Fokker D.VII

[zenrat]

Fokker D.VII

Fokker D VII - 2 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

(Courtesy of Wikipedia) The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the second half of 1918. In service with the Luftstreitkräfte, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft. The Armistice ending the war specifically required, as the fourth clause of the "Clauses Relating to the Western Front", that Germany was required to surrender all D.VIIs to the Allies.  Surviving aircraft saw much service with many countries in the years after World War I.

Fokker D VII - 4 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Fokker's chief designer, Reinhold Platz, had been working on a series of experimental V-series aircraft, starting in 1916. The aircraft were notable for the use of cantilever wings.
Late in 1917, Fokker built the experimental V 11 biplane, fitted with the standard Mercedes D.IIIa engine. In January 1918, Idflieg held a fighter competition at Adlershof. For the first time, front line pilots participated in the evaluation and selection of new fighters. Fokker submitted the V 11 along with several other prototypes. Manfred von Richthofen flew the V 11 and found it tricky, unpleasant and directionally unstable in a dive. Platz lengthened the rear fuselage by one structural bay and added a triangular fin in front of the rudder. Richthofen tested the modified V 11 and praised it as the best aircraft of the competition. It offered excellent performance from the outdated Mercedes engine, yet was safe and easy to fly. Richthofen's recommendation virtually decided the competition but he was not alone in recommending it. Fokker immediately received a provisional order for 400 production aircraft, which were named D.VII by Idflieg.

Fokker D VII - 9 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The D.VII entered squadron service with Jasta 10 in early May 1918. When the Fokker D.VII appeared on the Western Front in April 1918, Allied pilots at first underestimated the new fighter because of its squarish, ungainly appearance but quickly revised their view. The type quickly proved to have many important advantages over the Albatros and Pfalz scouts. Unlike the Albatros scouts, the D.VII could dive without any fear of structural failure. The D.VII was also noted for its high manoeuvrability and ability to climb, its remarkably docile stall and reluctance to spin. It could "hang on its prop" without stalling for brief periods of time, spraying enemy aircraft from below with machine gun fire. These handling characteristics contrasted with contemporary scouts such as the Camel and SPAD, which stalled sharply and spun vigorously.
Several aircraft suffered rib failures and fabric shedding on the upper wing. Heat from the engine sometimes ignited phosphorus ammunition until additional cooling louvers were installed on the metal sides of the engine cowling panels and fuel tanks sometimes broke at the seams. Aircraft built by the Fokker factory at Schwerin were noted for their lower standard of workmanship and materials. Despite faults, the D.VII proved to be a remarkably successful design, leading to the familiar aphorism that it could turn a mediocre pilot into a good one and a good pilot into an ace.
Richthofen died days before the D.VII began to reach the Jagdstaffeln and never flew it in combat. Other pilots, including Erich Löwenhardt and Hermann Göring, quickly racked up victories and generally lauded the design. Aircraft availability was limited at first, but by July there were 407 in service. Larger numbers became available by August, by which point D.VIIs had achieved 565 victories. The D.VII eventually equipped 46 Jagdstaffeln. When the war ended in November, 775 D.VII aircraft were in service.

Fokker D VII - 13 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The aircraft shown is that briefly flown by Prinz Louis von Battenberg in the weeks before the Armistice.

Fokker D VII - 15 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The Model.

Eduard Fokker D.VII (OAW) built OOB.

Fokker D VII - 17 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

And a size comparison.  While it is small, it's not that much smaller than a Spitfire (same scale Tamiya Mk.1)

Fokker D VII - 18 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[NARSES2]

That's come out very well and it's an interesting size comparison with the Spitfire. Makes you realise how small some of the early World War II fighters were

[Old Wombat]

Great finish, Fred!

Actually, I was amazed at how big a P-40 was compared to a Lancaster when I saw them side-by-side at a museum in Auckland (I think), NZ, back in the mid-1970's.

[PR19_Kit]

That's VERY pretty Fred, and really good way of using up your spare, formerly un-used paint colours. 

[loupgarou]

Very pretty in pink and ...mauve(?) .You sure it wasn't the plane flown by (Hello) Kitty von Battenberg?

[buzzbomb]

Very neat. Propeller finish looks splendid and a smack up job with the decalling

[Glenn Gilbertson]

A magnificent finish - well done!

[zenrat]

Thanks folks.

That's VERY pretty Fred, and really good way of using up your spare, formerly un-used paint colours. 

Very pretty in pink and ...mauve(?) .You sure it wasn't the plane flown by (Hello) Kitty von Battenberg?

I think you both confuse it with this Mitsubishi T-2.

Mitsubishi T2 - 6 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

I was having a rummage in the pre 1930's section of the stash today looking at the next WW1 build.  I don't feel up to tackling a Roden Brisfit yet but I feel it should be something with more rigging.  Maybe an Airfix Hannover?  I will have to buy or print my own lozenge pattern.

[stevehed]

Wonderful paint scheme.

[Dizzyfugu]

Very colorful! 

[Wardukw]

Damn Fred..you built a awesome little bird..dude im seriously impressed ..so small and so colourful ..shes a beauty mate 
Guy im pretty sure its MOTAT  (Museum of Transport and technology)  you went too..they got a ex Argentinean Lancaster there which ive worked on  i helped rebuild the rear gun turret    and had the pleasure of going all thru the thing including smacking my knees into the huge arse box which covers the main wing spar 

[zenrat]

Thanks blokes.

Dukwie, that's the beauty of German WW1 aircraft - so colourful.  I'm thinking about an Eduard Dr1 in the colour of the Red Baron's lesser known compatriot, the Yellow Junker...