FTS Projects - Page 102

brisfitworks · 27 March 2006, 06:12 PM

Achim:

Hi, I'm with the GWFM and a newbie to the forum. I am thoroughly impressed and pleased by your attention to details. I am an authenticity fanatic and truely understand the effort it takes. My hat is off to you and I bow.

I had to smile because of your Pfalz diversion. Back in the 80's I did an article for WW1 Aero about costruction techniques for RC modellers to convince them that at 1/4 size, original construction was superior to balsa. For that I made proof of concept models of a Pfalz D.III and a Fok.D.VII. D.III pics below. It was as accurate as I could get with available info and time constraints.

( the mottled finish is the ply after sanding to smooth out a few waves, a scaling problem in forming)

The real reason I write is because I know how challenging the fuselage shell is. Do you have a copy of the movie made inside that Pfalz factory? It shows tremendous detail of the forming process and the molds. A must for a replica project. I think Peter Grosz had it.

Cheers,
Bill Batter.

P.S. A higher res. img is attached as .pdf Attachment 4978

AchimEngels · 27 March 2006, 08:33 PM

Hello Bill,

welcome to the forum. I have read your initial posts.

Thanks a lot for your kind words.

Your model Pfalz D.III is simply outstanding! I love it.

Yes, I have the movies you mention that have been shot at the Pfalz Company. As a matter of fact this is te main source I will use to replicate the original methods employed there to construct the fuselage.

I also have access to a large piece of fuselage fragment of the Pfalz D.XII which also tells us how it was done.

Unfortunately I have not yet seen any original factory engineering drawings of the fuselage, so I wil have to depend on doingreverse engineering from other factory documents like the spar parts list and the dimensions of bits and pieces provided there as well as all those information on captured planes.....

But I think I have enough to come up with a most accurate aircraft.

Cheers!

Achim

AchimEngels · 29 March 2006, 08:13 AM

The wooden posts of the stabilizers for the Fokker D.VII´s are completed now.

...

AchimEngels · 29 March 2006, 08:15 AM

The aluminium strips for the attachment of the wooden stringer to the stabilizer are being prepared.

Fritz Kempf · 29 March 2006, 09:14 AM

Wow; how thick are those, I think Ron Sands only calls for .020 to hold on the wood on the Dr1. Now I’m scared!!

AchimEngels · 29 March 2006, 09:22 AM

Hello Fritz,

the original Fokker factory drawing for the wooden post calls for aluminum strips of 10mm width made from 0,7mm - 1mm sheet.

Ron Sands appearently used 0.5mm sheet aluminium for his plans.

I would not worry that much. I am sure he does not ask for ordinary aluminium, but something that is stronger.

In the end several planes fly that way without trouble.

Also; the stringer is held tightly in place by the fabric in the end. These alu strips are hardly capable of providing true strenght.

Cheers!

Achim

Butch · 29 March 2006, 05:28 PM

Achim,
Beautiful work as always. How did you fashion the concave part of the wooden stab posts?
Pete Hays

Jim52 · 29 March 2006, 05:57 PM

Looks to me that He's using a shaper set-up.

Jim

AchimEngels · 29 March 2006, 09:01 PM

Hello Butch,
Hello Jim52,

I am not sure how you call the machine in English. I think it is called a "router"?

I grinded the knifes for the tool myself to achive the radii required per drawing.

Today I will put the first wooden stringer in place and may come up with images of it later today.

Enjoy!

Achim

Yeoman · 30 March 2006, 03:47 AM

Hi Achim
That machine is what we in Britain call a 'spindle moulder'
I use them all the time. They are a very useful tool !

Beautiful work as always Achim.