5/31/08 4:00
Have been slammed with work recently, not much in the way of progress. Glued up another couple of ribs and routed about 200 feet of capstrip. That's about it really. Am visiting Jack Kearbey's Pup project in Tulsa next weekend, looking forward to that, his work is legendary.
05/22/08 8:00
Have been extremely busy at work so not a very productive week in terms of project work... glued up a rib, but broke it being too heavy-handed pulling it out of the jig. Glued up another but got very frustrated with it.
The Zenith altimeter came back from the watchmaker, he has built a lovely little gear for it, think it will work perfectly now. Delighted... will reassemble and post photos.
Despite frustrations in the workshop had an excellent experience on Saturday, flew down to visit Joe Hauk's Pup project in New Berlin. Joe was a very generous host and my mind is still spinning with all the information he gave me, and the amazing tour he gave me of his basement.
Captioned slide show follows:
Have been extremely busy at work so not a very productive week in terms of project work... glued up a rib, but broke it being too heavy-handed pulling it out of the jig. Glued up another but got very frustrated with it.
The Zenith altimeter came back from the watchmaker, he has built a lovely little gear for it, think it will work perfectly now. Delighted... will reassemble and post photos.
Despite frustrations in the workshop had an excellent experience on Saturday, flew down to visit Joe Hauk's Pup project in New Berlin. Joe was a very generous host and my mind is still spinning with all the information he gave me, and the amazing tour he gave me of his basement.
Captioned slide show follows:
05/11/08 2:30
Best weekend in ages, feel like I've accomplished a lot in terms of "getting organised". Emailed with John Brecher who is running the student project to build a Sopwith Pup in Dallas. He is putting me in touch with a person in Texas who has already put all the Sopwith fittings into CAD and can get them cut out with water jet. John says the quality is very high. He also recommends Western Aircraft Spruce in BC as supplier for the main structural wood. I must admit I am not thrilled with the quality of what I've been receiving from Aircraft Spruce and Specialty. Some of the wood is excellent, tight grained, but some of it is a bit rough. But my biggest beef is (A) I ordered two lots of capstrip from them both ostensibly 3/8" thick; but there is a significant difference, probably 3/32" between the two orders. (B) I asked for a mixture of 5 ft and 6ft lengths in the second order and they sent all 5ft, which is not very helpful.
Update 5/12/08 : I spoke to Spruce today and they are waiving the shipping on a new order of 6ft lengths... so they are partially redeemed...
Best weekend in ages, feel like I've accomplished a lot in terms of "getting organised". Emailed with John Brecher who is running the student project to build a Sopwith Pup in Dallas. He is putting me in touch with a person in Texas who has already put all the Sopwith fittings into CAD and can get them cut out with water jet. John says the quality is very high. He also recommends Western Aircraft Spruce in BC as supplier for the main structural wood. I must admit I am not thrilled with the quality of what I've been receiving from Aircraft Spruce and Specialty. Some of the wood is excellent, tight grained, but some of it is a bit rough. But my biggest beef is (A) I ordered two lots of capstrip from them both ostensibly 3/8" thick; but there is a significant difference, probably 3/32" between the two orders. (B) I asked for a mixture of 5 ft and 6ft lengths in the second order and they sent all 5ft, which is not very helpful.
Update 5/12/08 : I spoke to Spruce today and they are waiving the shipping on a new order of 6ft lengths... so they are partially redeemed...
5/10/08 10:00
Best day’s work in a long time. Stopped in at the Weeks hangar first to look at the Bleriot project which is really coming together, the fuselage is taking shape and the whole thing is starting to look like a real aeroplane. Glued up another rib… just two more to go before I have completed the full set of “Type A” ribs! Cut out enough webs for another 6 ribs or so. Will do the 12 “Type C” ribs next, because I have run out of 6ft lengths of capstrip and will need to order more from Aircraft Spruce; the “Type C” ribs are shorter so I can use up the many 5ft lengths that I have. Cleaned up about a month’s worth of sawdust. Got the scrollsaw working again… found that a fuse had popped. Stripped the paint from the Zenith altimeter, tidied up the corrosion and repainted it with black enamel. Visited the clock repair shop to see if they can fix the broken gear on the altimeter. The repairer was not in, but the assistant said he’s fixed aircraft instruments before, so I will stop in later in the week. Studied the plans for the first time in quite a while… I think I’ll order the spar and nosing material next, and also make the instrument panel. Overall it’s been quite a productive week. Alan Westby was in San Diego and shot a whole bunch of detail photos of their Pup. I also talked to Jack Kearbey in Tulsa who is building a Pup – made arrangements to pay him a visit in early June. His work is legendary.
Best day’s work in a long time. Stopped in at the Weeks hangar first to look at the Bleriot project which is really coming together, the fuselage is taking shape and the whole thing is starting to look like a real aeroplane. Glued up another rib… just two more to go before I have completed the full set of “Type A” ribs! Cut out enough webs for another 6 ribs or so. Will do the 12 “Type C” ribs next, because I have run out of 6ft lengths of capstrip and will need to order more from Aircraft Spruce; the “Type C” ribs are shorter so I can use up the many 5ft lengths that I have. Cleaned up about a month’s worth of sawdust. Got the scrollsaw working again… found that a fuse had popped. Stripped the paint from the Zenith altimeter, tidied up the corrosion and repainted it with black enamel. Visited the clock repair shop to see if they can fix the broken gear on the altimeter. The repairer was not in, but the assistant said he’s fixed aircraft instruments before, so I will stop in later in the week. Studied the plans for the first time in quite a while… I think I’ll order the spar and nosing material next, and also make the instrument panel. Overall it’s been quite a productive week. Alan Westby was in San Diego and shot a whole bunch of detail photos of their Pup. I also talked to Jack Kearbey in Tulsa who is building a Pup – made arrangements to pay him a visit in early June. His work is legendary.
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