JohnF

Well, I have decided to start a thread although I am not actually able to start the build yet. I have done a few preliminary things. I have many people to thank for their help including Abufletcher who so kindly took his time to deliver the aluminum pot necessary to make this unique cowl. Alan Yendle was very kind to rough out a scale prop for me and Bob Holman who resized his Pfalz XII ribs and laser cut them for me. I also have to mention Henri Kaper who resized the original model plan and is currently working on cleaning up the prop label so a sticker can be made. The power for this bird will be a Briggs and Stratton 40cc, four stroke. I am currently waiting for a custom made exhaust header. J Tisch was very kind to make a engine mount back plate. The wing span will be just under 90" with a cord of about 19 1/2". I am hoping to keep the weight in the 15 to 18lb. range. Anyway, here are a few pics. I hope to make regular updates of my progress.

JohnF

The cowl is a little over 14" in diameter and will be approx. 5 1/4" deep. I will put the "sworl" or machined finish on it before I cut it to it's final depth. I am cleaning up the cutouts here.

JohnF

The scale prop is 34" long and made of laminations of Ash and Walnut. The full scale was made by Heiduk.

JohnF

Oops, sorry for the duplicate prop pic. This is what the real colors looked like. The model plan shows them incorrectly. These colors were the result of research done in Vienna by the technical Museum and found during the restoration of their Aviatik D1.

JohnF

Last pic for now. This is a photo of the original prop mfg. lable which is being used to create scale prop stickers.

abufletcher

John, that "pot" looks stunning!

JohnF

Thanks Don, just wait till I put the finish on it

Laird SS

John,

Please email me at [email protected] regarding this model. Thanks.

Bruce B.

cocobear

My Feedback: (2)

Hey John, FINISH YOUR OTHE PROJECTS FIRST!!!!! BTW, What happened to the 1/4 plans I did ror you?

DJ

JohnF

Hey DJ, good to hear from you! Yes I will be finishing the SE5. Just don't have the workroom ready. I'll get going by the end of the month. Couldn't stand just sitting around so I am doing what I can. Yes, I still have the 1/4 scale drawings you did for me of the Aviatik 30.40. I was able to get the Airdrome plan resized and wanted the detail info. from that plan. I still need to decide if I am going to enlarge and build/frame from your drawings or the resized Airdrome plan. I know your drawing is more scale than the Airdrome plan. I think I mentioned this in another post somewhere awhile ago. Good luck in Poland.

JohnF

Here is my simple technique for putting the "sworls" in the aluminum. I use the tip of my thumb and a piece of 150 aluminum oxide sand paper. Sort of twist in a semi-circle if you can imagine that. A little rough on the thumb but I like the results. When I am done with the cowl I'll spray it with clear coat. Here's what it looks like so far.

abufletcher

That looks good but I don't think the original had that style of engine turning. In the photo you posted at the top of this thread I see the random "squiggle" pattern as seen on the EIII. Do to this on my EIII I borrowed an electric eraser and the practices randomly filling up the space with a suitable density of w and s like squiggles. If found it looked best when I didn't think too much about it.

In fact, when I consciously tried to make certain squiggle shapes, it ended up looking like a page of Arabic!

JohnF

Don, I wasn't sure until I saw this photo of the Aviatik 30.27.

abufletcher

You're right, that photo clearly shows the engine turning. Anyway I like your low-tech method for doing it!

JohnF

Cowl is almost done now. Finally got the custom made header for the B&S 40cc, four stroke. Thanks to Scott of Brillelli for finding K.M. Model Aircraft Components of Brampton, Ontario, Canada! It is a simple piece but the workmanship is excellent and the price is right. Karl is a very nice guy and fabricated the header from a gasket and my description of how I needed it made. Thanks Karl! Using the straight pipe I can try different mufflers until I find one that works best but I don't plan to use one.

jtisch

Looking good!
Can't wait to see some wood chips flyin'.Let me know when you get the engine running.

Best Regards,

J

JohnF

Thanks J, will do!

JohnF

Not much to show because I have been setting up my new work room which is finally done. I picked up a used solid core door today to make my work table out of. I have been working on the resized Dave Johnson drawings which I will be building from. Originally 1/4 scale, now 1:3.2 I have added diagonal stringers for strength which were not included or needed in the 1/4 scale plan but were used on the full scale Aviatik D1. I will use 1/8 balsa sheeting for the fuselage skin. The longerons and uprights are 5/16" sq. balsa. I'll be building the nose box similiar to the GTM 1/3 scale Fokker DVI out of 1/4" lite ply. The firewall will be 3/8" (7lams.) a/c quality ply. I'll be using GTM alum. struts for the cababna's and l/g. More to come!

JohnF

pic didn't post.

JohnF

Just got my wood order from BUSA so I can start cutting parts and framing the fuselage. I am also working at finishing my SE5a (McCuddens) so work on the Aviatik will be slow.

FokkerAce

Yours looks great.....I would've punched small circles of sandpaper with a hole punch and glued them to a pencil eraser....then did the sworls.....easier on the thumbs.

FA[8D]

JohnF

FA, I think that would have made the sworls too uniform. I don't know how they were really made but I don't think each one was exactly the same. If I ever do this again I may use your method however.

FokkerAce

JohnF,

I imagine, since it's really called 'engine turning', that they took the equivalent of a power disc sander, 8 to 12 inches, say, and started at the rear margin, and had at it, progressing towards the front, overlapping by 20-50%.....giving the 'scalloped' effect. Probably done in the shop [off the airframe], by hand [as the whole aircraft was hand built] by a craftsman that cared about what he produced for the day.

FA[8D]

Really, yours looks great, and it is fun to learn that Aviatik Berg had a Fokker E.V 'look alike'!

JohnF

FA, The over lapping is the difference between this finish and todays "engine turned" finish I believe. I know because the 30.40 is a parasol it looks like the Fokker EV./ D.VIII but it really doesn't have anything else in common. Glad you like it.

JohnF

Well, as I said at the beginning of this thread I am going slowly with this build. I have cut some parts and now have the final piece I wanted for my documentation which is a water color 3-view from Dan-San Abbott. I have a couple of his 3-views and wanted to add to the collection also. Dan-San was very kind to oblige me by making this at my request. Now I can see what it will look like when I am done. Here are the results.