Rudder construction

[geraldmorrissey]

I thought the rudder construction would be a breeze. But the T.E. tube is kicking my butt. I spent almost 4 hours just getting the lower bend in. The tube is easy to bend but the shape is challenging. Perfect project for a rainy day.
Gerry
Patrol #30

[Untainted123]

When your building, you pray for rainy days to get stuff done. When you're flying you pray for sunshine days to fly. The weather is always to blame!

[alaskabearhawk]

Good job keeping after it...those are the things that you'll see when it's all done and you'll be glad you put in the time.

[geraldmorrissey]

Success, my arms are dead. It's funny the things that put a smile on your face. Getting a smooth curve and not a series of straight segments is the hard part.

[U2fletch]

I don’t know, a “digital” versus analog curve could be considered a design choice.

[fairchild1934]

Gerald--- I built a big bending for from two back to back pieces of 3/4 hardwood plywood. Used the router to put a 45 degree bevel on the edge to form a
v groove for the tubing. I think I later refined it to half round to better support the pipe. Bolted it down flat on the table. Then I got a piece of 3/4 inch solid steel shaft about 4 feet long. I has a couple of feet extra tubing- which was fortunate. That allowed me to use the extra hanging over tp slide the rod into and use that for extra leverage. The section the rod was in I cut off later anyway. But the rod really helped in bending the bigger tubes. The form is kind of a french curve- so different sections can be used on different parts of the tubing curve.

[geraldmorrissey]

Finished rudder ready for welding. All detail parts completed Working on the elevators. Should finish the empennage this winter. Learned lots of new skills working with steel tube. It's starting to look like an airplane.
Gerry
Patrol #30