Sopwith Snipe Project

brinesharks · 21 November 2009, 02:53 AM

It's fantastic to see it all come together so quickly. I know you think you are slow and methodical, but you are steaming along very quickly.

Are the joints on the elevators pinned and brazed?

Great to see the 'empennage' together, even if it is on the wall.

John McKenzie · 21 November 2009, 05:00 AM

Hi Nick ...Very impressed with your work ...Looking back at some of the photos , people should take note of how Clean and Crisp the parts are in detail , close up ,and before painting .( Which can often hide a " multitude -of-sins " ).Note the Lack of " Glue -all-over-the-place " etc. etc.
All shows up in the difference between an Excelent and an acceptable standard.
These wood / metal fitting ,composite structures are a far cry from simply welding a few steel tubes together , and reflect in them ,the long and labourious , exacting hard work that is there to be seen by those looking in on this thread , who have the eye to see and appreciate it . Well done

Best regards John

ulpilot · 21 November 2009, 05:06 AM

I echo the others praise to you Nick. Great work, and hard to believe it is your first aircraft project.

Joe Perkel · 21 November 2009, 05:27 AM

Quote:

take note of how Clean and Crisp the parts are in detail , close up ,and before painting .( Which can often hide a " multitude -of-sins " ).Note the Lack of " Glue -all-over-the-place " etc. etc.

Quote:

It's fantastic to see it all come together so quickly. I know you think you are slow and methodical, but you are steaming along very quickly.

Quote:

just utterly admirable----your love of this subject is self evident

Ditto!

Nick, Do you have an Oskosh equivalent in Oz? You would no doubt take first place. I have little doubt the covering and finish will be first rate.

(Sent my CAD file off for the rib template, I am an Amoeba by comparison!)

Nick · 21 November 2009, 05:17 PM

Crikey

, Many thanks John, Bryan, Vet & Joe for your encouragement, it’s very much appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brinesharks

Are the joints on the elevators pinned and brazed?

The A & P 121 is all pin and brazed into slightly larger sockets welded to the spar such as this centre sleeve arrangement. In this case the sockets are welded in place then the whole sleeve is brazed to the spar.

There are two types of rib. The folded sheet steel ones are pin and brazed both ends. The pins keep the whole thing in place when you remove it from the jig and braze it. After that you peen them over like a rivet.

Then there’s two 3/8” tube ribs each side which are brazed into a welded ½” socket at the spar end, and pin and brazed to the trailing edge.

Lastly the hinges are brazed to 1” tube pieces which in turn have stops brazed either side.

Cheers, Nick

brinesharks · 21 November 2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Perkel

Ditto!

Nick, Do you have an Oskosh equivalent in Oz? You would no doubt take first place. I have little doubt the covering and finish will be first rate.

(Sent my CAD file off for the rib template, I am an Amoeba by comparison!)

It would be wonderful to have a fly-in here that is 1/10th the size! But with our large island and small population we don't get many visitors to airshows. The SAAA fly-in is probably the closest. Mind you, the SAAA told me not to bother building a WW1 replica along original lines as it was too hard - I should build an RV instead...

Nick · 26 November 2009, 12:56 PM

Doing Trade school one evening a week has been great, and a good way to get access to
machinery and learn how to use it. There’s a few people who have all manner of different projects on the go and our very enthusiastic teacher keeps us all pointed in the right direction.

The last few weeks have been working on the Aileron hinge bolts. These are the Standard Sopwith parts SL822, SL823 & SL824. Could have probably just adapted some AN42 eye bolts but thought I’d have a go at making them anyway as the heads are a lot bigger than the AN42s. The shafts are ¼” but the heads are ¾” or 7/8”.

Looking at the original plans it would appear that they were originally machined up from Mild steel bar and not drop forged as an AN42.

I’ve used 4130 so hopefully may be stronger than the original but I’m assuming wouldn’t be as strong as an AN42. The plan is to make a few spares and then get a couple tested to destruction and see what they let go at.

Firstly turned up the domed heads then the shafts, then cut them to length and threaded them

Made a jig to hold them then using a mill cut the slots for the various profiles required. Was very lucky to find a cutter the correct width and tip radius.

A little nerve wracking, to say the least, I was half expecting to fire the heads across the workshop as the cutter went through. However with the right RPM & feed rate, could cut the slots with one pass, no problem.

Have done all of the outer hinges which have a large expansion slot, still have the inner locator hinges to do, then work out a way of jigging them up to drill the holes accurately.

School has finished for the year last night so will enrol again next year and finish them then. Bound to be plenty of other parts to make as well.

Cheers, Nick

brinesharks · 27 November 2009, 01:14 AM

Nick - do you know what that sort of machine is called? I think we have one at work...

Thanks for the post - the Nieuport eyebolts are very nicely shaped and quite different from modern ones. Youve inspired me to have a crack at making them myself.

If you don't plan to weld the part, you could always consider 4140 steel. I'm thinking of making my wing attachment sockets out of this.

Nick · 27 November 2009, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brinesharks

Nick - do you know what that sort of machine is called? I think we have one at work...

.

Hi Bryan,
It’s called a Horizontal Milling machine.

The Horizontal Milling Machine

I’m not sure what make it is but suspect it may be a Novar.
Haven’t got a pic of the whole unit but here’s one of the side of it where you set the RPM and feed rate.

Like most of the equipment at school it’s pretty old stuff but it does the job.

Cheers, Nick

brinesharks · 27 November 2009, 02:43 AM

Thanks Nick - the link was very helpful. This is just like the one at work. But it didn't have the over-arm or the arbor bracket fitted when I saw it. I'll have to be extra nice to the Workshop Supervisor! I might have to rummage around and see what sort of bits/cutters they have for it.