TailskidMay be you have noticed in the last updates some little holes in the side panels. Here are the intake pipes missing. They have a special shape, so I failed to bend them using brass and copper tubes, even with using heat.
A friend gave me some leftover gold-plated electronic parts a long time ago with the words "As a model builder, you might be able to use them someday."
Someday was now and below the gold was brass. After the modification I tinned them.
The holes in the panels are now big enough and the intakes have used color by chemical browned.
I wanted to mount the aluminium parts, but the work on the tail is easier with the model on the nose so the tail skid first.
Aviatik used some special construction covered with thin wood, as shown on rcuniverse.com.
I made this as wooden block from a piece of cherry wood, but my first try was to flat (the left one), so a second try. The skid are two layers of veneer, with additional two layers on the end.
Again some metal work. The rod is 0.6mm nickel silver, a tinned brass piece, an U-shape made form 0.1mm nickel silver (PE fret leftover by CSM) and a 0.33mm rod through the skid.
Theoretically it could steer, but I use the rod for secure mounting and glue it into a hole of the fuselage.
Dry fitting.
After some wood primer I put some small drops and strips of masking fluid and painted the wood dark gray. Masking removed to show a bit of wood - artistic freedom
The size of the kit resin part is not bad ...
.. it is much to flat, as shown here.
My skid is glued in place.
I'm very happy with the outcome. After I saw some pictures and plans of Aviatik planes and a high-res picture of the 30.40 I had to do it.
Now I need to add the suspension. This have to hold the fuselage as the skid rotates under load now.
Cheers,
Frank
