Posts: 184
Joined: 1/21/2007 From: Sterling, MA, USA Status: offline
Hi Everyone, My name is Thomas Kosewski, from Sterling, Ma. Some of you might know me but I'm sure a lot do not. I started building models 35 yrs. ago Free flights first, then line control for a while. I got myself into the R/C side of things in 1981. Since I caught this disease, I started scratch building in 1982. I mostly scratch my airplanes than build kits. I have owned 3 Fokker triplanes, 2 D-7's, 1 D-8, A sopwith pup, an Albatros D5a, Newport 17 and many non-ww1 types. I'm crazy for the Fokkers. I have been very lucky to have been associated with the very talented Glenn Torrance founder, and owner of GTM models. We have had al ot of fun and hard ships together through the last 13 yrs. Top Guns, Dawn Patrols, Rhinebecks, and Trade shows have made for a lot of fun adventures. He has helped me numorous times on some of my best projects. My Fokker D-7 was the first to carry the lozenge printed fabric that he sells. We will both be attending this years Top Gun 2007. I'm the lucky guy who gets to fly his fantastic 1/3 scale fokker D-6 in team scale! So wish us luck. I have decided to post a few pic's of my old 1/4 Fokker D-7. I competed with this airplane throughout the years. it first flew in 1988. Did some tours on the Masters and AMA Nats circuit, was rebuilt and recovered and one final competition at the 2002 Top Gun. It was sold in 2003 to Jamie Johnson of Arizona Models. The 1/2 Scale Fok. D-8 project started as an idea I had in a hotel at the 2002 masters. Glenn, and Robert Cooper, and I were relaxing after a stressful day at TopGun and I said we need the WOW factor. Months later Glenn started ploting out the wing and handed the project over to me. He has been a great help with supplying the plans from his 1/4 scale blown up to 1/2. He also cut all the ribs, and supplied the plywood covering. Also many drawings and some cockpit parts. He so graciously came up with a twin 160 to pull her around in the air. Too bad there's no 1/2 scale covering!! The frame is in crome molly steel tube 4130, The tail is carbon fiber. I started this project 3 yrs ago, unfortunatly I lost all the early construction pic's of frame being jigged on an old computer which is KAPUT. So I'll just start with what I have for the past year. Hope you all enjoy this crazy project along with me. I'll try to answer all questions best I can. But understand there's not a lot of time left in a day to get this thing done for Dayton Ohio, Dawn Patrol!!!
Posts: 1143
Joined: 3/13/2004 From: ft collins ,
CO, USA Status: offline
Very impressive. I am just finishing my DVII with Glenns fabric. It is going well except for our cold weather. I think I have decided to wait with my dope until spring. I really wanted to get this done but it is really not possible with my current shop. Interesting how small that engine looks on the DVIII. It seems the prop needs more diameter. I look forward to watching this thread.
Thomas, That is some outstanding work you are doing. It looks fantastic, and obviously you take a lot of pride in what you are doing. Keep up the good work and pictures.
Posts: 184
Joined: 1/21/2007 From: Sterling, MA, USA Status: offline
To all of you who have posted a reply to my work, I Thank you for your gracous comments! It takes alot of research to build models with proper details to match a full size plane, And TIME as you all know. As to the size of the engine, Believe it or not this ZDZ 160 should fly this type even at 80 pounds without a problem so I've been told. The prop sticks out 6 inches beyond the cowls radius. After the engine has some time on it I will increase prop from 32, to 34 inches. As long as the RPM's don't drop too much. I'm hoping for a 70 pound finish weight on the fokker. There's alot to do. I have a lot of small detail construction photo's I plan to post. Today I hope to get her out side for some pic's. It's tough in a small shop to acomplish that with a fuse thats 10 feet long. Again Thanks Guys!! Tom
Posts: 1107
Joined: 8/27/2003 From: Blythewood,
SC, USA Status: offline
Simply amazing. Please donate them to the Smithonian Air and Space so people all around the world can admire their beauty and your immaculate workmanship. DP
Posts: 763
Joined: 10/3/2003 From: Hamilton,
OH, USA Status: offline
The DVIII's looking really great Tom, can't wait to see it in the air. Heard you were going to try to have it at the Dayton Dawn Patrol this year?? I assume you will do the four color streaking on the wing?? Keep up the good work.
Posts: 102
Joined: 11/14/2004 From: Raleigh,
NC, USA Status: offline
Hi Tom,
This is High Five here. You might remember me from some of the past fly-ins. I was the one with the home made ear muffs at one of the fly-ins we both attended a few years ago. I did not get much sleep that weekend though due to what sounded like two pigs fighting in the parking lot of the hotel we both stayed at. I never figured out what that was. I talked to another gentleman that stayed there and he also awoke to horrific loud noises. Did you ever find out what was making that noise?
Can't wait to see the finished product. Great detail and workmanship. Do you think you will be flying it at Dayton? That is sure to be the highlight of the model flying if so.
See ya at Dayton, High Five P.S. Any TIPS you have for me would be great!
Posts: 193
Joined: 6/21/2004 From: Fitchburg,
MA, USA Status: offline
Hey Tom, I see you figured out the posting. The pictures look great. I can’t want to see more more more. Let me know if you need any help with anything else building or posting. At some point you have to head over to help me with me paperwork.
Posts: 184
Joined: 1/21/2007 From: Sterling, MA, USA Status: offline
Hi everyone, Including you Mr. High Five!! On the weight to balance, Well the tail is all made up of carbon fiber, and I plan to put all batteries on the firewall. Including the spark advance system. I'm hoping with a dummy engine which I have not started yet, it will balance out some what with out adding alot of extra lead. And yes the plan Del is to fly it at Dayton this fall, but who knows at this stage in the game there's alot to do with finishing and test flying. I will say this the airplane will be there finished to fly or not. Del Nice to have you post a hello. I've been watching your build. Very nice work, the triplane I know will be perfect! The wing will be streaked as the real one, acually I was supposed to be the first to do that with this aircraft but I didnot get the project done in time before the puplic found out about the wing streaking. Glenn had given me all the data long ago. So Del you beat me to it!!! Good job too! Mark, Thanks for helping me on figuring how to start up this post, I got the building down though,I'd be happy to help you with your documentation. Nice to have people who are willing to donate time on any project! Oh ya for anyone who is wondering what the heck Danny Allen is talking about two pigs fighting in the parking lot, That was me snoring at Top Gun while he and Glenn where trying to sleep!! I'm not that bad Danny??? Here's some more pic's, Enjoy and Thanks all, Tom
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1/2 Scale Fokker D-8 - 
