FTS Projects

baldeagle · 28 January 2003, 04:28 AM

Can you post photos of the cable splices?

AchimEngels · 28 January 2003, 08:20 AM

Hello,

I have only one good image of a spliced cable attachment, but unfortunetely my scanner is broken. All I could offer would be to photograph this one tomorrow using my digital camara and to post it.

Achim

baldeagle · 28 January 2003, 04:48 PM

Achim,
I see that the ferrules on the Triplane are round in section, the ones that I've seen are oval, and have 10 turns, maybe that's why they're more expensive. These are typical of Curtiss Jennys and many American aircraft. I think the British machines used similar ferrules.

AK

AchimEngels · 28 January 2003, 10:00 PM

Baldeagle,

These ferrules do always apear to be oval, since it is part of the assembly to press the two bracings between them.

The image above shows the ferrules before this was done. Therefore they look "still" round there. There is no need to produce them oval.

I have read about this procedure some years ago in one of the contemporary "Flugsport" periodicals, but do not remember which issue this was. When I locate it I will post it here including a translation.

This way to do it is still used today and can be found on sail planes up to the late 50ies early 60ties.

I must admit that I have not seen any note about how many turns it should have. I have seen such ferrules used with 5 turns and with 9 at one and the same plane. The Munich D.VII even has some of them left round in shape.

Achim

joegertler · 29 January 2003, 04:38 AM

I had some original WWI German oval ferrules, new in boxes. in several sizes. I don't remember who bought them years ago, except that Fred Murrin bought the last of the ones I had. He can probably supply you with specs on them. I still have a couple of original spliced wires laying around. Will try to find one and take a close up photo-maybe just put it on the scanner and scan it for you..
I think I sent samples of all the ferrules and all the tubing sizes (including streamline) to the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin, all arranged on couple of boards. They will also have the various original tapered tubes for the ailerons, rudders, and elevators etc and original bell cranks, hinges and other brackets that I sent them. (a couple of tons).
Holger should be able to help you research and see the actual ones, as opposed to drawings etc..
If I can get this web site up with Finn's help, I can post photos of all these items, and more. Are you watching, Finn?

AchimEngels · 29 January 2003, 05:58 AM

Hello Joe,

I hope he does. Those images would be more than just apriciated. Itr is new to me that the ferrules have been made oval. I knew they were oval, but always thought it to be a result of final assembly steps. One never stops learning new things. I would love to learn of the various specifications you had.

All I knew was what I posted above. Damned thing have to relocate hat article!

Best

Achim

baldeagle · 30 January 2003, 01:25 PM

Achim,
What colors and markings will the D.VIIs wear?

AK

AchimEngels · 30 January 2003, 10:34 PM

Well,

Wulffo is not sure yet. Since we are doing the more early production versions we are rather limited.

Our own Fokker D.VII will bear the ordinary Fokker streaky finish just to stick with our policy to show how the aircraft left the factory.

Our´s will most probably be marked as 229/18. As you might know 227/18 and 228/18 have most probably been the V.11 and V.18 brought up to D.VII standard. I first have to check the type test documents to see if 229/18 was not the one that was tested to destruction at Adlershof. *

I must admit that I have not gone too far into the historic background of the early series with regard to their use and what happened to the single machines.

Wulffo´s aircraft might get straight crosses and personal markings, but he has not decided on this. Our´s will end up as one of the few featuring "maltee" or "iron" crosses.

The main advantage is of course that the streaky finish is more easy to receive its air traffic certificate, since you can use actual airworthy linen. This would be an advantage for Wulffo´, although I do not think that Ross Waltens repro lozenge fabric would not get aproval. I am not sure if we can use this lozenge five color fabric since I have read elsewhere *

that the very early D.VII after the streaky finish have been covered with four color fabric....or was it vice versa....Have to check first. For god sake have differnt problems with this streaky thing ...

best

Achim

AchimEngels · 19 February 2003, 10:48 PM

Hi all,

just a short update to keep you posted.

We have located a supplier for the delivery of the steel tubings and have placed the orders. Promise was made that the tubings will be delivered by this week so we may be able to start working on the actual airframe by next week. First thing we will do is to construct the stabilizer of our aircraft which is for sale using oxyacetylene welding. This one will be followed by Wulffo´s stabilizer which will be welded using TIG.

According to the McCook Field reports on D.VII 7774/18 we exclusively use steel tubings with seams, although it appears that both types (seamless and welded tubings) have been used by Fokker at that time.

We have been discussing things for the first time with the German air traffic authorities construction supervisor and have not detected any major difficulties which could hinder the course of traffic certificate in Germany for Wulffo´s original D.III powered aircraft.

We have made first experiments with our drop shape tubing producing tool and it works quite good. We are able to generate drop shape struts of 2m length with it so far. I must admit we have a serious problem how to achieve the correct shape of the tubes, but we are working on the problem and are convinced that we can overcome it after a view modifications of the tools. In the meantime we are just happy to be able to get those round shaped tubes into that drop shaped cross section without the addition of any heat.

Apart from that we are also working on some other tools which we will need to let the course of construction run in a smooth way.

I will show you some images as soon as I have them available.

Best

Achim

AchimEngels · 26 February 2003, 08:58 AM

Hello,

Things are coming together right now.

Today we have received all of the tubings. Most of it, but not all is in German St.44 grade steel.

As you can see this is a whole bunch of tubes. Our workshop now is filled up with them!

Since the workshop and most necessary tools are prepared and ready to go, we did of course not waste a moment and finally begun working on the actual aircraft. *:P

We decided to go first with the stabilizer.

This one is an explosion view of the components of the basic framework.

The next one shows how we make the parts fit together. Each tube is shaped by hand using a file to fit exactly with the next tube it will be joined with by welding. Some people say that it is not neccesary to work that exact and that you can fill gabs while welding, but we do not do this and we also do not reccomment this careless way to get things done. In the end this way produces much more beautiful welded joints *

We use a small piece of tube to check the way it fits.

Here you see the actual parts put together before welding.

The same of course goes for the front piece.

Here is the whole thing before welding.

I hope that we will be able to get the first stabilizer finished by the end of this week. I will come up with some more images by then.

Enjoy!

Achim