Albatros DV/a Weights Table

mholewinski · 5 September 2012, 05:22 PM

I'm looking for nice, clean, side images of the different weight tables for the Albatros Dv/DVa, both Johannisthal and OAW, worthy of being able to make vector tracing from. Or if any illustrators out there would part with something they have done I would be very grateful! Thanks!

'14-'18aviationcollector · 5 September 2012, 09:05 PM

Hi, I've probably got some photos, but I can't guarantee that I will be able to find some and post them here before someone else does. I always seem to be snowed under doing other things!

I think I've heard of vector tracing and imagine that it's a method used to trace information contained in a photograph and convert it back to a 2 - D image or drawing. Is that correct?

Cheers,

David.

mholewinski · 5 September 2012, 10:07 PM

That would be great David! You got the basic idea of vector tracing. Where photos are pixel based images vectors are based on coordinates on an infinite plane so the drawings can be resized with no loss of quality. And that's what I want!

. Thanks again for the reply!

Patrick · 5 September 2012, 10:21 PM

Hi mholewinski,

Here's a scan from Robert Mikesh's book on the "Stropp" Alb D.Va (Johannisthal). If you send me a PM with your email address, I can send you a higher-quality image - too big to attach here.

You'll have trouble using printed photos for vector tracing - the combination of fuzzy grayscale and half-tone dots will make the tracing very rough with a lot of extraneous vertexes. You'd be better off first converting the photo image to a hard-edged b&w drawing, then vector tracing it.

Good luck with your project!

mholewinski · 5 September 2012, 11:04 PM

Thanks Patrick! This post will be just fine. It's going to reproduced in 1/35th scale so if I can get a decent photo I should be able to modify the levels to get a nice b&w to trace off of. Even if I have to back and hand trace some of it I'll be good with it. Btw, I love that book. Unfortunately it's at our caribbean house. I miss it. A lot. Thanks again!

mholewinski · 6 September 2012, 09:06 AM

Another question to put out there, what weight tables corresponded with what production numbers, i.e. the three line versus the two line?

elephant · 6 September 2012, 10:15 AM

All the D.Va-s had the three line version.
The D.V-s originally had the two line version, but some of them were uprated (starting from late 1917).
Uprated D.V-s carried the Merc D.IIIa engine and their weights tables were modified to the three line version like on D.Va-s.
(no indication on serial No though, could be any D.V),
Here is the serial Numbers chart:

Albatros D.V with the standard two line version:

A Jasta 25 line up with two D.V-s the foreground one is uprated (three lines table):

In notice that the empty weight for the D.V was 620 kg.
Also that the D.Va (OAW), due to further modifications was heavier than the Johannisthal D.Va, with smaller fuel tank as well to counter measure the weight increase.

Here is an example of D.Va (OAW) weights table:

mholewinski · 6 September 2012, 11:14 AM

Duuuuude!!!!!!! This is exactly the information I have been looking for!!!! Thank you so much! And it looks like I'm getting some either pics or drawings of the tables from Kermit Weeks' plane too so I think I'm going to be in great shape here! I attached the project I have been working on. I just needed so more info to be even more accurate with the markings. Maybe you can answer this too. I thought I read that the OAW planes used the light blue rib tape and the Johannisthal used the salmon. If that's true than all of the depictions of Sigmann's plane should have blue tape?

elephant · 6 September 2012, 12:28 PM

Yes, that's true.

rsanz · 6 September 2012, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elephant

All the D.Va-s had the three line version.
The D.V-s originally had the two line version, but some of them were uprated (starting from late 1917).
Uprated D.V-s carried the Merc D.IIIa engine and their weights tables were modified to the three line version like on D.Va-s.
(no indication on serial No though, could be any D.V),

A Jasta 25 line up with two D.V-s the foreground one is uprated (three lines table):

Note that other photos of this same aircraft show that it has an early 160hp Daimler-Mercedes D.III with the tall thin air pump mounted at the rear of the engine. So it is not 'uprated', if anything it is downrated. Also it does not have a propeller spinner, but a rounded nose fairing similar to those seen on later OEF D.III. It may be undergoing some sort of trial.

The increasing weights shown on the weight tables appear to have nothing to do with the engine. They seam to refer to the increased weight due to the strengthened airframe.