How do, Y'all
Bear in mind, that the idea of cranking out a custom engine to accept existing parts might sound a little ambitious, but there are skills I have in master-making that allow me this privilage- and to that the fact that holding such a master and knowing those who have cut the shafts puts me in a good positon once the formula is worked out. I am envisioning an engine that will allow 7/8 Albatross and Fokker D-VII craft to have an upright air-cooled four-banger. Perhaps this might tilt the scale at airshows, so's those cheeky 7/8 Neiuports have a worthy advesary. The fusalage of the Albatross is what I find to my advantage- I have a little experiance bending plywood and woodwrighting impossible items- this hull looks right up my ally.
BTW, I have noticed the tendancy of hull progression with the Albatross series of long gores of ply on the D-II and D-III to patchwork quilt on the D-Va- is this a structural advantage or is this wartime economics? Certainly one gets more use out of ply if one cuts smaller pieces- it does seem to me that the earlier models have the stronger frame. Also, if I do a D-III, I will certainly use the D-Va strut supports on the lower wing, authenticity be damned! I would like to survive flying this thing...I am fussy about such matters. :
Anywho, figgured I'd explain a little 'bout my ambitions, so's y'all can see where I headed with this- ("where is we 'a' going, an' why is we in thisyear handbasket?!?")
Gregory F. Howard