The P.1121 get's it's feet wet

[Rick Lowe]

That pe tool fret looked interesting, so I checked out their website.

10 Euros for the fret, fair enough.
45 Euros postage to NZ - NFW No, Thanks; I'll use the tools I already have.

Interesting though, and the 2-5mm measurement tool would be useful.
Ah well, that's what these old, tired, semi-calibrated eyes are for.

Making good progress there, Alistair.

[Gondor]

Modelling-wise, not much is happening as I am trying to make a couple of round holes square 

It's slow work as there is not much depth in the square tube so I only get to draw the file a few millimetres in either direction in or out. All the other holes I need to make will be easier as they all have holes in opposite sides of the tube, so I get to draw the file a lot further and thus get the job done quicker.

I am not just trying to put a square tube in a round hole; I am also measuring up and cutting the other tubes that I plan to use for the rest of the frame.

Gondor

[Rick Lowe]

Might be easier to start with a sharp blade, then even up the cut corners afterwards?

[Gondor]

Might be easier to start with a sharp blade, then even up the cut corners afterwards?

That would be nice, except for the fact that it's brass and not so easily cut with a knife.

[Rick Lowe]

Might be easier to start with a sharp blade, then even up the cut corners afterwards?

That would be nice, except for the fact that it's brass and not so easily cut with a knife.

Oops, good point... 

[Gondor]

Might be easier to start with a sharp blade, then even up the cut corners afterwards?

That would be nice, except for the fact that it's brass and not so easily cut with a knife.

Oops, good point... 

No worries. These parts needed to be brass for structural strength, as the rest of the model is hanging from them.

[Rick Lowe]

Stronger is better, then.

Y'all have fun with that, now... 

[Gondor]

Stronger is better, then.

Y'all have fun with that, now... 

Oh I will 

[Gondor]

So this is as far as I got yesterday



That's a rather larger and messier hole than I intended, which the second section of tube is in.

Today though..





Looks a bit like some kind of ship in the lower picture. Tomorrow I will be cutting the other lengths and cleaning up their ends, Friday or over the weekend, I shall be soldering at least these parts together. Kind of getting scary as I am going to be putting something substantial together for a change.

Gondor

[Captain Canada]

Nice work. I like that deck section !

[Rick Lowe]

The second and subsequent tries usually go better, as by then you've made the mistakes and learned. 

If you're only doing the one, though... 

[Gondor]

The second and subsequent tries usually go better, as by then you've made the mistakes and learned. 

If you're only doing the one, though... 

There are several cross sections that will be higher up the small sections which are only there to act as a joint between the keel and the vertical elements. There will be pictures in a few days to show what I mean.

[Gondor]

That should be all the brass cut, for now, no idea at the moment how I am going to make the hinges for the wings yet.

I had to change the two shorter lengths of brass tube, they were too long.



The old ones are on the left, the new, shorter ones are on the right.  I could not hold the long ones firmly enough to cut them, so I had to cut new ones.



These are the parts for the centre of the frame. Keel at the bottom, small inserts above and above them are sleeves that go over the short sections. The parts to the left and right go through the sleeves, which in turn go through an additional two forward/aft tubes, which are parallel with the wing root.



This is a rough view from the top down, will the keel placed to the right side for the photo, rather than between the two long pieces of tube. The positions are not accurate, all the bits are there to give a general idea of what goes where.

Gondor

[Gondor]

How it started



and how it's going



And this is the good side     

Gondor

[Gondor]

It's been a few days since my last post here, and unfortunately, most of that time has not seen any work done on the build. I am now able to post a set of photos showing my progress.



Three sections of brass tube soldered/braised together to form the keel of the aircraft.



The work is not my best, but it has been quite some time since I picked up a soldering Iron in anger. I also found that I had no braid to remove excess solder, and that the Iron I had was a little weak for the job.





But on the whole, I am happy enough with what I have done.

Next up is to add some of the larger tube on top of the two short sections so that I can fit more smaller section tube at right angles to the keel through them, which is where the fun really starts.

Gondor