Fokker D8

[Peter Miller]

The tail plane extends forward beyond the fin on the fuselage

If you Google Fokker DVIII and then look at the images you will see hundreds of pictures and 3 views that should clarify this

[David Hayward.]

Thank you Peter, much appreciated; I'll get on with it then.

[Russ P]

Finally got the wing struts bent so that the wing is positioned correctly. My LMS will be disappointed, as I'll no longer need to buy more piano wire!

[Peter Miller]

Now you know why I hate struts

[David Hayward.]

Hi Russ, nice to see some images of another build; looks good. Am I right in thinking you have extended the cowl to suit your engine - cant see what it is? This is something I will have to do in order to accommodate the SC52 I am using. I have also been thinking about how to secure the undercarriage wing to ensure this can't move; I think perhaps a couple of pieces of short small gauge piano wire at right angles to the undercarriage brass tube.

I must admit I was also nervous about tackling the undercarriage and particularly wing strut bending so I invested in one of these: **LINK** made the job easy although still not without stress.

Here is an image of where I am so far with prospective pilot Gretchen having a look over the build; she's probably stressed as well.

[Peter Miller]

That is the wire bender that I use too. I have had it formore than 30 years

[Russ P]

Yes I extended to cowl, but not by much, to accommodate the Saito 40.

That's the wire blender I have. It wasn't the bending that was frustrating but trying to get the trailing edge strut the correct length so the the centre of the leading edge and trailing edge the correct height from the fuselage.

I would be a little concerned about using a 52, as the c of g is spot on without any additional weight with the 40fs

[David Hayward.]

Ok, thanks Russ. can you tell me where you got your wheels from?

[Russ P]

They are Dubro wheels from my LMS. I was going to use the Williams Brothers ones but they have been out of stock for months from all the usual online stores, half the price, but no good when you can't get them.

A shipment must have just arrived as I received emails from the stores saying they are now in stock but they have jumped up in price add on p & p and there's not much difference now.

[Russ P]

Almost finished, but no matter how hard I look I cannot find where the CofG should be. I can't find any mention of it in the magazine articles, other than keep it well forward, or on the plans. Can anybody help please!

[Peter Miller]

It shpuld have been on the plans.

Work on having it at 25% of the chord at the root. That is where I normally put it.

I no longsr have my original drawing.

[Russ P]

Thanks, I've looked and looked but couldn't see it.

[Peter Miller]

Things get left off plans when they are being redrawn and somegtimes shapes get changed too. No names no packdrill.

It could have been me but I am normally very careful about the CG having left it off many years ago ie. some 30 plus years ago.

[David Hayward.]

Russ, sorry for the late reply. The CG is marked on my plan, see image, and is 3" back from the leading edge.

[Russ P]

Thanks. Strange it's not on my plan.

Discussed this with a few of the lads at the field and the consensus for the cofg should be 25% at the wing route, I thought it was 30% as a starting point.

[Peter Miller]

If t s at 25% it is savfe and can be moved back. Too far back and you have to dig the CG out of the ground!!

[David Hayward.]

Posted by Peter Miller on 03/06/2017 08:18:28:

Too far back and you have to dig the CG out of the ground!!

Love it, made me chuckle.

[David Hayward.]

So, been getting on with the build of my Fokker, it's been interesting and finally rewarding to have construction pretty much complete; now all down to covering and a bit of decoration.

 

Edited By David Hayward. on 20/09/2017 14:04:12

[Rob Ashley]

Nice model David. Good to see a 4 stroke in the front too.

[Peter Miller]

Looks very nice.

[Erfolg]

Have to agree, a most commendable build.

[Simon Chaddock]

Very nice indeed.

Pity the nose has had to have been extended a bit.

It make you realise just how heavy the full size rotary really was in comparison to the rest of the air frame.

[Erfolg]

The nose issue is a real problem with many models of that era. Yet not all, the SE5a, Bristol Fighter, the Albatross V, or the D7.

I thought some time back, ah, why not a D8 with an inline engine like I think it was the V26 version. Looking at what drawings are published, still the very short nose. All I could think, is that the back end of some of the rotarys must be very light. I guess because of the lack of power?

Anyway, I am looking forward, to the paint jobs and the first flights on these D8s.

[David Hayward.]

Well the Fokker is finally ready to go into service, only about 100 years late but let’s not be picky.

I chose this colour scheme having seen it on other models because it is so very striking, and also I might be able to keep track of it in the air! It is apparently based on a scheme associated with Theo Osterkamp who was a leading German Navy fighter pilot of the First World War; however the authenticity of this is rather dubious, but who cares I love it.

The whole model is covered in Solartex and then having covered it I then spent what felt like two lifetimes masking up for painting – glad that’s over.

At the controls is Gretchen Osterkamp, 23 year old Great Great Granddaughter of Theo, who is just itching to get her hands on those Spandau machine guns – obviously not as sweet as she looks.

I just need a couple of servo leads to finish and then await the arrival of a suitable day. Thanks Peter, enjoyed building this and expanding my knowledge and skills in the process.

Edited By David Hayward. on 15/11/2017 08:56:26

[DaveyP]

That's very nice, love the colour scheme it should stand out well on a dull day