maurice northcott

Thanks Dwain and Tom, I do hope so I have been working on the new fin since this morning - but I had something else necessary to do today as well. All the new fin is now done except applying the sheeting, deliberately left until tomorrow. As part of the learning curve for the new fin I spent a bit of time practising on the old one. You wouldn't believe but I do have a set of full-size coordinates for the same area on the later "common fin", ie similar to the fin fitted to the 152 series, but not for the earlier standard fin. Another bonus of the research was the finding of a photo of a radial 190 with the later "common fin", so that's another 190 to make....

Posted by Erfolg on 03/03/2017 21:07:12: Oh my God, you do seek perfection. Well yes, with particular regard to what I see as Kurt Tank’s beautiful 190/152 series, yes I do seek perfection. It doesn’t apply in the same way on other models though. But that is what I see as one of the best things about this diverse hobby (some of us obsession?) we all participate in - the modeller has the choice of how much or how little effort they put in. Today was spent at the flying field and later in the garden using the “mouse” on a couple of wings (one being the 190D). As the weather looks rubbish in our area for tomorrow, I should be able to produce the new fin. As it happens, a bit more delving in the old files produced some info that should help with the fuselage/fin translation tomorrow.

Hello All Well, yesterday, together with somebody else we spent the day measuring, checking etc and think we have sorted out what is the problem. The leading edge of the fin is too broad. I had 3 options to choose from - leave it as it is; modify it; build a new fin. I decided today to build a new fin. I know from the past that when there is a part of one of my models that I consider is incorrect, it doesn’t matter how much I am assured by others that it don’t look too bad, I am never satisfied. So there we are. Decision made, now to get on with it.

Well, after checking, carving, checking, Permagitting, checking, rechecking, carving, Permagritting, checking etc ad infinitum, by 1800hrs I was much happier than 24hrs before. Still not satisfied though, so probably more carving and Permagritting to come. Anyway, as from tomorrow I may concentrate on other areas to give my eyes, brain and books a rest - plenty more to do. Photo shows where I was at 1800hrs.

Posted by Jon Harper - Laser Engines on 01/03/2017 10:20:50: ... are admitted to an institution we can at least arrange our building tables in a circle and keep each other company. No luck there Jon et al. In "an institution" they would'n't let us have any sharp knives Don't ask how I know..............

Morning All Not a great deal of photos from yesterday, but a lot of researching and thinking done .. all the blocks used have been more closely shaped and first hollowing out done - the hollowing of the fin leading edge is shown in the first photo, together with the X-Acto tool used to do it. This was from the X-Acto "Router Assortment" No. X135. They come in a bubble-pack nowadays of 4 different routing shapes - all very useful. When the blocks are final shaped, the final hollowing can follow. I had a look at some of my other 190 models compared to full-size photos. The Meister one demonstrates that Meister did not understand the fin leading edge at all, despite their claim on their plan that theirs was the most accurate model 190 ever!!! The 2 Brian Taylor models seem to indicate that Brian (as usual) was  much closer to fully understanding it. Therefore when I start the next one, I will search out his plan and see if I can incorporate some of his method of construction. How many times, over the years have I said or thought "Thank you Brian" !!!!! In finishing the day off, I applied a bit of Fine Surface Polyfilla where it was needed - 2nd photo. Cheers, maurice Edited By maurice northcott on 01/03/2017 08:14:24 Edited By maurice northcott on 01/03/2017 08:15:09

Hi Erfolg - thanks for the comments, but as John Stones 1 referred to.... the 190/152's are all beautiful to me.... - if only they could cook . The fin was first enlarged by the addition of a parallel section on the rear end and the second time by making the leading edge parallel to the main spar (ie more upright). This latter fin shape was used on the152's and some other Versuchs aircraft - but the Versuchs fins were not all exactly the same (I have official drawings of all). Some people refer to the later fin as a 152-fin, but it was actually (as proven by another official drawing) a revised fin for all later builds of the 190 including the A-10 (there are photos of 2 190D-9 with that type of fin, perhaps there were more). Yes, the most difficult part of the 190 series to me is first understanding the shape of the bottom of the leading edge of the fin and secondly, reproducing that on a model - in fact I have been working on just that all morning. Yes that parallel section inserted in the transport joint (which was at 7 degrees to the aircraft manufacturing datum) also raised the rear end by a small amount due to that 7 degrees, thereby creating the "banana" effect. I have been wearing the anorak since 1973 when I started full-depth research into the 190 series, understanding the design etc. I built the original fuselage on a horizontal crutch based on the full-size construction datum (including the raising at the rear end....... John Stones 1 - Agreed, get the mods involved "ugly" indeed Dwain - Hahahaha sure did matey Cheers maurice Edited By maurice northcott on 28/02/2017 12:55:09

A lot of time spent researching again today – this time it was the different bulges on the engine cowling of the D-11 -v- the D-9. I knew roughly where they were and the shape, but last time I researched them was many years ago. Anyway, the first job in the workshop was to sand and fix the fin sheets to the fin structure. All the tape was removed from the skins and then they were sanded on what will become the outer face. This is to prepare the outer surfaces for finishing before they are fitted. If the sheets were sanded after they were fixed then the area over the structure would remain fixed when sanding, but the parts over open areas would sag between the structure and an uneven surface would result – first photo. This was followed by a quick sand over what are the insides just sufficient to remove any “nibs” of balsa cement. The sheets were positioned over the structure just to check they would fit and then glue was applied to the structure and each skin was pinned and taped into position. PVA glue was used in this operation – balsa cement could be used, but it does not give as much time for “shuffling” the sheet into correct position. Eventually the PVA glue cured and the pins and tape removed. At this point a number of dents were noticed in the sheeting – 2nd photo ( have circled the dents with a dotted red line). These had been incurred during the sanding operation – quickest way to get rid of these is to apply some “spit” to the relevant area – 3rd photo. 2 hours later, the dents had disappeared and the model has some more of my “soul” in it. Blood is already in it, so we are in usual territory. Now we have a fin sheeted on both sides. Before any further work, it was put aside to let the glue dry completely. Back to the bulges. These were measured and red marks made on the engine cowling of the fuselage – last photo. These bulges are on the full-size, but It is very difficult to see them on photos, consequently it is difficult to size and position them. Moving on, the basic shapes have been marked out on ¼” soft sheet balsa for later cutting out. That’s it for today, cheers, maurice

First thing today it looked great for a day at the flying field, but checked the weather forecast – that said it would soon cloud over, the wind increase (above my comfort level) and the temperature drop. They were spot on! So this morning was spent sorting out blocks in the vertical stab to take the rudder hinges, then a leading edge for the fin. It looks quite simple at first, but there is a critical angle cut into the front of the bottom of it – trying to get that right nearly had me trying to pull out what remains of my hair. Anyway, eventually got there with patience, the old bandsaw and a Permagrit sanding block – first photo. After lunch decided to make up the fin side sheeting. Each side would have to be 2 bits, so these were marked out on the sheet with plenty of excess around the outline. The edges that were to be glued together were trued up with the Permagrit block, then the sheets were taped together, hold them in place with a couple of small pieces of tape, followed by one full-length long strip – 2nd photo. These were turned up the other way so the tape is now on the underside and then laid so the smaller sheet overlapped the edge of the board and dangled down – 3rd photo. A bead of balsa cement was run along the joint using the nozzle to push it along (4th photo) and the dangling sheet brought back up to the top of the board. The cement is pushed out a little and this is spread along the joint line by use of a finger. Apply a slight bit of upward pressure on the joint and apply a couple more pieces of tape to hold that tension – 5th photo. Now the second side sheet is made up in the same way but “handed”, this to ensure the side with the cement spread along it will be on the inside of the fin. Always use balsa cement for this operation – first it shrinks slightly in going off, making the joint tighter and second (should there be any outside the joint) it will be easy to sand off. The 2 complete sheet sides (last photo) are now put away to dry out over a number of hours, probably until tomorrow to ensure complete drying. Cheers, maurice Edited By maurice northcott on 26/02/2017 15:50:43

Carry on with it please John - you are doing great. I don't think many comments/questions get put on my construction blog, but hey that must mean that I am very good at describing what I am doing, and/or the photos cover everything adequately. On the other hand, of course, I could be totally boring and the photos rubbish. Please don't tell me, just let me live in my own little pile of balsa dust and shavings..... Edited By maurice northcott on 26/02/2017 12:26:06 Edited By maurice northcott on 26/02/2017 12:26:47

Lovely model Andy - Very well done. Canberra is one of my favourites being one of those aircraft flying in numbers when I was a sprog....you have done it proud.

Crikey, Henry J's was one my LMS going back to the early 1950's. When Henry J, ("The Professor" his son and grandson gave up, the shop was taken over by somebody else. I presume the "new" chap is now or has retired......