FTS Projects

AchimEngels · 27 November 2005, 08:40 AM

Me here working on one of the radiator shutter flaps

the large full size radiator drawing

Finished early and late style radiator shutters

Some of the radiator shutter flaps during making

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AchimEngels · 27 November 2005, 08:43 AM

Paper models of the radiator housing during fitting

First time the radiator housing parts are put together for fitting tests

Some of the new streamlined struts we did for the various projects

New completed turnbuckles

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AchimEngels · 27 November 2005, 08:51 AM

Two views of the almost completed new assembly shed

Enjoy!

Achim

AchimEngels · 29 November 2005, 09:42 PM

Although it is a very labor intensive task to make such a radiator almost by hand , it is also very interesting to see it comming together.

I am sure there are other ways to get the job done more quick, but here is how I continue for now.

Very first radiator main housing frame put together

Each and every single radiator core tube is cleaned using a brass wire brush.

Each and every single radiator core tube is tin plated by hand in a tin bath to ensure the soldering process will result in a leak free radiator core. In addition this will help to safe some weight by not adding too much extra tin during soldering.

Stages in thelife of a radiator core tube.

Enjoy!

Achim

Sgt Pepper · 30 November 2005, 08:56 AM

about how many of those per radiator?

AchimEngels · 30 November 2005, 11:07 AM

Hi Sgt. Pepper.

I do not have the exact number available, but it gets close to 4000 of these tubes per radiator.

Time consuming.....time consuming....

Sgt Pepper · 30 November 2005, 01:16 PM

At an hour a tube (to build, test, sorder, install, etc.) that is 100 weeks of work!

AchimEngels · 1 December 2005, 11:33 AM

Hello Sgt. Pepper,

Yes, indeed! It is a huge amount of work . One of these tubes do certainly not take an hour, but all of these are quite a task.

There are not many people out there who do really see the amount of work involved into such a project and the value it does represent when finished.

I do not even speak about the financial value, but rather more of the value of the work itself that goes into it.

I do really admire the work of everybody else out there and follow the various threads here with great interest, regardless of whether or not all the planes out there are intented to be "authentic" or not.

Today the first radiator core tube blocks have been soldered together. Very impressive. I´ll post pictures soon.

Cheers!

Achim

AchimEngels · 2 December 2005, 10:29 AM

The working place

Set of core tubes after cleaning prepared for soldering.

Set of core tubes after soldering.

Row of core tubes and first flat block of flat center line of radiator.

AchimEngels · 2 December 2005, 10:30 AM

These blocks will form the flat front face of the D.VII radiator. This I will use as a starting point to go further backwards.

These tubes are the prepared cross members for the fuselages of the D.VII´s and Fokker E.III´s we have in the making.

This months aim is to have at least one of the radiators (Wulffo´s) finished and the fuselage frames for three Fokker E.III´s and two more D-VII´s welded up. As you know the side frames for all these fuselages have already been completed some months ago.

Well, we will see how much of it we can actually achieve.....

Enjoy!

Achim