BATTLEAXE Fokker DVIII Build

[mgtaylor]

Dear Steve
Thanks for the great TIPS! You've given me the inspiration to finish !
I really ought to have named this Build BABY STEPS. From the movie what ever happened to BOB?

Heres a little of the final challenge faceing me:


First of all it might look as if the frame is bent but no thats my "STRUTZ" which is curved and a bit wavy. It was shipping damage so they arrived a spegetti mess. I figure to get at least teh length I need to come out straight. Also these are the KIT Struts. which alone may look acceptable but believe me they are FAT and mis-shapen.


Here's a pic of the Gas gage and Oil Filler Caps installed. THe Caps came as PE Parts on the KITS Brass fret and I added a short brass tube underneath it for a filler neck. The Gage Face is from the Eduard DR I fret and given a drop of Testers "Window Maker" Which goes on a Milky Blob and dries crystal clear making great instrument faces.


Here's one of the Air Intake Pipes Fabricated again out of approiate thickness Brass tubing. Ive since dipped it in MM Aluminum Plate Metalizer for a nice finish.

[mgtaylor]

I got some great encouagement and some tips from some board memebers. Ive plowed forward into the slip stream. Only my Daddy Day Care duties and other commitments are slowing me down now I am close to finishing.

I went ahead with the struts while preparing the upper deck of the fuselage to mount the armament and engine.

Here are the struts in progress. THese are the gear struts sodered together over a template I traced from the original parts. I took the dremel cutting wheel and carved attachment ball Joints on the ends. One is finished now to duplicate another one.



While I was at it I mounted the intake tubes and engine. WHile i had the Dremel out I made a prop shaft out of a brass tube. I chucked a short length of it in the Dremel and on a low speed took it to a knife sharpening stone and sanded it down to the right diameter to fit. After I have the cowling on and wood carved prop from CopperState I will cut it to length.





I hoping to get the engine installation done and move on to the other details then finish the Decals of the datum info, side nubmer and crosses etc. As soon as thats ready I have the AeroClub Jig set up and ready to get to fixing the gear and attaching the wing.

But for now I have work and then a couple of days off filled with house and daddy day care chores. THe big breaks off are over. I will really have to struggle to fit these few things in and get done. I am close.