Streaky finish Fokker DVII

[willycoppens]

Hello,
Did only early production Fokker built DVII aircraft come off the assembly line in the " Streaky " finish, to be replaced by lozenge fabric on later examples, or was this practice sometimes continued throughout the production life of this aircraft ?
Thank you, Willy

[Dan_San_Abbott]

willy Coppens:
The streaked camouflage finish employed on the fuselage, tailplane, forward half of the fin of the Fokker D.VII 227/18 to about D.VII 376/18. Commencing with Fok.D.VII 377/18 day 4 color fabric was used initially by Fokker Flugzeugwerke. Both 4 and 5 color fabric was used on Fokker built Fok.D.VII. The usage was predicated on the availability of the fabric. By Fok.D.VII 400/18, the streaked camouflage scheme was no longer used on the Fokker built Fok.D.VII aircraft.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[AchimEngels]

At least one of the three pre production aircraft (Fok. D.VII 227/18, 228/18 and 229/18) was completely done in the streaky factory finish, including the wings.

I have no prove of which aircraft or whether all three of them have been done that way, but I assume it was 228/18. This is the way I will finish our repro of 228/18.

228/18 is most probably the V.18 brought up to early D.VII production standard after the Adlershof trials.


This copy of this image was provided by Dave Watts.



Enjoy!

Achim

[Craig]

Nice pictures! My early Fokker D.VII from Jaeger Miniatures (R.I.P.) will be built thusly.

[AchimEngels]

Great!

Post some images when done, so that I can see how my big one will look in the end in color

Best

Achim

[Craig]

I will do so, a bit nervously, though, because there seem to be more than a few opinions on how the "streaky green" actually looked!

[AchimEngels]

Indeed! It is not easy!

The D.VII used a different thing than the triplane did. I will discuss this in closer detail when it comes to painting our planes.

Achim

[willycoppens]

Gentlemen:
Many thanks for your replies. I would assume that the method of application was similar to that used on the Fokker Dr.I, by hand using a brush about three inches in width ???
Thank you, Willy

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Willy Coppens:
All three prototype aircraft were finished in a Fokker Streaked camouflage scheme. V.11, w.n.1883 was brought up to the production standard, (Fokker V.21) and became Fok.D.VII 227/18. the two V.18 became Fok.D.VII 228/18 and Fok.D.VII 229/18. The three Fok.D.VIIs were finished in deep green (26F8) varying to medium green 26E8 to light green (26D3). These color notations are from a fabric sample of Fok.D.VII 368/18, w.n. 2455, made by Paul Leaman at the Imperial War Museum. From the lack of any other evidence, it is presumed that that all of the Fok.D.VII machines were so painted.
The streaking patterns were; from wing leading edge, / one rib bay, fuselage, top, diagonal about 45° /, sides vertical, tailplane, about 45°.
The under surfaces of the wings, fuselage, tailplane were painted light blue and varnished resulting in a turquoise color, appoximating 25C5.
The wheel covers were painted white.
The Iron Crosses on the upper and lower wings were 1000mm on a white cross field 1200 mm wide on the upper wing centered 2410mm from the center-line.
The cowlings, all struts and the axle wing were painted a light grey approximating 1C1.
The lower wing crosses were centered 1800 mm on a 1200 wide clear doped cross field. The fuselage cross was 550 mm wide centered on a cross field 750 mm wide immediately forward of the leading edge of the stabilizer. The 550 mm rudder cross was positioned 550mm from the top of the rudder and 140mm aft the leading edge of the rudder post.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[AchimEngels]

Willy Coppens,

the method of application was for sure the same as with the Dr.I, but the combination of colors differed.

Achim