Mine have got through customs... I'm tracking them every few hours obsessive or paranoid its the only way to ensure they get into my hands...laughs. . . anyhow I ordered 2 sets of lifters and springs for them already.

Keith

From: ruddratt
Subject: WnW D.VII

Stephen, Merry Christmas my friend! Hope yours was a good one! Santa was very good to me (actually it was Mrs. Claus ). I am now the proud owner of the Alb. D.VII. What a great kit, and your review has been bookmarked for my build. I did have one question though after going over the instruction book, and that concerns a color call-out. Part # A46 (the firewall) is shown in an aluminum color. Not that that's unusual, but I found it odd that the half moon-shaped stitched-on section at the top of it is to be painted the same color. Was that section canvas with a metallic doped finish, a sewn-in piece of metal, or actual canvas that should bear a different color, like doped linen? I appreciate your help on this. Thanks!

Mike

From my studies , I have identified twenty-six (26) varitions of the Fok.D.VII by serial numbers by the three manufacturers. There were nine (9) variations by Fokker, seven (7) variants from Albatros, and ten (10) by OAW. There were changes in airframe, cowlings, engines, radiators and propellers. The changes were subtle, in some cases not percieved at all, i.e. the firewall. Most Fokker (Schwerin built) D.VII aircraft did NOT have a firewall until Fok.D.VIIF 4300/18. The fuselage was open, as on almost all (Fokker) aircraft with inline engines.


It seems that each manufacture delivered the aircraft with one propeller and there were there were two other manufacturers delivering diferent propellers as spares. Thus each variant had three approved propellers. Another airframe change was the dual rudder controls, two separate rudder horns and paired cables.

Spares are something that is rarely discussed. However with each airplane the German manufacturers, spares were delivered also. spares also included major components as well as hardware, wood, fabric, dope, paint and on and on. There were supposed to deliver 2 engines for each machine, one in the airframe and the other as a spare. Engines, and machine guns were government furnished items, the aircraft manufacturer did not buy them. With the critical engine production situation, that would have meant, the German engine manufactures would have had to deliver almost 100,000 engines during the war, there was less than one engine for each machine delivered.

The Spares included every thing that would be needed to maintain the aircraft in service. Items that were common breakage, such as Propellers, tailskids, wheels, shock cord, radiators had high numbers in the spares list. These items were in the Forward Airpark along with gasoline (benzene), oil at the Tank Stelle, (gas station). The remaining spares were held at the Armee Flugpark.

Pilots had little to no control over the spares replenishment of their plane. If they were smart, they would take real good care of their maintenance crew. I don't think the forward air park people cared whether it was a Axial, Garuda or a Wolff propeller they would send forward to the Jasta what was in store for that particular aircraft. They would probably send to the Jasta a propeller of the correct diameter and pitch for that machine,and not necessarily the propeller the serial number group.

. . .Firewalls were installed in the Fok D.VII from serial number:
1.Fokker, D.4300/18.
2.OAW, D.6300/18.
3.Albatros, D.5190/18.


Prior to the above serial numbers the Fok.D.VII did not have a firewall, which was common in most German aircraft with in line engines. All three versions of the first production Fok.D.VII, were equipped with the 180 Ps Mercedes D.IIIaü. all three only had the forward side panels, and none had louvers or a firewall.

1. Fokker started adding louvers by the 273rd D.VII and the rear side panel and firewall on the on the 351st D.VII. Fok.built 847.

2. OAW started adding louvers on the 97 D.VII and by the 401st D.VII added the rear side panel and the firewall. OAW built 1300.

3. By about the 153rd D.VII, Albatros added the rear side panel, and. . . the firewall may have been added. And by the 286th D.VII had started adding louvers. Albatros built 1030 Fok.D.VII aircraft.


External changes involving camuflage and finish were numerous.

Blue skies,
Dan-San