Dutch Modelling and Aviation

In Memoriam

Klaas Willem Jonker
(Wilko)
† April 30, 2018

On Monday, April 30, 2018, Wilko Jonker passed away after a long illness at the age of 58. He leaves behind a wife and two children. The Dutch military aviation and plastic model building were his hobby and on this website he has shared all the knowledge he has gathered about it over the many years. His hobby was able to distract him from the raging disease in his body until the last week of his life. The contacts with other hobbyists were a major support for him.

Rumpler C.VIII

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History

The Rumpler C.VIII was developed as an operational trainer for crew almost ready to enter their operational status.
The type could also be used for operational purposes.
In 1917 It made its first flight and at the end of the same year it entered operational service with several training groups.

 

Technical information
Dimensions:
Length: 8,4 m Wingspan: 12,2 m
Height: 3,2 m Wing area: 33,6 m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 1050 kg Max. start weight: 1485 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 140 km/hr Climbing speed: - m/min
Cruising speed: - km/hr    
Range: 500 km Service ceiling: 7500 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: One Maybach Mb IV rated 240 hp
Crew: Two men: one aviator plus one observer/air gunner
Armament: One machine gun; 50 kg bombs.

 


During the summer of 1917 lt Duinker and Lt. Versteegh were travelling through Germany, looking for aircraft for the LVA.
Besides the fact that they had the opportunity to test the Fokker D.III, at Rumpler-Werke at Johannistal forty Rumpler C-VIII scouts were ordered. In March 1918 this aircraft was tested thoroughly by Versteegh, than the order was definite and the factory could start building the aircraft.
November 1918 because of possibility of sabotage it was forbidden to use the Rumplers.

May 1919 there was an air show at Copenhagen and two aircraft R4558 and R462 flew to Denmark. The R462, caught fire on the outward journey and crashed. The crew, lt Duinker and Perk, was unfortunately killed.
Some time later another Rumpler caught fire during an exercise near Ede. At the end of November 1919 Rumpler R452 caught fire during a flight above air base Soesterberg and crashed, killing the crew, lt. Land and lt. Van Dijk.
The result was that it was ordered not to fly with the Rumplers. A committee of the Government searched for the cause of these accidents. March 1921 a report stated that the engine used, was unreliable and might caught fire spontaneous.
Concluded was that the aircraft was in use in Germany and also thoroughly tested when it was bought. All Rumplers were written off during 1920 and some were used for taxiing exercises and these were re-registered R1, R2, etc.

Rumpler C.VIII, crashed at Soesterberg. This has to be Rumpler R418, which crash on October 4, 1918 after a collision with a mast. Lt  A.N.S.W.L. Coblijn (pupil) was severely wounded. Instructor was Lt. J.C.G. Duinker.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII serial R454 on its nose on the Sint Pietersberg (Maastricht) May 7, 1919. Crew sgt.maj. vl. W. van der Drift and lt.observer Van Driel.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
A Rumpler C.VIII visiting naval air station De Kooy.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII: observers cockpit with machine gun.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII R456 at Soesterberg. From left to right  Lt. Mulder, Lt. De Ruijter van Steveninck and Lt. J.T.H. van Weeren.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII and a Fokker D.III at Soesterberg.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII at Soesterberg. The generator under the fuselage is clearly visible.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII at Soesterberg.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII at the ELTA in 1919.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
One of the first Rumplers C.VIII at Soesterberg, possibly May 1918.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII taxi trainer serial 450.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
One of the first Rumplers C.VIII at Soesterberg, possibly May 1918.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII serial 471
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rumpler C.VIII with crew.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

 


Serial
Serial
 2nd Serial
2nd Serial
 Werknr.
Werknr.
 (German) Bestellnr.
(German) Bestellnr.
 Date in service
Date in service
 Date out of service
Date out of service
 Notes
notes
R417       25-04-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R418       25-04-1918 01-10-1918 Collided against a signal mast and crashed.
Written off.
R419       25-04-1918 4-09-1918 Crashed after take-off at Soesterberg.
Written off.
R420       25-04-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R421       25-04-1918 05-06-1918 Crashed at Soesterberg.
Written off.
R422       25-04-1918 1924 R422/3 in 1925 withdrawn from use.
R423       25-04-1918 1920  
R424       25-04-1918 23-07-1918 (Most probably) Crashed with Lt.VL van Oosten.
R447       21-08-1918 1920  
R448       21-08-1918 19-05-1919 Burned in hangar at Ede
R449       21-08-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R450 R1???     21-08-1918 05-03-1919 Turned over at Schiphol.
Used for some time as an instructional aircraft, not able to fly., R1 ???.
R451       21-08-1918 1925 R451/3 withdrawn from use in 1925
R452       21-08-1918 24-11-1919 Caught fire during a flight over Soesterberg
R453       21-08-1918 1920  
R454       21-08-1918 1920  
R455       21-08-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R456 R2     21-08-1918 1920 From 1921 and on used as instructional aircraft, not able to fly, registered R2
R457 R3     21-08-1918 13-05-1919 Turned over at Leusderheide.
Used as instructional aircraft, not able to fly, registered R3.
R458 R4     21-08-1918 1920 From 1921 and on used as instructional aircraft, not able to fly, registered R4
R459       21-08-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R460       21-08-1918 1920  
R461       21-08-1918 1925 Emergency landing on 20-11-1919.
In 1925 withdrawn from use.
R462       21-08-1918 14-05-1919 During flight to Copenhagen caught fire and crashed.
R463       21-08-1918 1920  
R464       21-08-1918 1920  
R465       21-08-1918 24-11-1919 Caught fire and crashed in flames at Soesterberg.
R466       25-09-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R467       25-09-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R468       25-09-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R469       25-09-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R470       25-09-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R471       25-09-1918 22-02-1919 Written off.
R472       25-09-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R473       25-09-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R474       25-09-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R475       25-09-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R476       25-09-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R477       25-09-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.
R478       25-09-1918 1925 Withdrawn from use.

 


1/72nd Scale

Kits

  • Lüdemann
    • Kit L4002: Ludemann has released a resin model of the Rumpler C-VIII.

Modelling add-on

  • Miniworld
    • Set A72-16: Parabellum LMG.14

Decals

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    • Set --: --

1/48th Scale

Kits

  • --
    • Kit --: --

Modelling add-on

  • --
    • Set --: --

Decals

  • --
    • Set --: --

 


The Rumplers were delivered in de German camouflage colours: a pattern of german purple and dark green and blue undersides.

For the colours listed below I refer to http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff_eng_colorcharts_germany.htm

Scheme Colour name FS number BS number Humbrol XtraColor Vallejo Model Color Vallejo Model Air
Standard #1 Dark green / Dunkelgrün     30 X241    
Purple / Dunkelviolett     107 X242    
Underside blue       X243    

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

Rumpler CVIII 1 SMALL
Delivery scheme Rumpler C.VIII

 

 


Literature.

Nederlandse Militaire Luchtvaart in Beeld. deel 1. Hugo Hooftman Pag. 48 - 49 1977 Uitgever: Europese Bibliotheek, Zaltbommel
AVIA: 41e jaargang nummer 3: Foto van Rumpler C-VIII 471.   Pag. 118 - 1982 Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam
KLu Vliegtuigen: De vliegtuigen van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht vanaf 1913 Wim Schoenmaker & Thijs Postma Pag. 27 1987 Uitgeverij De Alk, Alkmaar
Luchtvaartwereld; 6e jaargang nummer 11: De Rumpler-affaire. Frits Gerdessen Pag. 318 - 320 1989 Uitgeverij Ten Brink, Meppel
Squadrons van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht (derde herzien druk) Willem Helfferich Pag. 13 - 1994 Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam
Camouflage en Kentekens J.Greuter e.a.   1997 Bonneville – Bergen (NH)

 

Websites.

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