Roden's 1/48 Fokker D.VII (Late Fokker built): newbie questions.

maxidad66 · 7 May 2008, 03:35 PM

Hi. A couple of questions from a newbie to WWI aircraft

I started to put together this kit a couple of weeks ago, and have spent a lot of time fiddling around getting the engine cowlings lined up. Now that the engine is finally "encased" - or nearly - the instructions call for two thin strips (parts 14C) to be fitted somewhere on top of the engine. The instruction diagram is so vague, I have no idea what these are or where to attach them. Can any one help or advise?

Second thing - I went to put the distictive "patchwork" decal on the upper surface of the top wing and it was so brittle, it disintegrated. I therefore ordered Eaglestrike's 48188 set which includes

Hans Goerth's MFJ III 1918 yellow nose. Although I am not a purist about these things, are these markings right for the late Fokker-built?

StephenLawson · 7 May 2008, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxidad66

Hi. A couple of questions from a newbie to WWI aircraft. I started to put together this kit a couple of weeks ago, and have spent a lot of time fiddling around getting the engine cowlings lined up. Now that the engine is finally "encased" - or nearly - the instructions call for two thin strips (parts 14C) to be fitted somewhere on top of the engine. The instruction diagram is so vague, I have no idea what these are or where to attach them. Can any one help or advise?

These are troughs that fit under the gun muzzles . On the original aircraft it kept the phophorus ignited in the tracer rounds from lighting engine oil residues that might be present on the outside of the motor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxidad66

Second thing - I went to put the distinctive "patchwork" decal on the upper surface of the top wing and it was so brittle, it disintegrated. I therefore ordered Eaglestrike's 48188 set which includes

Hans Goerth's MFJ III 1918 yellow nose. Although I am not a purist about these things, are these markings right for the late Fokker-built?

Goerth flew two Fokker D.VII that we know of. Both were OAW variants. One early production type, one late production type. The "patchwork camouflage is called "lozenge" The sheet you ordered will just have the data stencils, personal and national markings. Eagle Strike lozenge is out of production and hopefully will be eclipsed by a new line in production. Roden will usually send you replacments if you contact them through their website.
For kit feature clkick here.

Fixing the lower wing fit.

Kalt · 7 May 2008, 09:36 PM

Hi maxidad66 and welcome to the Aerodrome,

The parts that you are asking about are the machine gun blast channels and they should be fitted over the top cowling following the line of fire of the machine guns. Look at the pictures of a real Fokker D.VII and a model I built a couple of years ago.

The "patchwork" actually is a pre-printed fabric on the real planes and was called lozenge.
About the decals: I am not sure I don't have my Fokker D.VII books with me right now, you should wait until one of the many experts here at the forum can answer your questions.

Best regards,

Claudio

Kalt · 7 May 2008, 09:41 PM

Here you go! Stephen is one of the experts I was talking about

Best regards,

Claudio

StephenLawson · 7 May 2008, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalt

Here you go! Stephen is one of the experts I was talking about Best regards, Claudio

I just wish I were half the modeler you are.

maxidad66 · 8 May 2008, 01:56 AM

Thank you both for your advice. Well, it shows you should never be too hasty. I had naively assumed that the lozenge pattern decal would be included with the decal set. It arrived this moring and, as you mentioned, there's not a lozenge in sight.

Second disappointment: none of the aircraft markings are for the late F-built. This leads to the two questions: a) have I wasted my money? b)how difficult is a coversion? The markings in question are:

i) Goerth's yellow nose
ii) Degelow's Alb-built - black with the white stag.
iii) Raesch's Alb-built - red/white with the "fork" design
iv) Riedl's OAW-built - blue/amber with "arrows & sword" design

And your pictures really helped Claudio - I searched for ages trying to find a shot from just that angle.

Kalt · 8 May 2008, 05:26 AM

maxidad66: I'm glad that the pictures were useful to you. Try to contact Roden (roden@rodenplant.com) they have an excellent customer service, when I had a problem with one of their decal sheets they sent me a replacement free of charge.

Anyway, if you want to use Eagle Strike decals you will have to modify the cowling louvres and access panels. Check with your references, many variations existed.

Stephen: Don't be so modest! you are an excellent modeler.

Best regards,

trackpad · 8 May 2008, 05:43 AM

Hello, Maxidad66,

I can never keep track as to which manufacturer used which type of lozenge on which particular airframes at whatever time during the First Great Unpleasantness. I'd do a Ph.D thesis on the subject, except that "experten" such as Dan San Abbott and Stephen Lawson have probably already sorted it out !

However, if it's of any help, I have some Eagle Strike and Pegasus Five-Colour lozenge in 1/48th, probably more than I'll ever use. Feel free to send me a private message if you can use some of this (if five-colour is applicable to your build) if you do not want to contact Eduard. Also, there are strong indications elsewhere on this site that a new line of lozenge decals will become available in the nearish future. You might want to wait for these. And welcome to the Aerodrome!

maxidad66 · 8 May 2008, 06:52 AM

Hey Kalt, Of course I should have contacted Roden straight away before rushing off to get a new set from ES. Roden will send me new decals. Of course there's no guarantee that the new ones won't crack up like the last set. Guess I should spray them with Future/Klear first, just in case.

Trackpad, what a very kind offer to send me a set of lozenge decals! Let's see if I have any luck first with the new lot from Roden. Now of course I have a spare set of ES decals. Well, well - maybe I'll build another D.vii in the future, in which case I might just take you up on your offer.

StephenLawson · 8 May 2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxidad66

". . . none of the aircraft markings are for the late F-built. This leads to the two questions: a) have I wasted my money? b)how difficult is a coversion? The markings in question are:

i) Goerth's yellow nose
ii) Degelow's Alb-built - black with the white stag.
iii) Raesch's Alb-built - red/white with the "fork" design
iv) Riedl's OAW-built - blue/amber with "arrows & sword" design

And your pictures really helped Claudio - I searched for ages trying to find a shot from just that angle."

The differences between the late Schwerin & OAW is minor. There was one extra circular access port on each side of the cowling on the OAW and on the pilot's left side upper cowling there was a long access panel.

The OAW vertical rudder stabilizer is all white.

Where the Schwerin is half painted white. White the front half in lozenge.

On the OAW the pilot's step and grab handles on the lower longerons were kicked out at a 45 degree angle to the fuselage frame.

The national marking are in slightly different locations. Here are some images of a late model Fokker D.VII (OAW).