Posted by David
Yes, that's right, you heard (read actually! ) correctly! I started off as a model builder nearly 30 years ago (1984) and built a scale model of a Sopwith one and a half strutter. It is a stand off scale model (1:8 scale) and flies like a dog but it looks absolutely magnificent in the air! On a VERY calm day it flies quite well but as soon as it gets a hint of a current, thermal or breath of wind it can be almost uncontrollable. Given that comparison of the model to photographs of Sopwith strutters revealed just how "stand off" it really is, I became interested in the structure, colours and markings applicable to the original aeroplanes. Later that year I started building quite an accurate (in appearance) SE5a model. I very quickly realised that it too was stand off scale, at least in my opinion, and I scrapped it and started again early in 1985 from memory. The resulting model is probably the most accurate model built at that time, although the standard has improved enormously since then. I had an advanced case of AMS before I knew what AMS was! (AAMS??? ) In 1985 I also saw a DH9 fuselage at the Phillips Skyfest here in Canberra. I talked to the guys who were there to show it to the public. It turned out that it is an original DH9 and that it was in the process of being restored. Many of the restorers also worked on the Pfalz D.XII restoration in the late 1960's and early 1970's. I joined the restoration team in 1986 and learned a lot about the DH9 and WW1 aeroplane structures during the next few years. I also gained a feeling for what it would be like to build a full sized replica. In 1987 a drunk driver crashed through the shed and broke the fuselage into three large pieces, and absolutely shattered some components. It was a huge mess but we rebuilt it and now you would never know that it was so badly damaged at one time. As a 19 year old - from memory it was a couple of years until we were ready to rebuild the fuselage - I convinced the much older and more experienced restoration team members to rebuild the fuselage authentically. One of the ideas put forward was to make small cuts on the inside of the longerons, which although common joinery practice was not authentic, and is considerably weaker than the original construction method. Although this DH9 will never fly again I managed to convince the team leader that the original method of steaming the rear longerons in order to bend them was far more appropriate. It was not difficult, although it did take quite some time to saturate the timber - which I believe to have been of a far inferior quality to the original - to the point where it would bend easily. I tried to ensure that we used as much of the original longeron fragments as possible, but I was not as successful in this case. The lower longerons were completely replaced and the upper longerons were spliced into the original longerons just forward of the leading edge of the tailplane.
Since this experience I started to measure propellers, pieces of aeroplanes etc and collect aeroplane drawings when I could find them. I now have drawings for about 13 or 14 different types of aeroplanes, and am currently investigating the production of replica engines. I am not a qualified engineer, so I could be wrong but my estimate is that a typical aeroplane engine would cost approximately $190,000. During discussions with a world renowned WW1 aeroplane engine builder this ballpark figure was confirmed. I can see why most replica builders choose to use a modern alternative engine. Still, I have always wanted to build replicas and if I don't start now I never will! It's a lot of work and it's important to start at a reasonable age, so that I'm not test flying a type when I'm 90!
A few years ago I started to get stress related migraines, and as therapy I helped a friend of mine to build an airfield. As you said, no paved runways! I think the plan is to pave one of them but he is going to leave the other one as a grass strip. If and when I buy some land it will be an airfield as opposed to an airstrip, and it will definitely not be paved! It will be dead flat, as most if not all WW1 airfields were and I would like to construct some buildings if possible to make it really look the part. That's all dreaming at this stage, since I am starting to realise not only how time consuming but how expensive it is to build replicas to original specifications. Another potential stumbling block is the issue of licences to build the engines. It seems that if the company still exists it is necessary to purchase a licence to build the engine from the company. Perhaps this only applies if their engine drawings are used, I am not sure. I don't think, for example that there would be a problem building a replica Oberursal U.R.II but most of my research has been on various Albatros models, so this could be a problem. I will have to try to find out, or try to find an original engine, although there aren't many available and I would prefer to see all original engines in museums or private collections, not flying where they will eventually wear out and might be destroyed in a crash.
Regards,
David.
