Stephen Jones Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I found this interesting bit of info . **LINK** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg shaw Posted January 24, 2014 Author Share Posted January 24, 2014 Cheers Stephen, some good info on there! Had some more Flea time today, made up the main spar for the 2m span rear wing, only to find out that the timber I'd used to make it was only 1.8m long!!!! I foolishly believed my brain when it thought the spars were long enough. So I had to take them all apart and scarf joint some new spars. The 'used' ones will be ripped down for the thinner strips to make up the leading and trailing edge outlines. I'll get some pics when I remember to take the camera!! The spars are 30mm x 6mm, laid flat for the top and bottom spars. Hardwood blocks separate them at the rigging and mounting points. They are also tapered in both plan and front views, but a pic would say a thousand words!!!! Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg shaw Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 Here's a few pics of the 'right' spars!! All scarf jointed in the middle, then with hardwood blocks at the rigging and mounting points. The book shows how to get the correct curves to the spar, a bit like stringing a bow, then by pulling a straight thread tip to tip you can measure at set points to ensure the curve is right, and more importantly, the same both sides! Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 your into archery now then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg shaw Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 I've made a start on the ply sheeting front and back of the spars, plus machined up the wood for the rear spars (much simpler) and the leading and trailing edges. These are made up from three layers of 7 x 3mm, two laminated go on first, then another end on for the outermost bits, just to ensure I get that nasty pointy edged wing section I so desired for Flea like performance!! Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg shaw Posted February 2, 2014 Author Share Posted February 2, 2014 Had some more time to complete the rear wing main spar so the rib threading can begin. Back in the 30's, many builders used the services of several small companies making parts for Fleas, either as finished components or kits etc. I did the same and used a set of ribs from Tony Hill and Son, who supplied me with a set of ribs, lazy beggars left all the holes for me to cut out though!!! Oddly enough, there was a company back then called T Hill and Son that supplied parts, a finished rear wing was 4 Pounds!! More later hopefully. Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg shaw Posted February 2, 2014 Author Share Posted February 2, 2014 Back to the spars again though, I found a discrepancy in the book regarding the blocks for the flying wires on the front and rear main spars. Fleas, when transported by road etc. could have the rear wing bolted to the top of the top wing and the whole lot rotated 90 degrees to minimise the width. They were bolted together using these blocks in the spars for anchorage. The writing in the book says to put the blocks in the same place on both spars for this purpose, but the drawings show the font spar blocks at 2.6m spacing, the rear at 2m spacing. You'd need some fair dogleg bolts to get them to line up huh!!! When I made mine, I layed the spars in 'transport' position and marked where the other blocks need to go, so hopefully............ Ian. Edited By reg shaw on 02/02/2014 09:47:42 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 wow looking good. that wing looks a complicated shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 excellent stuff,those ribs are a thing of beauty they look like flying fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ton van Munsteren Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 Its great to see such a craftsman doing his thing, its a work of art . Ton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 Lovely work, does this help? LINK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg shaw Posted February 2, 2014 Author Share Posted February 2, 2014 Cheers Cymaz, an interesting site and saved! Got the front spar all sheeted up tonight so next job is to splice up and laminate the rear spars. These are simply two bits glued together to match the bottom curve of the front pair of spars, since the bottom edge of the ribs sit against the bottoms of all spars, simples. Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg shaw Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 Here's the rear wing glued up, just needs the outlines, biscuits and the blocks at the mounting points. Hopefully get the front wing to the same stage tonight Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindsay Todd Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Super work Ian, if the Flea is half scale what the heck is the wing off in the background? Linds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Good question Linds, it's certainly very full-size and very vintage! I'm intrigued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg shaw Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 That'd be telling chaps!!! I'll post something on those in a bit. I appear to have a pair of wing shaped things, at least as close to wing shaped things as Flea wings ever get! Outlines next, made up from three laminations of 6 x 3mm hardwood, two face to face and the outer end on. Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jones Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 One thing i did think about on this half scale Flea is knowing just how big some of you're models are . Is why did you not go full size , it would still be small compared too some of you're other builds . P.s looking great . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 That's a true work of art Reg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 fantastic is all i can say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg shaw Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 Thanks folks, muchly appreciated The wings in the background are the upper wings from a 1/1 Sopwith Pup replica made in the 70's early 80's for the TV series Wings. They are with me to be stripped down, repaired, recovered and repainted. Other parts of it, tailplane, fin and rudder, are with a mate for similar attention. The fuselage at the moment is still covered, but we'll do that too all in good time. Got the first layer of outline on the rear wing, so its quite rigid now, even more so once the next two layers are on. Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg shaw Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 I wasn't happy with the trailing edge profile of the last two ribs at the tip, they seemed to pull the trailing edge outline down, spoiling the lovely Mignet curves, so I peeled the ply rib profile off the spruce rib caps and replaced after teasing the reflex up a snadgers. Trailing edge now flows great. Added the main spar biscuits, 4 per rib and the leading edge doublers, plus the biscuits at the trailing edge junctions, then added the second of the trailing edge laminations. All quite time consuming for not much actual progress, pretty though!! Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jones Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 You did right Ian , It looks right now , shame you will be covering , and hide all that wonderful workmanship . I like structures like this . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Fenton Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 That is really lovely Ian, it is so like looking at something my Dad would have on the go in the hanger at Breighton many moons ago, I can see the Aerolite now Cheers Danny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 it certainly does look pretty Ian real craftmanship . tell why is there a gap between cap strip and spar ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg shaw Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 The gap between the top rib strip and the spar is because thats how Mignet designed it! The main spar tapers throughout its length so instead of making the ribs all different, Mignet makes only three patterns for the ribs. The outer tip rib, which there are 4, the next one in, again 4 off, then the main ribs of which there are 22. These 22 are all made and used the same, apart from 2 which have to be altered at their trailing edge to match the tips outline. The ribs aren't even handed, which kind of troubles my OCD somewhat!! Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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