Staaken RVI differences

[Harri Huopainen]

I'm interested on how much individual RVI machines differed from each other betweeen manufacturers. Were there any known major differences between, for example Schütte Lanz and Staaken build examples? I know that on some planes different engines and propellers were installed, and other modifications were made during service life, but I'm interested on how similar or different these aircraft were when factory fresh. Only easily noticeable larger difference seem to be in those Aviatik build examples, which had a fully enclosed cockpit. My only good reference on this subject is Datafile.
I became interested, when I was reading the Datafile and noticed that scale drawings depicted individual aircraft and not for example typical "Staaken built" aircraft.


Harri Huopainen

[kristjanr]

Originally Posted by Harri Huopainen

I'm interested on how much individual RVI machines differed from each other betweeen manufacturers. Were there any known major differences between, for example Schütte Lanz and Staaken build examples? I know that on some planes different engines and propellers were installed, and other modifications were made during service life, but I'm interested on how similar or different these aircraft were when factory fresh. Only easily noticeable larger difference seem to be in those Aviatik build examples, which had a fully enclosed cockpit. My only good reference on this subject is Datafile.
I became interested, when I was reading the Datafile and noticed that scale drawings depicted individual aircraft and not for example typical "Staaken built" aircraft.


Harri Huopainen

Basically no two Staaken bombers were 100% identical there were always some differences. The biggest deviation from the basic Zeppelin R.VI template was the Aviatik aircraft which had a rebuilt nose. There were probably more differences but that is all I can remember off the top of my head. I'd have to look it up.

There is a book on this subject that is really worth owning:
"The German Giants - The Story of the R-Planes, 1914-1918"

Unfortunately there is no equally good book on the Gotha, Friedrichshafen and AEG medium bombers, just the Datafiles which are very useful but limited in length.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by kristjanr

There is a book on this subject that is really worth owning:
"The German Giants - The Story of the R-Planes, 1914-1918".

By Haddow and Grosz.
Top notch. Get a hold of a copy if you can. Beg, borrow, steal, or buy, you won't be sorry if you are interested in R-planes. R.

[StephenLawson]

The main differences were in the colours used for painting of the metal or camouflaged areas, national crosses (white borders only or black centers with white borders), Engine installations, vertical fin or no fin.

Also see Windsock Datafile 95. Staaken R.VI by P M Grosz. The amazing giant R-Plane of WWI! Big 1:72 scale plans with interiors, over 80 photos and great colour plates. £9.50

http://www.windsockdatafilespecials.co.uk/stock.html

[Harri Huopainen]

Thank you gentlemen and especially Stephen. Maybe I must buy the German giants, it seems that everytime when there is conversation about Staaken, THE BOOK is always mentioned. By the way, Stephen I mentioned in my first post that my only reference IS the Datafile. I have Roden's kit and I'm going to build it as R.25 or some other Staaken built example. It's good to know, that there are no significant differences in main construction, for example in fuselage and wings. I will try to hand paint the lozenge, it will be interesting
From internet I found a photo of R.25 where there is a number R25/16 painted on the fuselage behind the cross. I'm wondering when this number was applied because there's no sign of it in factory photographs. I think that it was painted after the unit received more aircraft of same type and they needed a quick ID for individual ac, maybe on or about november 1917.


Harri Huopainen

[StephenLawson]

Originally Posted by Harri Huopainen

"... I have Roden's kit and I'm going to build it as R.25 or some other Staaken built example. It's good to know, that there are no significant differences in main construction, for example in fuselage and wings. I will try to hand paint the lozenge, it will be interesting.

From internet I found a photo of R.25 where there is a number R25/16 painted on the fuselage behind the cross. I'm wondering when this number was applied because there's no sign of it in factory photographs. I think that it was painted after the unit received more aircraft of same type and they needed a quick ID for individual ac, maybe on or about november 1917.
Harri Huopainen

Greetings again Harri Huopainen; Handpainting the Lozenge of course is exactly what the original factory crews did. Each had its own template. The reference was "kinda" for anybody reading the thread to help them should they want to pick up the Datafile.

Here are a few more references;
Color Profiles of World War One Combat Planes by Apostal & Bignozzi, Cresent Pub. 1974.
Cross & Cockade USA Vol. 13, #3, p. 260, 1972.
Cross & Cockade USA Vol. 19, #3, Pp.203, 207-228, 1978.
Cross & Cockade USA Vol. 20, #3, p. 284, 1979.
Cross & Cockade USA Vol. 24, #3, p. 216, 1983.
German Giants by Haddow & Grosz, Putnam Pub. 1962 & 1988.
German Aircraft of the First World War by Grey & Thetford, 1962.
Project Riesenflugzeug by Rimell, Scale Models, Feb. 1982, Pp.80-84, (Part 1).
Project Riesenflugzeug by Rimell, Scale Models, April 1982, Pp.184-188, (Part 2).
The Nachrichtenblatt der Luftstreitkrafte , Office of the General of the Kogenluft, specifiacally bi-weekly news reports for the months of April-May 1918.

Good luck and Model On!

[GrzeM]

Harri!

Originally Posted by Harri Huopainen

I have Roden's kit and I'm going to build it as R.25 or some other Staaken built example. It's good to know, that there are no significant differences in main construction, for example in fuselage and wings. I will try to hand paint the lozenge, it will be interesting

I don't have precise informations about it, but I've heard that Roden will be producing also other variants of the Staaken, so it is possible that soon there will be R.25 available ready out of the box?

Best regards from Puola!
G.

[Harri Huopainen]

GrzeM


Yes, for sure they are going to make different Staaken kits. In kit's instructions sprues are drawn with many additional parts, including different propellers, different engines, fixed fin, spinners, parts for making supercharger equipped version and things like that. For some reason in actual sprues about half of those additional parts are missing!
Despite their future releases, I'm propably going to make something different what Roden's guys have planned, just for fun. I also converted Roden's Gotha GII/III kit into the GIV model, as I didn't want to wait their official GIV release.


Harri Huopainen