Fokker D.VII builds for a diorama

Stephen,

I don't understand how I missed this thread earlier (perhaps because most of my time on FineScale is in the "Ships" forum ). Whatever - these are brilliant builds of bips. I am very much looking forward to the completed diorama.

This Eduard 1/48 kit represents a Schwerin built Fokker D.VII from Jasta 63.  The personal markings while typical for the unit are hypothetical.  With the black and white vertical bands are accurate the pilots of this unit used personal devices or the initials of the pilot.  Late in the war shortages of personnel and materials made some units keep anything not maintenance related to a minimum or totally on the back burner. The possibility of Jasta 63 having more than 2 aircraft at Nivelles is minimal.  Six of them flew into neutral Holland on 13 Nov. 1918.

 Thanks Lawdog, Next, is the Roden 1/48 # 420 kit.  A compass and hand fuel pump were added to the cockpit from the spares box.  The cowling panels are typical of early production OAW.  The motor is a modified kit item and represents the BMW IIIa 185hp.  Various control arms, fuel, water and oil hoses and pipes were added from flux. The rigging is fine wire and  “Lozenge” decals are from the Aviattic’s faded 5 color sheets.  The national markings are from the kit.  The propellor is a Roden kit “Wolff” item painted to simulate laminated wood.

This build represents an early production Fokker D.VII (OAW) in the brown fuselage, white nose and tail unit markings of Jasta 20.  These personal markings are strictly hypothetical because so little of their photos exist in the public domain.  The Jasta 20 tail unit was bordered in a “dark color”.  Often times when a unit inherited machine from other Jastas they over painted fuselage a solid color.

This kit represents an early production Fokker D.VII (OAW) in the markings of Jasta 57 the personal marking of Vizefeldwebel (Acting Sergeant) Wieprich. He probably inherited this machine after Ltn. Hafner’s death. This early production survivor has been built to depict a machine that was “unfortunately” crashed when landing at the Nivelles collect point. The pilot’s lower right wing tip was dug into the earth on landing, bending and twisting the whole airframe. The visual result was a flat tire, the alignment of the wings was offset. The lower right wing was damaged at the tip. This makes repairs to the machine too much of a time issue. It was delegated to the “red tag” group. Cables to the guns were removed to prevent accidental firing.

This kit represents an early Schwerin built Fokker D.VII of Jasta 36 possibly in the markings of in the markings Uffz. (Corporal) Reinhold Neumann from late August - early Sept 1918.  His machine might have been passed on to another pilot.

Thanks Mike!  This Roden kit represents an early Fokker D.VII (OAW) in the personal marking of Ltn. Carl Degelow the Jasta 40 Commander until the end of the war and the last recipient of the Orden Pour le Merite (The Blue Max). While his first machine was an early Albatros built machine this is his second known aircraft an OAW built bird.

Love your dedication to research, Stephen. You continue to inspire me.  :)

Jasta 1 Fokker D.VII 601/18 at Nivelles Belgium 1918.

Having done some digging I found that the serial number to the aircraft is 5301/18. Brought down on 20 Oct. 1918, the British were kind enough to include the Brigade capture I.D. on the fin.  I recently picked up a high Res image of this bird and was able to digitally repair the image. The Higher res allowed me to read the inscription on the vertical fin.

Jasta 36   Fok. D.VII early Schwerin (Roden 420) “N”  Roden

This modified Roden #420 kit profile (II) represents an early Schwerin built Fokker D.VII of Jasta 36 possibly in the markings of in the markings Uffz. (Corporal) Reinhold Neumann from late August - early Sept 1918. His machine might have been passed on to another pilot. The is kit profile was originally highly over simplified and I used a higher res image to compare and armed with my research on Jasta 36 I though an update would help those working with this scheme.

This kit represents a Fokker D.VII 230 - 460/18 flown by Oblt. B. Loerzer Commander of JG.III early 1918. See ‘Fokker D.VII Anthology 2' by R.Rimell, Albatros Pub. Ltd. 2000. Pp.9 & 27. from the early production series and the personal marking are for one of several aircraft flown by Oblt. Bruno Loerzer, commander of JG.III. It was photographed at Nivelles in December 1918.. Unlike other Jasta 26 machines the wings are painted with the upper surface of the top wing and the undersurface of the lower wing were over painted in the commander’s livery and the rest of the wings were in the factory lozenge camouflage . Because of the serial placement late in the first production batch and the possibility that the top wing was replaced. I have allowed the result was that it was covered in the 4 and 5 colour lozenge type.

Finishing up the rigging for the Loerzer Jasta 26 black & white Fok. D.VII and the Degelow Jasta 40 "Leaping Stag" late Oct - early Nov. 1918.  I have a few more slated to be ready for the finished display in 2017 - 18.  I have the following underconstruction or consideration;

4.Armee.  Gruja Nr.3. 

Greetings all,

"Art is never finished, only abandoned. . ." Leonardo da Vinci

Remember this build from August 2008 in hypothetical markings?

White Fokker weekend kit #8482

". . .It all began in a small town of Zweibrüken in the Pfalz Rhineland area. Coming from a family that operated a small Gesthaus and restaurant called Weinerwald. Hunting in the nearby black forest or the local Phesanery was his favorite leisure time activity. Oblt. Stefan Löwenson rose from the ranks and served inseveral Front line units. It was on 13 Sept.1918 that he was again transferred but to 2 Armee headqurters for the Gruppen Fluzeug Command. Where he acquired a roving commission as field inpector of Jasta materials and operations in and around Metz. It is believed that in his authority that he appropriated one of two aircraft destined to be assigned to the JG.I commander. . ."

I had a go at refinishing this kit in slightly more realistic markings for the EOW diorama.  Adding lozenge to the wings was an easy effort. removing the fuselage cross enough to let it show through and an over coat of white and giving it a more used look.

The upper surface Lozenge is Wing & Wires 5 colour and the lower is the old Eagle Strike 5 color.

Next, the DML / Dragon Fokker D.VII using Microscale Lozenge and personal markings. Heavily modified Tom's Modelworks inline six motor to convert it to a BMW IIIa. It represents a machine that had been purposely crash at the aircraft turn in depot. Now just a derelict. This build can trace its beginnings back to 2004 when I first conceived of the EOW diorama.

This is the original machine I term "Bubbles". An early Schwerin machine. Probably 407/18-527/18. After all these years the unit is still unknown.

Jasta 26 still need ribtapes, rigging and propeller.

Jasta 40. Ltn Carl Degelow.

Thanks for the vote of confidence.  Modifying the figures are proving to be a bigger challenge than the aircraft.

This is going to be a great build, can't wait to see more.

More 1/48 derelict aircraft for the diorama. The black nose & tail Dr.I will have a cover like the others and is an OOP Blue Max kit. The Alb. D.Va is an OOP Tom's Modelworks resin kit. A very old kit that taught me never use steel rod with resin. At bottom a spare 1st issue Eduard Fokker E.V fuselage. Next the 1/48 DML / Dragon white tailed Fokker Dr.I 521/17. Finally a basket case DML / Dragon Fokker Dr.I in red, black & white.

Inprogress 1/48 Fokker D.VII builds on top of the display case. 1 DML/Dragon & 2 @ Roden and at far right higer up is an Eduard kit in J.28w markings Probably the only build of Degelow's leaping stag showing the late war Jasta 40 tail stripes. Going left is a DML / Dragon Fokker D.VII in Jasta 26 markings for Oblt Bruno Loerzer. Then continuing left is the DML / Dragon kit marked as old bubble tail.

Late production Schwerin Fokker D.VII 5183/18 from Jasta 28w. Just need to finish rigging and add propeller.  The profile scheme is hypothetical.

In progress Fokker E.V (2 @ DML/Dragon & 1@ Eduard kit.) & D.VII for the EOW diorama.

In progress Fokker E.V (2 @ DML/Dragon & 1@ Eduard kit.). L-R 149/18, 144/18 and an early Fok. E.V from Jasta 36. At far left is the Jager mid production Fokker D.VII (OAW) in Jasta 58 markings. At far right I have a DML Fokker D.VII with lower wing roots shattered and revealing the spars.

1/48 Fokker D.VII With some end of war grime. Down & dirty. . .done. This is the Eduard kit finished like Kaptain zur See Sachsenberg's early Schwerin built bird for placement in the EOW diorama.

Outstanding D.VIIs!  I, of course, flew the Dr 1 from 1917 on, but trasitoned to the D.VII in summer, 1918...  I flew with Jasta 11 at the time, then the war ended a few months later..  I was "volunteered in 1941 as a Fliegerverbandfurher  and was given a detachment of 24 fighters to train up for action during Operation Barbarossa. We were dedicated escort to the Stukas at that time and were mainly a ground-atack unit, once the Stukas were safe, then we turned our attention onto the Ivans fleeing on the ground... But, I digress.. 

Here's where I took out the mad Frenchman, known only as "The Hangman".

Later, my personal D.VII..

It was later painted blood-red..

Jasta 30 early, Albatros built Fokker D.VII. Just need to add the foot step & hand hold bars.

I added the decals for Holtzem's D.402/18 from Eagle Strike Part 2 Fokker D.VII set #48080. (Known by WWI modelers as the Eagle Strike D.VII Bavarian set.)  Good decals and they take Sol & Set well  but the tail bands are slightly short and will need to have a paint touch up to finish.  The Lozenge is the Microsculpt 5 colour intermediate day type.

Max was a friend of the Lafayette Foundation throughout the later years of his life.

Impressive work Stephen as usual. Love to see your colorful aircraft displays.

Heavily modified DML / Dragon Fok. D.VII 387/18 as flown by Ltn. Auffarth CO of Jasta 29. I just finished adding the footstep & grab handles.

Thank Gamera!  Here is Jasta 29 CO Ltn Auffarth's Fokker D.VII 387/18 from the top.