Sopwith Baby Project

baldeagle · 9 December 2007, 08:17 AM

Joe Perkel · 9 December 2007, 09:50 AM

............."Joe, find somebody who can translate Norwegian"

I gave it a try with an on-line translator but, it would'nt work. So a little photo intel analysis is in order..

As near as I can tell, it's a true to original repro of serial No F-108, a Norwegian version that transitioned from floats, wheels, ski's and back again. This version appears to be committed to wheels. One of the pictures shows the fellow holding the Windsock datafile for this aircraft, which features F-108 in several photos.

Either they acquired or are looking for an original Clerget since that does look like an appropriate mount in the picture??? Looks like they were hoping to fly sometime this year, but I see some reference to potential sponsorship.

Another point of interest is the original airfoil section mounted on the wall in the last photo of the second page.

Thanks a lot for this, I will try to make contact.

j ferguson · 10 December 2007, 05:38 AM

Joe,
Shell Lumber in Miami used to sell bendble plywood. It has the ply-grain parallel rather than crossed and the 3/32 can be readily bent to radii as short as 2 inches. I doubt that it comes much thicker. I've used it for furniture on the boat.

Since the fuselage is going to be representation rather than replica, maybe he floats should be built-up like cold molded boat construction or Albatross fuselage for example. In any case, you could build the form from bendable plywood and use it for laminating the top and bottom panels. Of course I would think using West epoxy is a great idea and I think I'd experiment to see if used judiciously, weight would really be a problem. Don't forget that these floats re going to see some real pounding.

thank you for sharing this with us,

john ferguson

Joe Perkel · 11 December 2007, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j ferguson

Joe,
Shell Lumber in Miami used to sell bendble plywood. It has the ply-grain parallel rather than crossed and the 3/32 can be readily bent to radii as short as 2 inches. I doubt that it comes much thicker. I've used it for furniture on the boat.

maybe he floats should be built-up like cold molded boat construction

john ferguson

John

I have the Gougeon brothers book buried somewhere and need to find it. My thoughts mirror yours on cold molded construction.

Haven't been in Shell for years but, I keep hearing from various people about all manner of exotic products. I must pay a visit there again and peek around!

I'm a bit concerned about that bottom profile for places like where you are now, although I wouldn't try it on choppy days.

I like your address, ......ICW,...... now that's the life! Let me guess, retired ATP, heavy displacement full keel ketch about 45'. I know because it's what I would have done!!

Thanks a lot for the lead on Shell, it's tops on my list for a visit now.

Joe Perkel · 16 December 2007, 07:09 AM

"Choose the engine first" or "Design around an engine"...are both concepts that I personally believe to be sound for a homebuild. My project revolves around the availability of a new and appropriately sized radial.

So I am a bit concerned while researching the two Rotecs to be seeing comments such as the following on the Aircraft Spruce forum...

Quote:

"......Last, I have read some recent literature that casts doubt on the Rotec Radials. I don't recall if the complaints centered around reliability, deliverability, support, or ???, but I do recall that some of the dealers were quickly bailing ou of the Rotec family. I'm still looking for the articles so that I can quote them accurately......."

And, concerned to see supporting the above, a dedicated web-site...rotecradial.com

I must admit, I don't see too much support (maint/parts) for this engine in the US at this time. It's a beautiful engine, I like it but, I would be remiss in not looking at options.

I've been out of the loop a bit for a few years, ...so I would really be appreciative of a quick refresher on radial engine availability. Who might be offering good remans in the US for example.

Thanks

Joe Perkel · 20 December 2007, 08:44 AM

Baldeagle,

Just sent you a PM.

RobW · 21 December 2007, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Perkel

"Choose the engine first" or [I]So I am a bit concerned while researching the two Rotecs to be seeing comments such as the following on the Aircraft Spruce forum...

And, concerned to see supporting the above, a dedicated web-site...rotecradial.com

Joe,
Call, don't email, call Robert Baslee... He has flown at least one rotec engine... and had another in a crate the last time I was there. His experience is much more recent than that quoted on the website. Robert is pretty straight forward. You can get his phone number from the Airdrome Airplanes website (Airdrome Aeroplanes ~ Holden, MO ~ Airdrome Homepage)

You could also call the folks at the AIM schools that are building WWI replicas... several of them are using Rotec engines and have received delivery of them.

My concern with the website you referenced is its age... the info comes from 2004 & 2005.

Rob W.

Joe Perkel · 21 December 2007, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobW

Joe,

Call, don't email, call Robert Baslee... He has flown at least one rotec engine... and had another in a crate the last time I was there. His experience is much more recent than that quoted on the website.

My concern with the website you referenced is its age... the info comes from 2004 & 2005.

Rob W.

Rob,

Good advice thank you.

My thoughts from the start are that my project hinges around the availability of this engine at the appropriate time. Since posting this however, I decided that each year that goes by puts more in circulation, so no real need to worry about the worst case scenario.

Thanks again!

j ferguson · 21 December 2007, 06:52 AM

Joe,
be sure to get one with a starter. Can you imagine trying to prop your Sopwith while standing on a float? it might be interesting to know how it was done at the time. I suspect that getting a rotary ready to start involved priming each cylinder, another tricky affair while standing on a float.

john

at a mooring in Marathon for the winter

Joe Perkel · 21 December 2007, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j ferguson

Joe,
be sure to get one with a starter. Can you imagine trying to prop your Sopwith while standing on a float? it might be interesting to know how it was done at the time. I suspect that getting a rotary ready to start involved priming each cylinder, another tricky affair while standing on a float.

john

at a mooring in Marathon for the winter

John,

Funny you should mention that, I had been giving the issues of departure and arrivals a bit of thought. Departures can be set up with some degree of control and as you note, a starter is required.

But arrivals at a different destination in this particular float plane would be tricky. A soft sand beach or grass shoreline is required wherever I would need to take on fuel, or at a minimum, a floating dock with handlers at the ready. There is no place for the pilot to get out and stand on the float.

Incidentally, I joined the Seaplane Pilots Association (SPA) and I'm starting to learn where I can and cannot go in Florida. Biscayne Park is out so there goes Boca Chita and the Anchorage! I do however have lot's of lake access and Keys destinations (outside of the park), including my intended test ground, Lake Jackson in Sebring.

Enjoy your stay in Marathon John, Happy Holiday's!