Blown Engine...

What a misadventure this has been.  I trimmed some bits of wound guitar string to use as the valve springs on the engine.  I had strings that were 1.1mm and 0.92mm.  I used the larger first but they were too big and very tough to grind down to size with the dremel (several were sent flying off to feed the carpet monster).   After three trys I gave up and went to the smaller size.  This looks better and I was able to mostly grind them down to size without too many flying away.  (This time it only took two trys.)  I did do some damage to the cylinder head as well but it is all repairable.


Here are a couple shots.  The second has the rocker arm dry fit.  I think a little more grinding is required then I will have to repaint everything.  Another method I have read about is to make my own wrapped wire by covering a 24 gauge (0.5mm) core with a 30 gauge (0.25mm) wire.  By using something softer like my NiChrome or Copper it should be much easier to get to size.  Also I can mount it with a 0.5mm hole instead of filling the cylinder head with 1mm holes that weaken the structure.

On a lighter note; here are some final shots of my Nieuport 17 all dirtied up.




Here are some shots of the weathering.


Here she is in her final display above my son's bed.  I figure a dozen more planes and their ceiling will be full >grin< but by that time some of these early attempts may very well 'disapear'.