Siemens-Schuckert R.VII

The Siemens-Schuckert R.VII was a one-off Riesenflugzeug (Giant Aeroplane) with serial number R.7/15. It served with Rfa 501 at Vilna on the Russian Front,, where it had arrived in February 1917. After its service lifetime, the R.VII served as a Riesenflugzeug trainer.

Originally designed for the Maybach HS engine, and being the first SSW R-plane to use the Mercedes D.IVa, the R.VII required more extensive changes than its predecessors, including completely new five-bay wings. This affected its flight characteristics, and it took a week of adjustments before it was ready for its first operational mission. In the summer of 1917, Rfa 501 was transferred to the Western Front, but the R.VII -- like its SSW brothers -- stayed behind and was used purely as an R-plane trainer through at least January 1918.

1:144 Scale

 * Shapeways: Columbia Aerodrome

1:200 Scale

 * Shapeways: Columbia Aerodrome