DR-1 (Sands): Builders Group

[Jeff Brooks]

Originally Posted by Jim Bruton

Has anyone had success (or failure) in getting your gimballed compass to orient properly? No matter what I do with my correction magnets, My "North" points continuously to the front of the aircraft. This makes the compass solely decorative until I figure this out.

What has anyone else done who might have dealt with this challenge?

Also, anyone know how to make a good windvane type of wind speed indicator? I took a shot at it, not satisfied.

Thanks,

Jim

Jim,
if the compass is still pointing at your engine, you need stronger magnets on the correcting magnets. I am not home, but let get in touch with vet. he might be able to get some info on where to get stronger magnets.

[Jim Bruton]

Thanks Jeff,

I do have some small rare earth magnets I've thought about trying. I'll keep fidgeting with it and see if I come up with a direction.

Be Safe.

Jim

[Gabriel Voisin]

Jim,

I believe you need a iphone navi tool,....lol.

Have fun,....and greetings

[ulpilot]

Originally Posted by Jim Bruton

Thanks Jeff,

I do have some small rare earth magnets I've thought about trying. I'll keep fidgeting with it and see if I come up with a direction.

Be Safe.

Jim

At work right now, but will post this weekend with some info. Also somewhere in my collection I have drawings for the vane airspeed.

[j ferguson]

This may have little application here, but the compensators on steel boats tend to be iron balls on either side of the compass such that a line between them would be 90 degrees from ship's centerline. You have a steel frame which may act the same way, not to mention the steel components of the engine and its electricals.

I have some other things to try, but it would be hard to imagine you haven't already done them.

If the arrangement that Vet and Jeff have constructed is identical to the original, one might ask, "what is different about my installation?"

[Dogtail2]

I found the correcting magnets as supplied are not strong enough. I added a third magnet and played around with it until I got reasonable heading accuracy.

[Jim Bruton]

This is good- I appreciate hearing from everyone on this compass issue. Honestly, I haven't tried much because it's all more or less magic to me!

Pete, where did you place the 3rd magnet and did you orient all magnets across the airframe (versus along its long axis)? I can certainly try placing some equal amounts of iron mass on either side of the compass (left and right) and see what happens.

Or perhaps I'll use my iPhone. LOL

Any more ideas? Keep 'em coming- thanks again!

Jim

[j ferguson]

ignore my remark about the iron. that's for ships, the magnets will be more effective.

I'd referred to how it's done on ships only to alert you to the idea that you are trying to compensate for the effect of the steel fuselage.

you are getting better advice than mine here.

[US95Damiani]

Great Pic Jim!

[Dart]

On the airspeed indicator:

Rick Bennett's Airspeed page

(courtesty Kansas City Dawn Patrol and Rick Bennett)