VV's VVoss Fokker Triplane **done'd**

[VickersVandal]

I greatly admire Werner Voss, definitely over (in my opinion, the greatly over-hyped) Manfred Von R. Voss was an incredible pilot and, rare for a pilot, not an aristocrat. As a teenager I built the Airfix Triplane in Voss markings and I'm looking forward to returning a Voss tripe to my collection.
The kit is the Roden 1/72 Fokker F.1 (pre-production variant ofnwhatnbecame the DR.1)
Like all Roden kits I'm expecting a few little niggling dramas along the way but a very nice finished product.

Anyway, he is the kit:



I am about to start work on it..

[TobyC]

Good luck. I'm still in the process of building the Encore version. The top struts proving to be the main stumbling block.

[VickersVandal]

Ah, that's handy to know since they are the same kit. What is the problem exactly?

[VickersVandal]

Wait a minute -1/72 or 1/32?

[TobyC]

Wait a minute -1/72 or 1/32?

1/72. They just seem a lot more fiddly than the other biplanes I've made which to all intents and purposes the top wing is in relation to the middle one. The Revell kit is far better in that respect as the struts are one piece from top to bottom.

[VickersVandal]

Thanks for the heads up. Looks like it might be jig time....

[TobyC]

Also regards the struts over the nose it's not that clear how they are positioned so take your time.

[VickersVandal]

Ta. Forewarned is forearmed.

I know very little will be visible of the cockpit so I've just given an impression of wood floor and the v-shaped front panelling and done a very quick and dodgy job on the seat to give it some texture (wood or wicker?....)

[MarkyM607]

I've just ordered a second Airfix version of Verner Voss's Triplane in their Aircraft of the Aces series. Although I have read two versions of his last mission, one on the Airfix box and one online, both seem impressive. Apparently he took on either six or eight RFC aircraft either alone or for a very short time with another German aircraft. Although he was shot down and killed, all of the British aircraft had damage in one form or another!. It has also been said that among the RFC aircraft pilots were some top fliers, some of our aces. Voss could have scarpered but he took them on, respect in my book is due!.
One reason why I finished it in his colours rather than painting it red for some other(!) pilots triplane.

[DazDaMan]

Voss's Last Stand

[Chris]

Though not a great design the triplane is somewhat iconic for WWI aircraft.

[VickersVandal]

I scratchbuilt the panel behind the pilot's seat and and added bracing wires, so now I've been able to close up the fuselage.



After looking at this photo I realised the Voss would have needed 2 metre long legs to reach the pedals where the positioning hole has placed them, so I moved them closer to the seat....

[TobyC]

Started very nicely.

[TimJ]

Nice start.

[VickersVandal]

Thanks

Main assemblies are together. Lower wings had locating pins on the wings but no locating holes on the fuselage side
I just cut em off, drilled locating holes and used some rod. Couldn't see a butt join being anywhere near strong enough.

I plan to paint the top wing before attaching so that I can mount the guns once the fuselage is painted. I can see that being a pain otherwise.



One thing I don't like is the two part cockpit surround. It should be one piece, terminating at the centre section.