Fokker D.VII

[GSPOINTER]

How was the fuselage lozenge fabric cut and attached to the airframe ?

Ages ago I was told or read that :

"5 pieces ( top, 2 sides, 2 bottom halves ) were cut using patterns, stitched togethor, then slid forward on the fuselage frame ( empenage not attached) , and then sewn to various parts of the underlying steel tubing that had been wrapped with strips of fabric.

The bottom was laced in the center, then clear dope applied as usual to taughten the fabric."

Is this correct ?

Also, was any "rib" tape used on the fuselage over stitching, and was any attempt made to "match" the pattern on seams ?

I'm a long-time "lurker" and this is my first post - getting re-energized by the great new resurgence of 1:48 WW I.

Pete Chalmers

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Pete Chalmers:
The answer to your question is ,Yes. The was no tape used on the fuselage to cover the seam joints. The seams on the wings were panel are joined, also were not taped. There was no tape on the ribs of the ailerons, elevator or the fin and rudder. The edges were taped. In regard to the tape, Fokker used cut strips of fabric, as dod Albatros and OAW on some of the D.VIIs they built. On the other D.VIIs, Albatros used Salmon pink tapes and OAW used blue tapes. Most of the manufacturers use slit strips of the printed fabric. Some used natural color linen woven tapes.

Blue skies,
Dan-San

[GSPOINTER]

Thanks, DSA - I expected you would have the answer !

You were silent on the "pattern matching", but I expect that this was NOT done as the efficient German "tailors" who were cutting the patterns would have tried to minimize wastage when they cut fabric "sets" for the fuselage and empenage - the wing cutting being rather more straightforward ( but I assume that a complete "top" / "bottom" was machine-stitched togethor and then applied ??? )

I have also assumed that the loz. "tapes" would have been cut along the "long" edges of the fabric bolts ( the "trimming" of the 50" wide bolts)in order that the tapes:

(1) wrapped completely around the wings on the ribs from trailing edge to trailing edge, rather than having any seam at the leading edge.

(2) used a single tape for the leading edge. and perhaps the trailing edge.

This of coarse begs the question : Would upper surface loz "tape" be used over the lower surfaces, or vice versa? Many photos seam to indicate a darker loz tape on lower surfaces.

Modellers and references often show tapes cut across the bolts and matching of top/bottom loz/tapes, but logic would dictate the machine cutting/trimming of long bolts which would yield "rolls" of tape, rather than a collection of short pieces.

Pete Chalmers

[GSPOINTER]

To DSA and others - I've used the search engine and worked thru the archives and I think I've partially answered my own last question(s).

I think I'm correct on the use of upper loz. tape "around" the wing chord and on the "edges", and logic leads me to the tapes being cut along the length of the bolt.

Thanks again for this invaluable forum !

[Barrett]

Achim Engels has an informative letter in the new (February) Flight Journal, discussing Platz' role in the D-VII as well as other factors. Definitely worth a look.