Air superiority in the Great War was traded between the protagonists only by the constant and unstinting efforts of the designers and manufacturers working behind the scenes in an effort to provide their pilots with the most technologically advanced and lethal machines in which to duel their foe.

In response to Sopwith introducing their Triplane to front line service, Dutchman, Anthony Fokker began work on a design that might adopt the "Tripehound's" agility and speed. After tests by the air ministry of the V 4 prototype at Adlershof during early July 1917, three aircraft were produced under contract to the IdFlieg, denoted F.I and given the serials 101/17, 102/17 and 103/17. Two of these , 102/17 and 103/17 were delivered to Jagdgeschwader I at Marckebeeke, Flanders on August 19th 1917. These were both quickly claimed by the commander of the Jagdgeschwader, Manfred von Richthofen (Jastas 4, 6, 10 & 11) and Ltn. Werner Voss commander of Jasta 10.

This build will encompass Voss's aircraft, 103/17.



Rodens kit was released a couple of years ago now. The box top shows 103/17.


The plastic itself is Rodens typical softish, light brown and looks like it is holding detail quite well.


I will follow the kit instructions as closely as is practical.

Along the way, I will use some components from Eduards Prepainted Etched set number 32547 designed for the Roden F.I /Dr.I.

Thanks for looking.

Many thanks to Stephen Lawson and to Roden for this Group Build.

Cheers,

Hugh

Greetings,

There is much contention regarding the actual colours that were worn by this aircraft; Primarily concerning the colour of the engine cowel (sometimes quoted as yellow, but now generally accepted to have been a dark green), but even more discussion takes place regarding the colour that the underside surface were painted in.
For a full run down, see the following.

see post #12.

I welcome discussion on this matter on this thread, but please note that I have already decided the particular colour that I will be using and will possible not be swayed by contrary arguments.

Cheers,

Hugh

I have been playing over on the Aerodrome on Brad Cancians Build thread of this very subject.

Click here.

It seems to me that the LeRhône that was apparently fitted to Voss's machine later in it's career (short as it was) might well have been one that sported the induction pipes and push rods at the front of the engine.

But since my brief is to build this kit, from the parts in the box alone (or enhanced by aftermarket sets that have been specifically designed for this kit), I think I might have my hands tied.

Unless... I can manage to perform such surgery that will replicate this using only the Kit parts...

Hmmm, there's a challenge.

Cheers,

Hugh

Beg to differ here Hugh the 80hp was never fitted to the F.I 103/17 only the captured LeRhône 110hp was installed. The type you describe was the 80hp. Even on the trainer Dr.I types the 100hp Goebel Goe .II was used. Here is an image of Ltn. Voss and Fok. F.I 103/17 origianlly released by the legendary research fiend Alex Imrie. Clearly the 110-120hp LeRhône displayed here.

Oh good. That's a weight off my mind.
I was so befuddled by different archives of engines and shots of reproduction aircraft that I wasn't quite sure how I was going to tackle this.

Thanks for clearing this up Stephen.

Cheers,

Hugh

Oh, and in case anybody is wondering where this build is actually at, I am awaiting delivery of the Eduard Prepainted set designed for the Roden DR1/F1 ordered through Snowymountains Models in Melbourne...
I did toss up between the PART of Poland set and the Eduard set... The Eduard set came out the winner for purely subjective reasons.
In all likelyhood i will not use the entire etched set, but there are areas where the kit can do with enhancing and to my mind, the Eduard set fits the bill just nicely.

Cheers,

Hugh

Here is a bit of fun concerning the Oberursel Ur.II

And Speaking of engines...
I have been spending this afternoon escaping the heat and getting some serious progress on the LeRhone Type J that would have been fitted to Voss' machine later in its short career.

First up, two shots of the assembly without any paint... This goes together very easily. Just make sure you have the push rod and lever assembly fitted the right way, or else you will not be able to fit the induction pipes.



And with some paint. The crank case and cylinders are done with "Games Workshop" metallic acrylics (specifically Chain Mail Silver and Bolt Gun Grey). These are designed for brush painting Gaming Figures, but I find that they spray very well when thinned with Tamiya Acrylic Thinners and have a pleasingly fine pigment. The induction pipes are brushed painted with "Mr Metal" Metallic Laquer. Then the whole lot is given a spray with a good thick coat of Tamiya Smoke.




I think a few details (Spark Plugs and Etc) and a coat of flat and I'll be relatively happy with that.

Cheers,

Hugh

The Engine is looking great. I wonder about that flat coat though? I think the engine as is has that "Oily L0OK"
RAGIII

Hi RAGIII,
I have pondered that myself. I think the Crank Case might be best left in Gloss, but I reckon the Cylinders should definitely be flat.

Cheers,

Hugh

Hugh have you thought much about the bleached or unbleached linen theory?

Hi Jackflash,

I think I have decided that we are going to be going with bleached fabric. The question now sits with how to get that shade. I am tending towards Tamiya Decktan with white added at this stage.

Now, I am also thinking that "Bleached Fabric" will be possibly a touch more opaque than unbleached would have been... I stand ready to be corrected...
So, any attempt to replicate shadow of ribs etc will be misplaced?

Cheers,

Hugh

Dear Readers

Please do not despair! Progress is... in progress!

I have been putting wings together (in the order of the instructions) and have been attending to other details (such as Wheel Spokes and tire tube air fillers) photos of which will appear tomorrow (I have a day of annual leave).

These will include shots of the single major moulding defect in the kit! i.e. the trailing edge of the upper main plane has a scollop which appears to me to be evidence of cold moulding. A productive five minutes with various grades of wet'n'dry has adressed this. As I say, photos to come.

The Eduard Etch has arrived... This is a mix of pre-painted and raw etch. The seat harness and the Instrument dials are beautifuly painted.

I have a suspicion that Voss was a Mahler fan (Gustav Mahler). Mahlers tenth symphony has been playing on my stereo during the work as described above... Very insprirational. Work is rapid with Mahler.

Cheers,

Hugh

Here is the engine finished. Note the cream (Ceramic) Spark Plugs and the ignition leads.



Here is Eduards Prepainted Etched Fret for this kit (and for the DR1).



And Instructions for Same.



Here, you can see the Moulding flaw that I was talking about.



Which was easily fixed with some scrupulous application of various grades of Wet'n'Dry.



The wheels have had the Access ports cut out and psuedo spokes inserted.



Next, work begins on the Cockpit with all the Etched bits that will be hidden after assembly

Cheers,

Hugh

Tasty rims. I think I'll try that trick.

Rims that will be duplicated on my Fok. D.VI build.

Nice technique Hugh, I will use it for my Dr.I build!

The Eduard fret has some very nice details. I like the separate triangle fairing supports. Makes painting much easier.

Yes, very nice, but just try to get the buggers to stay glued to the fuselage sides!
Because the curve is slightly compound, there is a natural tendancy for the trailing end of the fret to lift. I have glued them, sprayed, masked, sprayed and aplied Oil for a wood effect, then put a top coat on... and then the port side etch lifted
I am working on getting it seated again as we speak. I should have anealed it first maybe.

Sigh.

Cheers,

Hugh

I had to first fill the ENORMOUS ejector fin marks that festooned the inside faces of the fuselage halves.
This might not have been absolutely necessary as this was then covered by the styrene sheet that I later applied.

I used the Eduard Etched Framing as a template to cut two sections from 5 thou Evergreen Styrene Sheet. These were then applied to the Fuselage halves, allowed to dry thoroughly and then the Etched Framing attached using CA.

This was then given a spray of Tamiya Desert Sand, and Then Masked off.

I applied a spray of my own recipe for Bleached Linnen. I reckon a 50-50 mix of Tamiya Deck Tan and White works really quite well.

After removal of the masks, I applied Burnt Sienna almost neat (thinned a touch with White Spirit) to the framed area in an attempt to replicate Varnished Ply.

As Stated previously, the Etch on the port fuselage half kept lifting, But I eventually got it to stick down and quickly gave it all a spray of Gunse Satin Clear from a rattle can to seal it all.





Now to dirty it up a bit and get the framing fitted.

Cheers,

Hugh

I forbore using the eduard Etched Bracing wires and used my favoured rigging method to replicate this instead.


The turnbuckles were later painted with Gunze Sail Colour to replicate the tape that was wrapped around them in 1:1 scale.

And the Fuselage is finally together.




Note the amount of filler required to get a smooth curve across the Turtle deck.

Cheers,

Hugh

Hugh , looking really great . I started using your technique for doing turnbuckles a while back and iI really like the effect . Is the map case PE parts ?

Sweet, nice and clean
I`m really like that interiorwork of yours. Well done. You have that nice flow to the seat belt too.
I can see that you are using the filler tube to



Larsa

Hi Terri,
Yes it is the etched Map Case. I really do like this rigging technique, but it won't be appropriate for every situation... Damn...

Thanks Larsa,
I am going to add the Shoulder straps later and drape them outside of the cockpit.
Yeah, that tube of Tamiya Filler is about ten years old... I have only used it twice...

Cheers,

Hugh

Looking great! I like the bracing wires and the PE map case.
RAGIII

Ho-o-o-o-kay then.
Here we have the underside of the fuselage... Note the copious amounts of filler needed to clean it all up (Partly due to one of the fuselage halves being a little out of shape and requiring some bracing to match it with the other half... thus causing some warping of the bottom of that half).

Note also the sections of fine copper wire CA'd along the seam... My half @rsed attempt at replicating the stitching... I probably have the wrong number of stiches...

The Engine Plate has been attached and faired with trusty Tamiya Filler.


People at work look strangely at me every time some one opens a new tin of Instant Coffee... that's because I always siddle up and grab the Foil that was sealing the tin...


Now the cockpit is masked and the whole shebang is ready for priming.


I'll need a couple of free hours to start painting proper...

So, more soon.

Cheers,

Hugh

Looking darn good to me, Hopefully the first coats off primer don´t give you to much flaws to to refill and resand again.
Good progress
Larsa

Hi Larsa,
Only three spots of any great consequence showed up after priming... Although I think I need to look at the Engine Plate Fit a little bit.
I forgot to fill the mounting holes for the wing tip skids, a glue spot on the leading edge of the Mid mainplane and a small hole in the leading edge of the Upper mainplane.
But, then again, that's why we prime insn't it...

Cheers,

Hugh

There’s always something we forgot in the rush-hour, if it’s only a hole there’s always something. That just happened to me and the Nieuport. I’m looking forward to see this one coming together.


Larsa

Looking great Hugh ! Can't wait to see it finished !!!!