Red Baron Fokker Triplane-Issue 64-Elevators

[wonwinglo]

I'm building here in Australia

***Good to have you in the hangar Jock,hope that you find the notes useful,which issue number are you up to there ?

[Guest]

Just received issue 25.

I'm still working on the lower wing about to add the rib caps.

Jock

[wonwinglo]

Just received issue 25.I'm still working on the lower wing about to add the rib caps.

Jock

***Jock try and get one of those model ship planking tools,a good investment to pre-curve the capping strips prior to glueing into place,there is a lot of work in these wings but the work is repaid with a realistic internal structure.Best of luck.

[wonwinglo]

Just saw the first ad on TV today for this model. Magazine cost here is NZ$13 per issue. First mag is NZ$4.Thought you also may be interested in this shot I took 3 days ago (Easter Sunday)

*** More pictures and details please of these replica Fokker Triplane aircraft & that Camel too ! the backdrop is beautiful,where is it ?

[Guest]

About those Fokker photos. What may not be generally known is that Peter Jackson (Director of "Lord of the Rings", "King Kong" etc) is a very keen WW1 aviation historian and collector. Every 2 years (at Easter) he stages a air show at an airfield (a proper airfield, no strips or runways) called Omaka, on the outskirts of Blenheim at the top of the South Island, about 2 hours from where I currently live. Based there is now a total of 23 WW1 aircraft some original, some replicas but all flyable or awaiting resoration to flying condition.

Included in the German aircraft are 5 Fokker triplanes and four of these are shown here. The first is in the markings of Fritz Muller, the second is that of the well known Kempf machineand then the next is von Richthofens reserve aircraft, we then have Hans Kircheim's aircraft. The 5th aircraft I currently can't find my photo of. He has another 2 Dr1s but these are in need of a lot of work, These were all sourced from the US.

More German aircraft to come and then I'll post some of the allied stuff. You happy for these to be on this thread or shall I shift them elsewhere?

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[Guest]

***Jock try and get one of those model ship planking tools' date='a good investment to pre-curve the capping strips prior to glueing into place,there is a lot of work in these wings but the work is repaid with a realistic internal structure.Best of luck.[/quote']I use my electric soldering iron to bend the planks after soaking in water.

I've seen some extra detail added to the ribs mainly a vertical rib and triangular pieces added to the front edge of the wing. I'm trying to find another source for this modification before I proceed any further.

For any modifictions I like to have at least 2 independent sources.

[wonwinglo]

Kiwi,keep them coming,here is fine,as many detail pictures and further info as possible,did you take a general view of the airfield for us to see ? we have a few Dr.1 replica aircraft here in the UK,some were built for the 'Blue Max' 'Darling Lil' films ( probably where the NZ aircraft originated as they had a big sale at Powerscourt house in Ireland,when the film companies assetts were sold off ) one aircraaft built by Westward airways at Lands End ( the late Viv Bellamy ) crashed a few years back killing the pilot,it is believed that the all moving rudder detached itself in flight,most of the replica aircraft are fitted with Salmson or Warner Scarab radials which are heavier,the Scarab was fitted into the Fairchild Argus so it gives you some idea of what this engine will lift.

[wonwinglo]

That’s a nice photo Kiwi.The DR1 is one of my favourite aircraft.

Even people who don’t know much about aviation recognise the aircraft when it it's in the red livery of Rittmeister Baron Manfred von Richthofen.

I don’t know if you have heard of a Kiwi named Clive Franklyn Collett? He was brought to my attention when I was reading James McCudden's memoir "Flying Fury" he came down over the Firth of Forth near my home town of Edinburgh whilst flying a captured Albatros (this is what drew my attention).

However it turns out that he was the first Ace of the war to claim a victory in a Sopwith Camel and he was experimenting with the use of parachutes ***and voluntarily jumped from B.E.2c!!!

Von Richthofen might have been the most Famous Pilot of the Great War but there where other young men just as courageous as he was.

This is a good site to remember some of them and their machines www.theaerodrome.com

*** No.6 you are correct in saying that there were other equally brave pilots as Richthofen,just as portrayed in that excellent film 'The Blue Max' where a national hero was required by the then German air ministry,Richthofen was of the right blood,a true hunter,the powers that be made him into the hero he is portrayed as,they were very successful in creating good moral even to this day his name lives on,there is that certain enigma,mystery that will always surrround him,you only have to look at the sheer number of models,books and replica aircraft that have been made surrounding his lifetime,yes there were the unsung heroes that lasted perhaps hours in the bloody aerial encounters,the lack of training for battle and the un-reliability of certain aircraft both engines & airframes.

It is a very colourful period well worth a study,and as a modelling subject excellent.

[wonwinglo]

I use my electric soldering iron to bend the planks after soaking in water.I've seen some extra detail added to the ribs mainly a vertical rib and triangular pieces added to the front edge of the wing. I'm trying to find another source for this modification before I proceed any further.

For any modifictions I like to have at least 2 independent sources.

*** Yes Jock they have simplified the wing construction for production reasons,nothing to stop builders adding other uprights to the ribs,the actual ribs were hand made in jigs with wooden turnscrews that locked the capping in place,these were then threaded onto the main spars,tacked and glued with brass brads,the trailing edge was piano wire helpd in place with clips which when doped adopted that scalloped shape,not sure about the leading edge gussets will have to research those further,there will be latticed ribbinmg in a late issue that has to be threaded around the ribs,good to have another Red Baron builder on board ! :bravo:

[wonwinglo]

I use my electric soldering iron to bend the planks after soaking in water.I've seen some extra detail added to the ribs mainly a vertical rib and triangular pieces added to the front edge of the wing. I'm trying to find another source for this modification before I proceed any further.

For any modifictions I like to have at least 2 independent sources.

*** Good tip about the heated soldering iron Jock,must try that one on my second model,I have enough parts to build another one in a different colourscheme or even thought of making the biplane version of the Dr.1,forgot the designation off hand ?

[Guest]

Peter Jackson says it was seeing "Blue Max" when he was about 12 that got him hooked on WW1 aircraft, the old story "I liked the film so much I bought the aircraft!"

Its taken about 3 years for it to be made airworthy again. He purposely left it the 20th Century Fox version of a color scheme (even though it's wildly inaccurate) given his interest in films and also it is accurate for the particular aircraft which was built especially for the film.

Also shown is a Halberstadt D IV ready to do battle and, waiting in a corner of the hangar, a Siemans Schuckert D IV awaits it's turn.

One thing about having a film producer playing is that you never know what he will have the props department turn out. Ground theater forms a large part of the show with battles raging instead of just having aircraft fly around. The tank is built on Caterpillar running gear and, unlike the original, has 4 closed circuit TVs on board so the driver can navigate. PJ supplies heaps of blank ammo and explosives for the troops who fight WW1 in the morning and then they all get changed and do WW2 in the afternoon. Lotsa noise, lotsa fun!

Start saving! you've got two years to find your fare!

I'll show you some of the allies stuff soon.

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[wonwinglo]

Kiwi, that Siemens Schuckert D.IV in picture number 3 is a rarity, the airfield looks superb and little wonder the film companies make the most of it,it is about time we had another WW.1 movie and what better place than here to make it than here ? the backdrop is also excellent and adds real atmosphere.

We have the Shuttleworth Trust here at Old Warden in the UK and also Rendcomb RFC in the Cotswolds with a selection of WW.1 types in residence.

[Guest]

When peter Jackson is asked about a WW1 movie he says that making movies is work, WW1 aeroplanes are for fun. i.e. he doesn't mix work with his hobby.

[wonwinglo]

When peter Jackson is asked about a WW1 movie he says that making movies is work' date=' WW1 aeroplanes are for fun. i.e. he doesn't mix work with his hobby.[/quote']*** Dont blame him one bit,when they completed the 'Blue Max' film the intention was to round up all of the aeroplanes and do a re-make of 'Hells Angels' unfortunately with the flop of 'Darlin Lil' at the box office ( there were no DVD's in those days to support the movies) they had second thoughts and cancelled the plans to build a Gotha replica,concentrating instead on that strange 'Biggles' film,the film props were made by a company called Viking Wood products down in Wiltshire,we had an Avro 504,DH.2,Zeppelin gondola etc stored locally,these looked good from a distance but on closer inspection had steel for struts and undercarriages,just the sort of thing that the film companies love to throw around ! they served the purpose and could be 'flown' from cranes and easily crashed for the more dramatic sequences.

The flying in the 'Blue Max' was genuine,even to flying through that bridge in Ireland,they did it by positioning poles in a line and flying with great precision,I think there was something like seven feet either side of the Fokker Triplanes wing so it must have been a bit hairy scary.