Building A Replica Aircraft

Part One

Project History

• Obtained a Graham Lee Nieuport 11 project in July 2005

Project History

• Intended to be a retirement project – so was stored.

Project History

• Researching Nieuport 11’s (Ni11) – Seems they were flown by most of the Allies – French, American, Italian and Russian among others.

• Had settled on replicating an Italian 11

Project Shift

• Began to drift away from replicating a Ni11 - The Ni11 had been done many times

- Would be compared to Ted’s (not a good thing for me)

- Wanted something different, preferably US Navy

• So more research First candidate the Curtiss F9C “Sparrowhawk”

Project Shift

• Began a comparison to determine if an Ni11 could be reconfigured to replicate the Sparrowhawk

7/8 scale Ni11 F9C D D

ft ft

Upper Span 21.6 22.3 0.7 8.5 inches

Lower Span 20.2 20.3 0.1 1.7 inches

Chord Upper 3.6 4.1 0.5 5.8 inches

Chord Lower 2.0 2.9 0.9 11.0 inches

Wing Gap 3.3 3.3 (0.1) (0.6) inches

Wing Area 114 150.4 36.4 36.4 sq ft

Elevator Span 8.2 8.1 (0.1) (1.3) inches

Length cowl to Tail 16.5 16.6 0.1 1.0 inches

Height * 6.6 8.0 1.4 17.0 inches

Prop 6.0 7.4 1.4 17.3 inches

Project Shift

• While the general dimensions compared favorable. Certain design characteristics defied a ready solution – notably the complex landing gear and to some extent the “Gull Wing” center section.

• More Research

• Second candidate the Boeing F4B

Project Shift

• Another comparison was made to determine if the Ni11 could be reconfigured to replicate the F4B

7/8 scale Ni11 @. 87.5% F4B-2 @ 80% D

ft ft Actual Ni11

Upper Span 21.6 22.5 75% 0.9 ft

Lower Span 20.2 20.3 77% 0.1 ft

Chord Upper 3.6 3.8 75% 0.2 ft

Chord Lower 2.0 2.8 75% 0.8 ft

Wing Gap 3.3 3.7 75% 0.3 ft

Wing Area 114 140.6 26.6 sq ft

Elevator Span 8.2 9.1 75% 0.9 ft

Length cowl to

Tail 16.5 16.8 84% 0.3 ft

Height * 6.6 6.6 73% 0.0 ft

Prop 6.0 6.0 66% (0.0) ft

What is an F4B ?

• In Navy nomenclature the 4th Fighter Design from Boeing accepted by the US Navy.

• Boeing built 186 F4B’s in four “marks” between 1928 and 1932.

• Boeing also built the Aircraft for the Army as the P-12

• The Army bought 366 in six “marks” (B-F) in the same time frame.

F4B’s

• Developed in mid 1928 at company expense as a small light weight fighter for the US Navy.

• The -1 and 2’s had a unique structure as the fuselage was bolted/gusseted aluminum tubing. Wings were all wood (in fact the last of the wooden wing fighters in the Navy).

• The -3’s and 4’s differed in that their fuselages were aluminum monococque construction.

Which Model to chose ?

• The F4B-3 and 4’s had the monococque fuselages (think RV’s). They are out as the fuselage I have is riveted gussets and tubing.

• The -1 had a split landing gear and an open radial engine. The -2 differed in a cowled engine and a straight axel between the gear legs.

• As I am planning on using a flat A-65 – a cowl will be needed to maintain the proper profile and the existing landing gear has a straight axle – the choice became the F4B-2

F4B-2

More Research

• Began gathering as much data as I could. - The Internet (Google searches)

- Drawings Scale drawings Model plans

• Books – Ebay and Barnes and Nobles (Out of Print

books via the Internet)

Objectives

• Utilize as much of the original project as possible.

• All modification must not compromise structural integrity.

• Keep as light as possible – don’t go “overboard” on detailing!

• Maintain the look of the Boeing with out becoming “anal”.

• Have some fun!!

Applying Research

• Drew the Ni11 airframe as designed by G. Lee with the outline of the F4B to see what fit and what didn’t. F4B fuselage required a little stretch in scale to match.

• Ni11 lower wings required an increase in the bottom chord to fit the profile of the F4B.

• Needed to move the Ni11 pilot seat back one bay to fit the F4B.

Additional Modifications

• Change “V” Struts to “N” Struts

• Reconfigure Tail Surfaces

• Add formers and stringers to Fuselage

• Change Tail Wheel Mounting

• Take Sweep out of wings

• Motor mount for A-65

• Move Seat back (15")

Project Progress

Feb 2009 Feb 2012

Project Progress

Project Progress

Project Progress

Project Progress

Project Progress

Project Progress

April 2012