Mike Dowling
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Everything posted by Mike Dowling
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I was really brave and cut them off !! Not too bad actually with a razor saw. Sanded them down and then put them back together again !!! This time with hinges ! I have to say I nearly had a complete sense of humour failure doing those hinges - very tricky but they even go up and down. I'm impressed anyway ! I started the fuselage sides the other day but I have had to take them apart three times because of the stupid 'various scale' plans that I seem to have. Just when you get something spot on anther plan looks miles out ! Hey ho, we love modelling really. I have put in the corner pieces which get deadeyes and rigging attached later.
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The wings are nearly finished now. I just have to be really brave and cut off the ailerons (!!!) before hinging them, doing the dihedral for the lower wings (blocks drying) and putting on the aileron horns.
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Oh silly me !! Thank you John.
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Yet another question John ! Regarding splitting and re-joining the bottom wing - I don't find the instructions for this to be very good. I understand about blocking up both wing tips to the correct height and I assume the metal joining bits are the gutter shaped pieces with holes in them, one for each spar. However the instructions state that 'the spars should lie flat in the cast joints and the underside of the outermost ribs will be elevated'. How can the spars lie flat if there is an angle on the wings ? Thanks also Ken for the diagrams, I can see that as long as symmetry is maintained it should be OK.
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John B, I have a teensy little problem and I wonder of you had it ! My plans sheets 3 and 5 for the wings do not match up at all ! I have double and even triple checked my wings against plan 3 and they are perfect, but plan 5 which has the compression bars and rigging do not match. Do you think it matters ? I guess I just have to bite the bullet and press on and hope it all works out in the end.
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I have raided the bosses sewing box and swiped some grey thread !! It will do just fine !
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Oh dear ! A whole update I put in seems to have vanished so I will do it again. Oops, I may have put it in John B's log by accident ! Sorry John. Anyway I have finished both wings up to the varnishing stage and am awaiting the order for my spray varnish. So, meanwhile I have drilled all the tiny holes required in the compression bars and wired in turnbuckles in advance of fitting them where required. I figured it would be easier to put them on first. Any way I have shown a few (not all !) for your interest. I have also started the empennage (!) although what is wrong with tailplane and elevator ? The brittania metal castings were far too small and a lot of adjustment of the ribs, rib caps etc was needed to get them in
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John B, when you did your model and used the silver coloured thread, was there plenty for the build or was it tight ? It doesn't look like they have been over generous to me, in fact they don't seem to have been over generous with anything ! I think with hindsight trying to use wire may not be such a good idea.
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I love the natural wood look as well so I know how you feel. I have now done 3 paddlers but not this one and I have to say I like the wood best having painted one. I shall keep an interested eye on your build but looks good so far.
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- king of the mississippi
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Well I will be content to build just the one ! Progress so far : Both wings complete to the varnishing stage. I am awaiting the spray varnish I have ordered. So whilst waiting I drilled all the tiny holes in the compression bars and have wired in the turnbuckles prior to gluing. I have only shown a few so you get the idea. I reckoned it would be easier to put them on off the wings. I have also started on the empennage although why it can't just be called tailplane and elevator is beyond me. The brittania metal castings were way off, far too small so serious adjustments were needed to all the wing ribs, nose caps etc to get them to fit in.
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Thanks for that John. I am thinking of using very fine wire instead if thread. That would be easier with the 'continuous' method. What fun drilling all those holes in the compression bars !! And I thought the cappings were difficult !
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Another question for you John ! When you did the wing bracing wires, did you do the continuous run method described in the instructions or did you do the 'separate' method ?
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The thing is John, Carl, I remember having problems especially with boats before - getting CA to stick on a varnished surface. Anyway, I have been bold and ordered some spray on satin poly varnish for the wings etc. Got to be easier than trying to paint all those bits !
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Great ! So no one likes my propeller huh !! Good thing I ordered a pre-made one then !
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Well folks, just to show you that I have not been idle, the top wing is at a 'stage' waiting, according to the destructions to be varnished. This leads to a question John, how did you get all the metal bits that have yet to go on to stick after you had varnished yours ? I know that CA and varnish don't go well together. After all the help, advice etc and now, because I don't mind showing my efforts warts and all, here is something that could be a propeller. I don't say it is but it looks a bit like one and I think it's the best I can do without starting all over again. One edge is rounded and the other really sharp but it doesn't show very well on the photo. I reckon it might look OK when it goes on ! Maybe!
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I thoroughly agree with Carl - a beautiful build and well worth the extra effort you made with it. I congratulate you.
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John, I know I am getting boring but, I looked back at you log and the second picture of your prop build held over the plan looks exactly the same as mine. Your third photo looks almost finished. What I simply can't figure out is what you did after the second picture but before the third.
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Carl, it is indeed supposed to spin counter clockwise which I think is weird for a start. John, have you changed your mind and think I have done it wrong so far or are you suggesting an insurance policy in case ?
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Thanks Ken. Checked your pictures again and it still looks to me as though I have started sanding the wrong side
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Thanks LR. I know I am just being really thick ! I love the paper analogy and can visualize that quite easily in my thick head. That however is two dimensional and what I can't quite see is how to make that with the wood in three dimensions ! I will sleep on it and maybe, just maybe it will come to me in one of those flashes !!! Anyway, great to have you along for the ride. I was beginning to think no one was interested after John's brilliant build. So, where in the Highlands one wonders being another Highland dweller ?
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Now I think I get it ! Like a plane wing so it will be slightly convex on the outside and slightly convex on the inside ? If that sounds OK I will get on with some more sanding (!!!) on Tuesday. I guess, worst case scenario, if I muck it up I can buy one ready done albeit not for a Sopwith !
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Great to see you Cog, thanks so much for watching. Don't all models need sanding, maybe not quite so much !
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John, am I right about the concave bit ? Should it be concave not convex ?
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so have I done anything wrong yet ? apart from ( I think ) sanding convex instead of concave ?
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It just looks to me as though I have started the shaping from the wrong side ?
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