1:4 Scale Foamy Albatros D.Va – Flite Fest 2022 Dawn Patrol Challenge

[wilmracer]

Hey there everyone! It has been too long since I’ve been active on the forum. I wish I could say I’ve been busy with loads of happy and exciting activities that kept me away from RC but unfortunately the opposite is true. 2021 was lousy and I’m glad it is over. I’ve still got a few speedbumps ahead for the next month or two BUT I am planning for a better 2022 with much more time to pursue my hobbies.

The Sweat Pea project is NOT dead. I’m actually pretty close to wrapping up the main gear. Once those are installed and working that project will take off again.

While I work through the mains on the 17 I have also started a “small” foamy project to get some instant gratification and to join in the Flite Fest 2022 WWI Dawn Patrol event. OK… so it isn’t small and it hasn’t been instant, but it has been a nice distraction.

With that said here is a recap of the build so far:

I started with a set of free balsa plans I found online, scaled them up 150%, and printed them at my local FedEx Office store

As this will be a pretty large biplane I wanted the wings to be easily removable but still strong, so I am going with hot-wired cores and Carbon Fiber spars with matching FG sleeves. I got my cores for the upper wing cut using the scale undercambered airfoil.

The spars will handle the flight loads, but I wanted a quick and easy way to align and retain the panels. I ended up designing and printing these inserts that glue into each panel. They have a pair of holes, one for a centering dowel and the other for a magnet. Using a pair of these for each panel the connection is rock solid, and one of the designs has a nice channel to make wire runs easy. If there are any remaining concerns about the wing panels departing in flight I'm planning on functional guy wires, so those will also help hold the wings together.

Rough Ailerons were cut from balsa. Before covering she will also get balsa leading and trailing edges, with the trailing edges cut to give that characteristic scalloped look.

 

[wilmracer]

Moving on to the fuselage I wanted to modify the existing plans so I could wrap formers around a central box. I mocked up the box to connect to the firewall and then marked and adjusted the formers to wrap around the box. A fair amount of the box was eventually cut away after stringers and sheeting was added but this kept things straight and true and light.

Light ply was used for Firewall, Cabane, and Landing Gear hard points. Foam formers used everywhere else.

At this point I also bent the gear wire. Some of the connections are soldered, but the housing for the axle is 3D printed and allows me to use bungee straps to secure it while still giving it room to flex. The printed parts also glue directly into the inter-wheel wing.

The tail feathers are made from a double-thickness of foam with strategic balsa and carbon fiber added. They are feathered lightly on the trailing edge, rounded on the leading edge, and covered in an Oratex fabric. I've wanted to give this a shot on a foamy and, although I know there are lighter options, so far I'm really happy with how they are coming out.

I added a bunch of stringers and got the servo tray mounted using giant-scale pushrods w/ 4-40 hardware.

 

[Baron VonHelton]

Moving on to the fuselage I wanted to modify the existing plans so I could wrap formers around a central box. I mocked up the box to connect to the firewall and then marked and adjusted the formers to wrap around the box. A fair amount of the box was eventually cut away after stringers and sheeting was added but this kept things straight and true and light.

I'm definitely interested in how you handle the fuselage!

 

[wilmracer]

For the main gear I found some shark-bite tubing that looked right and was lighter than PVC, so I used those to wrap the main gear struts. I hotwire cut the inter-wheel wing, glued it onto the axle supports, and then wrapped it in a faux wood vinyl covering. There are a lot of versions of this material available and I'm hoping it holds up well and captures the look of the original wood parts.

Wheels are 7" Dubro vintage wheels and look great. I'm not doing a REAL livery on this one and I like the color I found for these. It is just a Krylon rattle can color in a matte finish.

For the tail skid I worked up wood supports and a plywood skid with a pivot point. Bungee shock cord will be wrapped around through the slot to secure it and take the landing loads. I used a wood stain matching pen to color the skid itself and the rest will get covered with Oratex.

 

[wilmracer]

At the moment I'm currently working on wrapping the fuselage, starting from the rear and working forward. I need to get the lower wing cut and the center section installed, as well as check off a few more tasks, before I go any further forward. I used masking tape to create rough templates for the skins, cut and bent the skins, and then trimmed to fit. There are some tricks to deal with bulges if you end up with them, and I'm using 6mm Model Plane Foam so I will be giving her a good sanding/shaping before continuing with covering.

 

[wilmracer]

Extras:

So that is basically where I'm at with the build. I do have all the parts on hand now so the only thing slowing the build down is life

What I'm planning for this one:

This pilot bust is from Aces of Iron. I'll do a video soon of the painting techniques when I do the pilot for @willsonman 's Fokker, but I LOVE THESE PILOTS.

The Spandaus and ammo belts/chutes are from iflytailies and look great. VERY happy with how they turned out.

The engine is a 3D printed model from Damon Atwood. His engine models are second to none but they are NOT for the faint of heart. There are well over 100 individual pieces in this model, including real springs and printed nuts and bolts.

So that is about where I am with this "quick" foamy build. I hope to make some quick progress in the coming days/weeks. Wish me luck.

 

[CrashRecovery]

I have never been more inspired to build something then I am right now. Between this build and Orchard's latest video series I think I might actually give this a go!

 

[wilmracer]

I have never been more inspired to build something then I am right now. Between this build and Orchard's latest video series I think I might actually give this a go!

Thrilled to have you onboard! I updated the main thread with your entry. Nice choice! A quick glance at thingiverse returns a pretty decent instrument panel @ 1:4 (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2983082). We should have no problem finding the Vickers and Lewis guns as well.

Let me know if you meant to do 1:5th or meant 1:6th. Either way is great... TBH I'd be happy to see models from 1:32 -1:1 participating .

1:5th should be a sweet spot where you can add some extra detail w/o worrying TOO much about the extra weight. Of course @willsonman may feel differently. While he and I agree 100% that lighter is better he tends to build "as light as reasonably possible" and I tend to live by "lighter than the balsa/gasser guys could build". This build is no exception. Our wing loadings may end up similar, but only because I'll have 2 wings . I've been in communication with a company that helped restore the one in the Smithsonian and sells museum quality kits. Their 1:4 scale models have come in as high as 24lbs with about 4lbs of lead in the nose. My target is about 15-17lbs with 3-4lbs of 6S packs in the nose so I can fly all day .

 

[cyclone3350]

Ok, words cannot express how impressive this is. I am about to do a 1/5 Gee Bee sportster using the same technique for the wings. Hope I have the same success.

 

[Flightspeed]

Some of y’all take this hobby to the next level😏

 

[wilmracer]

Ok, words cannot express how impressive this is. I am about to do a 1/5 Gee Bee sportster using the same technique for the wings. Hope I have the same success.

Let me know if you need any guidance or suggestions. I've done quite a few hotwire wings now. For the sake of simplicity I did solid cores on this one but the "box" method also works great and would (probably) be lighter overall. That is what I've used on the B17 build and I really like the results. I saw the Sportster thread and will be following along. I've never met a Gee Bee I didn't love

Some of y’all take this hobby to the next level😏

lol... I think you meant to say "Some of y'all have a problem"

I've said this elsewhere but YOU try camping with @willsonman at these events and sit your models next to his on the flight line . Maybe have @Mid7night or the 13th Squadron guys there too. You HAVE to bring your A game.

All kidding aside I just enjoy building and love how small details can really set off a model and make it feel real when you see it fly. I'm rearranging my office (and most of the house) this weekend and hope to have the shop back to functional in another day or two so I can get back to building and maybe even shoot a video or two. I've got my fingers crossed. I'm also eager to start painting Ulrich Von Finleyslayer

 

[cyclone3350]

Let me know if you need any guidance or suggestions. I've done quite a few hotwire wings now. For the sake of simplicity I did solid cores on this one but the "box" method also works great and would (probably) be lighter overall. That is what I've used on the B17 build and I really like the results. I saw the Sportster thread and will be following along. I've never met a Gee Bee I didn't love



lol... I think you meant to say "Some of y'all have a problem"

I've said this elsewhere but YOU try camping with @willsonman at these events and sit your models next to his on the flight line . Maybe have @Mid7night or the 13th Squadron guys there too. You HAVE to bring your A game.

All kidding aside I just enjoy building and love how small details can really set off a model and make it feel real when you see it fly. I'm rearranging my office (and most of the house) this weekend and hope to have the shop back to functional in another day or two so I can get back to building and maybe even shoot a video or two. I've got my fingers crossed. I'm also eager to start painting Ulrich Von Finleyslayer

I forgot about that box method. I might go that route. Thanks

 

[willsonman]

Yeah, not to derail this build or thread but the more elliptical wings or even curved ones are a bit tricky to do with the hot wire method. Not impossible but the right tools are almost a necessity. The Tekoa feather cut is basically what you need to do this and I think they are out of business at tis point due to CNC foam cutting. You could probably build your own if you are dead set on this method but I'd probably just go with building balsa style while compensating for foam thickness.

Moving on, @wilmracer is too kind. He's well aware of the flaws of my models as well as the ability of others to exceed my own building ability. I build, a lot. I also fly every single one of them. I bring my stuff to share. No sense in keeping it locked up just for me to selfishly admire alone in my basement. We've flown together and traveled to SEFF together and at this point that the mutual respect is one my my treasured relationships. Small details are my jam, always have been, and part of what makes me successful at my real job. I have no doubt there will be many things at FF tis year that will give me a bit of inspiration.

 

[JetCrafts]

what is ff dawn patrol challenge

 

[wilmracer]

what is ff dawn patrol challenge

The thread is here: DAWN PATROL CHALLENGE

Basically we are trying to wrangle as many people as possible to build WWI planes. We're going to hold an event showcasing the entries and have some fun at the next Flite Fest. Check out that thread for more details.

 

[wilmracer]

I uploaded a video I shot a while back about the wing retention anti-rotation pins. I will get the files uploaded to thingiverse tonight.

 

[Off-topic jes]

Extras:

So that is basically where I'm at with the build. I do have all the parts on hand now so the only thing slowing the build down is life

What I'm planning for this one:

This pilot bust is from Aces of Iron. I'll do a video soon of the painting techniques when I do the pilot for @willsonman 's Fokker, but I LOVE THESE PILOTS.

The Spandaus and ammo belts/chutes are from iflytailies and look great. VERY happy with how they turned out.


View attachment 214893
View attachment 214894


View attachment 214896

The engine is a 3D printed model from Damon Atwood. His engine models are second to none but they are NOT for the faint of heart. There are well over 100 individual pieces in this model, including real springs and printed nuts and bolts.


View attachment 214895


So that is about where I am with this "quick" foamy build. I hope to make some quick progress in the coming days/weeks. Wish me luck.

Looks so nice

 

[Off-topic jes]

Hey there everyone! It has been too long since I’ve been active on the forum. I wish I could say I’ve been busy with loads of happy and exciting activities that kept me away from RC but unfortunately the opposite is true. 2021 was lousy and I’m glad it is over. I’ve still got a few speedbumps ahead for the next month or two BUT I am planning for a better 2022 with much more time to pursue my hobbies.

The Sweat Pea project is NOT dead. I’m actually pretty close to wrapping up the main gear. Once those are installed and working that project will take off again.

While I work through the mains on the 17 I have also started a “small” foamy project to get some instant gratification and to join in the Flite Fest 2022 WWI Dawn Patrol event. OK… so it isn’t small and it hasn’t been instant, but it has been a nice distraction.

With that said here is a recap of the build so far:

I started with a set of free balsa plans I found online, scaled them up 150%, and printed them at my local FedEx Office store

View attachment 214870

As this will be a pretty large biplane I wanted the wings to be easily removable but still strong, so I am going with hot-wired cores and Carbon Fiber spars with matching FG sleeves. I got my cores for the upper wing cut using the scale undercambered airfoil.

View attachment 214871

View attachment 214872


The spars will handle the flight loads, but I wanted a quick and easy way to align and retain the panels. I ended up designing and printing these inserts that glue into each panel. They have a pair of holes, one for a centering dowel and the other for a magnet. Using a pair of these for each panel the connection is rock solid, and one of the designs has a nice channel to make wire runs easy. If there are any remaining concerns about the wing panels departing in flight I'm planning on functional guy wires, so those will also help hold the wings together.
View attachment 214873

View attachment 214874

Rough Ailerons were cut from balsa. Before covering she will also get balsa leading and trailing edges, with the trailing edges cut to give that characteristic scalloped look.

View attachment 214875

1/4 Scale!!!!!!!😁😁😄😃

 

[Off-topic jes]

The thread is here: DAWN PATROL CHALLENGE

Basically we are trying to wrangle as many people as possible to build WWI planes. We're going to hold an event showcasing the entries and have some fun at the next Flite Fest. Check out that thread for more details.

I’ll join and try a Folker dr1 or se5!

 

[The Fopster]

I uploaded a video I shot a while back about the wing retention anti-rotation pins. I will get the files uploaded to thingiverse tonight.

Oooh. I’m printing some of these!