normgoyer

Old Rhineeck was indeed special. I did a complete one issue special about the aircraft one year when Tom Polipink (sp) was working in the PR department there. Next time you go, look at the Spartan C-3 in their museum. This was the exact airplane that I had my first airplane ride in on my 8th birthday with my Dad. I have several pictures over the years of me sitting in the passenger seat one at 60 and one at 70. That is why what you and other scale modelers are doing is so important. You are building history so that others can enjoy the great aircraft as we did. Guys like you are building aircraft that many would never have a chance to view. Norm

TKFOKKER

Paul
Yes I did recieve the cowl today! Holy St That thing is huge. It actually looked too big at first till I got it on the front. Boy I sure can't wait to start cutting it. Thats going to be nerve racking. I will be making my own face plate. Getting the right curve on the sides ain't easy either. Think you could take a pic of what you are using for rivets and post it for me. I still do not know what I will be using.
Your D-6 looks sick with all that smoke billowing out of it. What size prop are you swinging on that 150. I have a ZDZ 160 on my D-8.Thanks for jumping in and saying Hi
Tom

ProfLooney

how big is the cowl? I know the scout comes to something like 26 inches across

TKFOKKER

Hi
Recieved the cowl thursday. It is a little over 22 inches across. Just taped it on temporarly for now. I also cut out a paper face plate and taped that on. I will be bringing the plane to a static show sunday. Sure em looking forward to building the cowl. Gotta be careful, last one avalible. All done for now. Here are some more pictures.
Tom

TKFOKKER

Just to give you an idea how big this thing is. That table it's on is 16 ft. long and 4 ft. wide. It's not easy to build one of these in a small shop as mine!

normgoyer

Ton, while doing research on an article I am writing about 1918 I came across WW I Aero dated Feb 1995. In it are five pages of original drawings of the D-VIII. They aren't very clear but you can get dimensions off them. I am sure you have these but thought I would check. Norm

TKFOKKER

Norm, Yes I do, but thankyou very much for thinking of me on that. I once had a water pipe break in the cellar over my work shop office desk. My collection of WW-1 aero's were under the break. I'm now on my second set. Not an easy thing to find. and exspensive.
Tom

puplover

Norm and Tom,

Norm, you are correct about Tom's skills, and it would be something to see him doing full-scale!! But his models will end up in museums anyway, and you know, they're easier to walk around, take up less space, and are less expensive for the museum

I met Tom in 1983 at the CMRCM in Westboro, and was amazed at his proficiency in dismantling his plane by going through the trees on the opposite side of the flying field. We were picking up pieces for an hour! And then I watched him build his first WWI scale D-VII; I called it the "peppermint" plane. We had incredible times dog fighting-me with my Pup against his D-VII. After that, he just followed his dream of building WWI scale, each one better than the previous until you just don't think he can get any better. Then he surprises you.

That's enought praise for now, but let me ask you, Norm: How did you get that picture of my Pup during the 1985 Nationals in Chicopee?

Best regards,

Jack C.

puplover

Tom....

We have an airplane!! We?? Went from a model to a real plane just by adding the cowl!! Nice Tom, real nice. Just a little bit more.......

Wish I was as eloquent as Norm. You have to be humbled by his respect for you and your work.

Regards, Jack C.

normgoyer

Hi Jack, I have taKen so many pictures of full scale and scale models over the past 30 years that I simply do not remember. At that time I was using a Pentax 35mm SLR with Kodak Kodachrome. My favorite model lens was a Pentax 210 mm. I also had a 400 mm but it wasn't that easy to use hand held and models move too fast for a tripod. Since then I have switched to digital cameras but still use Pentax as does son Robert, Senior Editor of Flying magazine. Folks often ask me why Pentax, why not the super popular Canor or Nikon. When I lived in Northampton, MA and worked as a newsdirector for a TV station, Kollmorgan Optical did research on the best 35 mm camera and lens to put in their new periscopes for nuclear submarines, they choose Pentax, so did I, and I have never lost a shot with them. Super dependable. I believe I was a scale outline judge for that event and as such I had a very good position (anywhere one the flight line) to grab that pix. Thanks for remembering me. Incidently, I am still flying giant scale, all electric with a 1/3 scale D-VIII ready for motor installation, buiilt, covered and clear doped. Norm

Horsepoweraviation

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[quote]ORIGINAL: TKFOKKER

Hi Jack!
Actually the Fokker wheel cover stem holes were half round off the edge of tireand had leather around the cut out. They were not round like the British planes.


Hey Tommy,
Are these pics correct for the German planes..because this is what I was going off of and if they are incorrect I want to change mind....Thanks for any info Paul
The other two pics wouldnt post i sent a pm

TKFOKKER

Hi Paul
Fokkers practice was half round off the rim. If you look in any documentation books on the fokkers, mainly the tripes D-6 and D-8's They have the half round. The D-7's did various different things like doors and such. Some what like the albatros.
Tom

Horsepoweraviation

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Tom,
Thanks for the info. I cut the cowling yesterday and I will post some pics on those rivits, tools, etc....(i drank a gallon of pepto-bismal before i make the first cut[sm=52_52.gif])
Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TKFOKKER

Paul
How, and what did you use to cut it? I'm very curious just how you did it with out any damage. Did you make a new face plate? I did not get one from Glenn. I have to make my own.
Tom

Horsepoweraviation

My Feedback: (50)

Tom,
I made the rough cut with a 3" air cut off wheel, then did the final/trim cut with aviation sheers......I did not get a new face plate from our buddy, either. I told GTM that "if TOM can make ...so can I!!)........................................i was wrong[&o]............................. I pussed out and used the one he sent me, I couldnt help it, it fit sooo good i did not do the mod. [X(] Later, Paul

TKFOKKER

Guys
I brought the bird to a static show sunday but did not take any photo's there. So I took some today outside before I put her back in the shop. I threw in a couple old shots, Thats my son Nate sitting beside her.

ProfLooney

She looks awesome out in the sun like that Tom really does the plane justice. Cant say good Job enough. Just cant wait to shoot ya down with my brit plane at the 2011 DP i figure we will both have them done and flying by then

cocobear

My Feedback: (2)

Hey Tom, good to see you back at it. I have done several of Glenn's 1/4 scale cowls. Mark them on the inside and cut them on a bandsaw rotating it so you don't nick the edges. Craftsman sells metal blades which fit my wood saw without problem so far.

Dave Johnson

TKFOKKER

Hi Dave!
How have you been? I keep going on your build to see your DVa But the other guys is always posted. Come on now I want to see your plane buddy! I'm sure it's awesome.
The problem is this half scale cowl won't fit on my band saw. So I was thinking of using a scroll saw very carefully! This is not going to be fun. I only have one shot at it.
Great to hear from you, stay in touch.
Tom

Horsepoweraviation

My Feedback: (50)

Tom...Tom...Tom,
Quit being a chicken little and cut the thing already!! I will say this... the 1/2 scale cowlings are alot more flimsy than the 1/4 and 1/3, I do not know if it is a different alloy or its because it is thinner.....I bend the edge of my cowl alittle with my hand just holding it,while I was cutting. I wanted to also let you know that I will be cutting the modification (larger hole and new face plate)..........It looked fine but Barry busted my balls... so now I have to change it[:@] I am going to Toledo this weekend, so hopefully on Sunday I can show the the completed cut cowl and the start of the riviting...... Later, Paul

normgoyer

Hi Fokker 1/2 builders. Did anyone check to see if the full scale D-VIII had braces inside the cowling that were riveted to the cowling itself. I know most of the full scale planes I fly the cowlings are very thin but there is a network of bracing that is flush riveted to the thin sheet metal. Norm

nine o nine

My Feedback: (1)

Hi Tom, I know it's off topic on your thread but just wanted to let you know that the Waco had it's succesful maiden flight yesterday. Mitch

ProfLooney

Tim I have trimmed metal and glass cowls with my dremel. it is much more safe to use when you dont want to make a mistake as you can adjust the speed plus it seems you have more control over it that a scroll saw.

puplover

Hi Tom, After all these years I have never given any thought as to what material was used for WWI cowls!! We work with aluminum, but I don't think it was around in great quantities in 1914-1918. Perhaps it was thin steel and needed no other bracing (Norm).

Have you checked out the D-VII @ Brome County Museum site. Totally original. Yellow wheels!! Jack C.

TKFOKKER

OK Guys, I have to Reply to all of you in this one time, Hope you don't mind.
First Paul
, Yes I agree the cowl is much softer and not as thick as I wished. Don't know what Glenn or the guys who made it were thinking. Sad for the time it took and the cost. I just gotta be careful with it all the time. I'm sure if ya bump it good enough it will dent.
Proflooney
Not sure yet what I'll do to cut it. I'll decide on something. It's not going to be fun.
MITCH!
Congratulations on your test flight. You really did an outstanding job on that airplane. I'm looking forward to seeing her fly. Good for you!
Norm
The cowl was totally spun from aluminum. No bracing was involved. The front edge did have a double thickness going down to the bottom mounts. The outer edge where the cable went was also doubled up. Thats it. No braces.
Jack
The cowl was spun from aluminum. On Achim Engels site you can see his repro, just like the original.
Thanks all of you for jumping in. I enjoy the conversation,
Tom