Topic: Clives Strutter Build

OK, I have just cracked the mould for the top Scarff ring and it worked!  Never done this before so I'm pleased with my first attempt at this process.

The ring will need a bit of cleaning just to get rid of the small remains of the mould and then the second lower ring can be added followed by a few coats of aluminium wheel paint.

I have noticed that the Strutter in the RAF museum has the ring painted black. All of the B&W photos I have of the aircraft I'm modelling (9739) has the ring in plain aluminium finish so that's what I'm going for.

Here are a couple of shots of the top ring fresh from the mould. In the second shot it looks like the ring is not flat. It is absolutely flat its the cutting mat that's warped .

OK the latest update.

I haven't spent much time on the Strutter as the weather here suddenly decided that we could fly so as I haven't had much opportunity to fly through the summer I went to OW every day I could .

However, normal service seems to have returned with high winds and some rain so I'm back in the workshop.

The next job to do is make the U shaped tabular bar that the gun mounts on. I thought I would be able to bend this up using my hands but that didn't work so I now have some tube in the scrap box .

I used a different approach and made a plywood former to bend the tube around.

Next I blanked of one end of some tube and filled it with fine sand and compacted it, then filled the other end.

Next I annealed the tube and then bent it around the ply former, cleaned it up and emptied the sand out and here's the result. I have also shown it against the moulded scarf ring.

Next I'll start work on the fittings, hinges, pulleys, ratchet arms and bracket to mount the gun to.

Hi all,

Well, it's taken me four weeks! to work out how to make the curved toothed parts for the rear gun mounting! During the four weeks I have tried various materials and methods, including, plastic, wood, brass and finally the one that worked best, mild steel plate. At least I know what to use next time .

I borrowed a small rotary table from a mate and used it on my small mill to cut the curves and drill and mill the "teeth". Each one took me about two days to do (I suspect someone might be along shortly to tell me there is a quicker way but I'm happy with what I've done).

Needless to say, I've learned a lot in the process .

Next I need to Mill the top and bottom of each one, make the base x 2 and the top x 2 then solder them up and paint.

Regards

Clive

Nice work Clive, you taking orders for those 

Steve

Nice work Clive, you taking orders for those 

Steve

Only if I were to want a nervous breakdown!!

Clive

Hi all,

Not a huge amount of progress mainly due to domestic duties taking over! However, I have finally finished the scarf ring quadrants and over the weekend after much thought (I now have brain ache) about how to hold them I have silver soldered them to the bases. I now have to make the tops and solder those in place. Heres what they look like at the moment.

Lovely bit of work, hows the weight building up?

Thanks for the nice comment, re the weight, I'm still on course for 7kg (15lbs) .

Managed to sneak off "things domestic" this afternoon and got the tops to the quadrants made and fitted.

Now all you need is the gun!!
 Look at  Shaun's se5a thread for a superb Lewis build

Alan

I get the feeling my effort will be blown out of the water going on what Clive has built so far 

Time to get back to the build.

 I spent an hour today trawling the WWW looking for the detail for the rear hinges and pulley guides for the scarf ring / gun mount. So far I cant find the detail I need so if anyone out there has some info any help would be gratefully received .

Happy new year to one and all

Regards

Clive

Hi Clive

Some useful stuff here http://www.modellingtimbers.co.uk/35.html

Regards Alan

Thanks for the help Alan, very useful.

An update,

Only part of the materials I am waiting for have arrived so not able to actually make anything today, but I have spent several hours slaving over a hot PC to produce a template at the correct 4.5 scale for the base of the pivot brackets. The template is cut from paper and I'll stick this to two bits of brass plate tac soldered together and cut / mill / file around it and also drill the fixing holes. Hopefully this will happen tomorrow.

Here is a picture of the template.

OK, finally got around to making the two base plates for the hinges on the scarf ring.

Clive

Hi all,

I've spent today bending up, drilling and soldering the blanks that will form the two (one each side) inner part of the hinge on the scarf ring. They are rough blanks and are yet to be shaped. Next up will be to turn up the four pulleys that fit each side of the hinge to take the bungee cord that supports the gun.

OK, a bit more progress. Progress is slow at the moment due to work. 

I have managed to get the hinges shaped and drilled ready to take the pin. I have also made the four very small ! pulleys that guide the support bungee through the hinge. The brass rod in the photos is only there to hold everything in place for the photo but short lengths of this brass will be used to make the pins.

The next job will be to make the other side of the hinge and solder that to the base plate

Clive

Coming on nicely Clive 

Steve

Super detail I wish my patience stretched to that sort of work!

Many thanks for the kind words.

I haven't made much progress. Work is busy now so I have only managed to get a few hours in the workshop in the last few weeks. Still, each piece I make moves me that much closer to the model being finished.

I have made the other part of the hinge. These are still to be tidied up before I solder it all together.

Hi all,

I just wanted to let you know that I am still here and building the Strutter but very very slowly. I will post more pics when I've got something worth while. At the moment I have a lot of other stuff going on (work etc) so the build has slowed due to this but I will get it finished (promise).

Regards

Clive

Ace build Clive 

I am waiting patiently for the next installment, it's builds like yours that give me something to aspire too  (not detracting from your skill and ingenuity it also makes me think I should have a small lathe/mill  )

I look forward to seeing it in the flesh one day 

Muds

Hello Clive,
You are a silver soldering god.  Remarkable attention to detail on the hinges and pivots.
Take care,
Albert

Many thanks for the very kind words chaps. It makes me all the more determined (if that's possible) to get it finished and flown  .

Just another bit of Strutter based inspiration for you all.   

This ones a bit smaller and doesn't fly but boy does it look good!
http://www.greatwaraviation.com/forum/index.php/topic,2135.45.html

Your build is great Clive and almost as slow as mine

Alan

 

Your build is great Clive and almost as slow as mine

Alan

Not that slow Alan 

Not that slow Alan 

No, you're right, no where near that slow! Still a great build Clive

Finally a bit more progress!!!

I managed to get a couple of hours in the workshop today and made the bungee retainers for the Scarff ring.

Hi all, well, as I have had two days off work and the family are away for a week I have used the time in the workshop .

The first thing I did was to mount the elevation mechanism to the Scarff ring. This entailed drilling 10 1.6mm holes through the ring to correspond with the holes on the hinge and ratchet bottom plates. I then fitted the 1.6mm bolts from the underside of the ring so that I could bolt down each structure with 1.6mm nuts.

Not a good picture but here is an example

Next on the agenda was to make and fit the sleeves / pulleys / and pegs for the arms. This took the best part of 5 hours work slaving over a hot lathe .

The last thing I have done in this session was to make the mounting bracket for the gun and solder it in place.

Next on the agenda will be to make the actuating leaver and housing that the observer uses to release and move the Scarff ring.

Oh and just to let you know I have deliberately left the shaft that the gun mounts to over long so I have some material to play with when I finally make the mounting to the gun .

Regards

Clive

This took the best part of 5 hours work slaving over a hot lathe .

Yes but worth every minute!   Lovely stuff as ever Clive.

Alan 

Many thanks Alan

Clive

Clive, this is going to look the dogs bits when it's finished, nice work 

Steve

Many thanks Steve.

Hello Clive,
Your work speaks for it self.  The best.  Anyway enough kissing up to you ... I have a question, I have a brace rail that is a slider for a warbird canopy.  What do recommend for locking the brass rail to the surrounding balsa planking on the side of the fuselage?  Area and rail are flat and the rail is about 3/16 wide brass channel and the balsa is 3/32 sanded down balsa planks.  I am thinking epoxy of a two part 45 minute type.  Reeves says to put cross planking behind to bridge the brass and increase the contact with the epoxy and making is stronger.  Do you think a specific other "glue" or adhesive would be better?  Should I roughen the brass?
take care  and stop setting the bar so high...Ha Ha.
Albert

Hi Albert,

I've e-mailed you with a reply.

Regards

Clive

Hello Clive,
I think you do not have my email.
Take care,
Albert

Here we go, another update.

I spent some time today making and fitting the ring actuation lever. This is the leaver that the gunner / observer pulls to release the Scarff ring to rotate and elevate the gun. I soldered it in place.

Now I think you are becoming a little obsessive    That's looking fantastic