Albatros DIII bracing wires

[Romani]

This is the first time I rig an Albatros so forgive the newbie question, I already feel like it's hanging from my neck. I've looked at dozens of photos and completed models and still can't tell, and no, I don't know anybody who has built one.

There are four wires on each wing that start on the interplane V struts, and go diagonally across the wing bay for the purposes of this post, let's ignore the vertical wires that go from the top of the N cabane struts to the wing root (I assumed the attachmen point was the wing root for all cables and not a hole on the fuselage side, probably got it wrong)


Ok. First pair of wires, these go from tops of the V strut to pair of very close holes in the wing root, counting from the nose towards the tail, they are V-1
and V-2

Second pair, go from single hole at bottom of the V to tops of the N strut, let's call them N-1 and N-2


It seems as both cables of the second pair should go inside the first pair, so counting from the nose towards the rear again the correct sequence should be
V-1
N-1
N-2
V-2

But I am afraid they are intersped
and the sequence is

V-1
N-1
V-2`
N-2

So can anyone please tell me the correct sequence?

It would also be appreciated if anybody could tell me if the cables are attached to the wing root or the fuselage side, I went with the wing root, 'cause that's done in other biplanes (like the SE5a) and because is easier anyway.

[Sgt Pepper]

But maybe this photo of a lower wing attach bracket for a DVa might help. As I understand it, the DVa and the D III used the same wings.

[Romani]

That helps a bit, I just found this picture in my drive but don't know where it is from.

I'm going to post another pic with the wires marked so is easier to understand my question

At least it shows that the wires are braced in the wing root of the lower wing for the DV Albatros, but I've seen models of the DIII where the wires are attached to the fuselage

[wilhelm]

The wing bracing cables are attached to the fuselage the same as the Alb. DII. To get more info you might want to contact Koloman Meyerhofer in Austria, he's building two DIII's.

[Romani]

I edited the picture by placing the letters and numbers of the wires just on top of them, so you know wich is wich, I hope it's clearer now

[Romani]

Originally Posted by wilhelm

The wing bracing cables are attached to the fuselage the same as the Alb. DII. To get more info you might want to contact Koloman Meyerhofer in Austria, he's building two DIII's.

First of all, I'm a moron because I'm posting in the wrong forum, this is a modeling question, I'm not building a replica!

Second, I sandwiched your reply between my photo posts and didn't see it, d'oh!

Second, thanks for clearing that. Now we know than on the earlier Albatros the wires are attached to the fuselage, and in the DV due to the oval fuselage they were attached to the lower wing. Thank you very much!

EDIT: But that doesn't answer the original question, how are the wires actually arranged? One pair bracketing the other, or intermixed?

[Romani]

Wilhelm, are you sure about the cables being attached to the fuselage?

I went back looking for a DII picture, on page 48 of Osprey Albatros Aces of WWI it's shown the DII of Wilhelm Leusch Jasta 19 and the bracing wires, at least the pair that are visible are anchored to the lower wing presumably with the same piece Pepper posted!

Maybe different manufacturers or production batches did things differently?

[Romani]

I think I figured it out. I figure most people find out by trial and error , is much easier to see it on a 1/48 scale model. But on a smaller scale, where wings don't fit exactly as they should and holes are drilled approximately and where 1 mm of error can make a big difference, is not as easy to see.

I went back to examine some more photos, and the reflections and shadows of the wires. Nothing conclusive, but in some pictures it seems as they are interspersed.

When all else fails, try reason. Why? It seems easier to rig two cables on the outer sides and the two others inside them. But I checked other airplanes configuration, and though the rigging differs, wires or pair of wires are interspersed. Then I saw the light. The braces don't just hold the wing spanwise, but they have to be deployed so every wire or pair of wires has an opposite to prevent the wing twisting chordwise.

So the correct sequence, going chordwise towards the tail would be

N-1 running from top N strut fore to V strut, bottom wing
V-1 running from top V strut fore to wing root, bottom wing
N-2 running from top N strut aft to V strut, bottom wing
V-2 running from top V strut aft to wing root, bottom wing

It sounds so simple now, but if you have never seen the real thing or a correctly braced model, or have some idea about rigging in ships, is very hard to tell

[wilhelm]

Yes the wires are attached to the fuselage, they go throut a cut out on the lower wing root rib and are attached to the longeron and former. If you have any belly shots of the plane, you will see a steel plate along the same line of travel as the cables, that is the lower part of the fittings.

[Romani]

Originally Posted by wilhelm

Yes the wires are attached to the fuselage, they go throut a cut out on the lower wing root rib and are attached to the longeron and former. If you have any belly shots of the plane, you will see a steel plate along the same line of travel as the cables, that is the lower part of the fittings.

I think we have a misunderstanding here... by my question I meant. Do the wires enter through holes on the wing root or the fuselage side? I am not concerned where they are attached after disappearing through the hole.

Yes, you were correct in your answer, I misunderstood you. For modelling purposes, the wires go through the wing root.