Hybrid Fokker Triplane: Two Designs Blended Into A Masterpiece

When it comes to scale RC modelers, especially World War I fans, one thing is for sure: They always find a way to use what they have and turn it into something amazing. So the story goes with our good friend and longtime contributor Sal Calvagna and his newly-test-flown hybrid 1/3-scale Fokker Dr.I triplane. Sal acquired a partially started 1/3-scale Fokker triplane project that was built from Ron Weiss Plans (available from Ziroli Giant Scale Plans).

- Gerry Yarrish

The tail feathers were framed out as was most of the bottom wing, and a little more than half of the fuselage was assembled. The Ron Weiss Fokker wings were pretty much built just like the full-size aircraft, incorporating beefy full-length box spars made up of four long plywood pieces. To simplify his construction project and because Sal has a lot of experience building Balsa USA WW I models, he decided to cut out the parts for the two upper wings using Balsa USA plans while keeping the ribs the same shape as the lower wing. Sal says that he then blended the two desig