Sopwith Baby Project

Joe Perkel · 17 August 2008, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by womenfly2

Hi Joe, the cord sold today as rib lacing cord will out last you and I. I used this on my Pietenpol wing bracing cabling and it held up great. I have seen this done at ORA too.

All the ideas here are good, just pick one, I guess.

Cheers,
WF2

When I saw the junction, I remembered from A&P school that something was done here but, could not remember what. Got a little lazy and figured to post a quick question rather than dig but, I'll look into the period references a bit.

I like your method, and field experience with the Pietenpol speaks for itself.

Thanks WF2

Thanks to David also.

Joe Perkel · 17 August 2008, 08:08 PM

I've been having a blast learning web development skills as I wait for my opportunity to start cutting wood!

Last October I tried a guest book but did something wrong and it did not work well. Hopefully, I fixed it this time if anyone would like to give it a try.

Thanks!

Joe Perkel · 18 August 2008, 03:39 PM

The Clerget sure is pretty!

This one is not mine although I did add some textures. I purchased this from Turbosquid.com which has quite a library of models including Nick's Snipe and several other aircraft.

Still, a canned model like this is a big time saver and I recommend this site to anyone so interested. I'll use this once my own model is finally complete and would certainly purchase a 3d file of whatever radial I end up with.

US95Damiani · 19 August 2008, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Perkel

I'm not sure on this one yet Jan. I was trained plenty in gas back in A&P school but, I still have to evaluate the options carefully. Will look at TIG closely.

Thanks Jan!

Joe,

Mig is really only acceptable for production and automotive style welding. AC43.13-1B will go into detail.

For aviation use the choices are Tig and Oxy-Acetylene.

IMHO I prefer Gas welding. It can be more difficult but some of the advantages to it are, It is much less expensive to purchase the equipment, residual heat will normalize the weld area as you are welding. Drawbacks are the possibility of warping your structure if you don't take the necessary precautions to prevent it, and it is very hot dirty work, moreso than Tig.

Tig on the other hand is an excellent source and will provide very neat and tidy welds. BUT It is extremely localized heat. An advantage to this is it is easier to control warpage. A big drawback is, the areas that were welded need to be re-heated red hot with a torch and allowed to cool to normalize the stresses in the surrounding tubing. If this is not done the tubing could be susceptible to cracking in the vicinity of your welds.

I'm not an authority on this by any means, but I've done some airframe welding in my time.

Joe Perkel · 19 August 2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by US95Damiani

Joe,

AC43.13-1B will go into detail.

For aviation use the choices are Tig and Oxy-Acetylene.

US95Damiani,

I love that reference, it truly is the bible isn't it!?

Your comments regarding heat zones and normalization, is why if I were going to do a steel frame I would in fact use the tried and true gas. Besides, I was trained with it in A&P school.

One advantage of a long delay from project inception to commencement, is lot's of time to think things through and plan. Since that post, I decided that the project would go nearly all original with the engine and float internals excepted.

It's a tough choice for various reasons but the deciding factor is simply an interest in seeing WWI aviation technology come to life. That along with the fact that original lends itself nicely to my fabrication, crate, then assembly plan.

Besides, there's a spirit there that can't be denied. Anyone having sailed both a production glass boat and a wooden one can attest to that, it's hard to qualify it's simply there.

That having been said, there's something to be said for Steve Culp's fire breathing dragon Pup!

Thanks for the input!

US95Damiani · 20 August 2008, 07:02 AM

Biblcal proportions! LOL
AC 43.13-1B is definitely that...!

I'll Say it again, Good choice Joe, you won't be sorry.

I personally like working with Gas! it is MUCH easier to control!!!! IMHO LOL

Have a great day!

Joe Perkel · 21 August 2008, 03:23 PM

I just received a rather disconcerting email from one of the largest suppliers of overhauled radials in the U.S.,....not good news! HP range required for my project, availability, parts, reliability,... etc. Old news to many but, I'm still on a bit of a learning curve in the reality dept!

So two options as I see it,...

1) I will continue on and hope that the market responds at some future date with an appropriate round engine.

2) Hide a flat opposed (ala Major Larabee's DR.I) in the pinched cowl of the original Schneider and be done with it!

Option 2 looks about right as of today anyway. Let's see now, have to compute about a 2-3% annual cost increase to todays price of 36K to an appropriate Lycoming!