WWI Plane 1:1

[carbon]

Hello guys,
Well, I have one question on you. Dont you have a plan of a WWI plane in scale 1:1 or 1:2? I found some great sites but, you have to buy them and thats problem for me because I have no opportunities to send money via paypal - I have no bank account It has been big dream of my grandfather for a long years to build a REAL plane from WWI and I would like to help him with this, so WE need a plan. In 3 weeks will be his birthday so I think it will be great gift for him. Please Help us

[Maxim08]

Hello carbon

I am guessing from your post that you have no experience budgeting for an aircraft build, specifically a full size (1:1) one.
Even if the plans cost $1,000.00, that is a very small part of the cost of completing a project like this. Printing a full set of full size SE5a drawings from digital files could easily exceed this. On top of this are the copyright obligations applied to most available plans sets that obligate the plan set owner to only use them to build one aircraft.
I know that the material costs to build a Fokker D VII are easily $30,000.00. That does not include any tools, facilities, sub-contracting, engine, instruments, licensing etc etc.
I do not want to discourage you, but you need a realistic appreciation for what you are considering to undertake. Trying to do this without a bank account will be, um, challenging.
Regards and good luck,
John

[hank jarrett]

Carbon,
When you say 1:1 or 1:2 are you saying one INCH to one FOOT or one INCH to two FOOT, or did you actually mean full or double/half size? It doesn't really make sense to ask for a full OR half size unless you really are asking for a MODEL. I suspect you were saying MODEL sizes. There are lots of plans available, fairly inexpensive for a model, but a full size plane is a huge commitment, and few WW-I planes could carry a pilot at half size (plus I can't imagine why anyone would want a double size plane).
If you are looking for MODEL plans some of us may be able to help you.
Hank

[carbon]

Thank you very much for your replies.
Maxim: Well, I know how much it will cost and it will be HARD job but Im strong-minded enough to build it one day. Honestly, Im still just teenager I just want to find some documents and plans for the future.
Hank: I mean full scale plans. I dont want to build a model, I want to build real plane. I got a lot of plans for models from WWI and I already built a lot of from them - thats the reason why I want to build reak full scale plane, of course not now but in the future.
Reason why I want to find some documents and plans now is that in future could be more expensive like now.
But, again thank you for replies.

[RobW]

Look up Replicraft. That is where most folks here start.

rob

[Brad]

There are a few things to consider here:

1) Full scale, or is slightly reduced scale acceptable? The reduced scale birds cost a lot less, not so much because of materials but because the smaller, more common modern engines are a LOT less expensive.

2) If full scale, authentic construction or a modern "interpetation?" There is a huge difference in effort required to construct many of the authentic ones vs. simplified, modern "representations" of the same aircraft. Also, the modern replicas are generally "friendlier" to fly.

3) Single seat or two?

For reduced scale, 2-seat WWI aircraft there are essentially 3 choices: 2 from plans, and 1 from a kit. The kit is from Airdrome Aeroplanes, the Tabloid/Baby (2 versions of essentially the same thing.) The plans are the 7/8 Graham Lee Nieuport 12, and the 60% scale Early Bird Jenny.

For reduced scale single-seat aircraft, the only one currently available as plans are the Graham Lee plans. (CIRCA Reproductions.) Note that the ONLY ones that have actually been completed and flown are the Nieuports, the others you would be the prototype builder... and Graham has passed away, so support from Mike (his son) is limited. There is, however, a VERY active builder community. For reduced scale kits, again Airdrome Aeroplanes is the place to go, and they offer a substantial number of choices, from both sides of the war. Loehle also has some kits, but they are really, REALLY a stretch toi call them "replicas."

Airdrome also offers full scale kits, but not authentic construction methods. Also CIRCA has full scale plans, again, not authentic construction methods.

For authentic construction methods for full scale aircraft, Replicraft is the source for the most variety.

Hope that is helpful!

[Bitz Dr1]

Don't let your ambitions be quelled lad, but be realistic as well.
You might also benefit from keeping your eyes on the Barnstormers advertising site, as often, an unfinished project is sold for cheap.

Good luck there-
As a side note, Replica plans, and Ron Sands Jr are good sources.

[Tinbasher]

Research,research and more research.Learn the skills needed to build these planes is the greatest accomplishment.