SPA Modeler

Hi all,

after the rather entertaining Junkers F13 build, time for something totally different..
First of all a 1/72, secondly a bi-plane and thirdly, a ski-plane: Fokker C.X !



Background
The Fokker C.X was a 1930s Dutch two-seat reconnaissance and light dive-bomber biplane that played a surprisingly durable and effective workhorse role in the Finnish Air Force. The FAF had in total 39 Fokkers, and were in active use beyond the end of world war two (until the late 50's).

Interesting detail. On July 28th, 1942 a Fokker C.X with registration FK-78 (which happen to be as well the first Fokker delivered to FAF) shot down an enemy (Soviet) biplane. The pilot, Captain Laus-Dei Saxell was officially credited with an aerial victory. Scoring an air-to-air kill in a 1930's fabric and wood (reconnaissance) biplane was rather exceptional. This was the only aerial victory by Captain Saxell. After the war he returned to his normal work, being an elementary school teacher

Below the FK-78 when it has just been delieverd.





To the kit:
The kit itself is interesting, as it includes basic photo-etched (PE) parts and several resin components (the engine, cowling, seat and skis). The sprue plastic is soft and grey, typical of what Special Hobby and other Czech manufacturers usually use.









Quite rough details in the cockpit, but then again most of that will not be visible when the "plastic injected canopy" is attached.. Why on earth AZmodel tells this is a mysterium



I haven't decided on a scheme yet. I should have a sheet of Finnish Air Force code letters around somewhere, but I'm not sure if they're 1/72 or 1/48 scale. But if it's in 1/72, then I think my Fokker will be the FK-78..

Let's see what next!

- Kari

Chair pulled...

Ready

I wondered what you were going to do next Kari! what a cracking subject.

Chair pulled and popcorn at the ready.

By the way, I suspect the note about the moulded canopy is a not to AZ's short run roots, where Vac-Form canopies were common.

Loving those Ski's by the way!

Good looking airplane! But those skis... is there a story behind the design of those? Almost look like dwarf floats.

FullMetal wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2026 10:17 am Chair pulled...

Ready

Thanks Greg!

Stuart wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2026 10:32 am I wondered what you were going to do next Kari! what a cracking subject.

Chair pulled and popcorn at the ready.

By the way, I suspect the note about the moulded canopy is a not to AZ's short run roots, where Vac-Form canopies were common.

Thanks Stuart, and very interesting info regarding that canopy. Did not actually know about vac-form canopies being more "de-facto" in short run kits, but now when you, makes total sense!

speedgraflex wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2026 10:56 am I second what Stuart wrote about the canopy. It’s their way to announce the change to their buyers. Cheers

Thanks Bruce, understood!

- Kari

keavdog wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2026 11:32 am Good looking airplane! But those skis... is there a story behind the design of those? Almost look like dwarf floats.

Thanks John,

actually, there is much more science behind those than one would first think. The distinct "rounded" skis on planes was a clever, home-grown Finnish invention, that was designed at the State Aircraft Factory for harsh winter warfare.

Aerodynamic Shells: The smooth, bulbous top was actually a duralumin fairing that enclosed the landing gear struts, dramatically reducing drag in flight.
Deep-Snow Nose: The dished, upturned front kept the plane from "snouting", digging nose-first into deep powder when landing on frozen lakes.
Self-Leveling Springs: Hidden cables and rubber bungees held the skis at an optimal angle in mid-air so they wouldn't pitch down and crash the plane upon touchdown.

By swapping wheels for these metal skis, ground crews could turn any frozen forest clearing into a runway with minimal hit to the aircraft's airspeed.

- Kari

I love these unique subjects! Please carry on!

KSaarni wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2026 1:25 pm

keavdog wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2026 11:32 am Good looking airplane! But those skis... is there a story behind the design of those? Almost look like dwarf floats.

Thanks John,

actually, there is much more science behind those than one would first think. The distinct "rounded" skis on planes was a clever, home-grown Finnish invention, that was designed at the State Aircraft Factory for harsh winter warfare.

Aerodynamic Shells: The smooth, bulbous top was actually a duralumin fairing that enclosed the landing gear struts, dramatically reducing drag in flight.
Deep-Snow Nose: The dished, upturned front kept the plane from "snouting", digging nose-first into deep powder when landing on frozen lakes.
Self-Leveling Springs: Hidden cables and rubber bungees held the skis at an optimal angle in mid-air so they wouldn't pitch down and crash the plane upon touchdown.

By swapping wheels for these metal skis, ground crews could turn any frozen forest clearing into a runway with minimal hit to the aircraft's airspeed.

- Kari

That's a really interesting bit of info Kari, thanks for sharing. I've seen those ski's on the Airfix gladiator too.