Dwayne

Hey all, my first post in the giant scale forum as this is my first giant scale build. I won a 1/3rd scale Fokker DVIII kit that is based on Ron Wiess plans, it is my hope that someone out there has experience with this plane as I'm going to need a little guidance...lol I do have considerable experience building C/L and RC aircraft just not something this big. So first thing, I'm looking at the plans of the spars and I notice that if I sheet the spars as stated the opening in the ribs will be to small, I know I can simply open up the opening but my feeling is I'm missing something, am I?
Thanks
Dwayne

RBACONS

My Feedback: (3)

Don't know this particular plan, but in all likelihood what you refer to as "sheet" is actually shear webs. If so, you assemble the ribs on the spar and then add vertical grain sections of sheet between the ribs, boxing in the spar.

Dwayne

Yeah the grey matter was over thinking things, I'm sure you are right. Onward and upward.
Thanks for the reply

do335a

When you look at the pic of his plan showing the spars, there is no mention of shear webs.

It shows a continuous sheet of 1/32" ply on each side of the spars to make a box spar.

Not knowing more details, there could very well be a reason for this. I used that method when making the wing on my Senior Telemaster 2 piece. A long oak wing joiner slid about 1 1/2 feet into each box spar. The sheeting on each side of the spars was 1/16 aircraft ply. Shear webs in that case would not have been the way to go.

RBACONS

My Feedback: (3)

do335a is right. Originally I couldn't blow up the pic to see the details. Sounds more like whoever cut the ribs for the kit did not take that into account. I think the wing span is going to be about 108" and looks to be fully sheeted. If so, and if it has spruce spars top/bottom and front/rear in the wing, you would probably be okay with ply shear webs rather than trying to open up all the wing ribs. Alternatively, you could see if someone like National Balsa could cut you a new set of ribs.

Dwayne

Thanks guy's I'm going to go ahead and build it using shear webs, the wing is sheeted with 3/32 as well and will be more than strong enough, I'll post as I go but plan to take my time.

foodstick

Glad to see you starting this plane. Remember D8's are notoriously tricky on the ground.. keep it as light as possible , and the hood cabanes strong and straight ! Can't wait to see this come along.

Dwayne

Hey I found someone building the same kit! It was suggested that the wing be built upside down because if the unique taper the wing has, I'll be adding some supports so it stay's straight while gluing. Jeeze this thing is gonna be big...lol

Dwayne

I used an old hockey stick and some weight to keep things in place while gluing, hey it works...lol So far so good but man this thing is big...lol

NOI53Y

Looking good.
Don't mind me. I'm just going to follow along.

Dwayne

Put the wing aside for a bit and started laying out the fuse, pretty straight forward so far I really enjoy this part cutting all the sticks and getting it all to fit is very satisfying

Dwayne

Fuse is coming along, no real surprises thus far

Dwayne

It's wire bending time. Looking good.

foodstick

Looks like you are on your way. The wing looks big by the furniture