AerodromeRC Fokker Dr.1 46.7" User manual
FokkerDr.146.7”1/6Scale
Copyright©2007‐11M.K.BengtsonAllRightsReservedRev07/11
FokkerDr.146.7”
1/6Scale
R/CScaleModelInstructions
CONTACTINFORMATION
DesignedbyM.K.Bengtson
PrototypebyFrankJaerschky
ManufacturedandDistributedby:
BengtsonCompany
www.aerodromerc.com
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Copyright©2007‐11M.K.BengtsonAllRightsReservedRev07/11
FokkerDr.11/6Scale
ThankyouforpurchasingtheFokkerDr.11.6scalemodel
forelectricflight.
THEMODEL
FinishedModelbyFrankJaerschky
Thismodelisdesignedtobeeasytobuildandexcitingto
fly.ThismanualisadistillationofFrank’scommentsin
buildingtheprototype.
SPECIFICATIONS
Morethan470lasercutparts
Scale: 1/6
Channels:R/E/A/T
Wingspan:46.7ʺ
WingArea: 737sqin
Weight: 76 oz
PowerSystem:AXI2826directdrivebrushlessoutrunner
Prop: 14x7
Wheels: Balsa&plywood,Neoprenefoamtires
AirfoilType: Flat‐bottomedscale
Cowl: Builtupbalsaandplywood
Spinner: N/A
Covering: BalsaandLitespanorPolyspan
PrototypeBuilder:FrankJaerschky
ThefollowingistakenfromFrankʹscommentsinbuilding
themodel:
FUSELAGE
Assemblystartsbygluingtogetherthetwo3/16ʺparts
thatmaketheleftandrightforwardfuselagesides.There
areprecutslotsandholesforboltsandformers,somake
sureyouopenthemup.
Iliketouseyellowaliphaticglue.Itgivesmetimeto
correctmistakes.MakesforaslightlylongerbuildthanifI
usedCA,though.
Alittlesandingwithablockensuresthefusesidesare
niceandflat.
Attheriskofsoundingliketryingtotellpeoplehowto
suckeggs,labelaRightandLeftfuseside,alongwiththe
respective1/32ʺplydoublers.MorethanonceIʹve
admiredmycraftsmanshipontwoveryidentical,right
sides.
Ialsoliketomarkaseriesofparallellinesontheinsideof
thefuselagesides.Thesecomeinrealhandylaterwhenit
istimetolineupservomounts,etc.Itonlytakesaminute,
butitreallyisworththetime.
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Doublerstestfitted.SidesmarkedLandR.Parallellines
willbecarriedontodoublerswhenglueisdry.
Thestack,waitingforgluetocure.
Therearofthefuselageisbuiltupfrom3/16ʺsq.sticks
and1/16ʺX3/16ʺstrips.Inretrospect,Ishouldhavedone
thisstepbeforeaddingthedoublers.Iliketobuildboth
sidesoneontopoftheother(separatedbyplasticwrapor
waxpaper)tomakesuretheyareidentical.Withthe
doublers,Iwillhavea1/16ʺgapbetweenthebalsasidesif
Ilaythemontopofeachother.Iʹlljustmakeatemporary
1/16ʺspacertogobetweenthesides.
Therudderassembleseasilywithlasercut3/16ʺsheet
piecesandthesupplied3/16ʺsqstock.
Thefuselageiscomingalong.Afterbuildingtherear
framework,Isandedeverythingniceandflat.
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Thefrontendofthefuselageisformedbyinterlocking
platesandformers,andmakesforaverystrongfrontend.
StrongenoughthatIthinkthisairplanecouldeasilytakea
.564‐stroke.(Sorry,Icanheartheboosandhisses.Just
thoughtIʹdthrowthatoptionoutthereforthosethatare
stillsoinclined).
Thefuselageisnowjoinedatthetail.Ipinnedthefuse
downoverthetopview,andthenblockedupthenose
andtailtokeepitfromrocking.Asquaresliduptothe
outlineofthefuselageontheplanisusedforalignment.If
theverticallegofthesquarejusttouchestheedgeofthe
longerons,youknowyouʹreʺOnʺ.
Thebalsacrossmemberswerecuttolengthfromthetop
view,andthengluedintoplace.Again,thesquarewas
usedtomakesureeverythingstayedaligned.Thetop
formerswerethengluedontopofthecrossmembers.
Theforwardsidefairingsare1/32ʺply,witha1/8ʺbalsa
sheetpiecerunningdownthemiddletoensurethecorrect
taper.Theplysidefairingsgooneasilywithabitofwater
tomakethemmorepliable,andafewpins.Alsonotethat
the1/16ʺbalsaturtledecksheetingandthe3/32ʺbalsa
cockpitfloorarenowinplace.Startingtolookvery
Dreideckerish!
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Airfoilshapedfairingtowhichthecoveringwillbe
attached,allowingthelowerwingrootribtositflush
againstthefuselageside.
Buildingthecowlingstartswith1/8ʺliteplyfrontandrear
frames.Theseframeshave1/4ʺsquareholeslasercut
whichacceptlasercut1/4ʺbalsaspacers.Thespacersare
gluedtooneframe,andthentheotherframeisgluedto
that.Theseframesarethensheetedwith1/32ʺply.
Framesandspacers.Largerframeontherightistherear
ofthecowl,andactuallyformspartofthemiddle/upper
wingretentionsystem.
COWL
Theplysheetingissuppliedin3pieces.Insteadofbutt
gluingthesheeting,Isandedabevelonthesheetswhere
thejoinsothattheycouldoverlapabitandformascarf
joint.Oncesanded,thiswillbeabitstrongerandcleaner
thanabuttjoint.
Startwiththetopofthecowl.First,drawalineacrossthe
middleoftheshortlengthofoneofthepiecesofsheeting.
Trialfitthesheetingonthecowlframes,centeringtheline
abovethetopcowlspacer.Bendthesheetingaroundthe
frame,anduseapenciltomarktheextentofthesheeting
soyouknowwheretoapplyglue.
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Applygluetotheframes,andlaythesheetingdownon
topoftheframe.Pinitdownatthecenterfirst,andthen
workouttotheendsofthesheeting.Letdry.
Nowfinishsheetingwiththeothertwopieces.
Anoteonchoiceofgluewhenusingthinply.Thin
plywoodsoaksupCAglueslikeasponge.Oncetheglue
hardens,itmakestheplyveryhardtosand.Youwill
windupwithunevensandingbetweenareashardenedby
glueandthosethatarenot.Forthatreason,Isuggest
usingaliphaticglues.Takesawhilelongertodry,butit
willbemucheasiertosandandfinish.
Thefrontofthecowlisformedwith1/4ʺbalsasheet
pieces,andthenthecowliscarvedandsandedtoshape.
Iʹlldothatlater.
DUMMYMOTOR
TheAximotormountispartofthedummyrotaryengine.
Itʹsquitethepieceofwork.Thedummycrankcaseis
composedoflayersoflasercut1/16ʺply,1/8ʺliteply,1/8ʺ
balsa,and1/4ʺbalsa.Eachparthas3holeslasercut
throughwhichmotormountingboltswillpass.When
gluingthepartstogether,payattentionandmakesure
theseholesarealwaysaligned.Also,assemblethepieces
sothatthegrainalternatesforaddedstrength.
NowIsuggestyoucount,count,andrecounthowmany
layersof1/4ʺbalsaittakestomakethecrankcase.Youwill
findittakes6.Noticethatthereare8piecessupplied.
Taketwoofthemandputthemoutofreach,soyouwill
notbestupidenoughtouseall8andwindupwitha
crankcasethatistoolong.Shouldthathappen,youcan
usearazorsawandremovetheoffendingpiece.Should
youstillnotbeabletocount,youcanreachfortherazor
sawandrepeat.
Studytheplanandmakesurethepiecesareassembledin
thecorrectorder.Notethatthereisa1/8ʺbalsapiecein
themiddlewithextranotches.Theseareforthedummy
cylinderconstructionlater.
Theplanssaytomakeachanneltopassthemotorwires
through,outthebackofthecrankcase.Thisiscertainly
do‐able,butIdecidedtomakeaholeatthetopofthe
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crankcaseandwillroutethewiresoutsidethecrankcase
andthenbackthroughthefirewall.Thisway,thereisno
chanceofawireinterferingwiththerotatingcanofthe
motor.
Thefrontofthecrankcaseismadeupof2layersof1/16ʺ
plythatislasercuttofittheAximotor,includingcooling
airslots.Themotorisscrewedtothisplate.
Thewholeassemblyisheldtothefirewallby3,21/2inch
4‐40boltsthatrunthroughthecrankcaseandboltinto
blindnutsinthefirewall.Smallplywoodlasercutspacers
betweenthecrankcaseandthefirewall(notshownin
photos)setthedownandrightthrust.
Iʹmprettysuretheassemblyisquitestrongenoughasitis.
ButIthinkIwilllineeachholewithalengthofbrasstube.
IʹmafraidthatImaygetabithamfistedandover‐tighten
thebolts,crushingthebalsaifthetubesarenʹtthere.The
frontfaceofthecrankcaseishardply,andtherearedgeis
1/8ʺlite‐ply,butIʹdratherbesafethansorryhere.
Ispentsometimeonthecowling.Thereare3layersof
1/4ʺbalsa,followedbythe1/4ʺbalsafaceplate.Timetofor
somesanding.
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Itʹsalwaysagoodideatoinstallblindnutsbeforethepart
isgluedinplaceandyoucanʹtgetatit.SeemsIforgotthat
littlepieceofadvicewiththefirewall.Thefirewalltakes5,
4‐40blindnutsforcowlretention,andmotormounting.
Luckily,thereisabigholeinthefrontofthefirewallthatI
couldstillsqueezeaC‐Clampthrough,andtogetherwith
somescrapplypadstoprotectthefirewall,Iwasableto
presstheblindnutsintoplace.
Iʹvestartedontheincludeddummymotorcylinders.The
crankcasehasalreadybeendescribedearlierinthis
thread.Thecylindersaremadeupofapieceof1/8ʺsq
balsa,andsomeotherlasercutbalsadisks.Thedisksare
gluedtothesquarepiece,andthenthesuppliedpre‐
printedcardstockiswrappedaroundthatassemblyand
gluedinplace.Thenthecylinderisgluedtothecrankcase.
Iʹmgoingtodoastheplansuggestsandusethetwin
carpetthreadtechniquetosimulatecylinderfins.Once
paintedandhighlighted,theywilllookgreat.
IhaveoftenheardofthemysteriousʺLostThread
Methodʺofsimulatingcylinderfins,butwasneverreally
surehowtodoit.Theplanssuggestedthismethod,soI
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gaveitatry.Ijustusedaspoolofsomenylonkitestring
thatwaslyingaround.Thephotosandcaptionstellthe
story.Itʹsagreatmethod.TheendresultsarequitegoodI
think.Whenpainted,thecylindersshouldlookvery
convincing.Andtheprocessgoesquitequickly,too.
Incaseyouʹrecurious,eachcylindertookabout42ʺof
thread,sothatʹs9X42ʺ=31.5feettotal.Luckily,youcan
reusetheʺspacerʺthread,ifyouʹrecareful.
PutasmalldropofthickCAonthecylinder.Layboth
threadsintheglueandletharden.
Trimbothendsofthethreads.
Startwrappingthethreadsaroundthecylinder.Make
surethethreadsstayparallelanddonotcrosseachother.
Keepthewrappingssnugagainsteachother.
Whenyoureachthebottom,putanothersmalldropof
thickCAonthecylinderandsecurethethreads.
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Trimofftheendof1ofthethreads.Tryandkeeptheends
ofthethreadonthesamesideofthecylinder.Youcan
facethatsideofthecylindersothatitcanʹtbeseenwhen
complete.
GentlypulltheotherthreadoutoftheCa.Unwrapthat
threadfromthecylinder,beingcarefulnottodisturbthe
otherthread.Whenyoureachtheend,gentlypullthe
threadoutoftheglue.
SoakthecylinderandthreadinthinCA.Timeforpaint!
MIDWINGMOUNT
Thecowlmountswith24‐40bolts.Thereisaslotinthe
backofthecowlthatengagesthetabonthefrontofthe
middlewingmountingplate.Thatiswhatholdsthe
middleandtopwingson.Thisresultsinaninvisiblewing
mountingsystem.Ithinktherewillbeenoughroom
betweenthefrontofthecowlandthebackofthepropso
thatyoudonʹtneedtotakethepropoffeverytimeyou
puttheairplanetogetheratthefield.Movingthecowl1/4ʺ
forwardwillbeenoughtoreleasethewing.
Themiddlewingmountingplatesitsflushinsidethe
fuselage.Thereisatabattherearoftheplatethatslides
intoaslotinthefuselageformer.Thefronttabisheld
downbythecowlassembly.Formersaregluedtothetop
ofthepateandthensheetedtomatchthetopcurveofthe
cowl.Thetriangularwedgeontherearformerisjust
temporary.Icanʹtsheetthatportionuntilthewingis
attachedtotheplate,andIwouldbesuretobreakthe
formeroffwithouttheextrareinforcement.
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Duringthebuild,aproblemarosewithregardstothefit
ofthecowl.Itturnsoutwhatlookedgreatin2dimensions
didnʹttranslateinto3dimensionsverywell.Itisveryhard
tojudgethesethingsuntilthepartsactuallyallcome
together.Asmentionedbefore,themiddleandtopwings
areretainedbytabsonamountingplate,andthefronttab
ishelddownbyaslotinthebackofthecowl.Thecowlis
heldonby2boltsthroughtherearframeandintoblind
nutsinthefirewall.Sothecowlmustcomeoffeverytime
theairplaneistakenapartorputtogether.
Allsoundsgood,butIfoundthatwhentheAXIandthe
dummymotorareboltedontothefirewall,thecowl
doesnʹtfitanymore.Thereisnotenoughclearance
betweenthefrontfaceofthecowlandthemotorshaftto
allowthecowltogoonandoff.
SothedesignerandIscratchedourheadsaboutthisfora
while.Intheend,wedecideditwouldprobablybebestto
haveaslotinthelowercowllipunderneaththepropshaft
hole.Tohidethehole,Icutawedgeoutofthecowl,and
usedmagnetstoholdthewedgeinplace.Myfixlooksa
bitsloppybecauseIonlyhad1/4ʺmagnetsonhand,and
thecowlfaceis1/4ʺbalsa.Tryingtomakea1/4ʺholein
1/4ʺthickmaterialisnoteasy!Inanycase,itworkedout
OK,andoncethecowlisglassed,primed,andpainted,it
willlookfine.
Anotherwaytofixtheproblemwouldbetoeliminateall
butthebottom3or4dummycylinders,andthencut
awayalargerportionofthebackofthecowl.Thatway,
thecowlcouldsliprightovertopofthedummymotor
andpropshaft.Butthenyouwouldneedtoremovethe
propeverytimeyoutookthewingsofforputthemon,
too.
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Justanote‐thereisalotofsandingtodotogetthecowl
totherightshape.Tomakeiteasier,Imadeatemplate
outofapieceofmeatpackingfoamsothatIknewwhenI
hadreachedtherightshape.
Cowlhasbeenglassedwith0.75ozglassclothandZ‐Poxy
finishingresin.Justforcuriositysake,Iwanttoseehow
muchweightsomecloth,resin,primerandpaintadd.
Beforeglassing,thecowlweighed61g(2.15oz)
Allglassed,andweighinginat64g(2.26oz).Thenext
stepswillgosomethinglikethis:prime,sand,prime,
sand,prime,sand,paint.
Thephotoexageratestheappearanceoftheremovable
wedge.Iʹmactuallyveryhappywiththewayitisturning
out.Oncethecowlispainted,Ithinkthepartlinewillbe
veryhardtosee,especiallyasthecowlwillbeblack.
Justacoupleofshotsofthecowlandprimer.Picture#1
showsthecowlwith1coatofprimerapplied.Iuse
MotomasterbrandʺPrimer&ScratchFillerʺ,availableat
CanadianTire.(IfyouarenʹtCanadian,CanadianTireis
likeaMenʹsdreamdepartmentstorewithloadsofcool
guystuff,andenoughboringstufftokeepthewomen
happy,too.Andyes,theyselltires).
Photo2showsthecowlaftersanding.Notmuchprimer
left,butthatʹstheidea!Youneedtosandoffasmuchas
possible,sothattheprimeronlystaysinthelowspots.
Notdoingthatwillonlyincreaseweightanddetractfrom
theevennessofthefinalpaintfinish.Theprimerreally
shouldbewetsanded.Sothatmeansbeingcarefulnotto
floodthecowlwithtoomuchwater.IputsomethinCA
onexposedwood,sohopefullyitwouldnʹtsoakupwater.
SeemstobeworkingOK.
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Twomorecoatsandsandingthenpaint.
OnceIhadthecowlallsandedandreadyforpaint,itwas
myfullintentiontoaddsomesimulatedrivetsusing
whiteglueandasyringe.Thenpaintthecowl.
Oncethepainthaddried,Isandeditdownwith400grit
paper,usedwet.ThenIappliedtherivets.NowIjust
needtowaitabitforadrydaytosomepainton.
WINGS
Eventuallywithatriplane,yougottabuildsomewings.
SoIʹvestartedwiththelowerones.
Themainsparsare3/16X1/2balsa.Thetrailingedgesare
lasercut1/32ply,withtheTEscallopslasercut.The
distinctiveDr1ʺSawToothʺleadingedgeislasercutfrom
1/32ply.Therearelasercut3/16ʺpiecesthatgoontopof
theforwardmainsparbetweentheribs.Sowhenadding
theribs,itʹsmerelyaprocessofworkingfromoneendto
theother,addingablock,arib,ablock,etc.
TheplyLEsheetisthengluedtothetopsoftheribs,
fittingnicelyintothelasercutnotches.Isuggestthen
addingtheleadingedge,andgluingitsecurelytotheply
LEsheeting.Thisgivesmoresupporttotheplywhenyou
takethetipofeachtriangleandbenditbacktogluedown
ontothesparblocksbetweentheribs.Wettingthe
sheetinghelps,too.
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Therootribhas8‐32blindnutsinstalledtofastenittothe
fuselage.Therearealso5/32ʺbrasstubesalongthespars
forthefirstfewribs.Therearetwo1/8ʺmusicwirejoiners
thatrunthroughthefuseandintothesetubes.(Although
Iʹmthinkingofmaybeusingcarbonfibertubestosave
someweight)
Middlewingisattachedtomountingplatewith4‐40bolts
andblindnutsinstalledinmidwing.
Tabatrearofmountingplatefitsintoslotinfuselagejust
forwardofthecockpit.
Slotinrearofcowlgoesoverthetabatthefrontofthe
midwingmountingplate.
Cowlingissecuredwith2,4‐40boltsandblindnuts
installedinthefirewall.Whenthedummymotorisin
place,theboltsarestilleasilyaccessiblebetweenthe
cylinders.
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Constructionoftheupperwinghasstarted.Atthis
stage,youstarttogetarealsensethatthisisalarge
airplaneinthreedimensions.Mybuildingboardisa48ʺ
ceilingtile,andwitha47.5ʺwingspan,itfillstheboard
fromendtoend.
Thecabanemountsareattheirscalelocation.Theyconsist
ofplywithblindnuts.Iusedslowsetepoxytomakesure
thisallimportantjointdoesnʹtfail.Thewinggetsboltedto
thecabanesusingnylonlandinggearstrutsand4‐40bolts.
Aileronsarebuiltupfrombalsaandply.Theribsare1/16ʺ
plyforstrength.
Thesheetingaroundthemiddlewinganditsmounting
platelooksabittricky,butitʹsnotthatbad.Thereissome
nicescrapbalsafromsomeofthelasercutpartsheetsthat
isperfectforthejob.
TomakesureeverythingwilllookgoodwhenIʹmdone,I
putthewinginpositiononthefuselage,andputsome
plasticwrapbetweenthefuselageandthebackofthe
middlewingtomakesuretheydidnʹtbecome
permanentlyattached.
Withsometrialanderror,Icutapieceofbalsaaswideas
Icouldsothatitwouldsitontopofthemidwing
sheeting,andalsobenddownalongtheformers.
Aftersoakingthesheeting,itbecameverypliable,and
usingpinsandglue,itwasnailedintoplace.Itʹspretty
amazingthecontortionsthatthecorrecttypeofbalsawill
twistinto
TheportionsneartheleadingedgeIwillfinishoffwith
gluinginsomescrapsoftbalsa,andthenusingfiller.
Iʹmnotoneformakingtemplatestotryandgetitright.I
tendtosheetfirstandaskquestionslater
Bytheway,thesquareblockbesidetheholeistherear
cabanemountingblock.Theholeistherefortheservo
wire
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Thelandinggearismadeof1/8ʺmusicwire.After
bendingthestruts,Imountedtheminplaceonthe
fuselage.Thebestjigistheactualairplane,afterall.The
axleisthenlaidontop,andeverythinggetsbound
togetherwithsoftwirebeforesoldering.
Togetagoodjoint,cleanthewirewellwithemerycloth,
wraptightlywithsoftwire,thenapplyfluxwithabrush.I
useaWeller40Wiron,anditgivesplentyofheat.Touch
theirontotheassembly,letitgetgoodandhot,andlet
thesolderflowintothejoint.Thefinalresultistoughas
nails.
Iworkedonthecabanestrutsthisafternoon.Theyare
madefrom3/32ʺmusicwire.Thetopwingisattachedto
thecabaneswith1/8ʺnylonlandinggearstrapsand4‐40
bolts.Thebottomofthefrontstrutsslideintoa1/8ʺOD
pieceofbrasstubingthatisbuiltintothemiddlewing
mountingplate.Thebottomrearofthecabaneshavea
ringterminalsolderedtothem,andthatgetsfastened
withascrewintotherearmountingblockinstalledinthe
middlewingattherearspar.
Interplanestrutsarealaminationof21/16ʺplyouter
piecesanda1/32ʺplyinnerpiece.Theinnerpiecehasa
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reliefnotchcutinitthatensurescorrectpositionofa
DuBrolandinggearstrap.
LandingGearstrapinposition.
Theinterplanestrutsslidethroughapassageinthe
middlewing.
Thelandinggearstrutfitsintothetopwinginaribalso
madeoutof21/16ʺplyand11/32plypieces.
ImustadmitIcheatedwiththestruts.Itisabsolutely
essentialthatall4piecesofthecabanestrutsbethecorrect
length,andhaveallthecorrectangles.Becauseofthis,I
feltIwouldhavetroublemakingmybendsaccurately
enoughtodothejob.So,afterroughlybendingandsizing
eachstrut,Icutitinhalfandthenchoppedabout1/8ʺoff
onehalf.ThenIslippeda1ʺlongpieceofbrasstubing
overthestrut,andjoinedittogetheragain.
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OnceIhadthetopwinginplaceandrestingontopofthe
interplanestruts,itwaseasytoadjustthelengthand
anglesofeachofthecabanes,andthensolderthetwo
piecesbacktogetheragain.
Thefitoftheinterplanestrutsisreallyfirstrate.The
alignmentandincidencewasbangonwhatisshownon
theplans.
WHEELS
Gluingtheplysidesonthe3/8”balsacoremakesthebasis
forthewheels.Usethebrasshubforalignment.Epoxythe
hubsinplaceandaddasufficientamountofepoxy
aroundthebaseofthehubtoreinforcetheconnectionof
thehubtotheply.Plywoodreinforcinghubsareprovided
thataretoslipoverthebrasstubingasshown.Next,CA
gluetheneoprenecordingtogethertofroma“tire”.Use
thinCAsparinglyastheCAbondsveryaggressivelyto
therubber.PresstheCAwettedendstogetherforan
instantbond.Thebestwaytoaligntheendsistoglue
themwhiletheyareinplaceonthewheel.Thenattachthe
tirestothewheelsandCAinplace.AthinbeadofCA
aroundtherimmakesforasecuretire.
Paperconesarecutout.Useaballpointpentoscoreeach
lineonthebacktomakeanimpressionof“spokes”Itis
helpfultodothisoperationonapapertabletsothatthe
penmakesagoodcrease.Foldthepaperalongthecrease
linestoexaggeratetheraisedlines.Oneofthesections
formingawedgeiscutout.Makecutstothecenterofthe
circlealongapairofthespokes.Closethepapercutoutto
formaconeandtapethejointinsidethecone.
Theinsideconesmaynowbeattachedtothewheels.The
outsideconesmaybeattachedatthispointifwheel
collarsaretobeused.Alternatively,afterinstallingthe
wheelsonthelandinggear,awashermaybesolderedto
holdthewheelinplaceandthentheconeisattached.This
methodmakesaverynicescaleappearance.
UNDERWING
IthinkAnthonyFokkerdesignedthelandinggearwing
justtodrivemodellerscrazy.Itʹsabigsurfacewitha
narrowmountingarea,andinapositionwhereitisbound
toreceiveafewblows.
Withthatinmind,Iwantedtomakesurethewingwas
mountedsecurelytotheundercartstruts,butnotso
securethattherewasnogive.ThebottomoftheLGwing
is3/16balsa.AtfirstIthoughtthatthiswaswaytoheavy,
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andthatIwouldmakeanewoneoutofthinnermaterial.
Withmytrustyscaleinhand,itturnsoutthatthe
suppliedwoodwasquitelight,andthatgoingtothinner
woodofmediumqualitywouldnʹtsaveanyweight.
Theribsarelasercut1/8ʺand1/16ʺ.Thethickerribsgoon
theoutside,andnexttothewirestruts.Thethinnerribs
gointhemiddle.Thenexttolastoutermostribsareglued
inatanangletomatchthethewirestruts.Iusedsilicone
rubbertogluetheribstothewire,andCAtogluetheribs
tothebottom.Iʹmhopingthatthesiliconewillofferabit
offlexinlessthanperfectlandings.Ialsomadesometabs
outofbrasssheetthatIsolderedtotheaxle.Ithen
epoxiedthetabstothebase.Thebrasshasjustenough
flextoallowalittlewiggle.Isheetedthetopwith1/16ʺ
balsa.Ialsomadetheholesalittleoversizedinthetop
sheetingwherethewirepassesthrough.Ifthesheetingis
rightupagainstthewire,anywigglewillcrackthe
sheeting.
WINGSERVOS
Hereʹstheaileronservoinstallation.Ichosethelazyman
methodandusedsiliconrubbertogluetheHS‐81ʹsinto
theirlocation.Cleanandeasy,aslongasnothinggoes
wrongwiththeservoslater.Thensurgeryandpatchingis
required.
Thewiresruninsidethewingtothecabanestruts,and
thenoutaprecutslot,anddownthecabanestrut,through
themiddlewing,andintothefuselage.Iʹmhopingtobe
abletodisguisethewirewiththecabanestrutssothat
theyareunnoticeable.Thetopandmiddlewingforma
completeunitoncetheairplaneisdone,sothereisno
needtohavethewiresflappingloosebetweenthetwo
wings.
FokkerDr.146.7”1/6ScalePage19
Copyright©2007‐11M.K.BengtsonAllRightsReservedRev07/11
COVERING
Coveringhasstarted.Ilovecovering,callmecrazy.Iʹm
usingPolyspanattachedwithStix‐It.Afewcoatsof
nitratedopetoseal,andthencolourdopeforthefinal
finish.
Thelowerwingsarecoveredandhaveonecoatofnitrate
dopeonthem.Thesawtoothplyleadingedgeshouldlook
greatwhenthewingsarecoveredandpainted.Andhey,
thewingtipscameoutwithminimalwrinkles!
Ihavestartedcoveringthefuselage.Iwasworriedabout
this,asthereareafewtrickyareas,namelythearea
betweenthelowerwingrootandthefuselageside.It
actuallycameoutverywell,Ithink.IʹmstartingtothinkI
canmakePolyspandoanything.Justlookatthesexy
curvesithasmoldeditselftoatthefrontofthefuselage,
fromthefirewallbacktothetrailingedgeofthelower
wing.Greatstuff,polyspan.IdonʹtknowhowIeverdid
withoutit!
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