DR-1 (Sands): Builders Group - Page 202

Dogtail2 · 18 February 2008, 05:37 AM

Hi Jim

Keep up the pressure and post some pics.

Corvus,

When doing the ailerons I lay the wire along the entire length and held it in place with mole grips, no particular tension but not sloppy either, and silver soldered the wire to each rib in turn from the left. Although straight to begin with, the wire distorts with application of heat.Too much heat and the wire melts, so I did quite a few practice joints with scrap tube/wire first. Its impossible to keep the wire dead straight, and when the fabric is taughtened this will give the scalloped shape.
Achieving the scallop is automatic when using a wire trailing edge.

CORVUS · 18 February 2008, 06:40 AM

Hi Pete,

Wow, that's interesting that the wire would melt from soldering. Are you using a Butane torch or your welder. Looks like a lot of metal there so there's a lot of heat sinkage before you can get everything hot enough for the solder to melt. What you did looks very nice. Could the builder use a stainless steel cable in lieu of the wire ?

Thanks for writing,

Lou

Dogtail2 · 18 February 2008, 10:14 AM

Lou,

When silver soldering I use an oxy-acetylene torch with a small tip. Because of the small tube and wire diameter it heats up very fast. You need red heat for the solder to melt properly and fuse the parts. A second too long with the torch and..ping...one melted wire. The result is much stronger than with ordinary solder. Im not sure about using cable. I think the heat would open up the strands and spoil the job.

Pete

Lyle · 18 February 2008, 11:36 AM

Hi Pete,
Great to see what you're doing on this project; it's inspiring to see this coming through for you. Lou (CORVUS) is my brother and we have been talking the triplane talk for a very long time, but it looks like he's going to be jumping in with both feet!

Lou, you are the man to do this! I can only be your cheerleader in the metal department because I couldn't weld my way out of a plastic bag. Glad this is happening for you, it's been a few years since we sat down with WWI Aero and started reading. Those trips to Aerodrome 92 and 94 were great sources of inspiration talking to all those guys with the triplanes. I think that it was the first time since WWI that five Dr.Is were in the air at the same time in the same place (well, vicinity--same place would mean a midair

)

CORVUS · 18 February 2008, 11:54 AM

Okay, okay, Lyle I'll build the fuselage layout table, Jeeez.

Lou

Lyle · 18 February 2008, 12:14 PM

Hey, no pressure!

Dogtail2 · 18 February 2008, 12:28 PM

Lou and Lyle,

This is my first build and its a learning curve. But its satisfying when something one has been working on, and sometimes struggling with, comes together. There will be lows and highs. The main thing is to keep going. Keep doing it bit by bit and eventually there will be nothing left to do.
But Lyle, dont try and weld your way out of a plastic bag, it could be very messy

Pete

CORVUS · 18 February 2008, 01:13 PM

Lyle,

I need a push. Talks cheap.

CORVUS · 21 February 2008, 07:07 AM

Hi,

I'm making a list of tools I need for this and that and one question came to mind. When you guys did your wing ribs what tool did you find that works best for cutting the holes out of the ribs. First thought are those hole cutting saws but I was wondering if they rip the wood. Were you able to come up with a jig so you could cut more than one rib at a time ?

I also talked with Roger Freeman yesterday regarding the metal kit I ordered. The delay has been caused by a computer crash. He is redrawing parts that he lost as well as adding a few more pieces. He is going to send me a list of all the pieces in the kit. I will scan and post it as soon as I have it. The price has been adjusted accordingly.

He mentioned how he was working on three DVII's and just finished up a DR-1. He has a very strong argument for the use of tube diagonal reinforcing versus all those inside corner half loops, turnbuckles, music wire and those infernal furrells , which is all very expensive and time consuming. On top of that, the wire stretches. I thought it something worth considering.

Thanks,

Lou

Jim Bruton · 21 February 2008, 11:43 AM

I just used a hole saw in my drill press and held like 4 or 5 pieces together. Of course, you fill up the hole saw pretty quickly that way... but it worked for me. And I made 2 entire sets that way.