Dawn Patrol Camel

[billyshaw22]

So I started a little dawn patrol build while I wait for glue to dry on the 26.5% b-25….. I figured I would flip flop back and forth. The plane is the Sopwith Camel, I used the true scale three view drawings for all my math. The first step was I built the motor box, I made it interlock and it’s going to go back to about the cockpit

 

[billyshaw22]

I decided to use the half former method, it’s like the old stick and tissue models, only a lot bigger. There is a lot of pregame thought going on here, I wanted the motor box to fit strong and the wings have a good solid mount so I am going to use light ply for the bottom wing mount and hard wood mounts for the top along with aluminum struts for the top wing.

 

[billyshaw22]

Got all the formers lined up and as square as I can, I used foam squares for the rear part of the fuse for the former braces and I used hardwood on the front for added strength. I test fitted the motor box and had it in place when glueing the braces to make sure everything is squared off of it

 

[billyshaw22]

Tomorrow back to building, had to go to the flite test open house and spent the entire day having a blast

 

[Baron VonHelton]

Tomorrow back to building, had to go to the flite test open house and spent the entire day having a blast

You DID take pictures, right?

 

[billyshaw22]

You DID take pictures, right?

Well, I only got two early in the morning, the rest of the day I was flying so I didn’t really get to take any.

 

[billyshaw22]

alright yesterday I was able to get the fuse all ready for sheeting, I put a couple hard points in the bottom of the fuse under the motor box for landing gear mounting and tried to get everything as straight as possible, the sheeting should go fast on this, considering most of it is flat or close to flat. I’m thinking I’m going to leave the bottom all open until all the rigging is completed just to make things easier.

 

[billyshaw22]

So I started the sheeting on the fuse. There are some tricky spots, but overall it went on well. I have to do more cad work this week to get top wing mounts figured out and also get busy with the tail feathers and that configuration.

 

[willsonman]

Doing a bang up job here. I'm looking forward to seeing this one at FF.

 

[wilmracer]

Doing a bang up job here. I'm looking forward to seeing this one at FF.

Agreed! What scale/span is this one?

 

[billyshaw22]

Thanks guys, this is 37.5% with 126" wingspan.

 

[Baron VonHelton]

Agreed! What scale/span is this one?

When is FF again?

 

[FlyerInStyle]

When is FF again?

june 23-26 I believe. its all on FliteFest.com

 

[billyshaw22]

I was able to get some more done on this thing, I have to put this build in overdrive, I decided to set the b-25 aside and go full speed on this. I got the fuselage fully sheeted along with mad the lite ply supports for the front. I got the top wing center section built on the wing jig as well. I started cutting out all the wing ribs and I had to cut some spar material off for the wing panels as well. I didn’t take any pictures of those though.

 

[billyshaw22]

I went ahead and added Fiberglass to support the motor box into the fuse formers to help add some more strength

 

[wilmracer]

Looking awesome, as usual!

 

[billyshaw22]

Using the wing jig, I did the mock up of one of the wing panels to get rib spacing and what not all figured out. After I got all the measurements I transferred everything to the bottom wing skin and got all my spars All cut and the wings are starting to take shape.

 

[billyshaw22]

Im using a wing tube on the top wing to join the panels to the center section and 2 pieces of 3/8 Dial rod on the bottom and I will use rubber bands to keep the wings in the fuse. The top wings will have bolts holding them in so the bottom will stay in once the wing struts and flying wires are attached along with the rubber bands pulling them into the fuse.

 

[Baron VonHelton]

Im using a wing tube on the top wing to join the panels to the center section and 2 pieces of 3/8 Dial rod on the bottom and I will use rubber bands to keep the wings in the fuse. The top wings will have bolts holding them in so the bottom will stay in once the wing struts and flying wires are attached along with the rubber bands pulling them into the fuse.

Wow! That is fantastic! The attention to detail is excellent!

 

[billyshaw22]

I bent some aluminum for the top wing center section, I used my laser level to try and get the top wing center as close as I could to straight. I also did some test fitting on all the wing panels, there where some small issues with the fit so I had to sand and modify but all in all I’m happy with the fit as of now. I did start getting the tail sections started as far as braces and I also cut all the parts for the cowling as well.