Got it, thanks. Now for the axel design. I have to think that it is a single rigid tube with brake plates for differential braking. Unlike the split axel and splayed out wheels on the original Camel, yours will no doubt act together under load. How is the braking torque on the axels contained , slides in the strut slots ? Steerable tailskid ? This is going to be a lot of fun and I hope that you get some videos when its flyable. Switches
Well, we're working on that. We're going to try an original split axle, with the mechanical drums mounted similar to Champ. Placement is by a slot ( a bit more Nieuport than Camel, but that is what his standard is...). Yes, a steerable heavy duty (and unfortunately HEAVY) Matco steerable tailwheel for hard surface use. We looked at a skid with great desire, but it is simply uncontrollable on a hard surface...and I'm not the greatest pilot there ever was, so we are matching many components to the lowest common denominator...in this case the pilot (me).
Russ- I have seen some pretty realistic looking tailskids with a small wheel captured between the two sides of the skid. Hardly noticeable, but functional. A skid with a metal shoe on the bottom like the originals only works on grass/sod. Taz Terry Phillips
A tailskid without some sort of drag and steering on hard surfaces is inviting a scenario where you could be meeting yourself going in the opposite direction. I have not got the hours that so many of you have but I have tried several old airplane on hard surface runways and by the grace of God I was able to control them. The desire to swap ends is almost over powering and those old crates were designed to be heavy in the tail so the skid dug into the turf to help track and to stop them. After that it was sometimes necessary to power up, forward stick, lift the tail , and waddle around on the front wheels. Great fun. So, I hope that you can work out a steerable wheeled skid so you can avoid an embarrassment at Oshkosh. Brakes are nice too. Switches
I forgot to mention that when we were helping to operate the WW1 stuff at Abottsford a x-wind take off or landing was not an option and every one was into the prevailing wind AND on the grass. Switches
Yes, exactly. These planes are inherently designed for that specific usage. The addition of brakes and a tailwheel help adapt these wonderful early birds to modern environs, but I am told that they are still VERY crosswind sensitive just by nature. Even with steerable tailwheel and brakes, great respect and deference must be given to crosswind components much over 5 - 8 knots. From Rhinebeck and Kingsbury: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3kcpF5DBAo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoBr7KVxMGo
Russ: http://www.aimschool.com/?cat=7 Might be worth dropping an email to them. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Tillman- That is it. I believe they can be set up to have some degree of rotation, too. Was watching the grand prix replay so just got back. Ferrari 1-2, not too bad. Is that you Barrett, or another Tillman? Taz Terry Phillips
Terry, would you be referring to the same Barrett that I know, the one who writes books about Naval Aviation ? I flew around with his dad, Jack, in his N3N several times. There was a placard on the instrument panel that read, " FOREVER VIGILANT OR FOREVER ASLEEP." He was a surviving SBD pilot and a nice guy. SWitches
Just me, an IT guy and flyer wannabe down in Texas. I do have an ISBN or two but not aviation related.
Bob- Yes, Barrett Tillman, the author and big-time WW-I enthusiast. Undoubtedly the same one with whom you flew. We have a different Tillman here. Taz Terry Phillips
Man! I have known Barrett for almost 50 years and he has helped me many times with research for my paintings. Good family. Small world. Bob
Mr. Tillman and I also share a fascination with the SBD - I've bought everything I could find he wrote on it. I love that plane.
Amazing that so many have been touched by Barrett and his writing. My experience with the Tillmans goes back to 1966, I think, when we were doing the Paine Field show and Jack brought the SBD that he restored from an A-24. I looked at that airplane and told him that I felt that I could get into that thing and fly it. It looked that " right" in every respect and he said that with a bit of dual I probably could and that it was a docile airplane and pilot friendly. The airplane is now in the Pensacola museum as I remember. I apologize if I continually return to an earlier day but in 1942 I witnessed an incident that I will always cherish. I was on the beach in front of our cottage on Siesta Key in 1942 when an SBD coming from the north met a P-47 coming from the south. They immediately started to mix it up and I saw the most marvelous dog fight right in front of me there in the bright sun and clear sky. The SBD obviously had the better turning capability and the P-47 had the speed. The Navy pilot never allowed the P-47 to use his advantage and always out turned him. The SBD , after several minutes, went into a vertical dive dive and to my astonishment the tail was beyond the vertical and ahead of the nose. The P-47 followed but as soon as he fell in behind the SBD it turned away from him going straight down. After what I estimate was no more than 10 minutes the fight was over with the SBD turning on the P-47 as it passed him. The sounds were incredible as were the maneuvers of the SBD. This was one of the shows that I was able to see when I was in a front row seat on an island off the coast of Florida during the war. One year later I went into the U.S. Army Air Corps reserve on my 17th birthday.
Believe it or not I was driving home today thinking about the axel design on your airplane and I thought of two concepts. One with a split axel and an arced slide plate at the end and a welded stator that the 7AC brakes would operate on. The trunnion at the center end of the axel would take the torsion from braking and still look like the original Camel. A Bowden type brake cable would work. The other idea was a straight rigid axel with a vertical slide plate at each end and the same set up at the brake end. You have to know that while I was thinking about this stuff I spaced out and ran into an invalid van, bounced off that and into a police car, bounced off that and knocked over a fire hydrant. Here I am sitting alone and thinking up some other designs for your Camel axel. Switches
This brown/green color doesn't photograph well - it's more brown looking. Will be using Bowden brake cable with Aeronca pedals to drum brakes - very simple. I am now on a keep it simple and reliable tear, going over details of the plane to keep it simple and reliable, i.e., reducing parts count drill. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Boy that is looking good. It looks like the under surface is greenish brown? Are you going with a split axel? Switches
These photos are weird. The bottom in a beige linen color. Yes, sir, we are going split axle as on the original. Am trying to fab up the cool tailwheel/skid, but I think we'll start out with the Matco wheel - again remembering the skill limitations of the owner/pilot.
Russ- I assume you know the Yanks flew Camels as well. Elliot White Springs was a Camel ace with the USAS, as were Ken Unger and George Vaughan and the only USN ace flew Camels, as well. Believe their Camels were LeRhone 9Jb (120 hp) powered. Markings are well documented. Why use British markings? Taz Terry Phillips
Russ, I was reading the top picture incorrectly and I can see the beige undersurfaces in the lower photo. Workmanship looks great and we are all anxious to see it all put together. Interesting tubular spars...just like the big RC models. What a fun project ! Switches
Bob- The Spads we flew in WW-I were all French aircraft, too, but all the originals and replicas flying over here have USAS markings. No difference for a Camel. Elliot White Springs or George Vaughn, the 2nd to the last WW-I ace to die, has much more name recognition than a British Camel driver would. Unless it was Brown's Camel, and that has been done. Taz Terry Phillips
Thanks, Terry, for the history input. I,too, realize that our presence in France and England then is relatively unnoticed now. Except for one of my 12 year old nephews who has voraciously read everything he can find on WW1 aces and Civil War history. He knows about all of it and I'm embarrassed to talk with him sometimes. When I was his age I became ill with something and spent my time at home for 6 months. I built a lot of models and had an aerodrome complete with a "canvas" hangar, 6 Spads and a couple of Nieuports, and tailskid dollies for all of them. I wish that I had that now. Switches
