Re: Interesting Fok DVII Color Scheme
Jess Stuart (jess@optx.com)
Thu, 26 Oct 1995 12:12:59 -0700 (PDT)
> > I noticed an interesting picture in Windsock Datafile 9.
> > On page 5 the bottom picture shows the only ply-covered fuselage
> >Fokker DVII built (w/n 2268). The wings and horizontal tail seem to be
> >covered in a small hex pattern lozenge pattern. I can't tell the colors
> >from the BW picture, but the haxagons are small and regular (ie even sided
> >and even angled) much like Naval lozenge. Only the upper wing surface is
> >visible. The fuselage looks like its only laquered (sp?). The work numbers
> >are not visible.
>
>
> Neat! I've probably looked at this photo a dozen times and I
> never really noticed this before. I've spent a half hour looking
> at this photo and its like those 3-D pictures - sometimes I see
> the 'hex' pattern and sometimes I'm convinced its just a lozenge
> camouflage with the light playing tricks. There is a photo of the
> Fokker V.38 on page 41 of Nowarra's 'The Fokker Dr.1 and D.VII in
> World War I" which is clearly in some type of lozenge pattern but,
> if you kinda squint, sorta gives the same effect as the photo you
> referenced. And, counting out and scaling out the 'dark' areas
> seems to give about the same spacing.
>
> But, ultimately, I think you're right - it _is_ some sort of hex pattern.
> So, the question is "why"? AFAIK, Fokker didn't built any naval
> aircraft - why would they have a 'naval-type' fabric pattern fabric
> laying around to cover this aircraft? Is it, in fact, naval 'hex'
The text for this plane states that it was built by a Fokker
subsidiary (Flugzeugwerk Lubeck-Travemnunde), so the the different
lozenge could be explained that way.
> camouflage? It looks just a triffle small to me. Maybe a 'test'
Check the Web page for Jesse Thorn's seaplane - it has small sized
naval hex lozenge.
> And, your observation that the forward 'center-section' strut is mounted
> higher on the fuselage than on a 'normal' D.VII is correct as well -
> again, something I hadn't picked up on before. (it seems to be
> slightly further aft as well) Again, the question is 'why'?
> If you look at the photos of the D.VII with the engine panels removed
> on page 21 of the Datafile, its obvious that the strut has to be
> attached to the curved fuselage 'stringer' (or whatever its called)
> immediately above the straight stringer the forward 'center-section'
> strut is attached to in the 'normal' D.VII. I can't figure out any
> rational reason for this change.
The forward strut position probably has something to do with the
plywood-covered fuselage. The less holes the plywood has the stronger it
is, plus it is easier to mass produce.
--
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Jess Stuart "I am Pentium of Borg. Accuracy is irrelevant
jess@optx.com Prepare to be estimated!"
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