What's cooking at the Albatros Werks?

[Mitch]

Okay Guys... here's my weekly update...

Built both wings...all ribs are 1/32 except strut bearing ribs are 1/16.

Cut and notched 2 ribs 1/16 then "grab" all others and cut with razor saw

Here are the wings...


I need to add a few more ribs in the mid section of the top wing

Here is the tail:

I was able to bend 3/32 Sq to the shape I wanted!
And more...

The elevator has a slight curve to it, which I intended and like.
NOTE I believe different factories had slightly different curves in the rudder and tail
and rudder

NOTE I am trying to build a scale model... that means as close to the original as possible. I am using Guillows Plans, but am adding more ribs as in the prototype and I believe my tail is more closely to the real areoplane! ... I hope it will fly

and on to the fuselage...
cutting...
NOTE>>>The engine pistons are hard dowel. I got the thickness I wanted by adding 12 inches of masking tape... Plan to build the engine this week!

and construction...


and here are the colors I will be using...

White and light blue for aft fuselage and tail... light blue under wings... and 5 COLOR lozenge with 15... yes OMG 15 different shapes of lozenge...


THATS IT FOR THIS WEEK... our ship got in late... winter... Gulf of Alaska... need I say more... I had to work all day... Going to see my daughter at her work and then back to ship... ugh... I mean the Albatros Werks...

This week Dutch Harbor... be back in 12 days...

Mitch

PS I feel this is a SCRATCH BUILD... I am using Guillows plans and making some mods, will be using plastic wheels and MG's but EVERYTHING ELSE is cut drawn and cut out and modified... I'm calling this a SCRATCH BUILD GUILLOWS 1/14 ALBATROS!

someone else is taking notice...

[Wildpig]

There's some real craftsmanship going on there.

Off topic:
Dutch Harbor in January
But, that brings up a question. A number of years ago, I saw this documentary on TV, and it said that some freighter ships carried passengers. Due to the automation in modern ships, less crew members were needed. So to get a little revenue, shippers could fill the empty crew quarters with paying passengers. Ever heard of such a thing? Because there are no amenities to speak of the fare was not expensive. One day, I'd like to try that.
Of course, I'd like to be on a ship going to Pago Pago or something like that.

[Mitch]

Week 2 update: Back from Dutch Harbor...

Heres the model as she sits now...

I have decided to NOT use lozenge for wings, as I believe this was a transition period. I will go with Green/Purple upper and Lt Blue under. I feel the lozenge would be too busy against the Blue/White "Bavarian Flag" tail. So it will be something like this...I am still planning on using the first picture as a guide this picture is to show the wing color.


I cut down my "Easter egg" spinner and I LIKE IT...




My "Mock-Up Mercedes engine is nearly done...


As I apllied the balsa "L" pieces I would make sure they were HIGH at the ends... then sand it down to the contour of the model


All the struts are finished... Made with 3 laminated coffee stir stickes and made "dove tail" joints... VERY STRONG...


I will be home ALL DAY tomorrow and have more pics and can answer any questions...

Next week COVERING and start NEW PROJECT...Pfalz DIII...

I will go to STAPLES and enlarge the plans... This plane will have a 26 1/2 " ws... AND A VERY SIMPLE COLOR SCHEME !!!

I'll leave you with this picture of Cook Inlet... The ship is at the dock in Anchorage...

We have spare rooms and can take "passengers"...they are guests and do not pay. Family members or something like that. My Dad made a trip to Alaska, several years ago and once also came with me on a trip to the Far East.

Mitch

[Mitch]

NO WORK ON THE ALBATROS... But I will be home soon and this will be on the top of my list...

SO..... I have a question for anyone following this build...

I HOPE to fly this model. I am thinking about taking a shortcut and cover the front half of the model with paper... WILL YOU BE DISAPPOINTED?

I have 3 Options...

1. Use the 1/64 plywood and cut sections and apply on top of frames
2. Fill in front of plane will balsa... sand and stain
3. Cover 'wood' area with brown paper...

I am planning on bringing this model to a contest and fly it!?

So I will take your advice and try to do my best job at what you suggest...

My model is planned to look something like this...



Mitch

[Bill Gaylord]

The natural stained wood looks beautiful on these planes. I built a few models that way, but they didn't have the complex shape of the Albatros. I've always wanted to build one of these with natural wood, but am aware that it's a lot of work. For the few that I built with stained wood, I had to be incredibly careful to use as little glue as possible in the seams, as the glue will not stain. I'd probably sheet it with panel lines as seams like the photo that you posted, making as few reliefs as needed. What I've done in the past is to glue the reliefs from the rear, to avoid glue on the outer surface that will not take stain. Of course no filler can be used, so the sheeting thickness is all that can be used for a bit of sculpting. I have "painted" the inner surface of the wood with glue for reinforcement where it gets thin, which works well. Always fun trying to get in there after sheeting the first side to apply glue also.

[Mitch]

Thanks for your comeback Bill... My ideas are always getting refined and although I think 1/64 ply would look the best I am aware that any glue will seal the wood and not take stain. Moreover, I am aware of the compound curves and the challenges that will present.

I was also thinking about painting the wood simulation.

I want this to be a fairly quick build so I think I will fill in with balsa and sand to shape. The forward "metal" will be manila folder stock and the rear "painted" area will be papered.

I just got off my ship today... so give me a couple of days to unpack and set up my aircraft factory...

Stay Tuned... Mitch

[Marshdweller]

Hi Mitch,

I'm looking forward to seeing your progress!

I also found this, which I thought you might like to see (if you haven't already): http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/projects/albatros-dva/albatros-dva-timelapse-construction-video

[Bill Gaylord]

Thanks for your comeback Bill... My ideas are always getting refined and although I think 1/64 ply would look the best I am aware that any glue will seal the wood and not take stain. Moreover, I am aware of the compound curves and the challenges that will present.

I was also thinking about painting the wood simulation.

I want this to be a fairly quick build so I think I will fill in with balsa and sand to shape. The forward "metal" will be manila folder stock and the rear "painted" area will be papered.

I just got off my ship today... so give me a couple of days to unpack and set up my aircraft factory...

Stay Tuned... Mitch

I replied since you mentioned natural stained wood. I'm sure you're aware of simple building concepts. It wasn't meant to be a challenging statement. I've had some responses from some really arrogant and challenging people on the building forums in my time. I'm not one of them, and about as far from it as they come. I just has a guy recently tell me about iron-on coverings, as if I had no clue what they were. Now that's a different story. I looked up his Linkedin page, and it was the most arrogant short story I've ever read. It literally started with this, "There is nothing I have not designed at one time or another." Every position held was "senior xx", lol.
My reply was only intended to be a reply, and not meant to be a "comeback" as the term is so often used, as I simply have a strong interest in building this particular subject.

I never try to challenge a builder's methods. There are some who seem to think that build threads are build alongs, where they can jump in and tell everyone how everything is supposed to be done. I find them to be highly annoying. They are always noticeable in that they will clearly dismiss your methods as inferior to theirs, as they are not simply mentioning various methods for the point of discussion as I do. If you don't bow to those types they will retaliate in arrogance. Their sole purpose is to use other's work to show off their expertise.

As for "keeping things simple", I'm just not seeing where you're getting this notion that I'm trying to push you in different directions. Telling people, "Bill I just want to keep it simple", makes it appear that way, which is simply not happening. I enjoy discussing model building. I don't push people to change their build plan, and never come across as a guy who knows everything. I think you're taking me entirely the wrong way.

[Mitch]

Bill, I welcome ALL comments and as you can see my ideas keep changing and evolving... I am aware that there may be people of different skill levels here and I want to show what can be done... But I am trying to keep things fairly simple to construct. I don't consider myself to know everything, that's why I am using this forum.

No work so far... Just got back from a 2 day trip with my daughter looking at college in Ellensburg, WA and went to Leavenworth, WA (Bavarian Village) for a day... Picked up a new coffee mug...



Maybe better for a cold beverage... Mitch