bigphil

My Feedback: (6)

I've been considering this project for quite some time and it's time to get going on it. I obtained plans for the project from Gary Neill for the Bulldog designed by his father Don. My intent is to use an engine I already have for power. It's an ASP FS400AR which will also save me the effort of making a dummy radial to fill empty space in the cowl. After reading through everything I could find on others people's Don Neill Bulldogs, I decided the plans would have to be shrunk down a bit to have suffient power from this engine to pull the plane. So, I've shrunk the plans from the original 96" span to 85".

Next step was to make up a materials list and order a pile of wood which can also be seen below. I'd appreciate insight from anyone who's been through this project before. Compared to modern building techniques, this thing is built like a tank. Looks like it's way overbuilt and I see areas where considerable weight savings can be realized. I expect this is going to take a while so sit back and watch as it takes shape.

Not much happens in my shop without help from my trusty assistant, Wilson. He's shown here in energy assimilation mode. It takes him a while to work up ambition to do most everything.

ARUP

Nice. I have plans and glass for the Folkerts by Don Neill.

bigphil

My Feedback: (6)

I wish I had glass ARUP. I think that's going to be the biggest part of this project. I'm still considering options for how to handle all that because there are a lot of glass components required, in addition to the cowl and wheel pants, there is a fairing where the wing strut contacts both the wing and the fuse, and fairings for where the gear strut contacts both the fuse and the pants, then another where the horizontal stab meets the fuse.

Anyway, I'm sorting through wood and laying out the wing ribs.

geezeraviation

My Feedback: (3)

OK I have to sign on for this, next to the Mystery Ship the Hall Bulldog is at the top of the classic racer heap for me.

ARUP

There is a build (1/4 or 1/3 ?) on RCScalebuilder or RCGroups by an English modeler(?). The Bulldog will be a tough build- kind of like a Gee Bee R-1 or such. There aren't very many straight lines on those birds. I have Vern Clements Bulldog (and all of his other raceplane) plans and they are authenticated by Bob Hall, the designer. If you don't have those and would like a set just PM me. Last month I tried buying the Rearwin Cloudster plan but my envelope, letter, check and all was returned in another envelope. Vern was very passionate about his drawings and, to me, they are well worth the $$$ so it's too bad they aren't offered any more. The Bulldog wing has ~5 degrees sweep-back. Better obtain a large qauntity of blue foam for carving! Too bad there aren't fly-in for '30s raceplane models... what a sight that would be!
I think your helper will be purrfect for this build!

bigphil

My Feedback: (6)

Yeah, I've read through the thread on RCScalebuilder on the 1/3 scale Bulldog. He has actually finished that bird and flown it a few times. He had a flame out and broke it up a bit. Most recent post there says he's concentrating on finishing other projects before making repairs.

26 ribs in each wing and no two alike. Here they are, rough cut.

geezeraviation

My Feedback: (3)

Lets see its a gull wing the panels are elliptical and theres 5 deg of sweep that's a real busy wing, I was trying to figure out a jig for that and I got a headache.
Doc

dreid

My Feedback: (13)

ARUP- I have 2 sets of F/G parts for the Don Neil Folkerts that I would part with if you are interested.
Dave

flyguy

My Feedback: (20)

This should be a good build. Golden Age aircraft have alot of class and style. I have a set of plans from Vern Clements also. Don`t know when I`ll get around to it. Good luck on your build. Rick

bigphil

My Feedback: (6)

No worries on fixturing the wing Doc, Don Neill figured all that out for me. The sweep of the wing is built into the wing ribs so the spars run perpendicular to the ribs. There is a small jig that supports the spars as you build up the wings. All the ribs get skewered onto the spars and then glued up. The trailing edges are cut from sheet stock and then sanded to the proper taper. LE will be laminated. So, it doesn't sound easy but I think the headaches are accounted for.

bigphil

My Feedback: (6)

After a marathon session with the disk sander, followed by some tedious Xacto work and brass tube drilling, the ribs are done. The spars and some of the trailing edge pieces are also shaping up.

donnyman

Hi Phil!

Good to hear from you!

You are on your way, I'll keep and eye on your progress.

If I can be of any help just ask, but I will be honest I don't remember a whole lot (I'm old)

Here is I hope some incentive...

bigphil

My Feedback: (6)

Got a ways to go before mine looks like your Donny. I'm plugging away. Thanks for the incentive.

bigphil

My Feedback: (6)

I've had a question in a PM about availability of the Neill plans so I thought I'd post the answer here as well. I purchased the plans for this project directly from Gary Neill, Don's son about a year ago. As far as I know he still sells them. Here is his mailing address. I've never been able to find an email for him.

Gary Neill
1995 Ryons
Lincoln, NE. 68502
402-435-0772

bigphil

My Feedback: (6)

Just a few notes about the build sequence. The wings and tail components are required to accurately build the fuse so I'll be starting with those. Since the wings are a lot more complicated, that is what I'm starting with. I have most of the wing components cut and will be laying up the first wing panel very soon. Stay tuned.

donnyman

Hey Phil

I have two sets of plans for the B'dog, if anyone has trouble getting them have them to contact me! I will not be building another.

As a matter of fact I want to sell the B'dog I have. (I didn't build it for myself)

That FS 400 will look real good in the B'dog cowl

bigphil

My Feedback: (6)

Here's the first wing panel nearing completion. If you notice in the previous picture of the ribs, the holes that the spars pass through are completely encapsulated in the ribs. Obviously then, the wing cannot be built with the spars in contact with the building board. You can see in this picture the support fixtures which hold the spars off the board at the proper distance. All of the ribs are then slide in order onto the spars, squared up and glued in place. This makes the wing take shape pretty quickly, at least once all those ribs are made.

Since there isn't much straight on this wing, the trailing edges are cut from sheet stock and the leading edge is laminated. I'm adding the second of 4 laminations here. Then I'll add leading edge sheeting and build up the aileron.

geezeraviation

My Feedback: (3)

Looking good Phil, I see the holes for the servo leads too. Are the spars built up buxes or solid? What material are they. Easy to build in wash out if called for, just properly shim the spars. Keep at it.
Doc

bigphil

My Feedback: (6)

The spars are solid and they taper toward the ends. If you look at the rib photo again you can see the holes that receive the spars get smaller toward the wing root and tip. They are made of bass wood. No wash out is called for. While they have been removed in the photo, I used some shims under the trailing edge parts to assure the wing was built precisely flat.

geezeraviation

My Feedback: (3)

Is the root airfoil at the root the same as the tip? WOW the mind boggles trying to visualize the trailing edge from behind, considering the ellipse. Some wing, wow.
Doc

bigphil

My Feedback: (6)

The airfoil is constant from root to tip. Here's a scan of the root and tip ribs. They are all very similar...

Dave73

My Feedback: (1)

Hey Phil did Wilson help you put all the clothpins on?

bigphil

My Feedback: (6)

Oh yeah, he's helping every chance he gets Dave. He's reviewing the plans here to make sure I didn't miss any construction details.

Dave73

My Feedback: (1)

Maybe I can borrow him to help me on my Mustang.

bigphil

My Feedback: (6)

It takes a while to be able to appreciate Wilson's assistance so I'm not sure he could help you that much. You better focus on that Mustang though or the Bulldog will be flying first!