Aeroplane - Rudder and elevators
with thanks to Richard Pearse, Waitohi, New Zealand, March 31, 1902
The rudder on the tail fin is controlled by the rudder pedals, seen above in the view of the
cockpit. The two are linked together by a drive train that runs down the
fuselage of the aeroplane. The rudder pedals were originally a
spring-loaded self-centring system using push-rods, but I went for the version
seen here to save on space more than anything else. The spring system
used those springs you find in ballpoint pens, they fit perfectly over the LEGO
axles, allowing you to make custom shock absorbers to suit your
building needs! Note in the photo there is a zoom in of the tail wheel.
The elevators are controlled by the joystick. As with the ailerons, the
elevators are attached to the joystick mechanism by a long drive chain. There
are no instructions for the elevators since they are a simple device that just
tilts forwards and backwards on a single axis.
CAD models for the rudder pedals and the tail fin can be downloaded.
I've also got PDFs of multi-step instructions for the rudder pedals and tail fin.
Each instruction step details the parts required.
