FTS Projects

[AchimEngels]

The first ailerons for the Rumpler C.IV project are also completed. Boy do they look good!

In order to go ahead with the drawings for that project I have been at Munich these days and meassured and photographed their "Rumpler C.IV" in very close detail. If the museum agrees this may well become the subject of one of my next "In Detail" books, but this is yet undecided.

However I have almost finished the drawings for the lower and upper wing ribs for this plane.

On the other front the drawing for the Pfalz D.III rudder comes together well.





While I was waiting for some materials to be delivered I started to work out some pieces for the D.III rudder.


Fabric spacers around the hinge area




A set of rudder control horns.

Quite in contrary to the Fokker designers, those at Pfalz paid attention to the fact that nothing is welded directly to the rudder spar. As in the Fokkers the entire rudder is made up from steel sheet and steel tubes, but all the ribs and the control horn is welded to sleves wich are slided onto the rudder spar and brazed to it.

The control horn even goes a step further. You can see these short tubes welded to its rear. Into these tubes the rib tubes are inserted and brazed into place. However, the design is a bit simpler than the Fokker design with the big advantage that the hinges can be replaced easily.

Enjoy!

Achim

[AchimEngels]

Final preparations to start covering:


Alexandra is cutting a mastern pattern of paper which will be used to cut the fabric. The cover will be a bag sewn with the machine with one end open. This will be closed by a hand seam. At present i amroutingthe wooden post of the stabilizer to which the open end of the bag will be attached.

We will do three stabilizers covered with unbleached linnen. These will receive the camouflage paint scheme Fokker used with the early production D.VII´s. One of the D.VII´s will be a late production model and will get a cover of printed camouflage fabric.






These above images show some of the rudders that now await rust protection and finalpaint before they will be covered.

Enjoy!

Achim

[AchimEngels]

Stages in the life of new stabilizers for the D.VII´s.


Dad is applying rust protection.


Two stabilizers finally painted.


Stabilizer during bandaging with linen strips.


What would some of us do without those loving and paticipating spouces? This is Alexandra fitting the first envelope.

...

[AchimEngels]

Making of one of the socket joints for the undercarriage


Ball and socket joint.


These are the adjustable ball and socket joints for the Fokker Dr.I center cabane rear attachments and for the Fokker D.VIII landing gear forward attachments.

[AchimEngels]

Some of the adjustable balls.


Comparision between the small triplane and D.VIII sockets and the larger Fokker D.VII sockets.

Enjoy!

Achim

[Fritz Kempf]

Achim
Here is the million dollar question; why is the back side of the shaft drilled? I just had mine turned and I told them not to drill it, I can drill it on my lathe if need be.
Is this just to make it easer to weld?

Thanks
Ed

[AchimEngels]

There are two reasons:

First, it makes the part much lighter in weight.

Second, yes, it is more efficiently welded, because you do not have to apply excessive heat just to warm up the solid piece.

The second reason may not be a issue if you use TIG.

Cheers!

Achim

[Fritz Kempf]

Thanks

Ed

[AchimEngels]

Weekend!!!!

Triplane time!!!!

Some ribs in progress...









Enjoy!

Achim

[AchimEngels]

Trying hard to replicate what we saw on page 98 of this thread.



Still way too clean.....

Enjoy!

Achim