Three full-color and two paintable 1:144 Albatros C.I miniatures are now available at https://greatwarplanes.com.
The Albatros C.I was the company’s rapid response to the German directive to provide defensive armament to two-seaters. It was provided with either the 150hp Benz Bz.III or the 160hp Mercedes D.III engine, both which gave it good performance. It arrived at the front in spring 1915 and by the end of the year comprised around 42% of all German two-seaters at the front. As better machines appeared, it was moved to less active fronts, where it served into 1917. It was exported to Turkey and Bulgaria and served as a trainer (as the C.Ia through the end of the war). Around 630 Albatros C.I’s were built for combat use. Roland-built C.Is cleaned up the aerodynamics by switching from side radiators to a top-wing leading radiator, and this was carried forward in the C.Ia variant.
From early to mid 1916, it was the most common German two-seater in service, eclipsed by its successor, the Albatros C.III, in the summer of 1916.
