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Dyke Delta and steel tubing

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Starman

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 16, 2009
Messages
2,011
Location
High in the Andes Mountains
I'm now doing research on steel tube construction :) It's for a low AR plane, and Dan suggested using construction methods that were used in the Dyke Delta and I think that's a good idea.

I looked online and saw there was one builders log with photos, but the pictures of details of the steel tubing weren't there, there were just a few of pictures of the tubing frame, and no closeups.

If anyone here knows of a place with good pictures of the details of construction please let me know. I read that someone who is trying to join the yahoo group hasn't been let in, a common yahoo forum thing, and there appears to be no plans for sale either.

My first interest is how they make and attach the ribs to the structure. From what I saw it looks like they could be made out of rectangular steel tubes.

I prefer the idea of using square or rectangular steel tubes for the main frames because I don't like the idea of making all the end cuts needed for round tubes, not to mention the problem of making the end cut AND getting the length just right.

Any info on the delta ribs is much appreciated. Also any sites that show and talk about details of steel tube fabrication too.

I have a oxy-propane (cheaper and safer than oxy-acetylene) torch so I guess I can teach myself to gas weld, I use it for cutting steel plate and bending steel bars now. I've done a lot of heliarc in the past but don't have a heliarc welder now. I guess I could get one, and preferably it would be one with a control pedal instead of scratch start.
 

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