sandbagger

Hi all, Throttle control run added from pilot's throttle lever to the linkage on the dual carburettors. Scratch made from 0.1 mm Nickel-Silver rod and 0.3 mm brass tube with the pivot lever created from 'spare' photo-etch, Mike

Hi all, 'Spark Advance' control (Ignition Timing) fitted from cockpit lever to engine magnetos linkage rod. Made from 0.3 mm brass tube, 0.1 mm Nickel-Silver rod and scratch link. Mike

Thanks Jeff - I try I use the internet and various publications: Osprey Aircraft of the Aces - Fokker D.VII aces Part 1-2 (Norman Franks/Greg VanWyngarden). Albatros Productions - Windsock - Data file No.9 - Fokker D.VII (P.M. Grosz). Albatros Productions - Fokker D.VII Anthology 1, 2 and 3 (Ray Rimell). Kagero Publishing - Fokker D.VII The Lethal Weapon (Tomasz J. Kowalski and Marek Rys). Wingnut Wings - Instruction manual (Kit No.32027). Windsock Modelling Special No.3 - Building the Fokker D.VII (Ray Rimell). Various online resources (e.g. Wikipedia and the Aerodrome forum). Albatros D.III - Osprey Publishing (James F. Miller). Mike

Hi all, Leads fitted from the magneto starter behind the instrument panel to both engine driven magnetos, Mike

Hi all, Tachometer drive added from gun synchronization mechanism. The two carburetor fuel feed pipes from the gallery behind the instrument panel, The two machine gun trigger cables from the control column to the gun synchronization mechanism, Mike

Hi all, A few more things added: Fuel lines from the underside of the fuel tank to the fuel gallery behind the instrument panel. Grease line from the pilot's 'screw down' pump to the engine mounted water pump. Fuel drain line from the underside of the fuel tank to outside of the fuselage bottom. Oil line from the oil tank (in the fuel tank) to the engine driven oil pump. Now it's onto the wiring up the magnetos and adding the throttle and spark advance (ignition timing) controls, Mike

Hi all, It might make it on the Great War SIG display. The pilot's hand operated fuel pressure pump pipe is done. Also the rear gun support frame and the instrument panel are fitted, Mike

Hi all, The pilot's seat and support frame now fitted, Mike

Hi all, Now things start to get complicated, Mike

Hi all, I've started on the cockpit pipework. The pipe connections under the fuel tank. Behind the instrument panel is the fuel valve manifold (made of micro-tube) connected to the pilot's four selectors. Two pipes out are for connecting the supply from the main and auxiliary fuel tanks. From the bottom of the manifold will be the two supply pipes to the engines duel carburetor. Electrical cables added to the rear faces of the starter magneto and ignition switch. Mike

Hi all, Cockpit floor with controls and seat done, Mike

Hi all, Well time to start the fuselage build with controls, pipework etc, Mike

Hi all, The kit supplied fuselage side frames married to the 3D printed fuselage. This required cutting both, as both have a pilots seat frame and only one can be used of course. As the join between the two could be a weak area, I chose to fit them together using brass micro-tube. This gives more rigidity to the join of the fuselage and allows the fitting of the pilots seat frame from the kit (part A26), Mike

Hi all, The final on-engine control linkage has been added, which is the spark advance (ignition timing) for bottom magnetos. For now the engine will be put to one side so I can make a start on the cockpit, Mike

Hi all, I've added the control linkage to the top of the twin carburettors, which consist two levers, connecting rod and cable pulley. Also the connected levers on the top of the attached 'speed controllers;. I also created the frame mounted throttle bell-crank and the two cross bars on the forward fuselage frames, which are missing from the kit parts, Mike

Hi all, The end is in sight for this engine build. I've added the decals, ignition leads, gun synchronization mechanism, oil sight glass, generator and drive, cylinder fuel primers, water pump, intake manifold with locking rings, crankcase breather pipe and additional pipes. All that's left is to add the engine mounted throttle and spark advance (ignition timing) controls - the remainder of the control runs can't be added until the engine is fitted into the fuselage (with the cockpit), Mike

Thanks for the comments - appreciated. Don't be intimidated by this type of aircraft modelling - you can learn a lot about the aircraft and with patience, the end result can be very satisfying. Don't forget you can view or download my PDF build log for this model - just use the PDF icon against the model in gallery 2 on my site, Mike Mikes WW1 Aircraft Models

Hi all, The 3D printed parts are detailed but as can be seen from the shot below, some are very small. This is a pair of machine gun synchronization mechanisms, each made up of four separate parts. The biggest problem is separating them from the base block without damaging them!! Mike

Hi all, The engine has progressed a bit more now with the addition: The conical valve springs Crankcase breather pipe Magneto drive assembly with two 3D printed magnetos Two air pump to crankcase pipes Decompression valve. Still have to add ignition leads, intake manifold with locking rings, water pump, coolant pipes, oil filler pipes, sump oil sight glass. There's also a couple of other pipes plus engine controls. Mike

Hi all, Starting to assemble the engine accessories now. So far the spark plugs, ignition lead support tubes, camshaft, air pump, coolant drain tap and cylinder base bridging clamps. Still plenty more to do, Mike

Hi all, A couple of magnetos each made of four separate 3D printed parts. The ignition leads support tube made from micro-tube. The magneto drive modified to fit the 3D engine with a brass rod for the magneto drives. Also the cylinders are mounted onto the engine block, Mike

I thought for this build I'd try 3D printed parts for the engine as well as the airframe. Despite 3D printing having come a long way, it still has its limitations. Close inspection of the parts will show layer lines, which weren't totally filled by the primer and paint coats. You can sand or scrape the surfaces smooth, but that's not really an option on smaller, more complicated parts. However at this scale they are not that obvious. They do cause semi-gloss or gloss coats to look matte, which I think is due to the 'rougher' surface when compared to styrene or resin parts. I think 3D printed parts are OK for smaller items and probably for surfaces such as wood, but as yet not good enough for larger smoother surfaces, Mike

Hi all, A few more engine bits prepared. Spark plugs made from micro-tube and 'RB Motion' aluminium nuts. 'Taurus' manifold locking rings - cut and sanded to fit the 3D printed engine, Mike

Error 503 on the host server - apparently the ISS pool had to be refreshed OK now, Mike

Hi all, The first of the Fokker D.VII pair is completed. So now I'm starting the second of the models, the 'skeletal' model. This will be a full view model with 3D printed parts from 'Shapeways'. The donor engine is from the 'Wingnut Wings' Fokker D.VII (OAW) built with the following replacement 3D printed components: Created by Bob Monroe ('Flugzeugwerke') and available from ‘Shapeways’. Mercedes D.III Oil Pump, Mercedes D.IIIa Cylinders (hollow), Mercedes D.IIIa Crankcase, German Aircraft Magneto, Mercedes Cylinder clamps, Gun synchro mechanism, The aircraft structure will be the 3D printed Fokker D.VII structure. Created by Richard Andrews ('Aviattic') and available from ‘Shapeways’. Shapeways There will be other after market parts used. I thought I'd start with the engine, which had to modify slightly as the internal mountings in the 3D sump and block are too small to accept the kit supplied propeller shaft. Instead I've made one from brass micro-tube to fit not only the 3D engine but also the 'Proper Plane' Heine propeller. Mike