Albatros D II / D III news

'14-'18aviationcollector · 2 July 2009, 05:07 AM

Hi Chris,

I think I have found the photo you are referring to. It was posted in post number 171, page 18. It certainly does appear to be 6 sheets of 2 mm plywood, and is presumably bulkhead number 13. Given that the drawings state that bulkheads 12 and 13 are made of 6 laminations, and 14 was made of 8 laminations, and the photo you have posted clearly shows what appear to be 6 laminations for what is presumably bulkhead 13, my current idea is this must be correct. Any further comments Chris or Koloman? Are there any other photos you have posted of these formers Chris?

Yes Chris I did manage to just catch you didn't I!?

I had no idea if I would catch you or not, and I was afraid that if I had left the plastic bag with the fabric samples in it on the doorstep or somewhere, it might have been mistaken for rubbish, so I am very happy that I saw you! I still have more samples, and I will try to get them to you as soon as possible! The samples I have not brought to you yet are far more valuable, since many of them are the samples which have serial numbers associated with them. Maybe in the meantime we should look at the possiblity of mixing some test batches of reproduction PC 10, what do you think? You seem to have a very good understanding of the pigments which were involved. I am very keen to carry out some aging experiments, to see if I can get reproduction PC 10 to behave in the same way as the original did.

Cheers,

David.

Koloman Mayrhofer · 9 July 2009, 01:12 AM

hallo
the pictures i have from the smithonian example show that the body of former 13 was made up of several laminations most likly plywood and the top which builds the spar of the fin is made up pretty much the same way as on the D III .
would be intertesting to see if the top of the canberra example is the same construction or if this is also made up from laminations. technically it would be preferable to have it build up from strips.

enclosed some more pics. nothing spectacular we are now have arrived on fuselage three in putting on the side panels.

cheers
koloman mayrhofer

'14-'18aviationcollector · 15 July 2009, 09:44 AM

Hi Koloman,

Thank you very much for your reply. It is very interesting that the Smithsonian Albatros D.Va former was made up of plywood on the lower portion and solid timber strips covered with plywood on the upper portion, which forms the spar for the fin. I will not start to construct any formers until I am able to gain an informed opinion on the likely construction method used. Given that the Canberra and Smithsonian D.Va's are seperated by nearly 2,000 serial numbers it is entirely possible that they may have been built using slightly different methods to each other, although of course it is just as possible that they were built using the same method, so I am not sure what to think. It certainly would be very interesting to learn whether or not the Canberra D.Va was built using plywood on the lower portion and blocks and plywood on the upper portion. Why is it preferable to use the block method of construction? Is it stronger than using laminations of plywood? As we have discussed previously, we can both see that laminations of plywood would be prone to splitting when nailed, and that nails nailed into plywood end grain would not have the same friction and holding strength that nails into solid timber blocks would have. I can also imagine that solid timber blocks would be stronger where side loads are concerned, which would be the most important feature for a fin.

G'day Chris, in your photo, presumably it shows the sort of kidney shaped cut out near the outside of the former, near where the stabiliser attaches to bulkhead St. 13, is this correct? - you know, the one that you drew for me, and then said, with hindsight, it probably should be shaped a bit more like this? .... and then re drew it with a more accurate shape? Oh by the way, I have been meaning to call you about the PC 10 samples, and I will call you when I remember to. Has there been any progress with the photos? I will bring the other samples up to you as soon as I can. Please Chris, remember no solvents or conservator's spirit near any of the samples until I can discuss with you which ones are ok to use solvents etc on, and which ones are not ok to use solvents on. I will try to remember to bring some conservator's spirit up to you with the other samples I have. The reason I don't want any solvents on some of the samples is that some of them are more valuable and irreplacable than other samples are. Some of the samples are much less valuable than others, and are therefore much more disposable than some of the others, if there is a mishap with any sort of solvent.

I await your advice, Koloman and Chris! Fantastic progress, as always Koloman!

Cheers,

David.

sheppo · 19 July 2009, 06:57 PM

No worries david

I got a few days off last week and the photographer lass has been off for 3 weeks now with her crook mum so nothings happening until she gets back anyway.
I have cut out all the templates for the port side of the Dva fuselage skin and begun scarfing ply as well. The sandblasting cabinet is now finished and ready to go which means I can get cracking on the metal fittings required before I can attach the skin. I have a bunch of stuff coming in now/soon from metal shops, blacksmiths, Aircraft spruce which means I am making solid progress. I hope to be ready to start on the undercarriage in a months time. That meas all the brackets need to be finished welded and painted, the fuselage sealed inside and out etc etc

Busy..who me?

Chris

sheppo · 20 July 2009, 03:04 PM

The port side skins being laid up.
I spent a few hours last night putting slotted screws in on the staboard side.

3 lessons learned...

1. Whomever invented the phillips head is a god, I will never denegrate the ability to drive a phillips head with a drill ever again. All hail the phillips head, long may it live.

2. Get a better screwdriver than one with a small plastic handle.

3. spend less time behind the computer and more time toughening up my soft as butter, callous free hands.

I managed to twist a 15mm wide patch of skin off the palm of my right hand (strangely this is about the size of the screwdriver handle...), and get a few blisters raised & burst for good measure. ow.
But...all the screws are neatly aligned as per the original and my she does look nice

Chris

Jecull · 20 July 2009, 06:52 PM

I can so sympathize! Many ounces of skin were left on or about the aircraft I worked on. At least when I was a crew cheif it was my own plane. Thinking about it, I've bonded a fair amount, in relation to size, on my R/C Albartos.
You are doing quite the job of it Chris. Keep at it and keep your skin where it belongs!

WolfOfBadenoch · 21 July 2009, 12:54 AM

Nice Chris. Any chance of a few close up shots to show off your screwing work better ? And maybe of the formers too ?

Von Writter · 21 July 2009, 07:54 AM

Man she looks nice shiny side down Chris! As for the screws, wouldn't a geared drill driver work to drive most of the way and then just set the last few turns with the screwdriver?

Nick · 21 July 2009, 02:24 PM

Looking great Chris

Cheers, Nick

sheppo · 21 July 2009, 10:04 PM

Sorry but my camera is unable take decent photos of anything as small as a screw head.. A
A geared drill head would work fine but I was on the go as soon as I got home which was long after the shops were shut, also, I dont trust slotted screws with a drill type device, if it goes wrong I end up with a gouge in the skin of the plane which is far worse than one in the hand.
Hows does this picture look? A little better lighting and a full battery helps.

Cheers Chris