DJ's 1/4 scale Albatros DIII

[jtisch]

Since my Briggs engine weighs over 5-1/2 lbs, I thought I had better make sure the firewall won't come off. I added some hardwood blocks behind the firewall and will "peg" the blocks from the sides with some dowel and then run some screws from the front of the firewall into the blocks.

Sorry about the picture quality. My el cheapo camera doesn't take close up photos well.

[jtisch]

Here's another bad shot.

All the blocks are glued in. Hopefully you can see where I made up some doublers out of lite ply and put them where the blocks attach to the sides. This will give a lot more glue area for the blocks. The alignment tube is in place and I just have to wait for my wood order to continue. I think the use of the alignment tube is a neat idea and can't wait to try it out.

[DJ]

Sheet it on the sides and top, then remove the tube and cut the cross pieces out. I ran guides from the point where the control wires exit the fuselage to the former at the leading edge of the stab. Don,t forget to solder the control horn onto the rudder"tiller" before begining to sheet. I also ran control line bushings on the former at the rear of the cockpit. Then just pop in the fire wall and sheet the bottom. It takes about 15-20 hours to build the fuselage.

[jtisch]

DJ, Thanks for the tips and congrats on your win at the mint Julep!
I finally got my wood order and installed the stringers. You have to grind the grooved blocks in order to get the stringers in, but no big deal.Overall it went very smoothly. One thing I might do different if I were to do it over is to glue some 90 degree scrap balsa on the formers at the tube junction. This would make them somewhat self-aligning. I must have grabbed my alignment block a couple hundred times before I got everything glued in place. Time to start sheeting!

[Lyle]

J,
It's looking great, keep up the good work--
Lyle

[Lucky Dog]

John,
Looking good!

What did you use for an alignment tube? PVC pipe?

[jtisch]

Tsk,Tsk! Lucky Dog As previously mentioned in post
#6, the alignment tube is a metal tube I found at Lowe's in the organizer and shelving dept. The sheeting has started and I'll post a pic soon.

The more I think about it, the more I like Brumowski's 153.52 with the million swirls.It will be a chore to paint all of them, but what the heck,it is rather unique. Here it is.

[Prop Nut]

Wow J, what can I say? I stand in Awe. Well, I am actually sitting but I am doing it in Awe. You leave me in the dust. My Tripe is still in the bones and you have finished your DVII and started your Albatros. It looks great, good luck with the paint scheme. Drop me a line with info on your DVII flight.

David

[jtisch]

Prop nut, I am really good at starting projects.Finishing them is another story! I still have my GTM DRI that's going on over four years now. Anyone like welding aluminum?
Things are going rather smoothly on the DIII for me so far. I got it sheeted enough to take out the alignment tube and added the star or "+" in the rear. I know it's not fully sheeted yet but I am surprised at how light it is. I am now considering on whether to make the tail as shown or whether to "kick it up a notch" and make a tail with scale hinges and a slightly thicker section at the roots.I may be a glutton for punishment. Here is the pic of the day.

[Bookmaker]

I'm not sure what type of amuninum welding you need, but have you ever tried Alumiweld? It'd a relatively low temp system that will "weld" aluminum, and most non ferrous metals.

I saw it for the first time down at TOP GUN several years ago. The guy had me filling split in aluminum cans. My dad has welded a gas tank for his swamp buggy. I takes a little practice and you must follow a few instructions, but it really works and is very strong.

My last use was filling in drill hole errore in my GTM aluiminum cowl.

Dale

Dale