RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

Randy, not real sure what the blocks are off of. They were given to me by an old tool and die maker. Maybe jaws for a machinist vise??
Never thought about it before, a tri plane having four wings, well maybe three and a half.

Del

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

What were four fairly flexable pieces of 3/32 ply, after glued becomes a very strong box spar. A hole in the lower center of the box is for a 2-56 bolt to anchor the axle to the assembly.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...g/P1010028.jpg

Del

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

I now slide the four balsa ribs onto the box spar, (making sure that the hole that anchors the axle is at the bottom). Locate and pin everything over the plans making sure that the ribs are properly located and square. I used thin CA to tack everything, then went back over with the thick.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...Sub-Wing/D.jpg

I then glued the 1/4 square stip to the front of the ribs, ( this will be sanded to form the leading edge later) and the 3/16 dowel through the hole at the aft part of the ribs. I left these two pieces a little long on both ends and will trim to proper length later.

Del

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

The outer ribs are made up of two 3/16 ply ribs that are glued together. This gives you a 3/8 thick rib that the landing gear struts will be bolted to later. Thats what the smaller holes around the spar hole are for.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...Sub-Wing/C.jpg

There are also two holes that two nails will be glued into, these will be used in bungeeing the axle. More on that later.

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

Now I have the sub-wing all framed up and sanded the leading edge. I then took the axle (1/4x36 music wire), marked the center and drilled a 3/32 hole. I then used a 2-56x3/4 bolt and lock nut that anchors the axle to the box spar. I will trim the axle to the correct length as soon as I know the width of the wheels.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...Sub-Wing/E.jpg

The sub-wing will be covered with 1/32 ply, but not till I have the landing gear struts. I'm told that a certian sequence needs to be followed, more on that later.
The ribs laying on each end will be the the last parts to go on after the axle has been bungeed.

Del

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

That is great a 1/3 dr1!I remember when glen first came out with the 1/4 scale kit.I was about 12 years old.I remember this guy took about 1 year and a half to build it and he came out to test fly it and he got it up in the air and it started going haywire .It ended up coming straight down at us and we had to jump out of the way!It crashed into a million peieces and I felt really bad for the guy.Turned out his rudder and aileron servos were reversed when he thought it was interference.Anyways that was the best looking plane I have ever seen and when it was in the air it looked like it only weighed 2 pounds it just hovered around.Very cool plane.I can't wait to see a bigger one.I didn't have cash to buy one back then but now that I am older and got things sorted out I can finnaly build one of my own.I probably will not be able to afford the 1/3 kit unless it is only $150 more.Anyways keep up the good work and keep those pictures rolling.And when you do finnaly get it done make sure your servos are working the way they should before lift off.

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

Yes, don't you hate that ... having servos mixed up... I have seen it a couple of times and I think I have done it once although, it was caught on a pre-flight check. 1/3 scale kits are not really exponential costs of a 1/4 scale kit as it sort-of depends on detail. Things can add up quickly as you start adding those really neat details. Hard to resist but you do need to keep in mind the big picture. I think though, on this 1/3 scale DR1 kit I might just have to go a little waco and add a decent amount of detail. I think the DR1 deserves the attention and kudos goes to the Red Baron. As the DR1 is probably the best known WW1 plane out there. Ask any non-WW1 civilian and they can probably come up with the Red Baron in a three winger... even though historically he shot down more planes in an Albatros than the DR1... - Glenn

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

When I was 12 I somehow managed to get my hands on copies of the Joseph Nieto drawings of the DrI from the Smithsonian and my friend and I decided we would going to build a "large scale model" -- which probably would have been about 1/4 scale at most but we didn't know anything about scales. I think we managed to scrape up about $1.75 in change (returning bottles) and bought some 1/4" stock and started to frame up one side of the fuse based on the drawings. That's about as far as we got when we realized that it would cost a WHOLE lot more than we had and be WAY more work than any 12 year old wants to do during the summer.

I still have those plans. And the dream.

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

OK I'm back, while waiting on more parts from Glenn, I decided to play with a couple of other things.....Wheels & Guns.
First I got a set of 1/3 scale wheels from Dubro. Very nice wheels but not a scale profile for Fokkers. (They are symmetrical). But till Glenn gets his scale tires and wheels done they will do.
What I did in the first picture was glue (Thick CA) short pieces of round toothpics at the hub. One row around between the molded spokes and the second row on the molded spoke but moved them back about 3/16 so they wouldn't stick up too high.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...s/P1010008.jpg

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

Next I cut out some old iron-on fabric I had laying around (not sure which brand). First I ironed the center so the fabric is anchored good the pulled it tight (well somewhat tight), rolled the tire back some and with a dull screw driver (a pop-cycle stick would work good also), pushed the fabric down between the tire and rim probably about 1/4". Took my little heating iron and went all around the rim, then trimmed any excess sticking up.
I then used the heat gun to shrink it all. Got some wrinkles around the edge of the rim that wouldn't come out but I'm sure the real one had wrinkles in them too (Thats my story and I'm stick'n to it). Since one row is a tad higher I used the small iron again and made a couple passes up and down the tooth pick then hit it with a cool rag so the lower ones would stay in place.
Very happy with the results, gives the illusion of a staggered double row of spokes. If I knew that they would come out so good, I'd taken a little more time with them.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...s/P1010015.jpg

For the back I just did the fabric without the toothpicks

Del

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

For the machine gun I got the 1/3 scale BUSA wooden ones. I had played with a 1/4 scale one before, about drove me nuts those little pieces and a pair of tweezers. (Don't know how those plastic guys do it and keep their sanity--My hats off to them).
I did it a little different with the 1/3 scale. Before I poped the parts out (they're laser cut) I thinned some Sig sanding sealer and gave both sides about four coats and sanded with 320 grit between coats. Then hit it with Sherman Williams Wrought-Iron Flat Black spray can. About three coats of the black sanded between with 600 grit paper and looks pretty good, no hint of wood grain.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...d%20Guns/K.jpg

As you assemble the parts you just need to touch up the edges. Will probably try to show some wear areas and then go over it with semi gloss poly. Will show more as I finish it.

Del

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

Del,
The wheels look great. I liek the trick with the toothpicks I never thought about that when I put the fabic of mine. How do you like the detail on the BUSA gun kits I have not seen any up close yet. Can you put a ruler in the pic or somthing to show the size of the guns?
doing great on the build cant wait to see more.

Thanks
Mark

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

I hate to dredge up old history but I thought it might be relevent to link to an old thread on "tricking out WB wheels." I ended up adding actual spokes to a WB wheel. But I have to say that I think I dropped the ball during the final covering stage.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_17...ricking/tm.htm

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

Mark.....Detail on the gun I'd say will come out pretty good. The ply parts are all laser cut and very good. The knobs, rollers and barrel nozzle are just dowels that you chuck up in a drill and use like a mini lathe. Just file and sand to proper shape and cut off with razor saw.
The finished gun will be 14 1/4" long, the barrel is 1/1/4" in dia.

Don....I remember the experiments you did on wheels, (good job by the way). I went back through your pics and also went back through my Data Files on the DVIII and Dr.1 to check out the wheels.
The outside cone is definetly more that the inside, but not nearly as pronounced as I thought. I think that if the Dubro wheels were a lot flatter on the inside they would be pretty close to right profile.
Now on some of the photo's you could see a hint of spokes at the hub, but was very hard (at least for me) to pick out the spoke pattern. Some of the covers appeared to be tighter on some and a little loose on others.
I didn't do the full length spokes as I was concened they would show all the way down and that wouldn't be right.
As I said before these were a bit of a quick job to serve till Glenn gets the scale ones done.Then it will look much better.
Later

Del

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

OK, I've decided on the paint scheme. It will be Hans Muller's mount. I love the black and white stripped tail feather and band around the fuse. Plus lots of olive streaking, (I love doing the streaking). Should show up very well in all sky conditions.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...muller_001.jpg

Del

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

Great progress del, really well done, and a pleasure to see your work.[sm=thumbup.gif]
A few posts back there was a mention of the Stits covering system. I used it on a 1/4 scale J-3 Cub a while back, and also on my current 1/3 SuperCub project. You can go the entire way with the Stits system, or you can use dope on the fabric after it has been heat shrunk, but it MUST be non tautening nitrate. IMHO it is better to go Stits all the way. I also think the iron ons will come out lighter in the long run, espescially if you go a-la-natural.
Keep up the excellent work.

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

Thanks guys for all the input, much appreciated. I've checked into about four differant coverings and so far I'm leaning toward the Nelson's Lite Fab, will decide pretty soon as tail feathers are about ready to cover. Just need to figure out how many of those 15' rolls this 1/3 scale bird will take. [sm=confused.gif]
Got a little more done on the machine gun, working on those little parts (tweezers helps). More on that soon.

Del

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

A little more progress on the gun. You can see by the scale that some of those cocking mechanism parts are a little small.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...d%20Guns/L.jpg

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

Also got the cowling a couple days ago. It measures 14 1/2" in Dia. and 5 1/4" deep. It comes with a good instruction manual, cable that will hold it on, face plate and a bunch of brass brads for rivets, an ID plate and other parts that we'll get into later.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...005/Cowl/M.jpg

And as you can see here the Roto 70 twin fit in nicely with room to spare.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...005/Cowl/N.jpg

Will probably start working on the cowl about Monday, right now I'm going to get ready to go flying this afternoon and Sunday.
Later

Del

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

To do the holes in the cowling, Glenn has strips with the hole location printed on peel and stick paper. You just cut the strips with some sissors or paper cutter. I then picked up the center of the cowl, peel the back off the strip and start laying it down just in front of the cable groove all the way around. Then found my center of the front cutout and continued laying the strips around the edge taking them all the way around to the strips at the cable groove.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...005/Cowl/O.jpg
Glenn also provides the correct size drill, (#60) for drilling the holes. He recomends that you chuck the drill up with only about 1/4" sticking out. This will prevent the drill from possibly bending and breaking.
He also recommends that you slow the drill down a little to lessen the chance of the drill "walking". I also use a center punch to mark the hole location. (Just remember that alum. is soft and it just takes a slight tape on the punch).

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

Hi Del,

Looks like a lot of holes, and I suspect there are matching holes it the other cowl parts.....I snap off those little drill bits like they are free, but I'll bet you have a couple of spares...

Randy

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

Del, when you finish drilling and inserting the "rivits" in that cowl, can I send you mine for my E.V?:D

Dale

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

Del,
When drilling on alum I have found if you just position the drill where you need it and give the drill a good tap from the back will do a good job to make a center punching so it wont walk on ya.

what size prop are you playing with for this beast?

Just my two cents

Mark

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

Yep, lots of holes. When you chuck up the drill with just a little bit sticking out (1/4") it becomes pretty strong. You line the face plate up on and use the cowl holes as a guide.
Sure Dale, send it on up, but be aware I charge by the hole......:D
Mark....They tell me that the Roto 70 twin will handle a 26-8 prop just fine. I will use the largest that I can for a more scale effect. I think scale for 1/3 is about 34" or 36".
Laater

Del

RE: Glenn Torrence (GTM) 1/3 Scale Dr.1 Build Along
 

Once you get the marking tape on and all center punched it's time to start drill'n. It's really not as bad as it might seem.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...005/Cowl/P.jpg
Next you locate the face plate and drill three holes, one at the top and one on each side. You then put the brass brads in these holes and bend them over, this will hold everything in place while you drill the rest of the holes in the face plate. (including the face plate you will be drilling almost 200 holes).
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...005/Cowl/Q.jpg