Covering the compound curves of the stringered aft fuselage with doculam is a pain. Having to do it in small sections, very tedious.

Phil, please could you explain the axle set up in a little more detail. I would like to build some suspension in to my build. At present I have a completely rigid set up which is pretty hefty. Considering we are working in the same scale your gear looks a lot lighter. Thanks, Gavin.

looks great mate, i don't know if the Airodrome Abli is the same setup as their Pfalz but if it is and the undercart has a ply type spreader by the time the axle is lashed down to the center of it the outers spring quite nicely with a pit of hat elastic around the ends for looks.

Craig

Trumps, the Aerodrome Albi plans show the uc as all 1/16 music wire with a spreader glued over the fixed axle. I like your Pfalz set up. What I did for mine isn't scale, but should work for a suspended axle without adding much weight.

Originally Posted by Chompwat

Phil, please could you explain the axle set up in a little more detail. I would like to build some suspension in to my build. At present I have a completely rigid set up which is pretty hefty. Considering we are working in the same scale your gear looks a lot lighter. Thanks, Gavin.

Are you building the aerodrome kit? The Aerodrome kit has a uc of 1/16 music wire, and is about as light as can be. I have replaced the 1/16 fixed axle with 1/8 carbon fiber inside an aluminum tube, to have a suspended live axle. this adds about a tenth of an oz. to the build.

The aluminum tube/bushing was replaced once on my Fok DRI. It had to be straightened another time. An aluminum bushing will hold up to normal landing conditions.

My setup isn't scale, it doesn't provide for a spreader. However, these pics indicate that not all Albatros DV's were exactly the same in the uc department

Thanks for the detail Phil, that's really helpful and has given me some ideas. No, my build is an SE5a from plans but is in the same scale. The u/c is 12swg wire with 10 swg axle and weighs a ton. I am looking to save weight and would like to introduce some suspension. I see no reason why your live axle wouldn't work and will undoubtedly steal some of your ideas to try.
The planking looks amazing by the way!

Originally Posted by Chompwat

Thanks for the detail Phil, that's really helpful and has given me some ideas. No, my build is an SE5a from plans but is in the same scale. The u/c is 12swg wire with 10 swg axle and weighs a ton. I am looking to save weight and would like to introduce some suspension. I see no reason why your live axle wouldn't work and will undoubtedly steal some of your ideas to try.
The planking looks amazing by the way!

Thanks, but my method wouldn't work if I was going for the varnished wood look.

The uncovered aft fuselage was flimsy, and difficult to cover without wrinkles. As more of the aft fuse was covered, it became more rigid enabling larger ares to be covered without wrinkles.
The strip where the horizontal fin will be glued was left bare, so the fin will adhere to the frame, not the covering.

Can't do much more until the wings are framed up...

Bottom wing...

Solartex strips are used for the aileron hinges, a drop of ca on either side secures them. Should've done this with the tail surfaces.

Nice work, Phil.

Originally Posted by Chompwat

Phil, please could you explain the axle set up in a little more detail. I would like to build some suspension in to my build. At present I have a completely rigid set up which is pretty hefty. Considering we are working in the same scale your gear looks a lot lighter. Thanks, Gavin.

Heres how the original looked. Live axles save me a good amount of repairs I think

Nice build.

Steve

Finished covering the fuselage.