of balsa that is sliced up for these parts. You need to cut them out of the piece to use them. Not a big deal at all, just be aware of the two different sizes on the same piece of wood. Several people have converted this exact model to radio control but there is nothing in the plans for this. Guillow designed it to be a free flying model so they can't be blamed for not having that in the instructions.

Kit design and laser cutting were very well done. Parts line up and fit properly. Only disappointment is the decals. The decals do not match the plans. The large solid black Maltese crosses for the bottom wing should have been on the white background and used for the upper wing where they extend onto the ailerons. The smaller crosses (on the white background) should have been solid black without the background for the narrower lower wing. The side decals, for you purists, are positioned on the plans too far rearward, just below the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer. Photos (online) of the original aircraft Fok.FI102/17 (after which the kit was modeled) show the correct position. The decals in my kit were very brittle and one of them shattered like glass as I tried to position it on a pre-wetted wing. If you're going to use the decals in the kit you may want to use something like Micro Set/Micro Sol to aid in applying them.

A lot of fun to make missing a few parts but wad easy to make. Not the easiest to make,but came out great.

At first I was a bit intimidated by this model because of the design, but actually found it to be a great build. All laser cut parts certainly helped, and the fit of them was spot on. Used the color tissue that came with it and that saved me the time(and weight) of having to paint it. I'm going with free-flight rubber power on this so I left off the cheezy plastic parts, other than the cowl, to save on weight. Can't wait for a warm day to glide it and then go under power. Nice job, Guillows

Nice kit where the parts are lazer cut. Use the instant extra thick glue. Not to difficult to build and goes together fast. I am still working on my DR-1 Guillows model. Impressed with these lazer cut models.I Did not have these types of kits back when I was a kid.

Not for beginners, some previous modeling experience is recommended. I love the kit, this is my 5th balsa would airplane and enjoyed putting it together. Good value for the money

Excellent kit... the laser cut balsa wood parts are superb. Wood itself is pretty good quality. Not for 1st time beginners, but is enjoyable to build!

Some of the pre-cuts were missing. I had spare Balsa and made a couple of pieces.Seems there was no Quality Control, It was very noticeable on the sheet that parts were missing.