Wingnut Wings Fokker D.VII (Fok) 'Early' - Finished!

[Sam_D]

Well...
 

 

 

Its been a minute since posting a build log, and after having built this little Fokker and had a blast
 

 

 

I thought I'd build another Fokker

This time, a D.VII early
 

Im going to try to build it basically out of box, maybe only replace the guns with Gaspatch Spandau's as they are a vast improvement over the kit guns.

I'll be referencing KLP's excellent Fokker D.VII build guide, expertly written by Gary Boxall
 

 

Updates to follow!

Sam

 

Edited July 8 by Sam_D

[LSP_Kevin]

Very cool, Sam. Thanks for the plug! Will following along.

 

Kev

[Uncarina]

Go Sam go! I’m looking forward to seeing you work your magic with this kit.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Dpgsbody55]

Looking forward to seeing this.

 

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

[Sam_D]

I usually start a build by tackling stuff that needs to be glued together (ie halves) and set aside for the glue to harden up - so that by the time I get to that part of the construction process I can push on and not wait for glue to dry. 

So kicked off with gluing the wings together. Thankfully WNW split the main upper wing (and the lower) so that they didn't bow, unlike the DR.1, which has wings like bananas. 

 

Bit strange for a WNW kit however, the trailing edge of the main wing doesn't mate up amazingly well:
 

 

 

So out with some Tamiya tape and putty:
 

 

 

 

 

These can now be set aside for the glue and putty to harden up and I can move on with the cockpit and engine build.

SD

 

 

 

 

[Sam_D]

While the wings are curing, I can push on with more stuff. 

But first, some aftermarket. Because of who I am as a person, I couldn't resist some trinkets..
 

Found some files on Cults3D for Mercedes valve gear, lifters, rocker arms and spark plugs. Printed these off and they look like they'll be super handy, specially with the demise of Taurus Models.
 

The kit fuel tank has a big old seam in it, and the part that holds the filler necks is a separate piece, which is no bueno. 
 

 

So off with their necks!
 

 

 

The Fokker im doing is an early one, which according to Gary Boxall in his excellent book on building the WNW kit, shouldn't have a firewall. 
 

I harvested the locating lugs for the fuel tank from the firewall, to full those big ol gaps
 

These were just glued into the gaps in the tank
 

Then out with the black CA to fill everything in
 

 

And now we wait for all this to harden up

SD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sam_D]

Once the CA was sanded (of course I forgot to photograph that bit!) I cut 0.5mm strips of tape using an Infini cutting mat (brilliant, you have to get one!)
 

 

These mats have scored runs in them which makes cutting perfect strips of tape super easy
 

The tape was then wrapped around the sanded tank to replicate the mating strips
 

Then the filler necks were re-attached
 

Moving on to the rudder pedals, the control cable mounting posts were drilled with a 0.1mm drill bit - carefully!
 

A D shaped loop of fine brass wire was fashioned and glued into the drilled tubes. Control cables will be attached here later. While at it I added the reinforcing strips from 10 thou styrene rod
 

Holes were drilled in the control column for the elevator rigging and the V shaped part which will have aileron rigging attached later.
 

 

 

Lead wire was used to add the fuel primer pump hose to the back end of the fuel primer hand pump
 

The rest of the cockpit components were cleaned up, removed from the sprue and generally made ready for paint, ie the fun part. 

 

 

 

May not get paint on this weekend as I need to do the voice over for the final video in my Mengnut Wings Fokker DR.1 series, which will be out on Monday. 

SD

 

[scvrobeson]

Amazing start on the D.VII build!

 

 

 

Matt 

[Uncarina]

Great update Sam!

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Sam_D]

These early Fokker D.VII's had the linen fabric sides extended further than the later ones, this is replicated in the kit with triangular inserts that aer to be glued to the fuselage sides, with the gap filled in. 

Care was taken to ensure the neatest join possible
 

 

I used a metal ruler to ensure the panels were perfectly aligned, with no step
 

Other side too

Internal framing used to check alignment
 

 

 

 

[Uncarina]

Nice work Sam and I really like the fabric effect that WNW created.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Gazzas]

Nice start.

[Sam_D]

So, let's deal with the fuselage business. Need to seal up those gaps in the linen.

Some careful tape work to protect the detials
 

 

 

Out with the black CA and the Ammo brass toothpick IYKYK
 

 

Peel the tape before the glue sets and youre left with some very neatly filled gaps, that will need to be sanded smooth once the glue hardens
 

But not today. Let's move on to the Mercedes engine. This is really a fun thing to detail. Starting off, the inspection holes in the sump part need to be opened up, I used my Dspiae battery drill
 

 

 

Some other hatch/port details need to be added to the sump area too, so out with the punch and die
 

This needs to be drilled out slightly.. but once the glue dries.
 

The lower/sump part can be glued to the crank case now
 

As I plan to use some 3D printed lifter springs and rocker arms, the kit parts need to be removed
 

 

The Taurus models replacement lifters come with a diagram to place the compressed and relaxed springs, so used that as a guide to mount my resin printed ones
 

Some surgery is needed on the intake manifold to utilise the Taurus models intake nuts
 

The intake side of the cylinder heads were carefully drilled out to accept the resin nuts

 

These fit perfectly into 0.9mm holes
 

 

Next up the magnetos can be drilled to accept spark plug leads (eventually, after paint). 0.2mm drill bit was used here.
 

Magnetos temporarily mounted 

 

Lots of little details added, some extra oil lines and so on. Spark plug/ignition cabling will be added once the whole thing is painted up
 

 

Exhaust temporarily fitted
 

 

 

All the engine parts laid out ready for alligator clips and paint.

 

 

Waiting on a new desk lamp to arrive, then I'll paint.

Sam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[panamadan]

VB! Fun watching your builds Sam.

[Sam_D]

Been a moment between updates. Was waiting for some lovely Aviattic goodies to arrive:
 

Aviattic's Fokker seat is really nice, represents a bit more 'used' version than the kit parts (which are also lovely)
 

Couple of brass pins were added at the rear
 

With corresponding holes drilled in the kit rear bulkhead (note the nice straight alignment of the pins  )
 

 

And it all fits nicely
 

Aviattic's early Fokker control column is just amazing!
 

 

I added some fine brass tubing to the column for the control wires, then fitted it to the kit parts:
 

Then everything could get a coat of paint. Used mostly MRP colours for the clear bleached linen, light and dark aluminium, copper, black and Tamiya for the cockpit grey green.
 

Aviattic decals are just amazing, note the weave texture on the linen
 

Decals applied inside the cockpit, here to the rear bulkhead
 

Fuselage insides, rear bulkhead and engine decals applied. I used the kit supplied decals for the engine ones
 

I used inks for the wood grain texture on the floor and instrument panel
 

 

A fan brush is excellent for getting that grain look
 

The beauty of inks is that they dry quickly and add very little bulk to the parts, which helps with construction on these kits.

A downside is they dry quickly.. which means you need to have your wits about you when adding the grain look.
 

Thats it for now, I'll be working on detail painting and so on today, so hopefully it won't be so ling between updates

SD