FOKKER E.V /DVIII - THE FLYING RAZOR
Dubbed the "Flying Razor" by Entente pilots, due to the single flat parasol wing resembling a razor blade, the Fokker E.V. was the last Fokker designed aircraft to enter service with the German Army Air force the Luftstreitkrafte during World War 1.
Most aircraft at that time were biplanes or triplanes with relatively thin section wings, as this offered low weight, structural simplicity, strength and low wing loading. However, the struts, bracing wires and aerodynamic interference between the two wings added significant drag. These factors, alongside the obvious cost of another set or two of wings, begged for a more effective solution. Following Fokker's brief work alongside Hugo Junkers, Reinhold Platz designed an innovative thick section cantilevered wing for the new Fokker type. When tested it fared well both aerodynamically and structurally.
The first aircraft were delivered in late July 1918, but by mid-August two pilots had died after wing failures. All aircraft of the type were grounded and an investigation started. It was alleged that the wings had been poorly constructed at Fokker's subcontractor who produced them for the production versions. However, Fokker contended that during the aircraft's acceptance tests the authorities - who were cautious of the innovative design - had insisted on adding another reward spar. This had the effect of actually weakening the wing by causing it to twist during flight due to the aerodynamic loads. It is quite likely that the truth was possibly somewhere between, as when properly built to the original design the wings were proven sound.
By this time the aircraft had developed a poor reputation, so it was re-introduced and re-named the DVIII in an attempt to distance it from the E.V. However this proved to be too late, and the aircraft did not score another German kill before the armistice some two months later.
Following the terms of the armistice most aircraft, either in service or partially built, were scrapped, but the Polish air force obtained a number and proved their credentials in the Polish - Soviet war. Such was the pace of aircraft development in the early 1920s they were already obsolete, and they ended their days as training aircraft.
YOUR KIT
This kit is designed for you to build a traditionally constructed, rubber powered, free flight model of a Fokker E.V flown from Lawica Airfield between 1921 to 1926 as a trainer. This is a simple but striking scheme, but you can decide to do your own favourite or more complicated scheme if you wish - as there are many schemes to choose from.
Construction of the model from this kit uses the traditional method of "stick and tissue", that consists of a built up balsa wood skeleton (framework), covered with a tissue skin. The balsa frameworks are built over a plan that is printed at the exact scale of the model, which is in essence a real engineering drawing. Power is provided by rubber strip motor that is wound up before flight.
Free flight means just that - once the model is launched, it is on its own. It must follow a predetermined flight path established when the model is initially adjusted for flight or "trimmed". This type of traditional building technique and flying requires a degree of patience and skill, but is extremely rewarding. Typically for a small model and in the spirit of the traditional kits, profiles are simplified and adjusted from the original and a relatively large propeller is used. This is done so that the model is light and stable enough to fly on its own, is simple in construction and can work with the rubber motor. These adjustments have been done with care and sensitivity so that the shape and spirit of the original aircraft is preserved as much as possible. Also in the spirit of the traditional kits, additional items required to build the model are things that can be found in the kitchen drawer or are easily available on the high street.
INCLUDED IN YOUR KIT
- Balsa wood & ply sheets with precise laser cut parts and strip wood.
- PVA glue for building the wooden frames.
- One 150mm diameter plastic propeller.
- One pre-bent motor hook and shaft.
- A 225mm long piece of 8mm diameter balsa dowel for the engine cylinders.
- A 100mm long piece of 4.8mm diameter balsa dowel for the gun details.
- Four low friction plastic nose bushing - two for the propeller and two for the undercarriage wheels.
- Piano wire for the main undercarriage legs.
- A 225mm long piece of 2mm diameter ABS Filament for the engine induction pipes
- Three cocktail sticks or toothpicks, one for the motor peg and the others for use in various details
- Rubber motor strip.
- Tissue to cover the model.
- A piece of clear acetate for the screen and "trim tabs".
- A precisely moulded plastic cowling
- Parts reference sheets (W), full size summary plan sheets (X), scheme diagram sheet (Y) and scheme markings (Z) printed on lightweight paper.
Only Suitable For Ages 14+
Choking Hazard - Contains small parts, keep out of reach of children.
MARKINGS SHEET
Here is the markings sheet included in your kit for you to download and print out at home.
Click on the image to download the file.
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PATTERNS SHEET
Here is the patterns sheet included in your kit for you to download and print out at home.
Click on the image to download the file.
UK SHIPPING
Most orders are shipped via Royal Mail’s Tracked 48 service.
We are in the middle of nowhere and so our Royal Mail collection is at around 1pm.
Example:
An order placed before 12pm on Monday should be with you on Wednesday.
An order placed after 12pm on Monday should be with you on Thursday.
For larger or heavier orders, we use UKMail/DHL to deliver your package on a Next Working Day service.
Example:
An order placed before 10am on Monday should be with you on Tuesday.
An order placed after 10am on Monday should be with you on Wednesday.
For larger or heavier orders, we use UKMail/DHL to deliver your package on a Next Working Day service.
Shipping is free to UK Mainland addresses for orders over £30.00, otherwise we charge £6.00 for Royal Mail Tracked 48 parcels and £12.00 for UKMail/DHL Next Working Day.
NORTHERN IRELAND, HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS
Royal Mail considers Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands and UK Islands as part of the UK and so does not charge a premium for deliveries.
Pretty much all other UK couriers have surcharges for deliveries to the following postcodes: IV, HS, KA27-28, KW, PA20-49, PA60-78, PH17-26, PH30-44, PH49-50, ZE, BT, IM, TR21-25
If you live in one of these postcodes and the parcel size of your order is outside Royal Mail's dimensions, you will have to pay a surcharge.
Our system is not clever enough to work this out and so if your order attracts a surcharge, we will contact you before despatch to see if you would like to pay the surcharge and proceed with the order or cancel and receive a full refund.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
Smaller items
Items that fit within Royal Mail International Tracked Medium Parcel parameters (59cm x 17cm x 15cm weighing less than 2kg) can be sent to most countries outside the UK.
For example up to 3 of our smaller 18” wingspan kits can fit into one of these parcels.
A parcel like this currently costs around £14 to Europe and around £18 to send to the USA and will take up to 3 weeks to arrive. This is because Royal Mail hands over the parcel to the local Post Office service for your country who have to clear it through customs and then deliver it to you.
The Royal Mail tracking code also transfers over to the tracking for your country’s postal service.
Larger items
For items that do not fit within Royal Mail International Tracked Medium Parcel parameters, we use standard international couriers such as DHL, FedEx and UPS.
These companies use something called volumetric weights to calculate the cost of shipping.
For example, a Balsa Basics RC bundle kit that measures 102cm x 34cm x 16cm and weighs 2.5 kg is actually calculated at 14kg!
This makes these very expensive to send outside the UK - a large kit can cost nearly £40 to send to France.
