foodstick

wow, just when I think you have topped yourself, you build something even nicer....that interior is incredible !

MRadu

JB,
Great looking D.VII It's very nice! Thanks for posting photos! How did you built or create the radiator stack and cap!

And . . .

Foodstick,
I made this cockpit to go with your great painted pilot! I'm thinking about cutting little slits behind and in front of his collar. What do you think?
I also picked up some goodies for the pilot. I found an Iron cross his scale and other medals I can use on him!

MRadu

Flying Fox,
Here are two photos showing the compass. One is turned 90 degrees from the other.

MRadu

Now it time to work on the side panels and chin pan!

Photos 1 - 9
These images show that there was about 55 times that I placed on and took off over and over again to drill and glue 2-56 threaded rod. Then mark and cut out holes out for the inner struts.

Photos 10 - 12
Here I’m starting the other side and I installed two switches with charging jacks.
One for Ignition, Second for Smoke and the third for the receiver.

MRadu

Making panels continued . . .

Photos 1 - 9
These photos show the progress in shaping the panels to fit on the 2-56 threaded rods. Notice the chin panel is on first and the the front plastic mounts for the landing gear wire are able to remain. The rear will receive a different mounting.

MRadu

Now I starting to cover the sides of the fuselage.

Photos 1 - 3
Here I’m adding the “Stix-It� to the edges for extra adhesion.

Photo 4 and 5
This extra sheet of lozenge is glued in with CA and the heat shrunk. Then more “Stix-It� on edges so the side fabric can be ironed on. This is added so as to have the stock lozenge look from the inside.

Photos 6 - 12
Here I’m just ironing on and trimming the side fabric.

MRadu

Time to make the Stag stencil for the side of Carl Deglow’s Fokker D.VII

Photos 1 - 3
One last look inside.

Photos 4 and 5
Here I’m drawing lightly with a pencil corner points of the stag on the fuselage. Then measuring the distance so as to know how large to make the stencil.

Photos 6 and 7
Now it’s time to get on the computer. Using Adobe Illustrator on my Mac. I scan the image of the Stag from my documentation.

Photos 8 - 10
Here I have competed the tracing of the entire stag. It takes longer than expected.

Photo 11
Great to have a computer. Here I simply copied and pasted the first stag and then flipped it for the inverse.

Photo 12
This is my vinyl cutter. 24 inch by as long as the roll. Here I’m using purple as I’m just using it for a stencil and I have a ton of purple.

MRadu

Stag stencil continued . . .

Photos 1 and 2
This is how the file from my Mac looks on the Windows computer that I use for my vinyl cutter.

Photo 3
After the cutter has cut the image I cut the sheet off the roll and the “weeded� the vinyl I didn’t need.

Photos 4 - 6
Using a transfer tape I cover and rub the vinyl with the back side of my finger nail.

Photo 7
Now just peel the backing off. The transfer tape is a low tack tape.

Photo 8
Now aline and place onto side of fuselage. This is a one time deal as peeling it of and trying to re-stick it down again will hurt and disfigure the vinyl.

Photos 9 - 12
Here I have peeled off the transfer tape and it’s time to paint!

Skydanz

My Feedback: (1)

Michael, you haven't read my covering article in our club forum did you? If you pick up a bottle of Rapid Tac available from Tap Plastics you wouldn't have to worry so much about adjusting the decal if needed. Also if you use a product called Press and Seal ,available in just about any grocery store, as your transfer paper, you'll find the decal releases much easier. I meant to mention it at the meeting but got distracted.
The Vanessa CG machine works very well for biplanes since you can load the complete structure and locate the CG by adding or moving weights. Let me know if you want to borrow mine or I can send a link to instructions.

I hope you get yours ready for Castle. It'll look even better in the air!

DC

JBryson

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks Michael, your stag looks awesome! The radiator fill stack is made of different size doweling. I used a small file to shape the top to resemble the filler cap and I'll paint it with brass enamel later.

warks62

My Feedback: (140)

Michael glad you added the lozenge to the inside of the fuse it adds a lot of detail. It just doesn't look right without it in my opinion. Plus using lozenge that was painted on the backside keeps it from being to tacky against the outer layer of cloth. Good job!

Flying Fox

Thanks for the photos of your compass Michael, it looks great. It seems solid enough so as long as your functional control column doesn’t hit it,it should be okay. The white plastic panels are a neat idea – fairly easy to cut and shape, very smooth so they look like metal cowling panels after painting. Maybe consider a coat of metal coloured paint first after primer, then a finish colour topcoat and you will be able to sand away to reveal metal colour to simulate weathering? Just an idea for you.

I was wondering why the 256 threaded rods sticking out and then realized with the brass bolts you could solder on brass tabs to make them look like the scale Fokker cowl-panel locks – nice idea! Very nice touch with the lozenge for the inside of the cockpit – that one final touch really scales it up!

The stag stencil work is fabulous, we’re all waiting to see photos of how it turns out, though we doubt anything less than perfect. You mentioned all the little lettering for handholds and such too so you are going to have a very scale plane indeed.

I was away for the weekend but managed to break-in my .61 Super Tigre glow engine for my H9 Fokker so now I can put in back in the plane and close up the cowl.
Keep up the great work and showing it to us all,
Brian

MRadu

Hello all,
A little bad news. Last weekend I went to the IMAA Fun fly at Castle AFB. It was a blast. I took two planes to fly and my Fokker D.VII to show and tell. It was great many questions and lots of good compliments. Also some comments that I'm crazy for all that work.
Then while I went to fly the wind picked up. Also I had left the D.VII on top of my table The wind blew the D.VII off. The wings took all the weight and crushed the aileron. Oh well time for some rework. :-(

77chickenhawk

sorry bout your plane Mike.....

Skydanz

My Feedback: (1)

The wind really took it's toll out there. I saw canopies lift up and smash into planes and cars. There were a lot of nice flights in between gusts though.

Sorry about your bird Mike. I know your repairs will be equally awesome.

DC

Warbird Man

My Feedback: (95)

What a bummer Michael. I'm sorry to here that. Iv'e seen that happen many times.

Did ya take any pics before the mishap?

foodstick

That is awful bad luck on the wind.

A buddy of mine was at a turbine fly a few years ago, he said a guy had been tuning his plane for what seemed an hour, he turned away to get some tools/supplies, and a small dust devil popped up and picked his plane up and smashed it down upside down on the ground ! The pilot turned around to see his plane messed up bad ..he didn't even know how it got that way...

Talking about bad luck !

It has been so windy here its crazy ! its blowing 25-30 now !

Mein Duff

Michael, very sorry to hear about this mishap...I'm sure you'll have it repaired in no time if I know you
Yes indeed biplanes and wind DO NOT MIX ! My rules is that I don't fly in winds over 12 mph ( well mostly )....After seeing way too many wind mishaps, I as soon as I get my plane up on the my table/stand I bungee cord the wheels to the table legs..takes no time..the if the wind is gusting I tie down my tabel to the ground also !!

A few weeks ago I also had a nasty incident with my rebuilt 1/4 Fleet....came in with a dead stick for the third time with new Saito engine ( turned out not to be the engine but a faulty gas servo)....as I approached touch down the plane stared sinking faster than I expected ( only the third flight)...I yanked the elevator and of course it stood it up to the wind...all I could do is watch with that sick feeling of having no control and my plane cartwheeling into the ground.
Now if I hadn't been so impatient ( got off to a late start and forgot my transmitter holder at home )...got back to the field where the wind had picked up..
I should have just packed it up and gone home !!! Luckily it wasn't as bad as it looked, 10-15 hrs repairing cracked ribs and ripped out landing wires..
Lesson learned....

Also ignore those people who wonder why you put all that work into your model...they will never uderstand the word "Quality" and deferred gratification...

JBryson

My Feedback: (1)

Sorry to hear that Mike, I know you'll have that bird in the air in no time. The wind gives us fits here in west Texas also, especially this time of year, you may get a flight in early in the morning or late in the afternoon if your'e lucky. Our club will have a booth at the Slaton Air Show this coming weekend and may get a chance to put on a flight demonstration, will post pics if I get a chance.

Flying Fox

That's unfortunate Michael, who ever thinks to tie down their plane?
I usually damage my planes at my own hands by messing up on the control sticks... good speed with the repair job.
I just finished painting the wings for my Fokker Dvii so I can move on now to final assembly and flight set up. This is my first time using lozenge as a camouflage finish and I really like the look of the stuff!
Cheers,
Brian

jeffEE

My Feedback: (5)

MRadu, that sucks. And since the DVII really flies like crap after it's dinged up, you had better send it to me, just to be safe. That first ding really hurts. I never look at my planes the same way after the first thing gets broke. I fix them and anybody else that looks at it could never tell that its been fixed. But I know, and it's just different some how. Its not "pristine" anymore, I guess. But since your repaired stuff is about 10 levels about my new stuff....I think it will be OK.

I tried to catch somebodys plane as it blew off a stand. Good thing it was not running, as one blade of the prop sliced right under my knee cap. Took about 6 stitches to fix that one.

MRadu

JeffEE,
Thanks after I stopped laughing I thought about it. Your right Ill send it right over to you. Oh but wait I can't send it to you broken. So I'll fix it up first before I send it. Will that be ok with you?

Thanks for that and all who felt my pain. It has really help me get back on my plane.

jeffEE

My Feedback: (5)

Well, you had better fly it for a few years, just to be sure.

MRadu

Thanks JeffEE,
I'm working on the fix now and will post photos soon.

MRadu

Ok Here is the damage not that bad!
I'm half way to completing the repair.
However, I can not decide if I should just patch the hole in the fabric or remove the entire aileron and re-cover it.