Dr-1 Lite

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Charlie's eplanes

Dr-1 Lite

You may click on any picture to view a larger image.

The plan is to build a Fokker Dr-1 like model from a Pico Stick FD and the wings from 2 Lite Sticks (LS). This picture shows 2 views of a real Dr-1 and a Pico Stick FD for reference.

Photos at right show experimental Spandau machine gun for the Dr-1:
I made this from foam, a soda straw, round toothpics, wire insulation and pieces from a LS parts tree. I glued prints made from photos of a real gun to the foam and straw. It's not as impressive as I'd hoped since I got a lot of dots from the printer. I may try printing in photo mode on photo paper. I need to make the cartridges smaller too, but I think it's a good concept.
The gun is 3" long, 0.6g.

Proposed placement of batteries in Dr-1 Lite to get CG forward.

A tool for cutting scallops in the wing was made from the proper diameter spray can cap with a double edged razor blade taped around it. It makes the job extremely quick and easy compared to wrapping sandpaper around a shape and sanding them in as suggested in some kit instructions.

Right top wing showing how aileron was cut from one Lite Stick wing panel.

Proposed cowl was made by layering paper towels inside the one cup measure. I applied 2 coats of carnauba car wax to the inside of the cup as a release agent. There are three layers of towel which was soaked with a 1:1 mix of wood glue and water. I read of this technique in the book "Rubber Powered Model Airplanes" by Don Ross. He attributed the suggestion to Jim Kaman.
My cowl weighs 9.0 grams. The stock LS-FC cowl weighs 5.4 grams. Mine still needs filling, smoothing and painting, but there will be a significant amount removed. Not too bad.

Close-up of gun.

Picture of Dr-1 and photo of Lite Stick fuselage. The LS fuselage is upside down. I believe using it this way will better match the contours of the real Dr-1.

The two photos above show the middle wing placed on the fuselage. It was cut down to 76.5cm. span and 12.0cm. chord from a standard LS wing. It was shortened by cutting at the roots and chord was reduced by cutting off the trailing edge. The tips were rounded to the Dr-1 shape leaving some of the original dished shape for strength. Scallops were recut with the tool shown in the left column.

Tail feathers were cut from the extra LS pieces. Due to cuts and folding creases in the pieces there was some joining and strengthening done with epoxy. Elevator halves were were joined by a LS wing stick so that only one pair of control horns would be necessary.