That pesky triangle in the forward fuselage of Fokkers

[melsharkskin]

Sorry, I couldn't think of an appropriate title for this thread. Here's what I need to know:
I'm building both the Roden 1/32 Fokker D.VI and Dr. I, and both carry that triangular...what is it? A former? Anyway, that large triangular piece whose large end presses flush against the forward bulkhead. This structural member is creased or bent apparently exactly down the longitudinal center (lengthwise), giving the Fokker D.VI, Dr. I and D.VIII/E.V the distinctive protruding line along the forward fuselage.
I'd like to know if this piece is made of plywood? And if so, where does it attach to the airplane?
And, does the fabric get doped right over it. There again, I assume it does. I also assume one or the entire function of this piece is to give shape to the fuselage, so it will match the bulkhead for the engine. In other words, the triangles help to shape the fuselage to make it big enough to accept the engine.
Could someone with knowledge of this thing clue me in about it. I've added it before to a Koster 1/48 D.VIII, but this time on the big scale I realize I did that without really knowing what I was looking at on the drawings. I merely cut it from .020 styrene stock, laid it on a rubber mat, and using a ruler, put the crease in it to match the fuselage using, I think, a blunt ball-point pen whose ink had run out. Then I glued it flush against the fuselage on the inside after painting it natural woodgrain. The part could easily be seen, and was worth the effort. It will be even more in this case if the ammo boxes don't hide it.
TOM

[greenknight]

The role of the wood panels is as you say, to fair the round engine into the flat-sided fuselage structure. The panels are plywood and stiffened by 3 light wooden stringers. These pictures should help show it better than any words I could come up with. See the photos post 26 from "Bruno Stachel" of one of the rotary-powered Triplanes at the 2005 Dayton event here:
Dayton Dawn Patrol 2005 Weekend Updates

Other helpful pictures can be found here:
http://www.wwi-models.org/Photos/Eve...e/fl_fokf1.jpg
http://www.wwi-models.org/Photos/Eve.../fl_foktri.jpg
http://www.wwi-models.org/Photos/Ger/Fok_DrI/index.html

Here are some pertinent pictures for the Fokker Parasol
http://www.wwi-models.org/Photos/Ger/Fok_EV/index.html

I hope this helps.

[buzz1941]

I don't know that there is a "fold" or "bend" in the thin plywood. It is rounded, with three wooden stringers to provide the piece with more substantial attachment points to the metal framework. What you see as the fold line is likely the datum line painted on the fuselage.

[RAGIII]

Originally Posted by buzz1941

I don't know that there is a "fold" or "bend" in the thin plywood. It is rounded, with three wooden stringers to provide the piece with more substantial attachment points to the metal framework. What you see as the fold line is likely the datum line painted on the fuselage.

Look at the Memorial Flight website for some great pics. I used this extensively in my recent build. they have covered the three metal tubes with thin veneer strips on the inside of the fuselage. They are usually pretty accurate as to sticking with original construction but I am not 100% sure this is correct. I went with this feature on my build but again, I am not 100% sure? I thought at least one pic in the Data Fike seemed to confirm this but I do not know for sure. As for folds, I don't think so. JMHO
RAGIII