Klemm 25

John's has built a 1/2 scale Klemm 25 

The full size was a German sport and training aeroplane that was also used by the Luftwaffe to train pilots before and during the Second World War.

The model has been built as an exact 1/2 scale replica copying all the original construction techniques and using exactly the same materials in the correct scale size. Although most of the structure is covered up now that the model is complete, the fun of researching how the full size was constructed and then developing the skills and tooling to reproduce it at 1/2 scale was part of the challenge of building the model.

Work started concentrating on building the large number of built up ribs for the wings. With almost 30 pairs of ribs to make which are all different sizes due to the semi elliptical plan form of the wing several months time were expended to complete them all.

The main and sub spar webbing is cut to size ready for the construction of the built up spars

Good progress being made on the wing and all the ribs are now assembled on the spars. The next job is to complete all the diagonal ribs in the aolerons before cutting the ailerons free from the wing.

Basic wing construction is now complete and the wings are ready for sheeting.

Work progressing well on the fuselage with the basic framework all done and the top sheeting going on. The centre section of the wing has been fitted and aligned whilst the fuz was jigged on the bench. In the background of pic 2 above behind the Klemm fuselage you can see the other project John is working on, a 1/2 scale Wien glider. Detaills of this build can be found on the Wien page in the glider section of this website.

The fuz taking shape. Notice the substantial strengthening of the firewall and nose area of the model ready to take the motor.

The motor has arrived. It is a Valach 420cc 5 cylinder 4 stroke radial. Can't wait to trial fit it on the front of the model to see what it looks like.

It fits and looks magnificant. Can't wait now to get the model to a stage where we can start it up and hear it running.

Another picture of the Valach motor. Can you have too many pictures of such a fantastic piece of machinery !?

After the excitment of the motor fitting it is time to get on with the finishing details on the model. All the ply skinning has been stained to give it an antique look and the windscreens fitted. The structure in the foreground was the former used to shape the aluminium supports and frame for the screens. The aluminium was annealed to soften it and then hand worked around the former to give the correct shape before bolting it to the model.

 Diatex covering to the wings has now been done and all rib stitching and rib tapes added ready for final finishing. The ply areas have beed stained to match the fuselage and the fabric covered areas await their top coat of sprayed on Silver dope as soon as the weather cooperates.

Alan has been busy building a pair of instrument panels for the model. These instrument s are all made piece by piece either by hand or on his own CNC machine and then all the parts indivitually assembled to create each instrument. They really do bring the model to life.

Assembly of the centre section and tail along with the motor for CG checks. Model was moved out of the workshop into the lounge for this operation to give more space to work around in (Wife was out !!!)

 Taxing out for the first take off

 Up and away with no problems at 1/4 throttle, plenty of power from the motor and the sound is fantastic (see video below)

 Cruising past just to listen to the motor

 High speed dive to test airframe integrity.

 Another pass to listen to the motor

 A safe approach to land.

The First areo tow ,this was completed with no more than 1/3 throttle  

 Many thanks to Steve Spittal for allowing us to use this video, many more interesting aircraft can be found here

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Many Thanks to TBOBORAP1 ( Peter and Deano) for allowing us to us their great video's on our website

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