Mercedes D.IIIa Drawings

Brown Baron · 27 February 2018, 07:58 PM

Hello all. I have it in mind to create a better looking 1/4 scale dummy Mercedes D.IIIa motor for my D.VII. Can anyone direct me to good drawings from which I might create this? Something along the lines of the attached posted here a while back by user Machinist

Thank you

Brown Baron · 28 February 2018, 08:27 PM

Forgot about these. These are from the Model Airplane News book of William Wylam drawings. These will do. Also I found that there's a fellow on RCGroups that 3D prints these in a number of scales for a reasonable price. In 1/4 scale which is what I need for my D.VII the D.IIIa is a foot long!!

SCMc · 3 March 2018, 01:47 PM

Nice drawings, but have you considered using a BMW III instead?

Steve

Brown Baron · 3 March 2018, 05:27 PM

No I haven't. Is there a reason I should. What are your thoughts?

SCMc · 4 March 2018, 08:05 PM

The Fokker D.VII(F) with the BMW IIIa was the ultimate version with better altitude performance. It entered service with Jasta 11 in June, 1918, and was built in limited numbers. Most D.VII's had the high compression Mercedes D.IIIaü. The engine you use should reflect the plane you are modeling.

Brown Baron · 4 March 2018, 08:46 PM

The Balsa USA D.VII is a stand-off scale model at best, designed for good flying qualities rather than scale fidelity. It's a great flying model and the reality is that I'm only interested in having a good looking and good flying model. Further there are very few versions of the Mercedes engine available in kit form and beggars can't be choosers. Fortunately with the advent of 3D printing I can get a pretty good looking scale engine as you can see in the photo.

The photos also show it as it is now in Heinz von Beaulieu-Marconnay's colors (although in a too garishly bright red and blue for my liking). I bought it as a completed model. I am changing the colors to that of Karl Degelow's Albatros built D.VII with exposed engine.

I do appreciate you opinion but this model is just for fun. Now that Duncan Hutson Se5a kit that I recently picked up, well if I ever do build that I would put real effort into making that as accurate as possible within my skills and ability.