History
The Rumpler C.IV was a two seat reconnaissance aircraft and developed from the Rumpler C.III, and differed from it by revised tail section and the engine, a 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa. The aircraft was built under license by Pfalz as Pfalz C.I.
The Rumpler Cc.IV was developed because of new specifications of IDFlieg in autumn 1916, for a high performance reconnaissance aircraft, which had to be capable of carrying the newly developed "Reihenbildkamera". The aircraft operated from a height of about 6000 m.
The aircraft had to succeed the Albatros C.VII, equipped wit 220 hp Mercedes D.IV. Albatros had developed the Albatros C.X, also with a Mercedes D.IVa. Both types entered service at the beginning of 1917. The Albatros was disappointing and performed hardly better than the Albatros C.VII, so just 100 examples were bult and used for training.
The Rumpler C.IV suffered problems with the construction of the fuselage, causing delay in production. Many aircraft were returned to the factory for modifications. In May 1917 the Rumpler C.IV entered operational service.
Because of its good performance it was kept in service until the end of the war. About 2000 examples were built.
The Rumpler 6B-2, was a single seat float version with a 160 hp Mercedes D.III.
| Dimensions: | |||
| Length: | 8,41 m | Wingspan: | 12,66 m |
| Height: | 3,2 m | Wing area: | 33,5 m2 |
| Weights: | |||
| Empty weight: | - kg | Max. start weight: | - kg |
| Performances: | |||
| Max. speed: | 171 km/hr | Climbing speed: | - m/min |
| Cruising speed: | - km/hr | ||
| Range: | 3,5 uur | Service ceiling: | 5700 m |
| Miscellaneous: | |||
| Engine type: | One Mercedes D-IVa rated 260 hp | ||
| Crew: | Two men: one aviator plus one observer/air gunner | ||
| Armament: | One fixed, forward firing Spandau LMG 08/15 7.92 mm machine gun; one movable Parabellum MG14 machine gun for the observer, 100 kg bombs. | ||
An aircraft of this type landed near Beegden-Horn on November 12, 1918, just one day after the end of the war and was interned as R481.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
| Serial | Werknr. | (German) Bestellnr. | Date in service | Date out of service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R481 | 7615/17 | 12-11-1918 |
1/72nd Scale
Kits
- Joystick
- Kit Joy11: A vacu formed kit.
- CMK
- Kit XX: A resin kit of a Rumpler C.IV
Modelling add-on
- Miniworld
- Set A72-16: Parabellum LMG.14
Decals
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- Set --: --
1/48th Scale
Kits
- Planet
- Kit 167: A resin kit of a Rumpler C.IV
Modelling add-on
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- Set --: --
Decals
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- Set --: --
The Rumpler C.IV had the standard German colours of that period applied, overall green with a lilac mottled pattern.
| Scheme | Colour name | FS number | BS-number | Humbrol | XtraColor | Vallejo Model Color | Vallejo Model Air | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.
Literature.
| Nederlandse Militaire Luchtvaart in beeld, deel 1 | H. Hooftman | Pag. | 1977 | Uitgave: Europese Bibliotheek, Zaltbommel |
| KLu Vliegtuigen: De vliegtuigen van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht vanaf 1913 | Wim Schoenmaker & Thijs Postma | Pag. 17 | 1987 | Uitgeverij De Alk, Alkmaar |
| Camouflage en Kentekens | J.Greuter e.a. | 1997 | Bonneville – Bergen (NH) | |
| Air Enthusiast no.80 The Historical Aviation Journal: Unexpected Windfalls | Bart van der Klaauw | Pag. 54 - 59 | 1999 | Uitgever: Key Publishing, Stamford |
Websites.
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Nederlands (nl-NL) 
English (United Kingdom)