FTS Projects

[AchimEngels]

Hi there,

perhaps it is a good idea to split up the news into separate threads as Wolfenbill did start with his "Kingsbury Aerodrome Projects" thread.

So here we go with our´s! *;D

Our first workshop is almost up and running now.

We have decided to first establish our metal shop and to start working on all the metal parts. Later when we come down to do wooden parts we will establish our wood shop.

We are presently about to construct a jig for the welding of the two Fokker D.VII fuselages. If all goes as it should and as is planed we will order the steel tubings required for all steel tube components of the aircraft either late this week or next week.

We will then start to weld the fuselage frames first followed by the stabilizer, elevator, rudder tail fin and ailerons.

We will also construct a special tool that will allow us to produce the exact dimensions for the required drop shaped steel tubes for the center cabane struts and the undercarriage as well as for the stabilizer and interplane struts. The design work of this special tool is finished and we will start to construct it by next week. It then just has to proof that it works *. Once it has proofed its functionality we can also offer to do any size of drop shaped struts at a reasonable price!!!

Speaking of reasonable prices *: we can also offer to do any tubular steel structure using metric tubings at a reasonable price by now. Welding can be executed either in TIG or oxyacetylene. A complete Fokker E.V/D.VIII fuselage frame (without interieur and bracing) done according to the original Fokker factory drawings completely welded, painted and where required wrapped (the tubings) with fabric can be offered at as low as $ 4400 US (+ material + shipping) . We can also do any other thing. Just ask.

I will post images of the fuselages and other parts as soon as they are available!

Best to all of you!

Achim

By the way: We offer one of our two Fokker D.VII´s for sale. Find out more here:

http://www.collectors-edition.de/FokkerD7/...dex_english.htm

[AchimEngels]

Hello,

Here are some images of the Engine that "Wulffo" bought in Germany. This engine will power the Fokker D.VII we are building for him.

It was overhauled by Daimler some years ago and was well stored. Unfortunately no papers are available of that overhauling. Wulffo took the engine to England now where it is once more overhauled to airworthiness. The paperwork created by this will be an essential point during the procedure of obtaining the German air traffic certificate which is intended for this aircraft.

Here are the images!















By the way: We are still looking for a second D III or a BMW IIIa engine. Do not hesitate to make any offers. The same goes for other original Parts that are useful for such a D.VII project. You can either contact me or Wulffo.

Just some images of the design of Max Friz, the BMW IIIa, as well.





The special high altitude carburetor designed by Friz enabled the engine to keep the power output at 185 PS without reduction up to a height of 2000m.

All the best

Achim

[drIace]

Achim,
Thanks for the post of the great pics ! Look forward to more. How is the D VII book on real WWI fighters coming along? Any completion date ?

[AchimEngels]

Well, actually you got me on this one now!!!

I am hoping to complete it along with the building of these two Fokker D.VII´s we are working on at present.

You have to see that it is a ongoing processs of evaluation of all the data we have on this aircraft. It is not that easy to see through all the variations of this plane.

But we are working on it! and it will for sure turn out great as well!!!

If everything goes as planed ( *: ) It might be availabe in 2005.

Best

Achim

[drIace]

Achim,
Again thanks for the reply, and good things come to those who wait, I'm sure it will be worth it !

[dtenney]

Achim,

What gorgeous photos of that Mercedes motor! Great color, all i can say is WOW! I am impressed with the condition of Wulffo's engine, heck, i wish I could find a motor of my own. Then again, thats a rare find at best. But, I still search on.... ( any hints about motors for sale?)

Great pictures... thanks for posting them

[AchimEngels]

dtenny,

Well, finding motors like this one is not very easy. In fact I suggested to Wulffo to buy it for our project.

I have been offered another DIII some time ago, but that one was not even in such a good condition that it could serve as a decoration dummy *:'( . This was the reason why I did not buy it, although from today´s point of view it was worth its pricing then.

Once Wulffo´s engine arrives at our workshop we will start to work on the two exhaust collectors. We will do two different forms. Our D.VII will be in the version of the lower exhaust outlet that comes all through the panels, while Wulffo´s D.VII might get the horizontal version, but this is not yet decided at all.

Well, we keep on searching, too.

In the meantime we do also restore small engine parts. We have done one ZH6 Bosch magnetos for instance and have also restored one of the System I starting magnetos required for the D.VII as well. The starting magneto can be found on our website in the "Collections" section. The ZH6 can be found there as well, but in the unrestored condition.

Oh, well, while speaking of the ignition systems. It might be of interest to learn that one of my guys here - Wolfgang Schuster - has a strong interest in doing one of our CD-Rom books of the "Aviation - In Detail" series about the "Bosch Ignition Sytems". That one might turn out useful and interesting, since it will show a lot of images of the inner parts and their operation as wellas some text explaining the differences and historic background on the "Bosch System III" that was replaced by "Bosch System I". We will see how he comes along with it. At present he is busy learning and exercising to weld oxyacetylene...... - just joking, he is not that bad in it....

Yesterday we got our new "old" lathe, and we are also busy getting familiar with it. Although it is a neat and small piece that fits well in our workshop, it weights some 250 kg.

.
Baddy (left) and Woofy (right) are cleaning the machine.

Best

Achim

[baldeagle]

Achim,
When are you going to build a Pfalz D.IIIa??

AK

[AchimEngels]

Baldeagle,

Actually I was thinking about for several years now. I have quite a bit of documentation on that bird that would enable me to do a set of drawings, but these would be not detailed enough to back up more than 20 % of the structural design of the aircraft with historic documents and this is too less for me. As you know, we here do not want to invent the wheel new, but to be as authentic as possible and I could not keep that standard to satisfy myself with the Pfalz aircraft. At least not at this time.

However, the aircraft itself is a nice piece of technology and not very semiliar to Fokker designs what would make it even more interesting. Especially the LFG type wrapped fuselage shells build up on *the male forms would be a challenge alone. And I would not avoid it *: *.

Maybe one day, in case enough material comes together.

Speaking of it - I have never seen any original Pfalz drawing except for the ones shown in the manual for the D.III

The Pfalz D.III - I have to admit - is the most beautiful aircraft of that period in my eyes. It is very elegant and of such clean lines. And in the air it looks so wonderful. Have you seen the entry sequence of "Von Richthofen and Brown" when "Manfred" scrubbed the top of a tree with the undercarriage while chasing the horse! I know it is just a replica that looks like a Pfalz D.III, but I can hardly get enough of this part of the movie.

Have to close here or Alexandra will become jealous!

Best

Achim

[Barker]

Not a prettier fuselage among them.

Can you imagine the craft and labor and skill it would take, today, to 'lay-up' a D.III fuse???