Bubbleboy Posted June 30, 2011 Posted June 30, 2011 Hi all....I have a slip indicator I purchased from Aircraft Spruce but it looks too plastic and modern for a 1929 design plane. I have had a look around and cant find anything that "floats my boat". Does anyone know of a supplier where I may get something a little more era appropriate? Had a look on Ebay and Barnstormers already. Regards Scotty
Wayne T Mathews Posted June 30, 2011 Posted June 30, 2011 Hi all....I have a slip indicator I purchased from Aircraft Spruce but it looks too plastic and modern for a 1929 design plane. I have had a look around and cant find anything that "floats my boat". Does anyone know of a supplier where I may get something a little more era appropriate? Had a look on Ebay and Barnstormers already.Regards Scotty Have you looked at Wag Aero, Scott? http://store.wagaero.com/index.php?cPath=15_38 What's the one you've got? Maybe if I bought one of the Wag Aero ones for you, we could swap, 'cause I just need a working one for the back seat panel I'm making. Doesn't really matter what it looks like, so long as it works. Keep the sunny side up, Wayne.
eightyknots Posted June 30, 2011 Posted June 30, 2011 I'm following up a few possible leads here in Enzed, Bubbleboy. If I can locate something, I'll let you know.
Bubbleboy Posted June 30, 2011 Author Posted June 30, 2011 Hi Wayne...will take a photo and email it to you tomorrow. Its a "Winter" brand from Aircraft spruce. Eighty knots...thanks mate look forward to hearing. DJP...nice site, hadnt seen that before! Regards Scotty
old man emu Posted June 30, 2011 Posted June 30, 2011 Scotty, I'll try a shop at Bankstown tomorrow if I go in there. OME
Bubbleboy Posted June 30, 2011 Author Posted June 30, 2011 Scotty,I'll try a shop at Bankstown tomorrow if I go in there. OME Cool and thanks for the CAD tutorial!
old man emu Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 The shop wasn't open, so no luck. I could also try Aviation Salvage out at Caringbah. No sweat about the tutorial. It was fun. I'm going now to look at how to trace a picture onto the workspace. OME
eightyknots Posted July 2, 2011 Posted July 2, 2011 What kind of indicator do you mean, just a slip ball or a british two needle ?
Bubbleboy Posted July 2, 2011 Author Posted July 2, 2011 Have a look at the one Wayne gave the link to above. I like that style. I would like something in brass or metal of some kind that looks antique. Sorry Wayne been working double shifts the last few days so havent had a chance to email a photo of the one I have here. Scotty
eightyknots Posted July 2, 2011 Posted July 2, 2011 OK, I'm still following a lead for youin NZ; I'll keep you posted if the lead turns "hot".
Bubbleboy Posted July 2, 2011 Author Posted July 2, 2011 OK, I'm still following a lead for youin NZ; I'll keep you posted if the lead turns "hot". ...actually just thinking, where do the guys at Omaka get that kind of stuff when they build one of their replicas?
Guest Maj Millard Posted July 2, 2011 Posted July 2, 2011 Bubbleboy, You can actually build one yourself. It's really just a clear tube with a slight upward curve in it. Drop in a ball (with a bit of weight ) and some damping fluid (light oil, whisky ??) and seal both ends. Mark a couple of lines in the middle and mount in whatever you like for the final look.(wood ?) It's really that simple, and I'm sure that's all the old boys did in the past !. It'll work just fine by the way....................................................................................................Maj...
Bubbleboy Posted July 2, 2011 Author Posted July 2, 2011 Bubbleboy, You can actually build one yourself. It's really just a clear tube with a slight upward curve in it. Drop in a ball (with a bit of weight ) and some damping fluid (light oil, whisky ??) and seal both ends. Mark a couple of lines in the middle and mount in whatever you like for the final look.(wood ?) It's really that simple, and I'm sure that's all the old boys did in the past !. It'll work just fine by the way....................................................................................................Maj... Hmmm...now theres a thought...that could be a project.
Guest Maj Millard Posted July 2, 2011 Posted July 2, 2011 BB, I have actually built one or two in the past for various projects, pretty much a case of keep it simple !.....There's one there somewhere on my old biplane panel...............................................Maj...
Bubbleboy Posted July 2, 2011 Author Posted July 2, 2011 BB, I have actually built one or two in the past for various projects, pretty much a case of keep it simple !.....There's one there somewhere on my old biplane panel...............................................Maj...[ATTACH=full]14311[/ATTACH] Does the tube need to be glass or can it be plastic etc? Scotty
Guest Maj Millard Posted July 2, 2011 Posted July 2, 2011 Well glass would be better if you can find a bit with a curve, otherwise clear acrylic from a plastic supplier would do and you could probabily bend it by applying light heat...........................................Maj...
Bubbleboy Posted July 2, 2011 Author Posted July 2, 2011 Well glass would be better if you can find a bit with a curve, otherwise clear acrylic from a plastic supplier would do and you could probabily bend it by applying light heat...........................................Maj... yeah ok...and what did you use to plug each end?
Bryon Posted July 2, 2011 Posted July 2, 2011 Bubbleboy, You can actually build one yourself. It's really just a clear tube with a slight upward curve in it. Drop in a ball (with a bit of weight ) and some damping fluid (light oil, whisky ??) and seal both ends. Mark a couple of lines in the middle and mount in whatever you like for the final look.(wood ?) It's really that simple, and I'm sure that's all the old boys did in the past !. It'll work just fine by the way....................................................................................................Maj... Re the above in red......Sacriledge Shame on you, how could you do such a thing...Hang on I get it now - you have to drink nearly all the contents of the bottle to get to the good stuff at the bottom. Very clever!
Guest Maj Millard Posted July 2, 2011 Posted July 2, 2011 BB, The neon glass people might be able to do a bit of glass tube. I'd probabily use a bit of Sikaflex or silicon sealant suitable for sealing a fishtank to seal the ends.....................................................Good luck..........................................Maj...
kaz3g Posted July 2, 2011 Posted July 2, 2011 Well glass would be better if you can find a bit with a curve, otherwise clear acrylic from a plastic supplier would do and you could probabily bend it by applying light heat...........................................Maj... First get a long length of glass tube - at least 3 feet. I would think about 3/8" OD would be best but make sure you can find a smooth, spherical ball of suitably dense material (such as a SS bearing) that fits fairly neatly inside. Cut off about 8-9" by scoring with a small, fine file and then snapping it at the score. Use a piece of cloth to hold the glass just either side of the score when doing this and face the score away from you when snapping. Wear safety glasses at all times. Improvise a glass-blowing torch by clamping your favourite oxy-acetylene torch with brazing tip fitted into a vice so the flame rises vertically. Adjust the flame to a medium fine heat. Gently and gradually insert the centre of the piece of tube into the flame. Glass is a very poor conductor and you need to heat and cool it slowly to avoid shattering it. Heat out to about 1" either side of the centre. As the glass heats, watch for any change in colour in the flame and developing plasticity. When the glass has softened a little, remove from the flame and introduce a small bend. Repeat until the desired bend has been achieved. If you rush it you will crimp the glass or get too tight a bend with a crimping of the inside and a thinning on the outside diameter. Aneal by cooling slowly at the outside of the flame. Cut the ends so you have the correct length by scoring and snapping as before. Soften the ends slightly by heating in the flame and annealing to remove all sharps. Good luck... it must be 40 years since I last blew glass! kaz PS The extra length of tube is for you to get it right by the third or fourth try
Bubbleboy Posted July 3, 2011 Author Posted July 3, 2011 Scotty apart from all the above, I have this one, which is yours for the asking if it helps (antique enough looking?)[ATTACH=full]14318[/ATTACH] Cheers Dexter Hi Dexter...your a gem! Thank you for the offer. The one I have is very similar to this one. I kind of like the semi circle style like Wayne gave the link to in a previous post. I really appreciate your offer though. I will owe you a ride when shes got air under her wings! Scotty
eightyknots Posted July 3, 2011 Posted July 3, 2011 Bubbleboy, You can actually build one yourself. It's really just a clear tube with a slight upward curve in it. Drop in a ball (with a bit of weight ) and some damping fluid (light oil, whisky ??) and seal both ends. Mark a couple of lines in the middle and mount in whatever you like for the final look.(wood ?) It's really that simple, and I'm sure that's all the old boys did in the past !. It'll work just fine by the way....................................................................................................Maj... Bubbleboy, you had better make it a large diameter, semi-circular tube so that it contains at least one dram of whisky. You never know, it may be required in an emergency one day
facthunter Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 You closet alcoholics should be aware that the alcohol has a purpose far more worthy. It's intended to stop gremlins like mildue growing in the instrument. OK that said, the glass tube can be obtained from suppliers of science (chemistry) equipment. The glass from them is less likely to crack when heated, and bends nicely. You can easily seal one end. Just heat it and rotate the tube slowly and the end will close over. The other end can be closed with a hard rubber stopper. Don't have the ball too close a fit or it won't allow the liquid past it quick enough. The liquid acts as a damper. ( as it does in those beautiful big original compasses in the Tiger Moth), to stop things moving around too quickly. Nev
fly_tornado Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 What ever happened to using the Pietenpol silk scarf as a slip indicator?
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