I know it has been briefly aired before but with the costs of things these days and access to specialised tools and experience being limited ,why do we not look at a centralised data base that can be accessed by all involved with projects.
So that if someone needs help with a panel with compound curves and someone has the equipment and expertese to do this for them they can be put in touch with each other.If you ar elooking for certain materials or rivets or special bolts ?.where do you find them ?well in the data base using the contacts and companies used by others.This not only halps the project builders but also helps the companies by giving them more customers.
I went briefly to cockpit fest last weekend.
very pleasing to see the effort being put into cockpits etc by one and all.Just to show not everything is done in museums perhaps a future for small museums and collections farm out your projects to individuals and other enthusiasts.Things cost money machinery and special tools cost money.Its been forumed before why not everyone work together and share around the work on projects that way more will be acheived ,more preserved and at an affordable cost to all.Then there could even be a stock of rotating aircraft and displays for museums and collections around the UK to tap into.
A few thoughts and ideas.
It must be worth the effort guys we will all benifit ?.
Is it worth putting up a thread that list just the companies who have the sort of materials we all need .Or do that bit of odd ball machining we need or that bit of one off casting etc ?.
A list of individuals and companies with spare time or capacity that are willing to help with projects or do sub assemblies for them?.I know we are benifiting as we have a numbe rof volunteers for our project and we have already offered our services to another project.
I dont mind throwing my hat into the ring and recommending various companies and suppliers we have used to help with projects.Strictly its not advertising its recomendation .
Is such a thread a problem under the forum regulations ? I dont know perhaps a mod can comment. Thats if anyone else is interested.
Mike E
By: MikeHoulder - 29th June 2011 at 19:00
Lightening Holes Diameters
Sorry, Beermat, the Lanc nose section formers have lightening holes of finished diameter 1 3/8″ (34.93 mm). Much smaller than yours. But I think we both going to have to follow Firebex’s advice.
All the best
Mike
By: Beermat - 29th June 2011 at 17:24
Excellent idea. It’s not all about expensive ‘aviation grade’ materials or components either. There are savings to be made (especially, but not uniquely) by going elsewhere for bits and pieces outside of the aviation world. For example – buy protective tape to put under fabric from Staples, and not a ‘well known aviation stockist’ and it’s less than half the price. I’d go further and suggest that tips like this, as well as guides and ‘how tos’ are also put onto this database.
PS – Mike, can these dished holes be up to 5 inches across? If they can, I am VERY interested as well.
By: Firebex - 27th June 2011 at 10:04
Hi all. First, I’ve never got my hands dirty in my life. And as I am so far away from the action, it is most unlikely that I ever will. I suppose I am a one man drawing office doing my best to help two Lancaster part-replica projects. But I can’t ignore the cost and availability of tools etc.
I had a very quick look at the de Havilland Moth Club Service Register. Apart from one mention of tools for hire which needs to be explored, there doesn’t appear to be anything to fit the needs of the men doing this work. Two of the tools on the agenda at the moment are a die for drawing the stringers and some sort of reamer for making raised rims in the lightening holes of the formers. The issue for the first is cost, for the second finding the right size.
So therefore I would certainly support Firebex’s suggestion.
Best to all
Mike
Dishing lightining holes can be an expensive or a relatively cheap exercise it only involves two pieces of hard wood and a bit of hard wood dowl.I will post some pictures of a simple version in next 24 hours and a DIY how to make it guide.
Mike E
By: MikeHoulder - 23rd June 2011 at 19:16
Sources for tools
Hi all. First, I’ve never got my hands dirty in my life. And as I am so far away from the action, it is most unlikely that I ever will. I suppose I am a one man drawing office doing my best to help two Lancaster part-replica projects. But I can’t ignore the cost and availability of tools etc.
I had a very quick look at the de Havilland Moth Club Service Register. Apart from one mention of tools for hire which needs to be explored, there doesn’t appear to be anything to fit the needs of the men doing this work. Two of the tools on the agenda at the moment are a die for drawing the stringers and some sort of reamer for making raised rims in the lightening holes of the formers. The issue for the first is cost, for the second finding the right size.
So therefore I would certainly support Firebex’s suggestion.
Best to all
Mike
By: Robert Whitton - 23rd June 2011 at 10:12
A lot of people may know of some possible suppliers and sources of information but a list of places to look would in my view be a help. People starting off dont know who supplies what and not everyone is able to visit cockpitfest or the aero jumbles. I wouldn’t consider it advertsing. Why not lists in categories of companies/organisations/individuals that can supply items.
eg.
Category Type
Non Flyable Materials Aluminium sheeting
Organisation
The Aluminium Shop,Travellers Lane, Welum Green, Hatfield, Herts, AL9 7HF
Places like the Moth Club could be included. I didnt know they sold items to non-members!
By: QldSpitty - 22nd June 2011 at 23:55
Great idea!!Know how frustrating it is trying to get contacts.
By: AgCat - 22nd June 2011 at 23:54
A lot of what you have suggested is already available on the web, at sites including the de Havilland Moth Club Service Register, which is available (even to non-members) here:
http://www.dhmothclub.co.uk/msr/
There are 93 categories ranging from AGS Minor Spares to Zinc Chromate, all there by recommendation. I don’t see any sense in reinventing this part of the wheel.
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June 22, 2011 at 10:32 pm