PSS DH108 SWALLOW

[Matt How]

LIttle help needed for this build I a looking for some detail for the lighting and panel lines so if there is any members with any pictures or links to references I would be gratefull.

[Erfolg]

I am pretty sure that the bodies were made from wood. Probably by the same method as the Mosquito. I remember sitting in a Vampire fus at Woodford.

[PatMc]

This any help ?

[Bob How]

That is great PatMc perfect many thanks

[Erfolg]

I am not sure that gloss aluminium is correct for all over.

I know the body was painted silver, although I think it was wood, or the Vampire appeared to be wood.

[PatMc]

Only a small part of the nose cone was made from moulded wood, the rest of the aircraft was metal. Later Vampires & Venoms had fibreglass nose mouldings.

[mal brewer]

Posted by PatMc on 19/01/2013 11:09:36:

Only a small part of the nose cone was made from moulded wood, the rest of the aircraft was metal. Later Vampires & Venoms had fibreglass nose mouldings.

According to my information,the DH 108 used a Vampire fuselage,which was made from a ply/balsa/ply laminate,as used by DH to build the Mosquito.....................great model btw........Mal

[Erfolg]

Hi Pat Mac

I am absolutely certain that the front part of the Vampire (the one I sat in) was not aluminium. I distinctly could see it was silver painted over wood.

I have just looked at Aircraft of the Fighting Powers Vol 7 , P7 and scanned the text and drawing. Which distinctly writes about the fore part of the fuselage being a ply balsa sandwich ala Mosquito.

I think it was up to the B-B section.

Of course the Swallow may have used another production version of the Vampires body.

[PatMc]

Here's the fuselage construction details for all three prototypes, scanned from Barrie Hygate's book.

I must admit that since I didn't want to side-track this thread too much I only glanced through the construction details & quoted the part that's highlighted in my previous post. The extent of the wood construction of the 3rd fuselage does seem to be a little vague especially as the drawings appear to show rivet lines (though they are possibly screws) on the forward fuselage.

In order to not to distract this thread any further from it's original topic I intend leaving any construction details discussion here. However for anyone interested in making PSS (or other) models of experimental British jets (1941 - 1986) I can recommend the book that I've refered to - ISBN 1854860100 but it ain't cheap from Amazon or AbeBooks.

[Erfolg]

I only think it may be significant to Bob. As it appears that information is now being gathered to finish in a scale manner.

From what I remember that the front areas were smooth, not apparently made from sheet aluminium alloy panels, that were riveted. I do not remember that I noticed screws or anything of that type. It is as if DH filled all the traces of any fasteners, what ever they were.

There must be some one you would have thought on this thread that either worked on them, or flew one.

Yet it was the finish that I remembered, not shiny, a rather dull aluminium/silver type paint.

The trouble is, the Swallow could have been finished differently, particularly as it was intended to squeeze the last bit of speed out of it.

Edited By Erfolg on 19/01/2013 15:07:29

[Bob How]

Great references guys brilliant Lights?

[Bob How]

The port and starboard lights seem to be slung under the wing tips but for andf aft seem to be mising.

[PatMc]

Bob, there are clearly protective skids under the tip fairings of TG 283 & I think VW120 has small protective bumpers under it's tips similar to the tail bumper. I don't see any sign of lights in any of the photos I have.

[Bob How]

Well Pat you could be right I cannot find any either, perhaps it was not a requirement for protoypes,

I would imagine there were no plans to carry out tests at night.

[Bob How]

I also noted the skids were missing from VW 120

[PatMc]

Bob, I have couple of photo showing the tip bumpers quite clearly on VW120 & a close up side profile of TG306 where they seem to be missing altogether.

Which one are you modelling ? The cockpit shapes are different in each prototype.

[Bob How]

Second wing now built, It was a bit easier after the first, set the leading edge and rear spar tips on blocks for the ribs made some blocks which I cut to length then assembled between the ribs on the carbon spars and tacked them then added the D box caps and secondary 1/8 spars to stiffen the rear of the ribs.

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[Bob How]

here is another view showing the rear rib block the black section is a 6 degree washout biut into the last 4 ribs

[Bob How]

Here are few more pictures showing the main D box spar.

[Bob How]

__I could not resist a test assembly even though I have to build the ailerons and flaps on the port wing

[Bob How]

Hi Pat yep she is VW 120.

[Bob How]

This is my hinge designe and build to give a sort of scale flush look to the control surfaces, it is quite simple and gives a very light but strong control surface.

[Bob How]

First cyno the 1.5mm bottom skin of the aileron below the ribs note in the second picture the end fillets and the 6 degree washout wedge.

[Bob How]

Next glue the top skin onto the top of the ribs with white glue and leave to set overnight.

[Bob How]

When dry cut ribs to seperate aileron from wing.

Cut additional fillets insert opposite ribs, in a V pattern to add stiffness and strength