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Chris's Vicomte 1916


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Posted by Dave Hess on 27/08/2018 23:02:16:

I just noticed something in case it's important to you. If you look at the wing tips in my photo (19th Aug) and the tips in the front view of the drawing in post #1, you can see that the underside has a distinct camber to it to try and give the impression that the whole wing is cambered, like the full-size aircraft would be. Some of the later versions that people have made since then didn't include that camber.

Edited By Dave Hess on 27/08/2018 23:03:53

Quite so Dave. I built my aileron wing with flat tips because it was easier! For the three channel wing which I used in La Coupe I incorporated the undercamber. Some of my competitors used flat wing tips including the winner while others removed the tip entirely simply cutting off the wing at the last wing rib.

I doubt whether any alteration from standard affects the flying characteristics very much.

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Thank you, Steven.

I must admit I had the same kind of feeling. That’s why I considered using the Natural Solartex and decided to have darker wood staining to create a contrast.

I might hope this is going to keep the wooden structure a tiny bit visible. I guess we’ll see in the future if it was worth the extra work. question

@ David & Dave > I think I can share your idea of not really ‘altering the flying characteristics’ of the bird very much.

Although, as an under-cambered profile needs more AoA to generate lift, this could also mean that the profile becomes an anti tipstall device, right? smiley

Even at our low Reynolds figures?

Well, if washout does help some same sized model warbirds, why not? Maybe Christian Chauzit, the Baron designer, wasn’t hoping to get a ‘cosmetic’ look only? cool

Anyhow, I think I must stop having some controversial theories or I might loose my entry ticket to the Fury Master Classroom… blush

Hakuna matata

Chris

BE - BRU / CTR Ticket Control

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I'm afraid you got a bit confused by my unclear writing, John.

I didn't write that the under cambered profile creates washout, I just asked myself if it would also work at our low Reynolds numbers, probably at around 50.000.

Hence I made the remark that the washout seems to work - even at our small sizes and low speed - for warbirds type wings, tapered or elliptical.

I've not yet seen a constant chord wing with washout at the tips, but I still have a lot to learn. angel

If I understood correctly, tip stall gets created by having a sudden to high AoA (alpha) at the tip. An under cambered profile needs a higher Alpha angle to create lift, in this case compared to the Clark Y. So the Clark Y wing will loose his lift (at +/- 9° Alpha), long before the tip will, resulting in a very gentle and balanced stall.

This remains a pure theoretical projection and as Dave wrote, the designer very probably only had aesthetic objectives.

Of course, if there is an Aero Guru around, may he feel very welcome to jump in... cool

Hakuna matata

Chris

BE - BRU / CTR Reynolds Control

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Hello again,

After preparing quite a bit of small bits (!?), I finally had a start with the Spanwis machinegun.

Well, a ‘false’ start that is as I got the ammo drum - the very first piece - totally wrong. blush

894_vic_machinegun01_900.jpg

I tried with a lamination of two poplar ply roundels to obtain the drum shape by filing and sanding. A very nice disaster… sad

Then I adapted my approach by firstly using balsa instead and ‘imitating’ the shape with a few laminations of copy paper.

899_vic_machinegun02_900.jpg

I went on with the lamination concept for the body of the gun. My first idea was to make my own ‘cardboard’ lamination using white & brown paper up to +/- 2mm thickness. But luckily I found some ready made at the local craft shop. It is used for ‘passe-partout’ cut outs for picture/drawing framing. It’s cheap and a lot easier as it gives a good strength with the cross lamination of the paper grains.

I used mainly that cardboard together with some pieces of 2mm balsa where possible. The gas tube gear is simply covered with a bankcard roundel cut with a perforator.

I must admit I had to ‘cheat’ with the trigger of the beast. After two mishaps, I went for a small nail filed flat at two opposite sides, slightly bent and glued into the core board. cool

905_vic_machinegun03_900.jpg

I then had a first dry fit with the barrels and cooling mantle. Styrene tubes, balsa roundels front & back and a 0,4mm ply mantle that came with José’s Vicomte kit.

I believe here above are a lot of words for just such a small item… angel

Hakuna matata

Chris

BE - BRU / CTR Spanwis Control

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Thanks gents & laddie,

No worries, Lev. No real details to be added now, except maybe for some wooden handgrips and a prop-synchronised firing device. cool

But, anyhow, it will remain a 'small' licence. wink

I really don't think "it won't be long now', Robert. I'm still adding new lines to the 'to do list' and Iris's new electoral career will have my priority in the following weeks.

Very kind of you, 'chef Iris'. I'll now certainly remain your dedicated 'marketing manager' for the forthcoming period up to the 'big day' of October 14th... angel

Hakuna matata

Chris

BE - BRU / CTR Votes Control

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Hi to all,

I managed to have a slight progression in La Grotte with the final sheet covering of the center section. I first added the staining to the cockpit interior as it would be less accessible after sheeting. The sheeting was sanded and the now completed wing is waiting for its staining.

908_vic_wingjoining03_900.jpg

I also finalized the dashboard design including an original S.Smith’s (from London) altimeter, a genuine Jaeger (from Paris) RPM-meter and a local Lebeau clock-watch. I even created some WW1-era brass screws for the gauges, but with hindsight, I don’t think they will be very noticeable with the dash printed at 72mm wide. frown

810_vic_dashboard_800.jpg

As the dash was the last item to be prepared for Vicky’s water transfers, I finally had those printed out on ‘clear’ and ‘white’ paper and protected by two thin layers of satin varnish.

911_vic_decoscheme_900.jpg

If someone is wondering about the meaning of the ‘Spa’ lettering, I have no idea what it stands for, but a lot of Belgian & French units seemed to use that acronym for their squadrons.

There are too many of them for the fuselage and tailplanes, but Gaston strongly insisted in having multiple spare examples. I don’t know really why, though… angel

Hakuna matata

Chris

BE - BRU / CTR Spares Control

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Thank you for the nice word, Martian.

... or should I call you 'Alien' Martin... ??? angel

I had a small progress with the last bits of the wing and tailplanes together with some items for the Spanwis during the weekend, but not really something to be pictured yet.

As they say, "Stay tuned, ladies & gentlemen"

Hakuna matata

Chris

BE - BRU / CTR Alien Control

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Posted by McG 6969 on 02/09/2018 18:28:40:

Hi to all,

I managed to have a slight progression in La Grotte with the final sheet covering of the center section. I first added the staining to the cockpit interior as it would be less accessible after sheeting. The sheeting was sanded and the now completed wing is waiting for its staining.

908_vic_wingjoining03_900.jpg

I also finalized the dashboard design including an original S.Smith’s (from London) altimeter, a genuine Jaeger (from Paris) RPM-meter and a local Lebeau clock-watch. I even created some WW1-era brass screws for the gauges, but with hindsight, I don’t think they will be very noticeable with the dash printed at 72mm wide. frown

810_vic_dashboard_800.jpg

As the dash was the last item to be prepared for Vicky’s water transfers, I finally had those printed out on ‘clear’ and ‘white’ paper and protected by two thin layers of satin varnish.

911_vic_decoscheme_900.jpg

If someone is wondering about the meaning of the ‘Spa’ lettering, I have no idea what it stands for, but a lot of Belgian & French units seemed to use that acronym for their squadrons.

There are too many of them for the fuselage and tailplanes, but Gaston strongly insisted in having multiple spare examples. I don’t know really why, though… angel

Hakuna matata

Chris

BE - BRU / CTR Spares Control

SPA could have referred to a squadron equipped with SPADs.

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Thanks to all of you, lady & gents.

I thought you could be right, David. The BAF had four different types of Spads in service, but they all carried the 'S' or 'SP' for their squadrons.

During my research, I discovered that the 'S' could mean 'section' and that the 'pa' might come from 'patrouille' in French, meaning something like the equivalent of 'scouting' or 'reconnaissance'. But I'm really not an historian... angel

Not exactly "at the fun bit" yet, Robert. Still a lot to do to - and around - the fuselage. But I enjoy to alternate building and finishing stuff.

In your case it's "no spa", Lady Iris. Inside joke here, gents. As 'sp.a' also stands for the Belgian socialist party but which is not represented in Zaventem anymore. wink

Just a bit of patience, John. I'm finalizing the Spanwis at the moment, but when it's ready, you'll be the first to know. Regarding the Fury Classroom, I really don't know when I 'll be able to jump in and start my build... blush

Hakuna matata

Chris

BE - BRU / CTR Spa Control

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Posted by Colin Leighfield on 05/09/2018 20:51:57:

It all looks quite inspired Chris, you’re a perfectionist.

 

Thanks, Colin.

Well, I guess that's what The LotH means by calling me 'mildly autistic'... cool wink

I googled some French acronyms as well, John. Unfortunately it wasn't of great help.

Yep, 'squadron' can be translated using 'escadron'. But it gets even more complicated as there are some differences between administrative and logistical definitions. Formerly the appellation was used for cavalry units, then later also for infantry and armoured infantry...

Nowadays, to make it even more understandable, 'escadron' is still in use for Army, 'escadre' for Navy and 'escadrille' for Air Force... Still following ??? surprise

Hakuna matata

Chris

BE - BRU / CTR Esca... Control

 

Edited By McG 6969 on 06/09/2018 09:58:21

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Hello again,

I thought it was about time to keep the promise I made to John S some time ago.

Following Levanter’s remark and as I don’t want to have the trouble of a ‘firearms licence’, I halted detailing the Spanwis further. cool

It’s about fully completed and glued now. The final length is 175mm and very close to a 1:6 scale.

916_vic_machinegun06_900.jpg

I had to add some reinforcement strip at the bottom of the cooling mantle as it really was way too fragile, but it seems to integrate nicely and it will be at the underside anyway.

I also added some scale parts at the top of the body and the supports for the ammo drum leather handle. The barrel nozzle is a cheap syringe tip glued front to rear.

917_vic_machinegun05_900.jpg

The re-arming device is a small length of tooth pick and control surface outer tube.

The Spanwis really needed a firing synchronisation to avoid ‘killing’ Vicky’s propeller surprise , so this is made with a single strand PCB wire, a 1mm wide ali tape strip ‘spiralled’ around and small rings of Q-tips tube for the ends of it.

Note that the wooden handgrips are dry fit and will be glued after the painting job is done. But this is for a later day as I never airbrushed and the cheapo Shenzhen kit is still on its way to BE. blush

Hakuna matata

Chris

BE - BRU / CTR (Not Too Much) Details Control

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Very kind of you, Andy.

But then, at least, your "balsa bodgery" gives you some birdies that are able to fly. wink

Which is what still has to be confirmed in my case.

I often think about your Predator model with quite a bit of envy. angel

Hakuna matata

Chris

BE - BRU / CTR Bodger Control

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Hi again to all of you that are still present,

As all the flying surfaces are completed now, it’s about the right time to have a weight session.

926_vic_weight_wing02_900.jpg

922_vic_weight_wing01_900.jpg

The wing comes in at just under 274g. Not that bad I thought for a 1600mm wingspan, but unfortunately I don’t have any figures of other Vicomtes to compare with. blush

934_vic_weight_fuse_900.jpg

The fuselage shows at 186g but still misses the bottom sheeting and the battery hatch. So I added that big balsa block that came with the kit to compensate which gives us 50g extra at 236g. angel

939_vic_weight_fuse-hatch_900.jpg

But then this rookie forgot to weight the stab/elevator. I’m afraid I’ll have to come back with the missing figures then… wink cool

Hakuna matata

Chris

BE - BRU / CTR ADD Control

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