4/30/08 5:00
Hasn't been a great couple of weeks... have managed to get to the hangar for 3 brief visits, on each occasion I glued up a rib. Am now up to 9 of them. Had been hoping to do four per week but the reality has been more like two. However, the pile is slowly growing. Obtained a Zenith Height Gauge from eBay for $300. It's not in great condition and is broken (would pay two or three times that for a good one) but is exactly the right type for a Sopwith Pup. Having received it, I am pretty happy with my buy. The main altimeter mechanism (internal) seems to be in perfect condition and working order. What I need to fix is the external paintwork (very do-able) and one small gear part internally (will be harder, but is not a particularly complicated thing and am sure I can track one down). Talked some more to Kermit Weeks during the EAA Board meetings and he is convinced I should shoot for a 80hp Le Rhone.
Found an interesting website, a technical college in Dallas is building a Pup replica. Some useful info here. http://www.aimschool.com/?cat=5 This comment on their blog resonates: "Students are getting tired of ribs. 104 nose/false ribs, 48 main ribs, 20 trailing ribs, and 28 unique ribs!!"
Here's another excellent video from the EAA Hints for Homebuilders series. This is one of the first videos we made and I saw this about 2 months ago. Have been using exactly this techniquie to bend the capstrips on my ribs, with one minor exception - - rather than soaking the wood for 24 hours, I have been boiling up the kettle and soaking the wood in hot water for about an hour.
General update...
Talked to Joe Hauk in New Berlin, will go and visit his project some time soon after the EAA Board meetings. Acquired my first original part from eBay, a stopwatch that will go on the instrument panel. Will try and get some photos up soon. It's the "real deal" exactly the correct type for a Sopwith Pup with the Air Ministry stamp on the back. Looks to be in great condition but doesn't run, so maybe I will get it repaired. I have also picked up a Zenith altimeter from eBay, again of the correct type, although I know this one isn't in good condition. Am starting to think what my next task will be (beyond wing ribs). It will take me ages to chew through all the different ribs, and I feel the need for some variety in my work (also, I can only really do one rib per day).
Talked to Joe Hauk in New Berlin, will go and visit his project some time soon after the EAA Board meetings. Acquired my first original part from eBay, a stopwatch that will go on the instrument panel. Will try and get some photos up soon. It's the "real deal" exactly the correct type for a Sopwith Pup with the Air Ministry stamp on the back. Looks to be in great condition but doesn't run, so maybe I will get it repaired. I have also picked up a Zenith altimeter from eBay, again of the correct type, although I know this one isn't in good condition. Am starting to think what my next task will be (beyond wing ribs). It will take me ages to chew through all the different ribs, and I feel the need for some variety in my work (also, I can only really do one rib per day).
04/14/08 2:00
Missed a couple of weeks there due to flying down to Sun n Fun and back in the Cub... it was a long haul - - 2,800 miles and 32 flying hours! In my absence a new supply of wood has arrived from Aircraft Spruce, so I should be set for quite a while. Also Janet got some new shelving and laid out the hangar and tools in a much better way. 5 wing ribs completed to date, also I have made the pattern for the centre web of the "Type B" rib, of which there are 6. Tonight I prepared another 2 ribs worth of materials, will try and get them glued up later in the week. I received a CD of photos of the Pup in the San Diego Air & Space Museum, kindly sent to me by Peter Barker of Virginia, who kindly responded to my request via The Aerodrome forum (which is my main hang-out for building information). Slide show below - -
Missed a couple of weeks there due to flying down to Sun n Fun and back in the Cub... it was a long haul - - 2,800 miles and 32 flying hours! In my absence a new supply of wood has arrived from Aircraft Spruce, so I should be set for quite a while. Also Janet got some new shelving and laid out the hangar and tools in a much better way. 5 wing ribs completed to date, also I have made the pattern for the centre web of the "Type B" rib, of which there are 6. Tonight I prepared another 2 ribs worth of materials, will try and get them glued up later in the week. I received a CD of photos of the Pup in the San Diego Air & Space Museum, kindly sent to me by Peter Barker of Virginia, who kindly responded to my request via The Aerodrome forum (which is my main hang-out for building information). Slide show below - -
04/01/08 7:30
90th anniversary of the Royal Air Force today. Have completed a grand total of 4 ribs now, seems to be taking a couple of hours to complete each one, plus they each need at least a night clamped in the jig for the glue to set. Janet helped me make one on Sunday evening that turned out particularly well. T-88 glue is excellent for strength but pretty gloopy stuff to work with... I've learned that a syringe comes in very useful for dispensing it into the channel in the capstrip, sort of like icing a cake.
Visited the Weeks Hangar on Saturday to look at the Bleriot project. Got some good ideas and advice from Gary Buettner.
90th anniversary of the Royal Air Force today. Have completed a grand total of 4 ribs now, seems to be taking a couple of hours to complete each one, plus they each need at least a night clamped in the jig for the glue to set. Janet helped me make one on Sunday evening that turned out particularly well. T-88 glue is excellent for strength but pretty gloopy stuff to work with... I've learned that a syringe comes in very useful for dispensing it into the channel in the capstrip, sort of like icing a cake.
Visited the Weeks Hangar on Saturday to look at the Bleriot project. Got some good ideas and advice from Gary Buettner.
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