Jeff Fokker

Took on a tough project. 1/12th scale (78" WS) Ford Tri-motor with real corrugated skins. Going to have 3 Axi 2810 motors. Gear is spring absorbing type. When finished, The pucker factor will be there on it's maiden flight for sure.

touch and go

My Feedback: (11)

Looks great! Let us know how it flies. What did you use to simulate the corrugated tin?

Jeff Fokker

I had to design and build a hand roller type corrugation press. The skin is .002" thick hard temper aluminum. Not a simulation. Did not want to build the plane without real aluminum. Just would not look right.

LesUyeda

Beautiful: Nice work on the tool. Good luck with the maiden. Maybe let someone else in order to take out your "nervous" factor??.

Les

cardona

What happen to this project? Last posting was on 02/2006. Interested to know if it ever flew or is it part of a museum display? Sincerely, Cardona

abufletcher

On my recent trip I had a chance to see a Junkers up close and I agree that if I were ever to model this type of aircraft I would just have to use a real aluminum skin. There's just so much detail there and the whole spirit of the thing is in the sheeting. In fact, if I did build one I'd be strongly tempted to make the aluminum skin the structural element it was on the original, that is, I'd skin the frame with aluminum and forget the balsa sheeting.

Jeff Fokker

Cardona

I have been out of work for some time. I expect to be set R/C money wise soon. I will finish the Ford this winter and fly it in the Spring.

I am also working on an 18th scale Lockheed Constellation with Robart Retracts and 4 AXI motors. It is exact to scale as the original.

1bruno

Very nice. I flew in one of these when I was a kid when my father took my family to the Grand Canyon. We flew this down through the canyon on a tour. It was one of the coolest things I did as a kid I remember it like it was yesterday. What a cool plane. It looks AWESOME!

cardona

Sorry to hear about your employment condition. On the other hand I am glad that you still have the trimotor and plan to fly it when it is ready. The pictures show much potential as well as ingenuity by you. Best of luck on the maiden flight. Thank you for responding to my question. Cardona

ARUP

Neat airplane- took a ride on the EAA's bird a few years ago- worth every penny! Look up 'Harold Johnson' on Youtube if you wanna see some Ford Trimotor flying! You won't be sorry!

cardona

I've come around full circle. This interesting aircraft has always caught my attention. It was not until two years ago my club member friend gave me a box of old plans. In it was a Ford tri-motor which requires foam core wings and calls for a nose 60 size motor and two wing .049 cox engines. The plans look old but show a sound and robust build. Currently a fellow modeler has the plans and will cut me the foam cores. Then it is all up to me to do the rest. I plan to place .25 FX O.S for all three engines. I hope this is equivalent to the plan configuration. Today, I revisited the question of how to create the corrugation skin and search RCU and stumble upon my own postings from 2010. Surprise!! That's my full circle. And by the way; What did ever happen to inspiring tri-motor that Jeff Fokker was building.

Rv7garage

My Feedback: (10)

boy, I would like to see an update as well! Did this project ever see the light of day?

RayH

Are you aware that back in the "30s" that a man named Anthony Fokker designed and built a Fokker trimotor to carry passengers and mail across the USA? My Uncle was a pilot on them. I am trying to build a flying model of it dressed out in the colors of Western Express as the company was known until TWA bought them out.

cardona

Finally, my tri-motor ford is air worthy and last summer I logged the maiden flight. Keep in mind that all the scale details like dummy engine radials, panel lines, and marking have been left out in maiden flight. A work in progress. I did not want to put too much work in something that would not fly correctly. However, although the maiden was shaky, it was due to incorrect down trust on all engines. After correcting the problem she flies beautiful. I have flown it three time, all for trials. Now she awaits the finishing detail. Too much work and too many irons in the fire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOxYy3h1X9Q

TomCrump

Congratulations on your successful maiden !

I'm glad that you have the thrust issues solved.

I also enjoyed your four footed "escort", while taxiing back to the pits.

Please keep us updated on your progress.

cardona

Thank you, TomCrump.

AlexGuz

Do you have information of the corrugated metal used like dimensions, space between "loops" and if the airplane used only one type of corrugated metal?, I am interested in building one large scale and I would like to have more information.
Thanks
Alex