These are the basic rules and the
following is the stand so far:
12-18-2002
Construction of both aircraft will begin with
the metal components. Presently we are preparing the construction drawing for the
fuselage. There are no known Fokker drawings for the complete fuselage structure that
survived until today. However, there are some documents that belong to the official
structural test program that was done in 1918 during the evaluation of the type for front
line use. We have the entire set which also include some sketches with dimensiones. Apart
from this we have the McCook field report on a late production Fokker built aircraft. This
report contains a very large and good drawing of the aircrafts fuselage with all
dimensions. We have been able to figure out some points that obviously have been altered
during serial production. This way by a long period of comparing of source documents
including some original factory drawings of inner fuselage parts we are in a posision to
create a plan for a early production serial fuselage. As you can see this is what we do
right now.
As soon as the new drawings are finished we will
order all metric tubings and begin the construction of the fuselages along with the tail
units. The material used will be exceptionally a steel with a strenght of 52
kg/square millimeter (St52). This is in some cases more than is required, but in most
cases is equal to what was used at that time
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All weldings will be executed on the machine
with traffic certificate in TIG while the machine offered here for sale will be
exceptionally welded using oxyacetylene welding as was done back in those days.
02-02-2003
Not many news to report at this time. We are
still busy setting up the workshop. In the meantime we have put together most machines
that will be required to get the metal parts done.One of the major difficulties at present
is to find a new supplier for the steel tubings of the required steel grade, since our
regular supplier quit service some time ago.
We are close to finish a universal jig which
allows us to construct any type of steel structure welded up from steel tubings. Another
tool for the making of any shape and size of drop shaped steel tubes is also close to be
finished and the first test runs are sheduled for the next weeks.
Although not required at present we are proud to
have located a vintage sewing machine. It is exactly the same type of sewing machine that
was used at the Fokker factory back then. It needs some restoration, but is fully
functional and not in a too bad shape. One step closer to beeing authentic by using the
same sewing methods...:-)
Below you see a picture of the sewing machine
and next to it you can make out exactly the same type in the lower right corner of this
Fokker factory image.
02 - 30 - 2003
The consruction sequence on the actual aeroplane
was started by doing the stabilizer first.
04 - 24 - 2003
Time consuming is the construction of the single
parts of each construction unit of the airworthy machine, since the construction
supervisor is going to check them prior to the final assembly. At present we are working
on the rudder, elevator and Fin pieces. The fins are completely finished in the meantime
already.
06 - 08 - 2003
The first parts are put together. In the
meantime we have been busy with the authentic reproduction of the rudder horns and the
rudder hinges. The rudder control horns are drop shaped conically lever arms for the
activisision of the rudder and elevator which are not so easy to be done. The hinges for
the rudders are not much simpler and it needs close attantion to make them to fit with the
inner brass bushings. At least we have finished the first tailplane
One of the rudder control horns.
Authentic reproduction of Fokker hinges
Completed rudder
Some detail shots of the rudder
The assembled tailplane
09 - 01 - 2003
The fuselage is well in progress. The making inspector gave his OK for all parts manufactured till now
and the expert of the Oskar Ursinus union has prepared a very positive first report
so that nothing is in the way of the admittance of the second aircraft so far.
Here are the latest images of the present stage
of the project.
Throttle parts
throttle assembly
welding work on the fuselage frame
fitting the rudder
fuselage and tailplane assembly
stabilizer mounting
cockpit area of the fuselage
09 - 17 - 2003
In the meantime we have received final approval
by the German Aviation Authority to certifiy the aircraft as an experimental. The project
is nof officially filed under the Number 1203.
Here are a few updates.
Accumulation of aircraft parts
Both aircraft side by side. The one in the
background is subject for sale.
Rear view.
11 - 01 -2003
Apart from some small parts, the fuselages are
almost complete now. By now we have started to work on the undercarriage
Bulding the engine bearers
Fuselage front section with the engine bearers
in place.
Fuselage top with the cowling bows and
MG-mounts attached..
Set of sockets for the ball and socket joints
of the undercarriage attachment
01-26-2004
the plane now is completely braced and the
controls are installed. They all go very smooth :-) The turnbuckles have been made
according to the standard regulations which have been in order at that time. Here is the
Norm sheet for the turnbuckle barrels, just to show you one of the sources:
Some details of the fuselage wire bracing
Here are both planes side by side once again.
The rear one is the one for sale here.
The torque tube assembly.
Both torque tubes finished
Torque tube and rudder bar assembled.
03 -11 -2004
We have now managed to reproduce not only the
dimensions of the streamlined tubing we need, but even the correct shape of the
streamlined tube.
The image above shows a photograph of a
crashed Fokker D.VII that was closely examined. This helped much in the recreation of the
right shape.
Tubes are being prepared to fit perfectly
Welded joint between fuselage and rear cabane
tripod strut.
Joint of forward tripod struts with engine
bearer, seen from engine side.
Center cabane wing tripod is welded to the
fuselage frame.
08 - 01 - 2004
The aircraft now is on its legs. We have even
made temporary wooden wheels in the same way they did back then in the factory!
Exactly as with the original the cross
bracings have been spliced.
View over the cockpit area of the plane. The
shoulder harnesses are especially produced from cotton for this project. The compass again
is an original made in 1918 and is not for sale!
The airscrews are being build.
The first finished airscrew seen here mounted
to the installed Daimler engine. This propeller is a exact copy of the original airscrew
made by the company of AXIAL during the war. It´s diameter is 278cm while the pitch is
220cm.
The first wing ribs are on their way.
The radiator building is started with some
tests on how to press the hexagonal ends of the brass tubes. Each of the tubes has a
diameter of 6mm while the wall thickness is 0,18mm. 5000 of these tubes form the honeycomb
radiator. Each and every tube is hand made!
09-12-2005
Fuel tank fillers
Ammo box with feed chutes and empty belt box side by
side
Wing beams are being laminated
Elevator and stabilizer completed.
Elevator is being covered..
Elevator during covering.
All seams are protected by a extra strip of linen
glued over it.
Tail fin is being covered.
And here the rudder.
Completed tail feathers with all markings in place.
The entire paint job is done exclusively by hand.
Completed sternpost.
Make sure to also check out
this one for more information on the project progress and to get in touch with me in case
of any interest:
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