January 2, 2008
CAD progress continues slowly due to holiday’s. Continued analysis of original float design reveals later improvements required by field experiences. Of particular interest are the shock load transfer struts and their angular orientation. Will incorporate this basic skeletal structure into the final design. SPA participation has confirmed validity of retaining original external dimensions and plan form.
Decision to join SPA extremely productive since Seaplane Design, (Nelson 1934), is a particularly useful reference and was acquired as a result. Individual contributors have prompted me to include an acknowledgments page for significant idea and technical contributions.
I have found the published Experimental Category accident data to be lacking in its presentation. Intuitively aware of human element statistics but, wish to better analyze physical / aeronautical phenomena for the purposes of this project.
January 13, 2008 January 19, 2008 Found myself once again struggling with the old issues of authenticity -vs- practicality. Issue now manifested by the visual presentation of the 3d CAD renderings for the main float assemblies. Realize now that I am equally interested in the research and building of this aircraft as I am in operating it. Also now acutely aware how if done with a better focus on authenticity, this aircraft would in fact become,..."living art" and equally so a piece of "living history." With that in mind, I have now changed the focus of the project in favor of authentic reproduction with the appropriate compromises in the interest of aeronautical safety.
Completed stern profile changes pre and post machine # 8163 (1915). Unsure as to reasoning behind this change. Suspect most probable explanation is durability for shipboard winch and deck handling as prior profile likely more fragile for impacts. However, cannot completely rule out hydrodynamic takeoff (unstick) issues. Will attempt to confirm via secondary sources.
January 23, 2008
Have completed main float as originally drawn. Precious little material at this point to attempt tail float at this time. Will continue now with wing structures while remaining confident that tail float issues will be resolved in time.
February 3, 2008
Additionally, it would appear that the original rib coordinates interpolate in a curve that is far from fair. Will now have to draw sections of the Pup and 1 1/2 Strutter for comparison.
February 20, 2008
Airfoil issues resolved, satisfied now with well faired section. Trailing edge tubing section A&P 121 (Accles and Pollock) no longer manufactured despite continued existence of parent company. Two options are presented, attempt manufacture or off the shelf trailing edge solution.
Have noted missing detail drawings for center section / wing panel spar to spar hardware. However, Sopwith Pup drawings are complete in this regard and both aircraft utilized nearly identical spar sections. Likely then, to utilize these in the Baby if originals not found.
April 2, 2008
Slow down in CAD progress due to more pressing matters. Acquired Redfern Nieuport and DH-2 plan-sets for comparison purposes. Nieuport replica uses a clever airframe of square tubing and wire bracing which when covered, closely mimics the original with substantially reduced cost of materials and complexity of fittings. Again conflicted with the issues of authenticity -vs- practicality.
Inner voice speaking loudly of "durability of design" with regard to float / airframe materials and construction. Have noted that wartime examples were often "deleted" after a few short months of service. It is likely then preferable to continue with original track of modern internal float structures and a steel tube design. Will continue CAD work with original specifications and careful evaluation of the options presented.
May 14, 2008
Approaching completion of CAD work for wing wooden structures. Hardware and fittings drawings present a confusing array of choices at this juncture. Some are plainly designed for the wing warping version of the Schneider which are marked canceled and referencing drawings I do not possess. I am hopeful that careful consideration of the well documented Pup and Strutter should fill in the gaps.
Still continue to be conflicted regarding airframe material selection. Major considerations are maintenance of dimensional stability of a wire and turnbuckles wood truss -vs- the potential for insidious internal corrosion of a 4130 frame in a salt water environment. Unlikely and unreasonable to expect to stay out of salt water considering operational destinations presented in the home state of Florida.
After much consternation over missing spar root detail, I have modeled the Pup detail in it's place. In consultation with other builders and in becoming more familiar with the Sopwith company design evolution, I am confident in this extrapolation for the Baby. Have located a possible source for missing original drawing detail and actively attempting to acquire same.
Fuselage material selection in favor of original wired frame. Ironically, the deciding factor is ease of manufacture within my two location build and assembly scheme. The original design lends itself to this quite nicely in that it would be in effect, a full size model aircraft.
Considering the careful manner in which this aircraft would be stored, set-up, and operated, dimensional instability fears of the original design may not prove to be a viable concern. Environmental corrosion control would now be external and accessible.
August 1, 2008
Now have in possession sufficient material to complete the aircraft as original excepting the engine and float internals by choice. Of particular interest are the spar root and center section - to - wing panel transitions. Also now able to reproduce the four point fuselage separation scheme for shipboard storage as also utilized by the 2F1 Naval version of the Camel.
Designer commissioned for the main float redesign predicts a weight savings over original with the use of lighter scantlings and hidden Kevlar layer. Externally indistinguishable from the original but a clever marriage of WWI and Space Age technologies. This should hopefully nullify historically documented float weaknesses.
CAD work proceeds slowly mostly due to previously missing details. Continued contractor delays for major home renovation further delaying access to physical work space and thus commencement.
October 18, 2008
Worldwide financial crisis and diminishing personal portfolio briefly having caused me to take pause and consider downsizing the project to 7/8 scale, while utilizing the 1968 Replica Plans SE5a as a model. After a period of intense introspection, I have determined that all of my reasons for this project as originally conceived remain valid, and will therefore continue as planned.
Continue to be delayed by home construction project, which thankfully has recently accelerated. Expect to accelerate CAD work and start wing ribs upon completion sometime after the first of the new year.
