Dead eyes

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Thanks for the link. I will check it out. Finally got back to building. My hobby had to take a backseat for awhile. Here is the cowl I cut out. I need to smooth the edges and fiberglass the inside to help make it stronger.

Dead eyes

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Finished the horizontal stab this afternoon.

dcnbear

One of the Modelers in our club is getting up in age and he gave me his 1/4 scale Eindecker E1...It looks to be the Model from SR Batteries...It needs a little TLC...What color of Solartex should I purchase...The Model is the color of linen sealed with dope...kinda a tan color...thanks Bob

Dead eyes

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I plan on using Antique white I think.,

dcnbear

It is covered in Solartex Antique. I found it at balsa USA. I rec'd the covering in only two days. Solartex is the easiest covering to apply that I have ever used...Thanks Bob

Dead eyes

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Wow ! Have I been busy ? ! Anyway, I have begun work again on my "Winter Project". I hope to have it ready for some warbird & giant scale rallies by mid summer.

( Leading edge doesn't have the jaggies that the pic shows, its the digital image )

phatbob02

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Looks good Dead Eye!
I just finished the BUSA Eindecker 40. I used a Fiberglass Specialties cowl with aluminum tape. I added a faux leather cockpit, Williams Brothers machine gun and wheels, and the upper wing cable gusset is made of the 1/8" steal I used on the landing gear.
The cables are made of a elastic/plastic material that I found at a craft store. It's use in making beaded jewelry. It's very tough and I couldn't break it.
The plane is covered with Solartex and all the markings are painted on. I also antiqued the prop and added a tail wheel.
With the fiberglass cowl and a brass spinner nut the balance was dead on. The only alteration I had to do was move my battery to the fire wall.
The pilot I made from 1/6 items,(skeleton,leather coat, and helmit), I found on eBay. I have a micro servo installed in the rib cage and his head turns with the rudder.
I'm having problems making a dummy rotary engine for it. It's the last detail for a really nice plane. I will get it done.
I have a Saito 56 in her and I hope to fly her this weekend.

Keep posting your build. I may have to do the 90 size. I like the ribbed tail feathers. I wished I did it on the 40.

Bob

Dead eyes

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Looks great ! I hope mine turns out as good as yours. I have thought about using the tape. Does it stick good to the cowl ? Have you had any problems with fuel getting under it and making it peel ?

phatbob02

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The tape sticks like you can't believe. It's hard to get off if you have to move it. I bought it from SR Batteries. You buy it but the foot and it's 10" wide sheets. You smooth it on with a credit card. That's why I went with the tougher fiberglass cowl. After I did the finish on the tape I dulled the entire plane with Krylon Matte Clear, including the tape.
The plane flies great and is now one of my favorites.

Dead eyes

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Thanks for the info, you did a fantastic job. I am finally getting started on my again.

Alistair

I'm building the Balsa USA 90 Eindecker and it's virtually finished but i'm stuck on the metal sheeting. Tried litho plate and the bulges are a real nightmare (even if I had tried tinning them before sticking on - which I didnt) Tried over here using Mick Reeves metalcoat sticky foil adhesive but it's so thin that it looked like my sandwiches wrapped in tinfoil, I just dont have the knack to put on without wrinkles. Interested in the SR Batteries foil - lookes similar but lot less wrinkly than the metalcoat. How did people find it? Anyone know if i can get it in the uK ? or any other suggestions for the metal cladding/cowl etc ?

phatbob02

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Alistair

I'm sure SR would send you the tape. It's a fairly heavy gage and goes on very easy. It's the first time I ever did anything like this and it came out great. The only problem I had was working it around compound curves. I couldn't get it around my Eindecker 40's cowl nose unless I pieced it. I opted to paint the nose white. I tried a heat gun to soften it but I still couldn't get it to form. The 90 cowl may work better as it's larger and not such a small radius.

Alistair

Many thanks, i've ordered from SR Batteries and going to give it a go !

Dead eyes

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After much thought on my cowl I decided to paint it instead of using the tape. I put a layer of fiberglass inside the cowl to give it extra strength. After I fiberglassed the inside I primed the cowl as the 1st photo shows. The second shows the cowl after I primed it. I used Valspar silver metal paint. I plan on spraying polyurethane later to fuel proof it. The 3rd shows "Snoopy" sitting in the unfinshed cockpit.

Dead eyes

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Photos 2 & 3

Alistair

That looks good, presumably a gloss fuel proof would 'shine' it even more

lrglnman

looking good Steve!!! Cant wait till its done.
James

Dead eyes

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Thanks James, I really hope to fly it at the Farm Fly but its too early to say yet.

Alistair

It's travelling the last mile seems always to take the longest. All the fitting out/painting/bits 'n bobs take so much time[]

Dead eyes

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So true, I love the covering stage though. I am covering it with Coverite cream and couldn't be happier. It is expensive but it is the easiest I have ever used.

Alistair

Ditto on covering, thats my favourite bit too, where the model starts to come alive. I've never used coverite (I used solartex on mine) going to paint it green as per pic of one in a German museum

I went to the Science Museum over here in London last weekend and found they have an original Eindecker III hung on the ceiling (minus covering) one captured by the British in 1916

Dead eyes

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Great picture, I may need to review it when I build my landing gear. Look forward to seeing yours finished. Here is pic of my daughter holding the finished wing of mine.

Alistair

Looking good. Better pics of the full size from the Science Museums own website link below

[link]http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/images/I006/10216200.aspx[/link]

I used the SR batteries tin and it is good stuff, I still messed up particularly on the bulges - as I finished my eindecker I was getting the knack of putting it on but cant afford the cost to get more and re-do a better job.

Hows your cowl coming along ? I think i will have to paint mine (run out of sr tin and I think the cowl would be a real pain)

Dead eyes

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Thanks for the link. My cowl is done. I may clear coat it one more time for extra protection. I want it to actually appear as if it as seen combat so a ding here or there won't kill me.

Here is my latest photos showing where I have prepped the wing for painting and then actually painting the squares where the crosses will go.

Dead eyes

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More photos