Fokker Lozenge seams

Bookmaker · 23 June 2006, 06:23 AM

I have a question, I am sure one of you can answer. Since the lozenge material was 5' or so wide, I assume the sides and turtledeck of the D VII and D VIII/ E.V were covered in separate pieces of fabric.

I have never noticed an obvious seam along the upper longeron. There is obviously one along the lower longeron where the color changes and I know there was a seam running along the bottom midline that was laced together.

Was a "sock" made up to cover the fuselage, slid over the frame
then attached? Where were the seams and how were they secured? I don't see any taping in any photos.

Dale

Dan_San_Abbott · 23 June 2006, 05:35 PM

Bookmaker:
The fuselage on the Fokker E,D,DR and E types was made up of the top sides and 2 bottom halves. All had lacing on the bottom. With the lozenge printed fabric the top and sides were the dark pattern and the two bottom halves were the light pattern. The seams were located at the longerons.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

Bookmaker · 23 June 2006, 07:31 PM

Dan San, if I understand you, the seams were stiched together, like on the D VII, wings, to line up with the longerons. Same color top and sides, then the lighter on the bottom.

Was there any effort to match the pattern as it went from top to sides?

Dale

Dan_San_Abbott · 24 June 2006, 07:21 PM

Bookmaker:
I don't think it could be done. What controlled the pattern was the layup of the cloth, multiple layers up to 5 or 6 inches thick, and the placement of the patterns. They did not cut the fabric one at a time. They most likely laid it up to cut 100 sets at one time.
Hand cutting is a huge waste of time. The time to cut one set out would be longer that laying up and cutting a 100 sets.
Blue skies,
Dan-San