Getting started

[Machinbird]

Huckebein, I would strongly recommend taking a course in welding to get the welding skills. You could buy an oxyacetylene rig and start welding for practice, but you would miss a lot of the theory and safety information you really should have. Ultimately skill in welding comes from just doing it. You can build the aircraft with oxyacetylene welding, but a little mig/tig equipment can speed things up and create a pretty looking weld.
You can learn a lot looking at Achim's D.VII build, so take the time to look it over if you haven't done so already.
Finally, unless you are independently wealthy, you will probably have to settle for a make-do engine that generates it's horsepower at too high an rpm for realistic performance. You may as well address this question early on so you do not end up with an airframe and no power plant, and no ideas what to do for one.
My woodworking experience does not qualify me to give advice on the subject. Perhaps someone more qualified can comment. I do know that safety around wood working equipment is critical if one is to keep ones basic allotment of equipment.

[Makhpiyaluta]

Originally Posted by Huckebein

What about ways of getting the skills to build though? I only took those mandatory courses in high school. I don't know how to weld or do woodwork. I am pretty unskilled that way.

Any Suggestions?

Huckebein,

Please try to find experieced people who will give you assistance and who can expertly check your work. If you don't have any experience in welding and woodwork it is hard to build a D VII. If you want to build a static it doesn't matter but when you want it airborne you need to build safe.
An airplane is not something you just put together you need to know what materials to use etc. Now get me right I 'm not trying to say you shouldn't build it but don't do it alone. Get people around you who know what there doeing. Good luck with your project

Willem

The more research I do into this the more I think that I should start with a kit. I want a full-size aircraft... so I was thinking of the Nieuport 17

http://www.airdromeaeroplanes.com/Default.asp?page=67

What do you guys think?

[Makhpiyaluta]

Huckebein,

That is not a replica but a lookalike (my opinion) and appart from it's shape it has nothing to do with the real thing. Go for the real thing but be sure to have enough spare time for the first ten or so years. First off all take a welding course and make hours on getting an expert. Do a airplane wood work course to get the hang off it. When your done your probably a few years further and had enough time to study the plane you like to build.

Willem

[jumpinjan]

Originally Posted by Huckebein

The more research I do into this the more I think that I should start with a kit

Its like this, if you buy Robert's N17 kit and use his facilities & guidance for two days to get the fuselage fab up, then yes that would be a good idea and you will gain his knowledge & enthusiasm to complete the project in a reasonable time frame. If on the other hand you buy the kit and attempt to fabricate it at home, it's questionable. I say that because you are relying on the assembly instructions and from what I have seen of the D8 kit instructions, they are not that well written. For a newbe, you will have to learn it yourself and that could take years so what's the point of a kit then? That's the way that I look at it & my opinion.

I think you guys are right.

The whole purpose for me is to build an aircraft as it was in WW1... not simply as it looked. I don't care how long it takes really, I just want to be proud of it when it's finished.

[AchimEngels]

Hello Huckebein,

The whole purpose for me is to build an aircraft as it was in WW1... not simply as it looked. I don't care how long it takes really, I just want to be proud of it when it's finished.

That´s the first step in the very right direction.

The voyage may be long and appear to be full of obstacles, but in the end you will have accomblished something special that you will enjoy and be indeed proud of.

Here are many great folks in this forum and I am sure they will provide good and usefull hints and advise once you have reached a point where you think it won´t go ahead.

Just make it happen.

Cheers!

Achim

[Dogtail2]

Huckebein

I'm currently building a Fokker Dr 1 replica and have no previous welding or woodworking experience other than a few r/c scale models. So far I'm happy with progress after exactly 1 year, have Three finished spars and a complete set of ribs. Just started laying out tube for the fuselage. Have taken a 4 day TIG welding course.
If you want to do anything enough, you will do it. It just takes hard work and a bit of perseverence... and money of course. You will need a good set of tools, and just when you thought you had everything you need, another job comes up that requires another tool.
I could not have done without a decent floor standing disc/belt sander, wood bandsaw, table saw, router, and bench drill.

Just do it. Learn on the Job.

[Makhpiyaluta]

Originally Posted by Huckebein

I think you guys are right.

The whole purpose for me is to build an aircraft as it was in WW1... not simply as it looked. I don't care how long it takes really, I just want to be proud of it when it's finished.

That's the spirit Huckebein, remember in Zen they say 'it's in the journey not the destination'

Willem

[Prop Nut]

I too would like to build a WWI plane, but not exactly for the same reasons. I have a few friends that are EAA members and have built or are currently building planes. My first love in R/C is WWI, what better full scale project could there be? My deviation from this is that it would be a pleasure craft for me. I want to build a two place for my wife and I to enjoy gawking(her term). Perfect scale is not important to me as fullfilling the above requirments. Does that mean that I am in the wrong forum? Some of the above post seem to say "Go scale or go home" I am sure from the threads that I have read that this was not the intent.