My FE2b reproduction..

[John McKenzie]

There are two radiator shutters ..The LH one is only adjustable on the ground , via a 2 BA thread ," Flange-bolt "(see later )and wing nut ( AGS 113 c) and washers , which locates in the curved (about the hinge c/l ) slot in the Top and bottom shutter end plates .Both shutters are attached to an angle frame by rivetting ,(see later ) with integral alum' double flange hinges , incorporating a 3/16" dia. removable steel hinge pin .The RH shutter is adjustable in flight to suit the varying cooling requirements encountered at the time ...Opperation is , initially , from a single pull cable from the "Ratchet type" Bowden lever shown and described a little earlier in the thread .( incorporating the circular direction plate .." Radiator shutter ..open & closed ")Just beyond this lever ,the single cable becomes a two cable pull system , and these pass out from inside the cockpit , via the two " Trumpets " , through telescopic spring tubes ,and attach to the RH shutter ribs.The Shutter is " Sprung " to the OPEN position via the coil springs within the telescopic tubes ,(necessary on the ground )....In flight , they are held towards open by the air preasure against them ....Thus , there is only a need to PULL the shutter closed , and hold it there with the levers "Detent " , against the spring / air preasure .

[LewisS]

Hi John,

Just checking back in again, I'm still in awe of the work you've done.

I don't think, at least in the overall scheme of the 3D model I'm making, that I could replicate the kind of detailing that your photo's depict. Generally in flight sims, even in the really detailed interior views, that the objects rendered will have some sort of "cheat" to reduce the need for the graphics card's workload while rendering realistically. There will be such things as faces and triangles that have all of their faces that are visible from the pilot's view rendered, but will delete the stuff hidden either by overlapping or surfaces closer to the viewer.

But I have to say now that I see the interior, the controls and dashboard is a lot more easier to make a model of. You've read Frederick Libby's book "Horses Don't Fly" There's a lot of interesting observations he makes about flying the Fee, To see your replica brings to life his story a little more clearly.

Thanks again.

Lewis

[John McKenzie]

Both the shutters are of 22 swg ( .028" ) aluminium sheet .The hinge is of 18 swg ( .048" ) slightly harder material . The top / bottom pieces are riveted to the main pannel with 3/32 " round head alominium rivets , and the leading edge corners at the open end , are rounded off smoothly ...
Finishing off the front edge and leadind on around the top and bottom pannel profiles ; the edge is rolled around a Dural wire of 3/16 " dia for added stiffness . The cable opperated shutter is stiffened by two 16 swg ( .064" ) flanged ribs riveted on , and at which reinforced points , the "Pull" cables attach . The rear hinges are riveted to the special "Angle" frame , which is bolted at its lower ends to lugs incorporated in the nacelle upper fittings.
This Angle frame also supports the two upper engine Side Pannels , and the curved Radiator Top Cover pannel ; these three being hinge jointed together by the use of 3/16" dia steel , removeable " Shephard-hook " hinge pins .
The angle frame is ridgedly supported at the top , to the pilots plywood " bathtub" cowling , by a short interim pannel .
Due to deseign requirements , it is necessary for the upper curved portion of the ( steel) angle frame ,to slant back above a certain hight to match the pannel edges . Thus the included angle changes over , and throughout this curved portion , from (appx) 90 deg. through about 60deg. at the top , and back again to 90 deg for the vertical side portion , adding further to the complication of this seemingly simple part ,and requiring time consuming special tooling /formers ...The basic steel section is .75" X .75" ...and 12swg ( .104" ) thick ; this having been cut from a portion of 12swg square tube and formed around the steel tooling , requiring considerable manipulation to achieve the correct shape , this being a projection at 30 deg. from the vertical , of the " true" vertical profile , as dictated by the top combination curve of the Radiator top tank .

[John McKenzie]

[John McKenzie]

Hi Rob ,....They must have " Lifted" that from an article I did for RAAF museum magazine ....They "WERE" going to adjust the draft and get my approval first , .....I guess they " Forgot " that bit ! ..
Hope they didn't do an " Alister Campbell " with it !


Lewis ,Thanks for that ..Hope the photos are of use in your project ( more of cockpits later ), though I have to admit that I dont realy understand the technicalities of what you are doing ,being only a raw learner at computers myself , this stuff being about my limit !

Regards John

[jamo]

Originally Posted by John McKenzie

Hi John
I'm really enjoying your thread and all the images are excellent. I have a very minor suggestion regarding scanning of the old printed photos to avoid the dappled effect, that is to choose the 'descreening' option on your scanner software.

Here is some more info on the effect:
Moire patterns

Thanks very much for sharing with us all.

Regards
James

[LewisS]

John,

Here's a rough early version of the model before I had a better 3 view to work from. It's been slowly coming along as I've also got several other models in the fire right now. As you can see it isn't even surface mapped for color, I was considering the early version of the Fee for this model.


I've also been working on a Henry Farman HF.22 here lately, and a couple of prewar monoplanes.

[John McKenzie]

Hi all,
James ..( Jamo ) ....Thanks for that link , I will have to look into that ...First off , it looks a bit involved , but I'll just have to see if I can have a shot at it ! ...Cheers

Lewis , Glad its coming along for you OK .That sort of stuff is beyond me !

[John McKenzie]

[John McKenzie]