Fokker D.VII Wing Rib Questions?

gipsymoth236k · 23 July 2006, 12:06 AM

Help Please:

What is the original thickness of the Fokker D.VII's wing rib plywood webs? Also, please confirm the rib's cap strip thickness?

Thanks in advance,

Gary

AchimEngels · 23 July 2006, 12:55 AM

Hi Gary,

According to the original factory wing drawing the plywood was 1,2mm thick and the cap strips are made from limewood of 5mm square cross section.

This is the way we did it and you have seen the outcome on the strenght tests. Pretty impressive.

Fokker soon noted that 1,2mm might be pretty oversized and reduced that to 1mm on the C.I. At least the Dutch post war factory drawings of the C.I wings call for that.

Cheers!

Achim

gipsymoth236k · 23 July 2006, 01:12 AM

Achim,

Thanks for your quick response to my question! I too just found my two Fokker FACTORY D.VII wing drawings, and these drawings do indeed confirm your informational help, that the D.VII's rib webs were of 1.2mm ply, and that the rib cap strips were of 5mm square.

Thanks Achim!

Gary

AchimEngels · 23 July 2006, 01:29 AM

Do you have a copy of one of the original wing rib drawings?

They also confirm this and most interesting with these is, that they show the cap strip going around the nose and that there was no filler block.

The same can be seen on the drawings for the C.I.

I have made the ribs for one of my early birds that way, but decided to go for the version with filler blocks as seen in the British reports on the early captured planes. Here is an image of two different ways to go.

As found on captured planes.

Per factory drawing.

This is the way Hartmut decided to create the nose fillers on the C.I ribs. A semiliar solution was found on O.A.W. built Fokker D.VII´s.

I know that was not your original question, but just thought it would be of interest any way.

Enjoy!

Achim

gipsymoth236k · 23 July 2006, 01:32 AM

Achim,

You might know how much I LIVE for this information, thanks so much! GREAT help here!

Regards, Gary

gipsymoth236k · 23 July 2006, 01:41 AM

Achim,

I do NOT have a copy of the original Fokker factory D.VII wing rib drawings, only the C.I wing rib drawings. I would really appreciate a copy!

Any help?

Regards, Gary

AchimEngels · 23 July 2006, 02:22 AM

I have my copies at the workshop, but will put them on CD-Rom and take them with me at home so that I can send copies to you via e-mail.

The most interesting part with those wing rib drawings is that they provide exact information of the spar flange thickness at the rib locations.

You may have seen partial photographs of these on my thread at page 134. I wonder what the propose of these dimensions would have been if not for the making of spacers at that location, especially since it is not the flange dimension itself that is given, but the space inbetween of them.

Just another reason why I decided to put the spacers in.

Enjoy!

Achim

P:S. I think many of us live for this information. Only very few of us will take these with them into their grave and we will forgett about those poor fellows soon then.

gipsymoth236k · 23 July 2006, 11:03 AM

Achim,

Only you can imagine just how appreciative I would be for a copy of those original rib drawings!

Many thanks in advance!

Gary