My Fokker DVII Project - Page 99

Jeff Brooks · 3 April 2008, 12:59 PM

Hi All,
I promised Dogtail2 I would review how to cover the wheels. This is the method described to me by one of the volunteers at Roger Freeman's place when I visited there a while ago.
I started by measuring the outside edge of the rim, and drawing a circle on some foam board.

I added 30 mm to the outside of the circle and cut it out with an exacto knife.

I cut the material around the foamboard shape giving another 5mm or so and taped the edged over the edge.

here is the back ...

Jeff Brooks · 3 April 2008, 01:04 PM

I made the line of the inner circle dark using a black sharpie pen. Then I traced the line into the fabric with a pencil. I wanted this line light so when I doped the fabric it would not be easy to see.

I took the fabric off the foam board and used an iron to fold & hold the fabric in place. It is dificult to see in the foto, but I took the edge of the fabric and folded it inward to the pencil line, then put the iron to the edge. You may be able to see a few "darts" in the fabric where the fabric has to "shrink".

Jeff Brooks · 3 April 2008, 01:08 PM

I used cotton thread to sew a hem on the edge of the circle. ( not a real clear photo...

I cut a small notch into the fabric to allow the rib stich cord to slide into...

I used a piece of welding rod as a needle to thread the fabric ...

Once I got it all the way through .. it had a drawsting on it ...

Jeff Brooks · 3 April 2008, 01:14 PM

I let all the air out of my tire and opened the bead on the edge of the tire to slip the edge of the fabric between the tire & rim.

Once I got the whole edge tucked in, it looked like this. I pulled the drawstring tight and tied it off. Then clipped the remaining string away.

The next thing to do is to cut the hole around the axle area. I did this with an exacto knife, keeping the opening very tight ot the spindle.

Jeff Brooks · 3 April 2008, 01:16 PM

It is not quite done yet, but I have to pick the kids up from school. I will post the rest later.

Jeff Brooks · 3 April 2008, 01:51 PM

Here are examples of how Roger Freeman did it. This is his E. VIII at the Fort Rucker Museum.

Here you can see how the outside edge is tucked in between the rim & tire ...

Near the center, you see how it is re-inforced by a smaller circle that has "Pinked" edges ...

And of course, the inside covering ... this shows how the opening for the air valve is re-inforced with a second piece of fabric and a leather edgeing.

Butch · 3 April 2008, 06:41 PM

Nice work Jeff. As for the cg, a lower location is much preferable to a high one.
Pete

Jeff Brooks · 3 April 2008, 07:01 PM

and having the C/G right on the thrust line is best~

Nick · 3 April 2008, 10:42 PM

Quote:

This is the method described to me by one of the volunteers at Roger Freeman's place when I visited there a while ago.
I started by measuring the outside edge of the rim, and drawing a circle on some foam board.

Hi Jeff,
Have been enjoying your posts for sometime now of your absolutely stunning project. Truly inspirational.
Thanks for posting the method of covering the wheels which looks a way better method than the Sopwith one of using 30 wire hooks sewn in per cover.
Keep up the good work.

Cheers, Nick Caudwell

'14-'18aviationcollector · 3 April 2008, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greatwarpilot

David,

Keep your eyes open for a future OTF article on this subject. My MA thesis deals comprehensively with the Canadian war trophy aircraft. As part of my research, I have located the surviving documentation from the 1963 RCAF restoration of 6810/18, and I'm getting very close to tracking down the surviving individuals who were involved in the process.

Working from these sources, I plan to address a number of the questions that are floating around about this aircraft - including how it originally came into Canadian hands.

Cheers,

Hi Edward,

Fantastic! I will look forward to seeing your research work! It's fantastic to know that others are carrying out such research work. I think that each individual piece such as a cowlig panel is a museum piece in its' own right. I think it is fantastic that the origin of the various pieces is known too. I wish in cases like these, original paint is kept, but unfortunately this often does not happen. Each of those pieces would give valuable clues as to various colours which may have been used on various serial numbered aircraft built in the different factories.

Cheers, David,