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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0565.PDF
JULY 16, 1910. MODELS. MODEL FRAMEWORK CONSTRUCTION. 626] In answer to Mr. Alfred Allen [476], as to how I make my joints with round dowel sticks, I may say I rarely use them in the round state. What I usually do is, plane them down to the required shape and thickness. My object in using dowel sticks is because in the manufacture they are drawn from the straight grain of the wood; therefore, the breaking strain is about equal all along the length. What is favourable to me, where I live is the heart of the cabinet trade ; consequently, can get almost any kind of wood I may require. My means being rather limited, I employ the most economical methods of obtaining what is required. For instance, the angle pieces, as shown in the accompanying sketch, are made from my spare pieces of metal, such as an old clock-spring after the temper has been taken out of it, or the metal from a coffee or cocoa tin. When building my models I do not study weight so much as strength; if a model works out heavier than estimated, then I increase the motive power. With one of my models (monoplane) I was compelled to use two propellers—one back and front. It may be of interest to some of your readers to know that, at the same time, I solved the problem of neutralising the torque of an elastic motor without the use of gear-wheels. For fastening the angle pieces, I use non-splitting nails, f in., and about as thick as an ordinary domestic pin. As, no doubt, it is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to obtain in small towns what a model-maker may require in the interests of this fascinating science, I am quite willing to purchase and forward anything that it is within my power to obtain to any of your readers, if they cover the necessary expense. Shoreditch. J. H. WILKINS. LIFT IN MODELS. [627] I notice that W. Vale, on page 84, 330 of No. 57 of FLIGHT, inquires whether any models on the market will lift themselves if suspended end on. I do not think so, as the " trade" make their models to be used by those who probably will not take proper and reasonable care of them. Main sticks are of a " good, honest kind," and all parts liable to breakage are strengthened, the result being a heavy model, but one that will fly some distance. My own idea is that both models and their larger brothers are made too heavy by the " trade," and also by lovers of aviation. It seems to me that if a machine is made light the crash when it falls will be less than if it were heavier. A good instance of this is given in Santos-Dumont's flyer. The wing breaks, and the machine comes down quicker than it should—what was the result ? A shock there certainly was, but total damage either of himself or his flyer did not take place. Was not this because his machine weighed only 392 lbs,, and he himself'a light weight? I maintain that lightness does not always imply weakness, as some would have us believe, for I have a small model monoplane —total weight \\ ozs., 8 in. propeller, silk planes—and it lifts itself by propeller-thrust, if held end-on as your correspondent remarks. Now this model is as near unbreakable as it could well be. It has been up trees all night; stones have been thrown at it in the hope of bringing it down—which was, I am pleased to say, sue l/IlGHT cessful—and through it all nothing gave way, and it is still a perfect flyer of 100 yards. To conclude this long letter, a feather, if dropped from the hand, will not damage itself in contact with the ground, because every part of it is flexible. Now, why could we not have a monoplane with all its truss-wires connected to a main lever, so that, in the event .of contact with the ground, the aviator could weaken the whole of the wires in the machine, and therefore make the fall elastic ? With all success to FLIGHT. A. V. HUGHES. [It is a feature of some flyers—the Wright biplane, for instance- that the tie-wires are not absolutely tight, and are not provided with "stretchers." This is in order to enable the machine to "give" under shocks without breaking.—ED.] PAPER MODEL. [628] I have constructed a small model glider of my own design which I hope will be of use to some of your readers. It is made from two pieces of cane, thinned down to ^ in. in thickness and l6£ ins. long. These are bound together by shorter canes of the same thickness, 3£ ins. long, by strong thread. The whole aero- PA1PE.R. til CARTRIDGE PAPER Ifoi i«* plane is covered with cartridge paper. The backbone is a straight piece of cane 15 J ins. long and \ in. in thickness, and is bound to the centre of the mainplane. The small plane is constructed in the same way by canes 4 ins. long by r\, in. in thickness, and joined by canes 2 ins. long. Steventon. A. G. WORTH INGTON. FOLKESTONE MODEL AERO CLUB. [629] Would you kindly enquire through your columns as to wheflier any young men in this district are desirous of forming a model aeroplane club ? We have splendid facilities here for flying models, and also full-size power machines. With a few men with ideas and constructional capabilities, we should have every oppor tunity of coming to the fore amongst clubs. Sincerely hoping to hear from many intending members at the address given. 44, Harvey Street, Folkestone. R. T. SAUNDERS. ELASTIC MOTORS. [630] I should like to know from some of your other readers who have had experience with similar sized models what propellers and weights of elastic have given the most satisfactory results. My model, which is of the Bleriot type, has the following dimensions : — Main planes, 42 ins. by 9 ins. ; tail or elevator, 15 ins. by 6 ins. ; length, 40 ins. over all ; weight, 1 lb. without elastic and propeller. The planes are double surfaced, and built of ash and bamboo. It is mounted on spring forks and rubber-tyred wheels at the front and a spring castor at the back. H. S. MOORHOUSF. MOTOR FOR MODEL. [631] Re letter No. 558, as I am able to quote from results obtained by experiments in model flying by motor, I should advise "A. J. C." not to attempt any clockwork or petrol design, but adhere to simple rubber elastic. Having tried both elastic and petrol with fair success, I found the petrol gaining in weight over the elastic as I increased its power, so determined to stick to rubber for my monoplane. My method, which I succeeded greatly with, consisted of seven lengths of six-strand elastic, and as the first length exhausted its working tension, the second immediately engages, and as that exhausts itself the third becomes engaged, and so on till the seventh is exhausted, and the flight terminates con sequently. My monoplane is 5 ft. in length, 4 ft. span, and weighs, 563
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