1/4 Scale Tiger Moth build, a work very much in progress

[Richard Thornton 2]

Been building my 1/4 scale tiger for many years now but having retired since Covid, I have made huge progress. The model is ex Traplet and has been a good head scratcher trying to fathom out how best to replicate things to look and work like the real thing.

The object of this post is, it’s often better to build things the way they are on the actual aircraft, things often turn out looking better and working as per design. 
So let’s start with the upper wings on my model, with Handley Page Slats.

[Richard Thornton 2]

It’s taken three attempts to make these slats and the general issue was that the first two attempts failed due to binding issues. I made everything out of fibreglass board, over engineered and when fitted to the wing, simply failed when all three were joined up. I was simply going to follow PeterF example, and glue the aluminium slats in place but a chance meeting and chat with the owner of the aircraft I am modelling resolved the issue. His comment was that the slats HAVE TO BE LOCKED during taxiing and just after landing, due to their slop. Apparently they rattle terribly and clearly wear too during this process. So, I took loads of photos and had some sent from the owner, and embarked on making the hinge mechanism out of brass sheet, bent to shape and with plenty of play. 
Result, they work!

[Manish Chandrayan]

Show us some pictures 😁

[Richard Thornton 2]

Started with a diagram, showing movement of linkages and travel of slat as per full size.

[Richard Thornton 2]

You may notice that the forward link arm has a dogs leg, the result of building a model out of balsa compared to the aircraft being made from metal.

 

[Richard Thornton 2]

The slat brackets were a little more challenging but making a jig, bolting the bits to the jig and with applying both heat and hammer, the brackets eventually took shape. Challenge, making all 6 generally the same with holes oversized to allow for alinement and to prevent that dreaded binding issue. 

[Richard Thornton 2]

Fitted in place

[Richard Thornton 2]

Fully fitted prior to covering, coke can for scale comparison only!

[Richard Thornton 2]

Not sure this video will upload but here is the satisfying view of more than 12 months of head scratching!

 

[Richard Thornton 2]

25 minutes ago, Manish Chandrayan said:

Show us some pictures 😁

On its way, Manish.

ps both you and PeterF have helped getting this model back on the building table

[Richard Thornton 2]

The video shows the inspection covers on the upper surfaces. On this aircraft, they are not all fitted as per the directive, some have never been opened, some have been opened but recovered as they are not frequently opened for inspection and some are covered with domed aluminium covers which can be removed easily.

[Richard Thornton 2]

One other detail that was fascinating was the fact that the port side slat is whole, starboard side has holes near the inboard and outboard hinge point's, outboard side only.

[Richard Thornton 2]

37 minutes ago, Richard Thornton 2 said:

Fitted in place

 

[Richard Thornton 2]

52 minutes ago, Richard Thornton 2 said:

Fully fitted prior to covering, coke can for scale comparison only!

The issue with this setup was that both servos are handed, so I had to trawl the internet to resolve the issue. Turns out simply reversing the polarity on the pot and swapping the signal and power wires resolved the issue. 
i wanted to do this to ensure that each servo worked in princely the same way but clearly a mirror image of each other.

[Richard Thornton 2]

Funny, building a specific Moth means there are often subtle differences that are only visible to us that really care and notice the ‘devil in the detail’

Example, take the filter intake on the cowl. 
This version is fitted to Australian and Southern African examples.

[Richard Thornton 2]

So here’s what I have made.

Internal filter, yes I made all those flipping holes but I really hope it was worth the effort.

[Richard Thornton 2]

The finished article….. really chuffed as it looks very similar to the real thing even though it took forever to make.

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

Looks like a masterpiece in the making!

[Richard Thornton 2]

Earlier work on the underside of the model.

One weeks worth of metal bashing, hang on I hear you say, I thought this was a balsa model….. yeah right!

[Richard Thornton 2]

2 x 2mm wing nuts required

[Richard Thornton 2]

Now to finish off with some silver paint.

[Richard Thornton 2]

Todays project, to make the fuselage underside hatch and vent, all made from aluminium sheeting. I guess if we knew how hard things would be, would we ever start them ?
Third time lucky, results of attempt 1, 2 and finally 3rd time. 
 

[Richard Thornton 2]

Looking a little rough at the moment but once it warms up I can give it a going over with silver paint and clear coat

[Richard Thornton 2]

12 hours ago, Martin Harris - Moderator said:

Looks like a masterpiece in the making!

Many thanks

[Richard Thornton 2]

Been asked how I made the socks and why? I will respond to the former and leave the latter .... I used some thin aluminium sheet, 0.6mm aircraft grade, but it was an off cut. Made some templates up in Autocad, which apparently look like fox heads.

Cutting out the templates was a faff but bending them into shape was easier than expected. The joint was placed alternately fwd and aft, dependant on the location of the sock. Fwd on the lower strut, aft on the upper strut. Pictured is an empty sock.