Topic: WW-I style instrument faceplates

I discovered that there where almost no good useful instrument faceplates available. So I started to redraw a few instruments for my Fokker E.III project and future 1/3 scale D-VII and made the available free to download in my Photobucket album. My goal is to add a new instrument so now and then. There is also a thread at RC Scalebuilder.com in the Scale Detailing forum.

They are all free to use, but when someone ask, just mention who did make the faceplates 

Enjoy 

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk15/Teus-nl/Instrument%20faces/?start=all

Teus

Excellent, bookmarked! Thank you

Many thanks for those

Steve

Many thanks!!  Is it okay if I share your link around?

No problem, they are all free to use   

Teus

Teus, thanks for those, you don't happen to have a German Airspeed Indicator dial face do you?

Steve

Steve.

Do you have a photo of the one you mean?

Teus

Teus, i need the one used in the Dr.1, this illustration shows it but it may not be correct

Steve

Steve,

That looks like a tachometer to me. Do you have a better photo?

Teus

Teus, I think you are right, but it's labelled on this artist representation as an airspeed indicator

Steve

Now I am almost certain that's a Tachometer. It could be a Morell like this one:

Many thanks Teus 

Steve

Do you want a redraw of this one Steve? This is only a low res photo to show.

Teus, if it's possible, if not I'll use that one

Steve

No problem Steve,

Just give me one week.  I'am quiet busy this week so I think it's done next weekend.

Teus

No bother, when you have time 

Steve

Some quite detailed information with pictures here. It is a tacho - the airspeed indicator was out on the wing!

http://memorial.flight.free.fr/fokphoto3uk.html

Martin

Martin, thanks for that, I can't see a Tacho in that cockpit and have seen  the Airspeed indicator on the strut before, but cannot find a picture of a Dr.1 aircraft in service with one fitted there

Steve

Steve,

The tacho is mounted on the same 'strut' as the rudder bar, and is forward of the stick.  It's not just the ASI that I've not seen on a rotary powered Fokker, but I've not seen an altimeter either


Mark

Here she is Steve, 

Teus

I did also an onther version with an other pointer, Tacho itself is almost the same.

Teus

Teus, many thanks, you are doing a great job for us WWI modellers 

Steve

Teus, many thanks, you are doing a great job for us WWI modellers 

Steve

Yes, agree there Steve, thanks Teus 

Teus, do you know what diameter the original dials were, so that we can scale them correctly?

Steve

Steve,

I know for sure that the Phylax Morell tachometer (see photo below) has a 100mm faceplate, whitout the housing. This data you can find on the Fokker D-VII in detail CD from Aichim Engels. On that CD is a complete restoration file according this Phylax tachometer.

The other meters I don't know. The way I did the resize my faceplates was to look at original photos and find some reference points that has known dimensions so I could make a good estimation to the size of the faceplate.

Teus

Teus, I am having problems resizing the images, as they start at 72dpi once I reduce them to 1/3rd scale they are very pixelated, is there a trick to doing this or do i need higher res images to start with?

Steve

Steve,

The most easiest and functional way is to print the faceplates in MS Word. Just open all the files you want to print in Word and set in the  image properties  menu (right click on image) the correct dimensions in mm in the image size Tab. Then go to the print menu and set the correct paper source, for best quality use photopaper and choose in your printer settings the highest print quality (Photo quality). That should give you a razor sharp print, depending on the qualities of your printer off course.

Now you are printing the file in the highest resolution. Never change the image resolution in your photo editor. If you are printing from your Photo editor than just print the unchanged file and set the print dimensions in the print file menu.

I hope you understand what I mean, see attached photo (not complete sharp  ) for the possible quality. This was with a Epson Stylus Photo PX710W printer on Photo paper.

Teus
[ Specified attachment is not available ]

Thanks mate, it worked perfectly, I always use photoshop but the results were poor, using word and they are pin sharp. Just got to nail all the sizes correctly now.

Thanks again 

Steve

Have you sorted the compass diameter Steve? I can measure my GTM one if it helps, he is fairly accurate I believe.

Mud

No not yet Mat, if you can measure yours that would be good 

Steve

Will do 

Teus, do you know what diameter the original dials were, so that we can scale them correctly?

Steve,

Ted (Fokkerman) over on RCSB is building Glenn's D.VIII and has made a tacho for it here http://www.rcscalebuilder.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13956&PN=1&TPN=35


Mark

Thanks Mark, missed that one 

Steve

I redraw two new faceplates and added them to my Photobucket page. The last one is a Kienzle clock and has a 80mm faceplate diameter and with the housing it is arround 95mm.

Teus

Thanks Teus, keep them coming 

Steve

Will do 

Sorry it's been so long, the D.VI compass face dial is 23mm diameter 

Mud

Ta 

What scale it is Mud?

Looks a bit small in my opinion. If it is 1/4 scale the real one is 92mm. If it is 1/3 scale the real one is only 69mm, and thats small for a compass.

My guess for a normal compass would be arround 200mm I think. So in 1/4 scale it must be 50mm and 68mm in 1/3 scale.

Any opinions?

edit:

I did some research in the meantime. My guess was wrong! I found this data from the following Bamberg compass:

Technical Data
- Diameter: 115 mm
- Height: 84 mm



And this data from an other Bamberg compass:

The item belongs to the collection of Markus Pleyer, Berlin. On its housing it carries the serial number  24215 as well as the writing "Carl Bamberg, Berlin-Friedenau. The diameter of the housing is 145mm and it´s height is 84mm. The cup is made of brass and has four screws to be attached to the upper frame. At the top border of the cup, about 30mm apart from the mounting plate for the cardanic bearing, the opening for the filling with alcohol is situated. This filler is closed by a brass screw of 6mm diameter. On the compass rose there is also written  "Carl Bamberg, Berlin-Friedenau". The arrow "Nord" (north) ist red colored and decorated with a winged airscrew, the sign of the Fliegertruppe. The arrows "West" and "Ost" (east) are marked yellow, while the arrow "Süd" (south) is light grey. The compass is aged, but still fully operational.




Teus

I found more diameters, this time from a Maximall fuel gauge.

Teus, thanks, it's all good info, it helps us get things the correct size, although most people wouldn't have a clue, it's nice to get things right 

Steve

Teus, I am having problems resizing the images, as they start at 72dpi once I reduce them to 1/3rd scale they are very pixelated, is there a trick to doing this or do i need higher res images to start with?

Steve

Steve,
The image is 72 dpi at 14"x14". If you're resizing in Photoshop, be sure to "uncheck" Resample Image. That should keep the resolution where you want it. At 69mm (for example) it's 376 dpi.

Thanks LD, i knew i was missing something 

Steve

I'm looking for pictures and dimensions of:

REV counter (Elliot)
Watch (Williamson)
Compass & Cross Level
Air Speed Indicator (Clift)
Altimeter (Short & Mason)
Standard brass Switch

Just added a few new instruments;

You can find the in the usual place: My Photobucket album

And for who want to make a 3d meter; You can find tha latest instruments whit dial and faceplate seperate at my thread at RC Universe: Click Here