pimmnz

Flying Scale Models May 2006 has a good article on the D3/D4 and some very good photos... The ailerons appear to use a large diameter tube at the leading edge and a small diameter tube for the outline. Overall the aileron xsect matches the wing section. There is no curve on the aerodynamic balance outline. The actual wing tip is the same diameter tube as the aileron outline, and it is small, no more than 10/15 mm full size. The wing rear spar tapers to this size where it meets the tip bow, and the bow appears to follow the wing section centre line, equal taper above and below. Quite obvious in the photos the aileron follows the rear spar shape out to the wing tip bow, then remains at a constant thickness to the aileron tip. Also very obvious is the fabric wrapped around the rear spar, the undersurface fabric showing the ribs right up to the leading edge, ie, no leading edge sheeting on the bottom surface, and the filleting of the fin and tailplane. The ply fuselage skin looks pretty puckered...
Evan, WB #12.

geezeraviation

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Thanks Allan, Ewan, That answers some questions. I was pretty sure the outline of the ail balance was small tube but hadnt considered the LE was a large tube. What I have now approximates that and I think I know what I am goging to do with the awkward spot at the rear of the tip where it relates to the inside corner of the ail/balance. I will try to obtain a back issue of that magazine Ewan.

pimmnz

No problem with that bit of the spar/tip junction, just taper the spar above and below to the tip bow from the outboard rib. Only a guess, but I believe the original aileron forward spar/tube/torque tube would have been simply squeezed to an oval approximating the diameter of the outline tube over this portion of the aileron so that it and the wing more or less matched profiles. Usually the simplest way is the correct solution, and understanding the original makes modelling it the easiest.
Evan, WB #12.

geezeraviation

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Phew! I really struggled with the hinges on this thing today so I figured I'd better put up a picture of it. Nothing revolutionary or anything out of the ordinary I just had trouble getting it to work freely, but it does that and tomorrow I'll do the other and have a look at the torque tubes.

geezeraviation

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There's still a little to do to it but it's close enough to put aside and get the lower wing to the same place.
Photographic evidence of our toils.

abufletcher

That looks like a great beginning! Well begun is half done!

geezeraviation

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Thanks Abu. You have to start somewhere and I have to do the wings first or I'm in danger of not having any.
Doc

semeraro

Looks like you got the ailerons to move freely enough. If they hang down due to gravity like in your last picture then they are plenty free. Ihad a time of it getting the 5 hinges on Dave's 1/4 albatros aligned on the ailerons. The ailerons were never as free as I would have liked but they work fine. Nice looking work on the SSW. Dave has tried to talk me into doing a 1/3 scale with him. I have to tell you resistance is tough.

Dave S.

geezeraviation

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Dave S
I can imagine, I would have liked to do it in 1/3 but space and lack of a suitable powerplant on hand etc... I cant imagine getting five hinges to move freely. I might be tempted to make three functional and a couple of dummies.
Doc

geezeraviation

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Well I finally got started on the lower wing today after a lawn sprinkler system emergency and repair, had to put on my plumbers hat this AM. The wing is coming along a little slowly as were engineering as we go. I decided when I first looked at this that I would make the lower wings remove seperately. At first I was considering a removable center section as well but that idea has been scrapped and an access hatch will be built in the belly of the beast and the landing gear rear legs will mount more permanently.

geezeraviation

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Basic framing done and caps on top. The dark colored tubes are carbon fiber, I have tubes that nest in these to slide the panels onto at assembly. The nested tubes wont be fixed and sticking out from the fuse sides all the time they will be nested in tubes that pass through the 1/4" ply "main" box that ties wings, gear, and engine all together. The rear landing gear block will mount to the box also. I can thank Allan Flowers for the inspiration there, I will have to go look at his build again, I'm not sure how he did his and dont suppose they're the same but he planted the seed.

geezeraviation

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I finished the caps last night and today I sanded the leading edge and blended the caps and made the ailerons. I may fool with the hinges later but mostly thats it for the day. There are several branches on a big oak in my back yard that are going to get pruned tomorrow if it doesnt nut up and rain and hinges later. If it rains, hinge sooner prune later

cocobear

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You are a machine!!

geezeraviation

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Nah! I'm just gluing pieces together here, It's well designed Dave, the trickiest part of the wings was those pesky tips and ail balances and that's not so bad when you have a clue what they should look like.
I beveled the edges of the formers this AM (rain no fool with tree) to match the angle of the sheeting at each station. I dont have a pipe yet and have to run to the Depot for that. I will biuld the fin and stab and cut some forms for the rud and elev so I can get them laid up. HEY! I'm having fun here!
Doc

geezeraviation

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Here's a busy little picture there are the fin, the rudder internal framework the rudder post with a dowel the length of it and it keys into the part above and the form for the rudder outline. The wood strips are soaking.

geezeraviation

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Okey dokey, almost warm enough out there to attack tree. Yesterday I worked on the fin and rudder and for a while this AM. I still need to round over the edges of the outline and drill the holes in the hinge straps. Theres a strip of glass cloth at the bottom that runs around the tube and a dowel that runs the length of the tube and fits into a hole at the top. Oh and I made the skid from a piece of oak left over from another project.

Tmoth4

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You're really moving along. I think you're going to pass me up on this one! [X(]

I'm at the point where I'm doing fairings around the tail surfaces. I hate doing fairings.

Jim

denoferth

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This any help?

pimmnz

Not really, the originals actually have fairings flowing the fin and tailplane into the fuselage...built in as part of the fuselage skinning.
Evan, WB #12.

allanflowers

Plus that is a D.IV replica and not a great one.

denoferth

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Looks like the museum might have to make some corrections as this is the sign at the exhibit.

Dennis

geezeraviation

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Yes, and it identifies the powerplant as the Seimens Halske and unless my eyes decieve me that sure looks like a Gnome

allanflowers

It is definately a D.IV, with that fin and rudder, plus the small chord upper wing (notice the cabane are squeezed at the top.
There is another poor replica at Rhinebeck which is listed as a D.III. It has the D.IV tail but at least has the right size upper wings. When you think about all the work to make a full scale replica, you would assume that they would do a little more research although maybe the info wasn't readily available at that time.

geezeraviation

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A friend of mine visited ORA last year and he has sent me a cd with 75 or 80 pictures of that one. It does seem modelers take more care in some respects on data and information

geezeraviation

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I got my wood order yesterdday and today I began laying out the new formers using the side and top views on the plans. The original formers werent usable so I begin again cutting formers.
Doc