SPANDAU MG ARTICLE

Congratulations and thanks to David Watts for the fine article on the German Spandau machineguns in the new issue of WW1 AERO magazine. It is a very informative and well illustrated work, not only on the guns, but covering sights, syncronizers, cocking handles, rounds remaining counters and more. A very interesting article on the main armament of German aircraft of WW1. Others and myself got a sneak preview of this work from Dave several months ago because he offered it to us at no charge-he even footed the postage bill. Well done, sir!

Steve

[leo]

I have never been able to find this mag at the stands. How does one get a copy?

leo

Leo,
Call Leo at 914-473-3679. Maybe Mr.Opdycke, the editor, will sell you a single copy. I dunno. He is a frequent contributor to THE AERODROME FORUM; his knowledge of these a/c is far reaching, to say the least.
Steve

I was lucky engough to have Dave Watts at my house for a few days this past summer. I can tell you he KNOWS those Spandaus and knows a great deal about Fokker aircraft also. Dave is one of the few people that is not what I call a TSFM or "Top Secret Fokker Man" He will freely share any and all information that he has and brought a truck load of blueprints and bits and pieces of real Fokker's. Thanks Dave for all your help.
Dave , done any hog tying lately?

Mark

Hi all,

Thanks for the kind compliments. The "article" could not have been possible without the help of many people over the past fifteen years. I think the best thing about my article is that I made it from direct observations of the weapons and the other pieces. I get into the nuts and bolts of the actual pieces, and don't speculate about things that I don't feel certain about. I was asked by Leo Opdycke to elaborate on the exact particulars of the early "Fokker" firing system. I certainly know how it worked, but I have not been able to put my hands on the real parts invloved, so I reserved any detailed writing on the subject.

The "article" is a work in progress and will be fine tuned as I am able to observe more weapons, or receive the observations of others.

I am particularly interested in getting some observations of some LMG 08's. I have seen nearly a hundred LMG 08/15's, but I have yet to see a LMG 08 in person. I will spend more time looking into the 08 and its' drive system when I get over to the Imperial War Museum. I assume they have one on the Fokker E.III that is hanging from the ceiling.

Very Best,
Dave