Bengtson Company FOKKER EIII User manual
FokkerEIII
Copyright©2007M.K.BengtsonAllRightsReservedRev07/11
FokkerEIII
or
FokkerEIIIEZ1/6Scale
R/CScaleModelInstructions
CONTACTINFORMATION
DesignedbyM.K.Bengtson
PrototypebyBrianAllen
ManufacturedandDistributedby:
BengtsonCompany
www.aerodromerc.com
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Thankyouforbuyingthe1/6th scale AerodromeRC
FokkerEIII
OR
FokkerEIIIEZBuildVersion
NOTE:Thismanualisforboththestandard
AerodromeRCFokkerEIIIandEZBuildversions.The
differencesarenotedabove.Also,Briandeviatedfromthe
designinmanyareasasindicatedinthefollowingmanual
takenfromhisbuildcomments.Themodelcanbebuilt
accordingtotheplanconsiderablysimplerandlighter.
However,forthosedesiringadetailrichmodel,Brianʹs
modificationsareincluded.Eventhoughtheresulting
modelwasheavierthandesignedfor,itstillfliesvery
well.
ModelSpecifications
Scale:1/6th
Wingspan:66ʺ
WingArea:712Sq.inwingarea.
Weight:~48Oz.
PowerSystem:AXI2820DirectDrivebrushlessmotor
Prop:15X6prop
AirfoilType:FlatbottomedfortheEZbuildversion,
Undercamberedforthestandardversion
Channels:R/E/A/T
Covering:BalsaandLitespanorPolyspancovering
Cowl:Builtupbalsaandplywood
Wheels:balsaandplywoodwithNeoprenefoamtires
forthestandardversion,spokewheelsforthestandard
version.Separatemanualforspokewheelsisincluded
withstandardkit.
Features:Self‐aligningwingsforfast,accurateassembly
PrototypeBuilder:BrianAllen
Designer:M.K.Bengtson
FUSELAGE
Idecidedtostartonthefuselage.Thesidesaremadeup
ofalasercutpieceof3/16ʺbalsaanda1/32ʺplydoubler
forthefrontandastickbuiltaftendfrom3/16ʺsquare
balsa.Thefirstthingtodoistogluethedoublerstothe
balsasides(makingsuretomakeonerightandoneleft).
Whenthisisdonethesidesarepinnedtotheplanandthe
aftsectionisbuiltusing3/16ʺbalsaand1/8ʺbalsaforthe
diagonals.
Balsafuselagesideanddoublergluedtogether.Makeone
leftandright!!
Thedesignerincludeslasercutpiecesof3/16ʺbalsaand
1/8ʺbalsatomaketheseparts.Ihadafistfulof3/16ʺsq
balsainmywoodstocksoIusedthose.Ididnothaveany
1/8ʺsquarebalsasoIusedsomescrappiecesof1/8ʺx
3/16ʺbalsaIhadlayingaround.ThereasonIdidnotuse
thelasercutpiecesof3/16ʺand1/8ʺsqbalsaprovidedwas
duetothefactyouneedtoglueseveraltogethertogetthe
properlength.Iwasjustlazyanddecidedtoraidmy
woodstash.
Ibuiltthesecondsidedirectlyontopofthefirsttoinsure
thattheyareidentical.Whencompleted,Isandedboth
sidessmoothandcheckedallthegluejointsandreglued
asnecessary.
Thewingsarebuiltupontwocarbonfiberorfiberglass
1/4ʺodtubes.Ihadsometroublelocatingcarbontubesso
Ipurchasedanumberof1/4ʺ(.248ʺactualOD)fiberglass
tubesfromakiteshop.Thetubesextendpasttherootrib
ofeachpanelandintothefuselage.Thetubesareinserted
intotwo9/32ʹODbrasstubesthatextendfromfuselage
sidetofuselageside.Wherethetubesglueintothe
fuselagesidesthereareplywoodreinforcementrings
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gluedinplaceontheinsideofeachfuselageside.There
aretwoperside.Iinsertedasectionof9/32ʺbrasstube
intoeachholeasaguideandthenslidthereinforcement
ringinplaceandgluedit.
Thefirewallconsistsoftwopiecesof1/8ʺliteplythatare
gluedtogether.ThiswasdoneusingmediumCAwith
carrytakentoinsurethatthetwopartsarelinedup
correctlywitheachother.
Firewallpiecesgluedtogether.
LANDINGGEARMOUNTS
ThelandinggearontheEIIIisaninterestingpuzzleof
parts.Iwouldrecommendstudyingtheplanscarefullyas
ittakesabitofponderingtogetthewholethingfigured
out.Itconsistsonamaingearof1/8ʺmusicwireanda
numberofsupportingpiecesof3/32ʺmusicwire.Timeto
bugmybuddyRonwhohasthebigK&Swirebenderto
getreadyforsomebending.
The3/32ʺwirepartspluginto1/8ʺODbrasstubesthatare
epoxiedinplaceintwoLGmountsonthebottomofthe
fuselage.Thesearemadeupofseveralpiecesof1/8ʺlite
plyandasectionof1/8ʺODbrastube.
Therearmountconsistsofthreepiecesofliteplyandthe
brasstube.Thetwosmallerpiecesaregluedtothelarger
oneseparatedby1/8ʺ(useapieceof1/8ʺmusicwireor
brasstubeasaspacertogetthepieceslocatedproperly).
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Whenthepiecesareglued,the1/8ʺODbrasstubeiscutto
lengthandepoxiedinplace.
Thefrontlandinggearmountismadeupinasimilar
fashionastherearwithaninterestingtwist.Thelower
sectionconsistsofthreepiecesof1/8ʺliteplyandalength
of1/8ʺodbrastube.Itisgluedupinthesamemannerand
thetubeepoxiedinplace.Thetopsideofthismountalso
hasaliteplystructuretoholdthemain1/8ʺmusicwire
gear.Itconsistsofonepieceof1/8ʺliteplythatisgluedto
thetopsideofthefrontmount,twopiecesof1/8ʺsquare
liteplytoformachannelandatoppieceof1/8ʺliteply.
Thetwopiecesof1/8ʺsquareliteplyaregluedtothe
pieceonthetopsideofthemountspacedapart1/8ʺ(usea
pieceofmusicwireorbrasstubeasdescribedpreviously
asaspacer.Thelandinggearwillthenbeepoxiedinplace
andthe1/8ʺliteplycapaddedandthewholeshebangis
thengluedintothefuselage.Ithastobedoneinthisorder
sinceoncethemountisgluedintothefuselageyoucannot
getthegearwireinplace.Ithastobeinplacebeforethe
mountisgluedintothefuselage.
Theriggingwirepylonmountismadefromtwopiecesof
1/8ʺliteplythataregluedtogether.
Aftergluingupthefirewallitistimetogetthefront
sectionofthefuselageassembled.Thefirewalland
formersF3andF4areallthesamewidth.SoIlaidthe
rightfuselagesideonthebenchandgluedthefirewall
assemblyandformerF3inplaceaftercheckingtoseethey
wereperpendicularandsquaretothefuselageside.After
that,thebottomformerF4isgluedinplace.Thisformer
goesfromtherearlandinggearblocktoF3.Oncethese
partsaregluedinplacetheleftsideinplacedonthe
fuselageassembly,checkedeverythingninewaysto
Sundaytomakesureallwasalignedproperlyandglued
itup.
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AfterthetwofuselagesidesaregluedtogetherIadded
some3/8ʺtrianglestocktothefirewall/fuselagesidejoint
toreinforcethisarea.
Therearlandinggearblockassemblyisgluedinplace
next;makingsureitisevenandlevelwithformerF4.3/8ʺ
balsatrianglestockisaddedontheinsidetoreinforcethis
area.
NotethatIhavegluedtheblockinbackwards,thewide
pieceonthebottomshouldbefacingtherear,notthe
front.Thisisnotarealproblem,asIwilljusthaveto
readjustthewirepartsofthelandinggearabit.Watchthe
orientationoftheLGblocksoyoudonotmakethis
mistake.Gottapayattentionandstopwatchingthe
HistoryChannelwhileIbuild!!
Trianglestocktoreinforcethisarea.
ThetwoformersF2andthelaminatedplypylonsupport
arenextgluedinplaceonthetopsideofthefuselagein
theirrespectivenotches.
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Ihaveplacedtheplansheetwiththetopviewonthe
buildingboardandpinnedthefuselagedowntoit.The
nextstepistocutallthe3/16ʺsqcrosspiecesandglue
themandformersF6andF7inplace.
WhilesortingthroughthesheetsoflasercutpartsInoted
thatIhadasecondF4.Afterwonderingforashortwhile
whythereweretwoofthemIlookedattheplansandsaw
thatthesecondonegetsinstalledonthetopofthe
fuselage.Alwayspaystolookcloselyattheplans.Ihave
thusgluedthesecondF4inplaceonthetopofthe
fuselage.
Thebackendofthefuselageisthenputtogetherusing
sectionsof3/16ʺsqbalsastickscuttolength.Iused
severalT‐squarestolocatethesidesproperlyoverthetop
viewoftheplansandtoinsurethatthesideswere
perpendiculartothebuildingboard.Afterthe3/16ʺsq
sticksareinplace,formersF6andF7aregluedinplace.
F6isgluedonthebottomsideofthefuselagewhilethe
twoF7ʹsaregluedonthetopandbottomside.
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FormerF6gluedinplaceonbottomrearoffuselage.
TwoformersF7gluedinplaceatendoffuselagerear.
UponcompletionofthefuselagerearareaIdecideditwas
atadbitwhippy.Iinstalledsomediagonalsonthetop
andbottomsidesusingapieceofsoft1/8ʺx3/16ʺbalsato
helpstiffenuptherearofthefuselage.Veryeffective.
IforgottoinstallthetwoF10piecespreviously.Theyare
gluedinplaceatthetailonthesidesofthefuselageand
servetostiffenupthebackend.
Wingconstructiontime.Thedesignconsistsofanumber
of3/32ʺbalsaribsandalitplyrootribwithtwo1/4ʺ
carbonfiberorfiberglasstubesasthesparsanda3/8ʺ
diameterhardwooddowelorcarbontubeastheleading
edge.Ihadtroublefindinganyreasonablypricedcarbon
fibertubessoIusedsome1/4ʺfiberglasstubesthatIgot
fromaKiteShopcalled“IntotheWind”.Theyhaveaweb
siteandIorderedthemrightoffthesite.Theyareactually
.248ʺODbutthatiscloseenough.
Thetrainingedgeismadefromtwopiecesoflasercut
3/16ʺbalsathathavealongscarfjointthatrequiregluing.
Ipinnedalongmetalstraightedgetotheboardtokeepit
frommovingandthenpinnedthetrailingedgepiecesup
againstthestraightedgetoinsurethattheywerestraight,
thenglued.Ithenpositionedthestraightedgealongthe
trailingedgepositionontheplansandpinnedthetrailing
edgeinplace.
Afterremovingthewingribsfromthesheetsandsanding
offthesmallholdtabs,youthreadthemontothetwo
spars.Thenstartingwiththemostoutboardrib,theribs
arelocatedinposition,checkedforverticalwithasmall
triangleandthengluedtothetrailingedgeandthespars
usingthinCA.ThethinCAseemstoholdwelltothe
fiberglassspars.OncetheribisgluedinplaceIthen
pinnedeveryotherribtotheboardtokeepthewhole
shebangfrommoving.Eachribispulledawayfromthe
stackandlocatedandgluedinplace.Makesurethatthe
properribsarelocatedattherootendofthepanel;oneis
slightlysmallertoaccommodatethesheeting.Checkthe
ribnumberscarefully.Itisimportantthattheliteplyroot
ribbeaccuratelylocatedinplacebothperpendicularto
thetrailingedgeandtheboardtoinsurethatthepanel
willmateproperlytothefuselage.
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Afteralltheribsaregluedinplacetheleadingedgeis
added.Iusedapieceof3/8ʺhardwooddowel,asIwas
unabletofindany3/8ʺcarbontubethatdidnotcostand
armandaleg.At$.75eachthehardwooddowelsarea
buy.
Thedowelfitsintoalasercutroundnotchonthefrontof
eachribanditisgluedinplace.RibR0isaddedatthe
rootribalongwithgussetR8andtheleadingedgeis
sandedtomatchthecontourofR0.
Oncetheleadingedgeisgluedinplacethesubribsare
installedandgluedinplace.
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Thewingtipismadefromthreelaminationsof1/16ʺ
balsa.Theyaregluedtogetherandthewingtipisgluedin
place.Whengluingthefrontofthetiptothelastwingrib
Iusedasmallshillofabout3/32ʺto1/8ʺthickatthevery
frontofthewingtip.Thissetsthefrontofthewingtipat
justaboutthecenterlineofthewingleadingedgedowel,
whichIthinklooksbetter.Therearwingsparneedstobe
notchedatthelastwingribtoallowittodroptocontact
thewingtipeasily.Iusedafinetoothedsawtocuta
notchintothetubeatthelastribandthenbentitdown
andglueditinplaceintothenotchinthewingtip.
WhenthetipisgluedintheplacepiecesR2andR5are
thengluedinplace.Thetipisthensandedroundonits
edgeandthelastwingribandtheleadingedgedowelare
sandedandblendedintothewingpanel.
Thewingpanelsareheldagainstthefuselagesidebytwo
8‐32boltsandaccompanyingblindnutsinthewingpanel
rootribs.Thesewereinstallednextalthoughtheyshould
havebeeninstalledpriortothestartofthewing
construction.Ijustforgottodoit.Therearelasercutholes
intherootribsandeachfuselagesidefortheboltsand
blindnuts.
Dependingonwhosebrandofblindnutsyouareusing
the1/8ʺliteplyrootribmaybetoothintoallow
installationoftheblindnut.Ihadtoaddtwospacers
madefromscrapsof1/8ʺliteplytomakeupthethickness
oftheblindnut.Theseweregluedinplaceontherootrib
andtheblindnutholesredrilled.Theblindnutswere
theninstalledandheldinplacewithsomemediumCA.
Oncetheblindnutsareinstalledthewingpanelissheeted
onthetopsidebetweentherootribandthefirstfullrib
using1/16ʺbalsa.
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Eachpanelhaseightwingwireriggingpointsthatare
madefromsomelasercut1/8ʺliteply.Therearefourlong
piecesthataregluedinplaceovertherearspar(twoon
topandtwoonthebottom)andfourshortpiecesthatare
gluedinplaceoverthefrontspar(twoontopandtwoon
thebottom).Thesearetheattachmentpointsfortheflying
andlandingwires.
Ididsomeworkonthewingpanelsandfuselagecarry
throughs.Thefiberglasstubesthatareusedforthewing
sparsexittherootrib.Theyneedtobetrimmedsothey
canfirintothebrasstubesinthefuselagethatlocatethe
wings.Thefiberglasstubesaretrimmedtoalengthof
about2ʺto21/2ʺfromthefaceoftherootrib.
Thefuselagehastwo9/32ʺbrasstubesthatareinstalled
fromsidetoside.Thefiberglasstubesthatexittoewing
panelrootribsslidintothesebrasstubesandthepanels
areretainedbytwo8‐32bolts.
Thetubesaremeasuredandcuttolengthandtheinside
ofeachtubeendisdeburredusinga#11Exacto.Thetubes
arethenslidintothelasercutholesineachfuselageside
(andthewashershapedreinforcements)andaresecurely
epoxiedinplace.Whendry,thepanelsarethenslidinto
thetubesandtheretainingscrewsdraweverythingup
tightandsnug.
Ihavenotyetepoxiedthetubesinplace.Iwillleavethem
looseuntilIcancheckalltheanglesanddanglesandthe
incidenceofeachpanel.ByleavingthemlooseuntilthenI
canmakeanyfineadjustmentsneeded.Asthingsarenow
theylookgoodfromthegitgo.
MyflyingbuddyRonhasbentupalthewirepartsforthe
mainlandinggear.AK&Swirebendercomesinreal
handyhere.SowithpartsinhandIdecidedtogetstarted
onthelandinggear.
Themaingearisepoxiedintothemainlandinggear
block,whichisthenepoxiedintothefuselage.Thefront
pieceL2slipsintothebrasstubethatisalreadygluedinto
themaingearblockandheldinwithabitofepoxy.
Youmusttrailfiteverythingfirsttomakesurethat
everythingfitsproperlyandinthecorrectlocation.One
thingtonoteisthatthetwopiecesof1/8ʺsqliteplyonthe
topofthelandinggearblockthatformthechannelforthe
1/8ʺmusicwiregearareactually3mmthick,whichisa
tadlessthanthe1/8ʺthicknessofthemusicwire.Asa
resultthetoppieceF12thatcapsoffthegearholddown
willnotlayflatonthe1/8ʺsqpieces.Youneedtoglued
somepiecesofscrap1/32ʺbalsatothetopofeach1/8ʺsq
pieceandthensandthendowntothecorrectthicknessso
thepieceF12laysflat.
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Whenready,sandalltheendsofthepieceL2andthe
maingearwirethanwillbegluedtoremovealloiletc.
Mixupsome30‐minuteepoxyandsquirtsomeintothe
endsofthebrasstubeinthelandinggearblock.Insertthe
endsofL2andthenfillthemainslotwithepoxy,addthe
gearandthenaddsomegluetothe1/8ʺsqpiecesandadd
F12.Clamptightly.
Addgluetotheslotsinthefuselageandplacethegear
block/wireassemblyinplace.Themaingearwireslants
forwardslightly.Accordingtheplantheaxlesshouldbe
roughlyinlinewiththefrontedgeofthelandinggear
block(thewidebasepiece)soImovedthegearwire
forwarduntilitwasinthecorrectpositionbyeyeball.The
wirepieceL2slantsforwardofthemaingearwireby
about1/8ʺatitspointapex.Iclampedapieceof1/8ʺthick
sprucetothemaingearwireusingclothespinsandthen
clampedthewireL2tothespruce.
Letdrythoroughlyandwhendry,removealltheclamps
andaddsometrianglestocktothegearblockinsidethe
fuselagetoreinforcethisarea.
WiththemaingearandforwardL2pieceinplace,itwas
timetogetserious.IhadtorebendtheL4piecesfromnew
wire,astheonesmybuddyRonbentupformeweretoo
short.ThisisduetothefactthatIgluedtherearlanding
gearplateinbackwardssotherearL2piecewasoffbya
bit.Nobigdeal.InfactIwouldrecommendnotbending
thetwoL4andtheoneL3piecesuntilyougetthemain
gearandforwardL2gluedinplaceandtherearL2
positioned.
IplacedtherearL2intothereartubeonthegearmount
andpositioneditaccordingtotheplans.Itleansforward
slightly;thetopapexshouldbeinlinewiththefrontof
thelandinggearplate.Withthatinplace,IthencuttheL3
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piecetolengthandhelditinplacewithsomefinecopper
wiretokeepitfrommoving.IthenbentupthetwoL4
pieces,positionedthemandtweakedthemasrequired
andheldeverythinginplacewithsomeclothespinstoget
alltheanglesanddanglescorrect.Whensatisfied,theL4
andL3areremovedandtheL2isremovedfromthetube.
Some30‐minuteepoxyismixedupandsquirtedintothe
tubeandtheL2reinstalled.
OncetheL2isinstalledandpositioned,theL3andtwoL4
piecesarepositionedandheldinplacewithfinecopper
wire.Wheneverythingiscorrectlypositioned,thewhole
shebangisthensilversolderedtogetherusingasmall
propanetorchandsilversolder.Whendone,alltheexcess
wireisclippedandthegearisleftsotherearL2cancure.
Whentheepoxyhascured,thesolderjointsarefiledand
cleanedupasneeded.
RUDDER
Idecidedtobuilduptherudder.
Itconsistsofanumberof3/16ʺthicklasercutbalsaparts
thatyouassembleovertheplanswithadroportwoof
thinCA.Therudderisconnectedtothestabpivotbya
pieceofbrasstubingthatisattachedtothestabpivot.
Therearetwopiecesoftubingontherudderthatserveas
guidetubesfortherudderpivottube.Theplancallsfor
thesetobe5/32ʺODwitha1/8ʺodbrasstuberiding
insideofthem.Iusedpiecesof3/16ʺtube(anda5/32ʺ
pivottube),asthe3/16ʺodtubesarethesamediameteras
therudderisthick.Theplancallsforaluminumtubing
here.Iusedasmallpieceofbrassandalargerpieceof
aluminumtubingasIhadthesearound.
Thetwopiecesareseparatedbyabout3/8ʺ,thisiswhere
thepivottubethatisattachedtothestabtuberides.The
smallerdiametertubesridesthroughthetwopieceson
therudderandcapturesthetubeonthestabpivotto
provideabearingsurface.
Thisisabitdifficulttodescribebutisapparentifyou
studytheplans
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ELEVATOR
Thehorizontalstab(fullflyingstab)isbuiltinasimilar
mannertotherudder.Itconsistsofanumberoflasercut
3/16ʺbalsapartsthatareassembledovertheplanwith
thinCAaspertherudder.
Thestabsareattachedtoalengthof3/16ʺbrasstubethat
iscarriedbythestabpivottubebearingtubes(7/32ʺOD
brasstube)thatareepoxiedandthreadwrappedtotheaft
endofthefuselage.The3/16ʺtubeandthebearingtubes
willbeaddedlaterwhenitistimetogeteverythingsetup
andalltheangles,danglesandincidencesarechecked.
Fornow,Icutthepieceof3/16ʺbrasstubetolengthand
usedittohelplocatethepartssothefitagainstthetubeis
tight.
COWL
Timetostartonthecowl.Itconsistsoftwo1/8ʺliteply
formers(oneatthefrontandoneattherearthatmounts
againstthefirewall),sixpiecesoflasercut3/16ʺbalsafor
thefrontofthecowltoallowpropershapingandthree
spacersthataremadeupfromthreepieceseachof1/4ʺsq
balsa.Thecowliscoveredwithtwopiecesoflasercut
1/32ʺply.
Ifirstcutthebalsaspacerpiecesandgluedthemup.I
thenpinnedthecowlpieceC1totheboardandinserted
thespacersloosely.Iusedthreebuildersquarestoinsure
thatthecowlpiecesC1andC2wereinalignmentandI
thenpressedthemtogetheragainstthespacers.These
wereglued;theassemblypoppedofftheboardandthe
plycowlskinsadded.Apieceofscrap1/4ʺbalsawas
gluedtothetopcenterofthecowltosupportthecowl
skinsbuttjoint.
ThenextstepistoglueupthebalsafrontcowlpiecesC3,
attachedthemtothefrontofthecowlandsandtothe
propershape.
Thecowlisheldtothefirewallbytwoboltsandblind
nuts.Lasercutholesareprovidedforthesepiecesanda
quickcheckoftheholesshowseverythinglinesupwell.
Igluedupthepiecestomakethefrontofthecowl.These
consistofsixpiecesoflasercut1/4ʺbalsathataregluedto
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thefrontofcowlpieceC2toformthefrontofthecowl.
Whenthisisdone,thefrontedgeisroundedoverfairly
severelytogetthepropershape.Ihavenotyetstartedto
roundoverthecowlfront.
Thecowlisattachedtothefirewallusingtwo4‐40screws
andblindnuts.Theholesinthefirewallarethecorrect
diameterforthe4‐40blindnutssothereareinstalledthere
andgluedinplace.Iusedtwo4‐40x3/8ʺlongsockethead
capscrewstoholdthecowlinplace.Ifyoulookinthe
photo,youcanseeoneofthecapscrews.
AILERONS
ThefullsizeEIIIusedwingwarpingforrollcontrol.Since
thisisasemiscalemodelandriggingupafunctional
wingwarpingsystemwouldbeabitofajob,this
particularbirdwasdesignedwithfullspanstripailerons.
Whenhingedfromthetopandthehingegapcovered
theyshouldnotbetoonoticeableanditallowstheplane
toretainthescaledihedralinsteadofthe5degreesorso
perpanelthatarudder/elevatordesignwouldrequire.
TheplancallsforaHitecHS‐55ineachpaneltodrivethe
aileronineachwing.IhadacoupleofHS‐81ʹslaying
aroundlookingforanapplicationsoIdecidedtouse
them.AstheHS‐81ʹsareabitbiggerImovedtheservo
locationbackawayfromtheTEabitmoretoallowthe
servotofiteasilywithinthewingstructure.
Twolasercutservohatchesfrom1/32ʺplyareprovidedin
thekit.AsIhaveanastyhabitofbreakingthese,Imade
twonewonesfrom1/16ʺply.Ilocatedthebackendofthe
hatch5ʺfromthetrailingedgeandgluedinapieceof
1/16ʺx3/8ʺbalsaflushwiththeribbottom.Thiswillform
partofthehatchholddownandalsogivethecovering
somethingtograbonto.Ithenplacedthehatchcoverin
placeandgluedanotherpieceof1/16ʺx3/8ʺbalsaatthe
otherendflushwiththeribbottom.
Ithengluedapieceof1/16ʺx3/8ʺbalsatothebackendof
thehatchcovertoformatongue.Thiswillslipintoaslot
attheback3/8ʺbalsapiecetoretainthehatchcover.The
frontendgetsheldinplacewithsome2‐56screwsand
blindnuts.
Icutapieceof1/8ʺliteply9/16ʺwideandgluedittothe
insidefaceoftheforward3/8ʺbalsapieceallowingabout
3/8ʺorsotoextendintotheservoarea.Thisformsthe
piecethattheblindnutswillattachto.Ithenlaidthe
hatchcoverinplaceandatthetrailingedgeendIglueda
pieceof1/8ʺsqspruceontopofthebalsatongue(glueto
theribsonly).Thisformstheslotthatthetongueslips
into.Ithendrilledtwoholesabout3/16ʺinfromthe
forwardedgeandabout1/4ʺinfromthesidesthroughthe
servohatchcoverandtheunderlying1/8ʺliteplyplate.
Thesearethelocatedfortheholddownscrews.Ithen
enlargedtheholesintheliteplyplateandinstalled2‐56
blindnuts.Thehatchcovercannowhavetherearend
tongueslippedintotheslotandthehatchhelddownby
thetwo2‐56screws.
Theservoisheldinplacebytwopiecesof3/8ʺsq
basswoodeachabout5/16ʺlong.Theservolocationis
marked,thetwobaspiecesgluedinplaceandsome
trianglestockaddedtohelpreinforcethepieces.The
mountingholesarethendrilledandtheservoisscrewed
inplaceusingthe2‐56servomountingscrewsthatMicro
fastenerssells.Thesearethe2‐56SocketHeadscrewswith
theintegralwasher.Thesearegreatitemsbytheby.
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Withbothservomounts/hatchcoversmadeupthenext
stepistomakeupandhingetheailerons.
Thedesigncallsfortheuseofstandard1/4ʺx1ʺaileron
stockandtotophingetheaileronstomasktheir
appearanceoneachwingpanel.
Idecidedtousemystandardcenterhingedaileronsand
madethemup.Iusedtwopiecesofstandardtapered
aileronstockandsevenlargeCAtypehingesperaileron
Thehingesarespacedineveryotherribbay(wellsortof)
andslotsarecutusinganXactoknifeontheaileronstock
andtrailingedgecenterlines.Whendone,thehingesare
slippedinplaceandtheaileronisassembledtothewing
panelandcheckedforalignment.Whenacceptable,thetip
endoftheaileronistrimmedandsandedtofollowthe
contourofthetip.
Ahornwillbeaddedandapushrodfromtheservotothe
hornneedstobemadeup.
Asofthispoint,asidefromsomefinalsandingand
shaping,eachpaneliscompletedandreadyforcovering
.
OneofthemostdistinctivefeaturesoftheFokkerEIto
EIVseriesofmonoplanefightersisthedistinctivecheek
fairingoneithersideofthefuselageThesewerethereto
helpfairinthecowltothefuselageduetothediameterof
therotaryengineusedontheseplanes.
Thedesigncallsforcarvingtheseoutofsomeblueorpink
foam.AsIamabitconcernedabouttheshortnoseand
longtailontheEIII(andjustabouteveryotherWWI
aircraft)Idecidedtomakemycheekfairingsoutofsome
balsablocksIhadhandy.Figuredabitmoreweightinthe
nosewouldnʹthurtthebalanceissue(althoughIwillstate
thatthedesignisverylightintheaftfuselageandtail,just
theoveralllengthversusthenoseissolong).
Icutupandgluedupsomepiecesofblocktomakeone
largeenough.Ithenplaceditonthefuselageandtraced
theoutlineofthecowlonthefrontfaceoftheblock.Ithen
brokeouttheBowieknifeandstartedhackingaway.Once
IgotrealcloseItackgluedtheblockinplaceandfinished
thecontourwithsome80‐gritsandpaperonasanding
block.
OncetheblockwasshapedtomatchthecowlcontourI
poppeditoffandtracedthesideshapeonitandcutitout
onthebandsaw.Backagainwiththeknifeand80‐grit
sandpaperuntilIhadafinishedcheekfairing.Tookabout
anhourbetweenworkandwatchingtheHistoryChannel.
Thedesignhasthewingrootcutbackatananglefromthe
leadingedgebackaboutaninchorsotolayagainstthe
cheekfairing.IfounditdifficulttogetthisanglerightsoI
justfilledinthecutbacksectionofthewingleadingedge
withasmallblockandsandedittomatchthewing
contour.Ithencutaslotinthecheekfairingoftheproper
shapetoallowthewingtoslideintoplace.Looksgood.
FokkerEIIIPage15
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Haveonecheekfairingcompleteandamcarvingawayat
thesecond.
ThecowlontheEIIIhasaverypronouncedradiusonthe
front.Thedesignhasthree1/4ʺbalsasheetsglued
together,whichthengetcarvedandsandedtoshape.As
carvingandsandingaresomeofmyleastfavoritethings
todoIhaveputoffdoingthis.Ifinallyattackedthefront
ofthecowlwithacarvingbladeandlotsofstripsof80
gritpaper.AftercreatingamountainofdustIhaveacowl
thatlookslikeitshould.
DUMMYMOTOR
IalsostartedtoworkonthedummyOberurselRotary
Engine.Thisisanimportantpieceoftheairplaneasitis
usedtomount(andhide)theAXIoutrunnerthatwill
powertheplane.
Thedesignissimilartoothersthisdesigneruses.It
consistsofanumberoflasercutbalsaandplyringsglued
togethertoformthecrankcase.TheAXIoutrunnerboltsto
thefrontplyringsandthewholeshebanggetsboltedthe
airplanesfirewall.Thedummycylindersareconstructed
ofacoupleoflasercutbalsadiskswithsomecardstock
wrappedaroundthem.Coolingfinsaresimulatedby
heavythreadthatisgluedon.
Thefabricationoftheenginestartswithlaminatingthe
twofront1/16ʺplypiecestogether.A1/8ʺliteplypiece
thengetsgluedtotheinsidefaceofthefrontply
lamination.ThemountingholesfortheAXIoutrunner
needtobedrilledoutto3mmdiameter(about.120ʺ)so
thiswasdoneatthistime.
TheAXIoutrunneralsohasalargeCcliponthefrontface
thatholdstheshaftinplace.Thecenterholeintheply
mountingplateneedstobeenlargedtoclearthis;
otherwisethemotorwillnotlayflushagainstthemount.
InmycaseIgluedsmallpiecesofscrap1/16ʺplaceonthe
mountingfaceoftheinside1/16ʺplypieceateach
mountingscrewlocationtospacethemotorawayfrom
theplymountingplate.Ithenredrilledthemounting
screwholesthroughthesestandoffs.TheAXOoutrunner
nowmountsagainstthemountingplatewithno
interferenceproblem.
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Thecrankcasestackconsistsoftwosections,thefrontof3
piecesof1/4ʺbalsa,therearof5piecesof1/4ʺbalsa.Iused
acoupleofpiecesof5/32ʺbrasstubeintwoofthethree
mountingboltholesasguidesinordertogetthepiecesto
lineupproperly.Whenthe5rearsectionpiecesareglued
together,a1/8ʺliteplypieceisgluedtothefacethatwill
beagainstthefirewall.Thetwosectionsarejoined
togetherusingapieceoflasercut1/8ʺbalsaasaseparator.
This1/8ʺbalsapiecehasnotchesinittoserveaslocater
pinsforthedummycylinders.The1/8ʺbalsapiecedoes
nothavetheenginemountingboltholescutinit(have
advisedthedesigner)soafterIgluedittooneofthe
sectionsIdrilledtheholesinit.Eachdummycylinderis
builtonapieceof1/8ʺdoweltoserveasanindexingpin
andtoreinforcethegluejointtothecrankcase.Moreon
thatlater.Oncethebalsasectionsaregluedtogether
(againusingthebrasstubingguidepins)thefrontply
pieceisgluedinplaceandthecrankcaseissanded
smooth.
WhenmountingtheAXIoutrunnerinthecrankcaseyou
willneedtocarveareliefpassageinthecrankcaseto
allowthemotorwirestopassfreelybacktotherearofthe
mountwithoutrubbingagainsttherotatingcan.This
needstobedone.Anoptionwouldbetoreversemount
theAXIusingtheAXImountingkit.Thiswouldalleviate
thewireroutingproblembutwouldrequiresomemodsto
thefrontplymountingplateduetothesizeoftheprop
adapterthatisusedinthiscase.
BATTERYCOMPARTMENT
Ihavespentsometimeworkingonthebottom
battery/equipmentaccesshatchandthebatterymounton
theEIII.
Thebatterymountconsistsoftwopiecesof1/4ʺsquare
balsaabout7ʺlonggluedtoeachsideofthefuselage.I
thengluedfourpiecesof3/16ʺby3/8ʺbalsafromsideto
sideasthebatterytraysupports.Thetrayconsistsofa
pieceof1/8ʺx3ʺbalsaabout7ʺlonggluedtothe
crosspieces.
Thebatterieswillbeheldinplacewithhookandloop
fastenersonthetrayandbatteryandacoupleofhookand
loopstrapsthatwraparoundthebatteryandthetray.
Nextstepistoworkonthebattery/equipmentaccess
hatch.Thehatchconsistsofapieceof1/32ʺlasercutply.
Thedesigncallsforittolayonthebottomedgesofthe
fuselagesideandthelandinggearblocks.Idecidedto
recessitflushwiththebottom.Eitherwayworksfine,
yourstochoose.
FokkerEIIIPage17
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Ifirstgluedsome1/8ʺsquarebalsarailsalltheway
aroundthehatchopening.Thesearerecessed1/32ʺto
allowthehatchtositflushwiththebottomofthe
fuselage.AsIplantousesome1/16ʺthickx1/4ʺODrare
earthmagnets,Ineedtoaddsupportpiecesforthe
magnets.Imadethesefrom1/16ʺbalsaandaddedtwo
trianglesattherearcornersofthehatchopening.Ithen
usedapieceofsharpened1/4ʺbrasstubingtocutthe
holesforthemagnetsinthebalsapieces.
Itrimmedthehatchtofittheopeningandpositionedit
place.Ithenmarkedthelocationofthesupportrailsand
thebalsamagnetpiecesontheinsidesurfaceofthehatch.
Ithengluedsome1/16ʺbalsapiecesontheinsidehatch
faceandthenrelocateditandusedtheholesinthe
fuselagepiecestomarktheholelocationsonthehatch
balsapieces.Ithenusedthe1/4ʺbrasstubetocutthe
magnetholesinthehatchbalsapieces.
Ithenusedsomescrappiecesof1/32ʺplyandmadesome
backuppiecesforthebalsamagnetpiecesinthefuselage.
Thesearegluedonthebacksideofthebalsapiecesand
providesomeadditionalgluingsupportforthemagnets.
Ithengluedthemagnetsinplacemakingsuretheywere
properlyorientated.
Thefrontholddownissimplyapieceof1/8ʺsquare
sprucegluedtothefrontofthehatchandthenapieceof
1/32ʺplyisgluedtoformatab.Thisslipsunderthefront
pieceof1/8ʺsquarebalsathatisgluedtothefuselage.
SERVOS
ThetailsurfacesareallpullpullcablesoIdecidedtouse
threestandardsizeFutabaS‐148servos,oneforeach
elevatorandonefortherudder.Theywillbeinstalledaft
ofthebatterytrayandareaccessiblefromthecockpit.
Ifirstgluedsomepiecesof1/4ʺsqbalsatothesidesofthe
fuselagetosupporttheservomounts.Thesearespacedup
fromthebottomofthefuselageinordertoplacethe
servosinafairlylevellinewiththecontrolsurfaces.
Imadetheservomountsfromsomestripsof1/8ʺaircraft
plywoodwithsomepiecesof1/16ʺaircraftplyglued
underneathwheretheservoscrewsgotogivethescrews
abitmoremeattobiteinto.Themountswerethenplaced
onthebalsasiderails,spacedproperlyandgluedinplace
withabitoftrianglestockreinforcementatthesiderails.
Thenextstepistoaddthepullpullcableguidetubesat
therearofthefuselage.Therearetwoforeachsurface.
Theguidetubesfortherudderexitthetopofthefuselage
about2ʺbackfromtheend.Iaddedsomepiecesof1/16ʺ
balsaonthetopsideofthefuselagetosupporttheguide
FokkerEIIIPage18
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tubes.Theguidetubesarelengthsof1/32ʺIDplastic
tubing.
Theyarecuttolengthandgluedintothebalsasupports
andthencutflushwiththebalsasupportsandsanded
smooth.ThebalsaguidetubesupportareatadflimsysoI
addedapieceofscrap1/8ʺx1/4ʺbalsaunderthebalsa
guidetubesupportpiecestostiffenthingsup.Theendsin
thefuselagearesupportedbyapieceof1/8ʺx1/4ʺbalsa
gluedacrossthefuselage.
Inordertogettheproperlocationandspacingonthe
guidetubesatthisarea,Iinstalledtherudderservoand
ranlengthsofspiderwirethruthetubestotheservoarm.
Iwasabletothengetthecorrectgeometryandspacingof
theguidetubes.Ithenlocatedtheholesonthesupport
piece,drilledtheholesusingabitheldinmyhandand
gluedthetubesinplace.
Theelevatorguidetubesaredoneinasimilarmanner.I
madeonechangeherefromtheoriginaldesign.Onthe
fullsizeEIIItheelevatorcablehornsarelocatedineach
elevatorhalfashortdistanceinfromtheinboardedge.
Thedesignhastheminstalledonthejoinertubeatthe
backendofthefuselage.Theoriginaldesigniseasier
howeverIdecidedtogowiththemorescalelocation.This
willrequiremetomakeacoupleofslightmodstothe
hornsandjoinerandsupporttubeassemblybutthereis
norealbigdifference.
Inanycase,theelevatorcablesexitthefuselageonthetop
andbottomforwardoftheruddercableexits.AsbeforeI
addedsome1/16ʺbalsaguidetubesupports,installedthe
guidetubesandaddedtheinternalfuselageguidetube
supportsasoutlinedfortherudder.Majordifferencehere
isthattherudderguidetubesupportbracewentfrom
sidetosidewhiletheelevatorguidetubesupportbraces
areverticaltopreventinterferencebetweenthesupport
piecesandthecables.
TAILSKID
Idecidedtostartmakingupthetailskid.Itismadeupof
threepiecesof1/8ʺlasercutliteplythatareglued
togetherandsandedsmooth.Thefrontedgethengetsa
pieceof1/16ʺmusicwiregluedtothefrontedgetostiffen
theskidandmakeitabitmorewearresistant.Ihavenot
addedthemusicwirereinforcementyet.
Itisimportantthatthetailskidbegluedupaccuratelyand
stronglyasitisusedtosupporttherudderhingetube
lateron.
Oncethetailskidisgluedupitisreinforcedonitsleading
edgewithapieceof1/16ʺorsomusicwiretostrengthen
theskidandtoprovideawearsurface.Thewireisbentto
followthecontouroftheleadingedgeoftheskidand
thenitisepoxiedinplace.
HATCH
Thebottomfrontsectionofthefuselagebetweenthe
forwardLGmountandthefirewalliscoveredwitha
pieceoflasercut1/32ʺaircraftply.Thedesigncallsfor
thistobeahatchbutafterlookingthingsoverIdecided
thatitwasnotnecessaryduetothelargecockpitopening
andthelargehatchonthebottomofthefuselagebetween
theforwardandrearlandinggearwires.SoIdecidedto
gluetheplyinplacepermanently.Itcouldbemadeintoa
hatcheasilyifyoudecideitisneeded.
AftergluingthebottompieceinplaceIaddedthetop
fuselagedecking.Itisalsomadefromapieceoflasercut
FokkerEIIIPage19
Copyright©2007M.K.BengtsonAllRightsReservedRev07/11
1/32ʺaircraftplyanditisgluedinplacetothefirewall
andthethreetopsidefuselageformers.Ithastwooval
slotscutinit;thesearefortheriggingwirepylonwhich
willbeinstalledlater.
TAILSKIDMOUNT
Thenextstepwastobendupthetailskidbracepieces.
Thesearemadeupofsomepiecesof1/16ʺmusicwireand
areattachedtothefuselagebygluingthemintotheshort
sectionofbrasstubingthatwereplacedintherear
fuselagelongeronsawhileback.
Thetwowirepiecesarethenattachedtothetailskidand
theskidisepoxiedsecurelytothefuselagebottomviaa
slotcutintothetailskidmount.Somecareisneededhere
asthetailskidmountalsoservesasanattachmentpoint
forthelowerendoftherudderpost.Sothingsmustbeall
aligneduptomakesuretheruddercomesoutsquare
withthefuselage.
Themainrudderpostsupportisgluedandwrappedto
thehorizontalstabilizersupporttube.Ihavenotyetmade
thesepiecesup.Ihavecoveredtheelevatorsandrudder
withsomePolyspanandwillprobablycleardopethem
andpaintthembeforeassemblingthetail.Ithinkthiswill
makefinalpaintingoftheplaceabiteasier.Iamstill
contemplatingthis.
Inanyevent,Ihavebentupthetailskidbracewiresand
locatedthemintheappropriatesectionsofbrasstube.
Somefiddlingandrebendingwasneededtogetthe
anglesanddanglesright.Thedesigncallsforthewires
andthelowerrudderpostsupporttubetobewrappedin
Kevlarthreadandgluedtothetailskid.Idecidedtowire
wrapthetwopiecesofwiretogetherwheretheymeetand
silversolderthemtogetherforabitmorestrength.Ithen
filedthenotchonthetailskidfortheruddersupporttube
abitlargersothetailskidwireswouldbeabletorestina
notchontheskid.
COVERING
Ihavecoveredthetailfeathersandtherearfuselagewith
Polyspan.Thefrontofthefuselage(whichismetalonthe
fullsizebird)willbecoveredwithChromeUltracoteand
thenIwillattempttoswirlpatternit.
This manual suits for next models
1
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