Sopwith Snipe Project

[Nick]

Originally Posted by j ferguson

The gun firing system shown in the drawings so kindly shared with us appears to work as follows.

Hi John,
Thanks very much for taking the trouble to post all that. That has clarified a lot. I had mistaken the fluid top up port as the Air release (Bleed) valve which can now see on the end of the trigger motors which makes a lot more sense.
It must have been a good system as was used for many years after on various types.
Many thanks again.

Cheers, Nick

[j ferguson]

Hi Nick,
I got a real kick out of puzzling it out. Only funny thing was that it looks as though you have to hold trigger down to bleed the system, at least if it really works the way the first diagram implies. This doesn't make sense to me, though.


john

[tengew]

if you look at the pic where the trigger is tied in there is a wedge cam there the trigger completes the mating surface so the engine cam rollers can transfer the pulse to the generators

[tengew]

here is the pic

[j ferguson]

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/at...ject-fig13.gif

But this is a different system. Is this the German mechanism. It seems much simpler.

[j ferguson]

But this is a different system. Is this the German mechanism. It seems much simpler.

[tengew]

i grabed it from the web link that was posted a few threads back

[Nick]

A bit of progress with the centre section which has been fairly time consuming. Still have to make the dreaded nosing and can’t put it off much longer now so will have to give it a go soon!
Also have to make some little 1/16” copper rivets for the trailing edge tubing where the brackets wrap around.



This pic shows the lower side and where the outer rib has to be cut away to fit around the joint box. It is then reinforced with these aluminium brackets and lots of small brass screws.



Have finished the Aldis sight mount bracket which also doubles as a drift strut



Had some fun making the adjuster mechanism



I don’t have the dimensions of the Aldis sight which goes right through the windscreen on the Snipe, and would like to replicate it. If anyone has the dimensions and or a picture of one, that would be great.

Cheers, Nick

[Nick]

Finally bit the bullet and had a go at making the nosing today using the method that David Paule suggested a while back.

I only have an el cheapo sawbench but it did the job okay. Set the fence and blade angle and height and cut the first rebates. Advice re keeping fingers well clear of the blade was duly noted.



As my blade is only 1/8” this left a small bit on the edge which I just trimmed off with a sharp chisel.

Then reset the blade height & angle and the fence to do the two upper angles . That left a flat top so I just round that off with a long board and sandpaper in much the same way as I shaped the cabane struts.



Then finally cut out all the lightening sections with a jigsaw. I think as David suggested it would probably have been better to cut these out first before running through the sawbench.



Many thanks David for your input.

Cheers, Nick

[David Paule]

I'm sure glad it worked!

That looks very good.

David Paule