My Bristol Fighter Project

TSJohnson · 26 October 2009, 06:12 PM

Well H1N1 knocked the family out for a couple of weeks so needless to say I didn't get much work done on the Bristol! This past weekend a friend came by to help and "learn some of that A&P stuff" and we made great progress. We were able to complete the right half of the horizontal stabilizer, turn it over and finish riveting the rib gussets to the leading egde and trailing egdes. We also installed the internal bracing elements that will resist the torsional and bending loads imposed by the elevator.

I've recently reached out to a friend who designs web sites (thankfully he is a World War I aviation enthusiast as well!) and we will be launching the This Web site coming soon website in the near future so that I can then post links to build pictures as we make strides with the project.

We plan on putting a lot of pictures on the site of aircraft I've photographed over the years in museums. Let me know what else you would like to see on the site.

ProfLooney · 26 October 2009, 06:47 PM

hey tom lost yer email during the changes in hds email me at jahuntley@mchsi.com I have goodies for you

Joe

TSJohnson · 21 November 2009, 07:37 PM

Hello all,

Progress has been slow of late. Darn day job keeps interfering with my build time!

I have managed to complete the top and bottom of one half of the horizontal stablizer and the top half of the other side. My rivet gun has developed the nasty habit of breaking jaw sets as I pull the 3/16 CherryMax rivets on the gussets along the spars. So I've been trying to find a suitable tool without having to pay $1,930 for the Cherry tool.

I've seen many period replicas using the tube and gusset construction method that employ pop style rivets. Not for me thanks, the hollow shank rivet is simply not structural and will eventually find a way to fall out. My design uses CherryMax CR rivets where ever a blind rivet is called for. Yes, it adds to the cost, but I don't have to worry if a rivet will fall out and compromise my structure at some key point.

This past week I employed a chap to build my website. He is also a keen WWI enthusiast and is excited to be able to build an aviation site. So stand by for just a bit longer, the site will be up soon.

May have some pretty exciting news to share soon. Still in the developmental stage so I can't reveal any details just yet. But I can tell you it is the most exciting thing to happen to me in a very long time.

TSJohnson · 30 November 2009, 12:49 PM

Completed the horizontal stabilizer over the weekend. Reset the work table and am now laying out the elevators.

Starting with the stab was a good decision. I defined and refined my fabrication techniques and learned a few lessons along the way. Making and finishing all of the component parts for an assembly should be done first as opposed to making parts as you need them. It speeds things up considerably.

Always wear your safety equipment. When shaping parts on the table sander always wear heavy leather work gloves. When the sander grabs a part, rips it from your grasp and slings it across the shop you can get some nasty cuts. There is now some of my own DNA in this airplane! My safety glasses have saved my eyesight at least twice now. You get the idea, take the time to obtain and wear proper protective gear.

I'd like to post some photos of the build progress. What is the best method for doing so? Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Lufbery · 30 November 2009, 03:39 PM

Tom,

Thanks for sharing your hard-won experience. I'm also a firm believer in safety equipment!

As for posting photos, I think you can simply upload some photos, but most people get a free account at one of the several photo hosting web sites and post links to their photos from there.

Regards,

TSJohnson · 1 December 2009, 07:14 PM

Thanks Lufberry.

I've uploaded some build photos on my Facebook page. You're welcome to have a look. There are photos from some great museums I have visited there as well.

You can see my photos at Login | Facebook

Joe Perkel · 2 December 2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSJohnson

Thanks Lufberry.

I've uploaded some build photos on my Facebook page. You're welcome to have a look. There are photos from some great museums I have visited there as well.

You can see my photos at Login | Facebook

Tom,

Something like facebook requiring the viewer to "sign up", will greatly limit who sees your hard earned work. My wife made the mistake once of joining Facebook, and next thing I know, we were getting unsolicited friendship requests from all manner of critters. I have little time in my life to tweak the filters and so on, so likely the same for others as well.

Use a free photo service like photobucket or imageshack which you can post links to that require nothing of the viewer than a simple click to enlarge.

I would like to see your pictures, but I dont want solicitations from Persian-Wife-Finder.com either!

TSJohnson · 2 December 2009, 12:15 PM

Hi Joe,

Your point is well taken. This is an interim solution until my website is up. I'll create a Photobucket account this evening and post the pictures there. Sorry for any inconvenience I'll get it sorted tonight.

Lufbery · 2 December 2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSJohnson

Thanks Lufberry.

I've uploaded some build photos on my Facebook page. You're welcome to have a look. There are photos from some great museums I have visited there as well.

You can see my photos at Login | Facebook

Tom,

I am a Facebook user, and I tried to get to your album, but it didn't work. I'll look for your profile and send a request for you to add me as a friend.

Warm regards,

TSJohnson · 2 December 2009, 06:30 PM

I've uploaded the photos at Photobucket at the following URL
Pictures by TSJohnson66226 - Photobucket
Note the absence of lots of specialty tools, one of the design goals was to be able to complete the build with a minimum of them.

I'll be uploading RAF Hendon, Shuttleworth and Imperial War Museum photos over the next few days.