What's New at the Fokker Factory

[Wildpig]

Beautiful.

[Mitch]

Thank You, I believe anyone can do what I do, takes some patience....

Today I am working on wheels and making struts...All struts will be hard wood (Laminated Coffee Sticks) and painted Purple.

First the wheels:


You are seeing close ups, and unfinished work... I decided to paint the outside of the wheel discs to match the cowl and fuselage mid section.

Steps:
1. Primed with "Bone" color, the color is close to balsa wood.
2. Sprayed 1 side Purple (rattle can)
3. Painted tire Grey, WW1 rubber was either Grey or Pink, never Black.
4. Touched up wheel disc with brushed purple... slightly different color... (Looks worse in this picture)
5. Using ALL 4 color lozenges, apply to inside of wheel. (There is NO glue on tire)
6. When dry I will remove excess paper.
7. I will give Mud "Wash" to Tires
8. I will overspray all will Dulcote...

To be continued...

UPDATE: Just finished 2nd Lozenge on tire... Just had enough purple lozenges...Whew!... The proplem with moving my factory and not taking everthing home! That was 1 hour... somes chores and be back latter...

[Mitch]

Progress Report:

1. Wheels are done:


2. N strut constuction:

Using hard wood, I will laminate 2, overlaping joints. This will be VERY strong

3. Discovered problem with bending Engine exhaust:

Although I had a specilty tool, it is specific to pipe diameter...
It bends pipe very nicely... Next version of engine will have nicley bent pipes

I believe in specilty tools to make your job, quick, easy, and look top notch. Mitch... I gots to do chores... hope to finish N struts tonight...

[Mitch]

End of the Day Update:

The moment of truth................DO THE WINGS LINE UP?

With a bit of nudging, I would say YES
The N struts were painted with the "Rattle Can" but the wood takes paint differently... so I brush painted it, and it turned out very nice.

A 3/4 view of the plane.

I thinkk I will trim down the "N" struts as the top wing appears a bit too high. I will trim off about 1/4 inch top and bottom.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF KITBASHING
The "N" struts are NOT glued in, just a dry fitting. I will still need to "OPEN UP" all the slots in the "L" pieces. So far I just filled in with solid balsa each rectangle that a cabane strut will "HIT". I will now decide where they will hit and cut a notch. Each of the cabane struts will be custom fitted and also made from Hardwood. The top wing has the receiving points already made.

NOTE TO GUILLOWS: IT WOULD BE MUCH EASIER FOR ALL OF US IF THIS WAS A KIT! But I enjoyed the kitbash so far. Good Night to All, Mitch

[twospruces]

Regarding bending balsa...

Isnt steam the way to get that done?

...steve

[Mitch]

Steve...

I was refering to bending metal pipe... My enginge has copper pipe exhausts

These were all bent with a pliers, and although I got better I was disapointed, my pipe bender did not work... Until I realized ther are different pipe benders for different size pipe. Using the bending tool compresses the inside and streaches the outside and makes a smooth turn! What took me minutes for each exhaust pipe now can be done in seconds, with far better results!

Hobby stores usually have a small metal supply next to the balsa. Aluminum, Copper, and Brass.

Mitch

[Mitch]

Morning Report:

Today's schedule will be trim down "N" struts, make cabane struts, work on landing gear and..... Work on Armament... I hoped to have this model done before Christmas, and if it is not completely done I think it will be very close...

Here are a couple of diagrams of the guns:


I will attempt to improve upon the vacuform model...Here is what I have so far...

I cut out the guns with a small sissors, then sanded the "OPEN" side as per instructions. I removed the gun barrel as I find it is hard to get that small piece to line up and it is easier to replace it with one of those "Coffee" straws.

I will attempt to duplicate as best I can with "free" supplies.

1000 update:

Spent the morning planing and testing different materials... here are the results:

Plan to also hvae "Crash pads & Crash bar"


Here are the components for the "Improved Spandau guns"


Guns will include:
1. Feed and ejection chute
2. Charging handle
3. Gun Sight
4. Crash Pad
5. Improved Gun Barrel

NOTE: The paper clip was wrapped around 5/32 drill... will cut off 2 rings and use staple (trimed) to make cross hair.

[Bill Gaylord]

The aluminum is tough to bend well, without the exact bender. I've looked at them countless times, but I'm too cheap to buy them. I use the plastic tubing that the LHS sells for curved parts. When they come out a bit rough such as on my HE51 exhausts (actually really rough) I can build them up with thick CA/activator and sculpt it. For simple 90 degree tube bends, I've pretty much got the process down with a bic lighter and a rod or wire, used to insert in the plastic tube and bend the tubing, after heating the exact area where the bend will be. One really nice thing about the plastic is that you can slit it and install it over something. Works out well for LG like the nose gear fork below, since the tubing would be destroyed if installed over the wire, before making the axle bends and other bends.

[Mitch]

Thanks Bill, I am still learn something new everyday, and with every build. I just thought it would be cool to use real metal parts... Saves from painting, and it just has the right look. I have had that bender for years, but now I see I might need another one for smaller pipe... uh... tube.

1600 UPDATE: Lot of time today spent on planning as I am adding more detail to guns than in the past and trying new things... Now waiting for glue and paint to dry...


Look Mom I can STAND UP!


Getting my prop clearance check!


Better watch out, I can bite!


Close up of guns... glue needs to dry, then trim, and paint. I made sights, but they will be added last. Also Crash pads will be attached latter.

Once I am satisfied with the guns, I will install the top wing with the "N" struts, let that dry then insert the 8 cabane struts. Whew! Getting close but still lots more work to do.

Mitch

PS: Now that I have decided NOT to fly this model I think I might work on the cockpit... A bit late, but might try to make a seat or something... Usually I just put a black piece of paper to cover and add the Guillows 1/2 Pilot... On this model I will use the Full pilot from the Stearman Kit!

UPDATE: End of the day report... it's 1917... and the German High Comand wants some more Radial Engine Airplanes, to support the Fokker D7... We want more D6's.... It's not quite done yet, but this one is looking very promising to meet their needs...



I decided to get one more picture in before "Lights Out"


THIS AIRPLANE WILL NEVER FLY... "SHOW & TELL" ONLY

[Mitch]

One and Only update for today:

Top wing glued on and all cabane struts installed. Cabane struts are single stick (landing gear and "N" struts are double thick)



Put another coat of dope on top of bottom wing and bottom of top wing before installation.
Plane needs Insignia, alerions, elevator and rudder, then final coat of Dope... that's all for now, Mitch

Look what got put together today...
Here's a Christmas Surprise... the V-17 didn't take much time to get up and running... Here are a few pics...



This one looks a little short, LOA, I think I did my homework... I'll have to check the diamentions again... maybe with Ruder and Elevator it will look a bit better, or maybe this was a reason this plane did not go into production.

Hardwood laminated Undercarage, drilled out to accept 1/8 inch plastic straw, music wire axle runs though that... You can't do that with Balsa!
These Kitbashes DO NOT come with instructions, it is trial and error, until sucess for me.

Mitch

[Mitch]

I have a forum question for the readers here... My next build will be a Fokker EIV. Although the EIII has and is being produced, it is of smaller and larger scales. Mine will be kitbashed from the Thomas Morse kit 201, have a ws of 28 inches and use a double bank radial engine 18 pistons, 3 machine guns.

My question is this. Should I continue posting here or start a build thread just for that model?

Mitch

PS The current models are nearly done, the ailerons will be solid balsa, also finishing up the Blue Triplane, will post pictures here of all completed models.