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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0018.PDF
If LIGHT) CORRESPONDENCE. %* The name and address oj the writer (not necessarily for Publication) MUST in all cases accompany letters intended for insertion, or containing queries. NOTICE.—Correspondents asking questions relating to articles which they have read in FLIGHT, would much facilitate our work of reference by kindly indicating the volume and page in their letters. FRAMEWORK FOR MODELS. [257] I notice that in your issue of December 18th, your correspondent, Mr. L. Mortelmans, of Harringay, inquires as to where he can obtain materials for making the framework of a model monoplane. I am sure he will find that the following can supply him with what he requires :— The Model Aero Accessories Co., Ltd., 64A, London Road, Greenwich; or C. Lucas, "Hobbies" Dep6t, 116, Dale Street, Liverpool. Wishing FLIGHT every success, Chelsea, S.W. A. TR1DON. 258] In reply to L. Mortelmans' inquiry for wood for model- making, we supply square wood in all lengths, from I in. square down to faxh in. square ; also round cane in all sizes, from TVh in. ^square upwards. 26, Clarges Street, Piccadilly, W. COCHRANE AND CO. [259] In answer to L. Mortelmans' inquiry as to framework for models, I may state that C Lucas, 116, Dale Street, Liverpool, supplies birchwood sticks | in. by §• in. and fa in. by £ in. in 3 ft. lengths at id. per length. Last week he supplied me with a quantity, and I find them very satisfactory. Jermyn Street, W. ' NEMO. [zoo] I see that one of your correspondents wants to know •where he can obtain wood for the framework of a model monoplane. The following are useful sizes supplied by the Melton Aeroplane Co., of 38, Nottingham Street, Melton Mowbray :— Boxwood slips, planed two sides: -fa in. square by 3 ft. 3 ins., 3\d. each ; §- in. square by 3 ft. 3 ins., -$\d. each. I use these as ribs. Hickory sticks, planed true : \ in. by fa in., •£* in. by fa in., £ in. by i in., \ in. by fa in., T\ in. by f in., f in. by \ in. Price 1 a?, a foot. Silver spruce : fa in. by f in. by 5 ft. 6 in., J in. by \ in. by 4ft., \ in. by \ in. by 4 ft. Price 2d. a foot. Melton Mowbray. A. BOTTOM. [261] With regard to timber for models, I should like to recom mend Messrs. Fentum, Phillips and Co., of Guildford Electrical Works, Guildford, who supply wood fa in. by \ in. at 6d. per dozen lengths of 2 ft. each, and American lime for making planes fa in. thick 4c?. per sq. ft. Wishing your paper every success. St. James' Place, S.W. C. EVERETT. TIMBER. [262] I notice in your issue of December nth that Miss Lilian E. Bland, of Belfast, in a most interesting letter on the subject of wood-built gliders, states that ash is better than spruce for spars. Now the experience of all naval architects who have had anything to do with racing yachts is exactly the contrary, as all racing spars, at any rate up to 50 ft. or so, are now made of silver spruce, as being the stiffest and toughest wood for its weight and strength. No doubt ash would be best for runners. Of course, we always use hollow spars for the smaller craft, and in very small boats piano-wire rigging has been in use for years. It may interest you to learn that a hollow silver-spruce spar, 2 in. diameter in centre, 1^ in. at one end and 1 in. at the other end, proved to be about 20 per cent, stiffer than a bamboo of equal length (12 ft.) and diameter. It was also over 10 per cent, lighter. Strand, W.C. LINTON HOPE. [Our correspondent is the well-known naval architect, who is much interested in the comparative problems provided by the racing yacht and the aeroplane.—ED.] [263] With regard to Mr. Bath's letter, ash v. spruce, which is very interesting, he overlooks, I think, the fact that deal is con siderably heavier than either ash or spruce, and also that the advantage of ash is its springiness ; a stiff wood would be much more diable to snap off under sudden strain than one that will give and JANUARY I, 1910. bend a certain amount. I don't profess to be an expect on wood, but the majority of aeroplane firms use ash for main spars, and sometimes hickory for the ribs. The Wrights, and I think also Curtiss, use Oregon spruce, which is also extensively used at Woolwich Arsenal. With regard to " dead" knots in spruce, one has, of course, to choose timber free from knots of this description ; there are so many different kinds of spruce that I have to take the word of my carpenter for what I am using. I could not get " Oregon," so the ribs are made of " sugar pine " ; this has no knots, it steams well to its curve, and is apparently strong ; my main spars are of ash. The Farman machine at Blackpool was also made of ash, the stanchions are all chosen with the grain running vertical, which is what, I suppose, Mr. Bath means by putting "the 'root' end at the bottom." Bending Bamboo.—Can any of your readers tell me how to bend bamboo to a curve. Should dry heat or steam be used ? Belfast. LILIAN E. BLAND. INCH TO THE FOOT SCALE MODEL. [264] • • I am sending you a photograph of an aeroplane one inch to the foot scale, of my own design, the main dimensions being as follows : Span, 30 in. ; aspect ratio, 6. The planes are made of white holly, steamed and planed to the required shape. Two side hand-wheels operate the rear planes, and a single wheel seen in front of the seat works the vertical rudder. Hoping this may interest you, and wishing your paper every success. Twickenham. F. M. RKILLY. FLAPPING-WING MODELS AND SOME ADVICE. [265] May I call your attention to the error made by your corre spondent Wynn re propellers. He states, in No. 50, that the area of 3% ft. diameter is 94 ft. Molesworth says that the area 3 ft. 6 in. diameter is IC99 ft. The base of calculations of your correspondent being wrong, the product must be erroneous. May I suggest to correspondents the advisability of being clear and explicit in their communications, remembering that the bulk of your readers have had little or no mechanical training or education. I have devoted some time to aviation, and I am just completing a full set of drawings of a mechanical flyer. Perhaps it may be of some interest to you to know what is being done in a quiet way. In my mechanical flyer I have the following motions :— First. The wings will flap like the wings of a bird. Second. You will have observed that a bird when ascending has the fore part of the body above the horizontal line, and when descending, below ; consequently, the wings in each case have the same angle. My second motion produces the same effect while the wings are in operation. Third. The bird, when in flight, has the power to expand or spread the feathers when raising the wing to lessen the resistance, and the power to contract or reverse the action in the downward stroke. My third motion will produce the same or like effect. Fourth. My fourth motion I call an elevator, and when working in conjunction with the wings will cause the machine to rise almost vertically from the place of starting. Leeds. E. RICHARDSON. ELASTIC MOTORS. [266] In a recent issue I see a letter and description of a rubber motor from C. Bellamy, Askern Spa. I have wondered if Mr. Bellamy has tried his motor, or is it a misprint in the drawing, as I cannot sec how he can get any great number of turns out of it. How does he do when the turns on the rubber get to the wide end of his wood frame ? I have an E. Roota machine, which I could not get to fly with the propeller sent by the E. Roota people, but 14
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