Airsail - Dehavilland Chipmunk Kit

Martin,

 

All comments welcome!  I've checked the linkage and it is quite stiff - the elevator does not appear to flex much.  The rod exits the fuselage a little further back than indicated on the plan resulting in the need for a more significant bend than on the plan.  I'll see if I can do something to improve it but unless I open the fuselage up, I suspect there's little I can do!

Hi Richard, looking good, forgive me if I am completely wrong but that prop looks like an electric prop? or is it just the angle? Obviously you mustn't use an electric APC-E prop on an IC it will throw blades, they are not designed to withstand the vibration.

 

Cheers

Danny

 

 

Danny, thanks for asking but it's not an electric prop!   I suspect I may change it for a Master Airscrew one before I'm finished as am am getting fed up with the fragility of APC ones on my trainer.   I may also have got the size wrong at 13x8.

 

Following Martins comment above about the elevator linkage, I am in the process of adjusting the exit position of the control rod to allow a straighter connection. Updated photo will follow soon.

Hi Richard, it must have been the angle that the pic is taken, I had to ask LOL.

 

I must say that I have found the APC range much better than the Master Airscrew, for performance and low noise. the Master Airscrews are great for stirring paint.......but you are right a good prop (rigid) will not tolerate ground strikes etc like an MS will. Apart from those old smoked white nylon props from the 70's perhaps, you could hit the ground vertically and the prop would be the ONLY bit that survived. Great for learning control line flying as a youth........

 

Yes I would have to agree, straightening that elevator pushrod would be very wise.

 

I look forward to seeing some more pics of your "Chippie" well done

 

Cheers

Danny

Hi Richard

I have a question about Poly C which you or any other user may be able to answer please. I have applied 7 coats so far and have almost filled the weave in the glass cloth, a few more coats should do the job.The plane looks great and has a nice smooth shiny finish. Should i sand it prior to priming or will it get sufficient grip as it is?

I originally Solartexed the fuz but was never happy with the odd bubble popping up when it got hot in the shed. I am so far pleased with the poly C option.

 

Cheers

 

Mark

Mark,

 

I haven't primed all of mine yet but I have sanded prior to priming to eliminate any residual brush marks, although I think Poly-C is good that it doesn't leave too many. I used quite a soft brush.

 

There is a specific thread running on Poly-C, but I don't recall it going into priming so far.

 

How's the build going Richard?

 I have added a few pics of mine to wet everyones appetite.

Fuz almost finished just waiting for Letters & numbers to arrive.

Wing is only waiting for covering, hope to get this done this week.

A question to anyone. The engine is an OS52, i have read that the crankcase breather pipe should not be too long. To take it where i want to have it exit, it would be about 9 inches long. will this affect performance?

 

Cheers

 

Mark

Hate to disapiont you Mark,but I dont think that under carriage will work,seriously though you are doing a fine and impressive job,cant answer your question though but Ive heard similar.Richard may be out lost looking for his Super Air,It took me 30 days to find mine and an evening saw it ready to fly again

Hi Richard

 

Any progress to report on your build?

My Chippy is a couple of weeks away from first flight. It has to fly during October to qualify for my Club's Concours competition.

 

Mark

Hello Martin, Stephen & Mark,  yes it has been a bit quiet here.  I got distracted from the build during the summer months and have been away in New Zealand for a couple of months.  I will be getting back onto it in the coming weeks. I need to take stock where I got to! I think it's mainly painting left to do.  I don't expect to fly in now till next spring!

Ive got to say richard. mans got taste..

New zealand kitset , new zealand holiday, wow.

Great build thread . Im a fan of chipmunks but dont have the airsail one. I do have there tomahawk and auster but theyre a few years old now .and looking a little worse for wear.

keep up the great work

 

Hi Richard

That was a long way to go to get some parts from Airsail

My Chippie had its first flight today !! and its still in one piece. After trimming it was nice to fly, couple of hairy moments after take off though

Off to our clubs Concours competiton tonight.

Thanks for the comments on the Breather pipe guy's, OS don't even mention the length in the instructions. I have just used enough to let it hang out of the bottom of the cowl. Heres a quick snap of the plane as it flew today, still some fine detail to do.

Hi Mark,

 

Getting to the pilot stage, where did you get yours from, having difficulty finding a pilot of the right height. Most 1/6th scale ones I can see are too short to see over the top of the fuz

 

Homebrew exhaust made by mofiying 2 standard OS outlets by cutting, bending and silver soldering. Joined with a brass sleeve, tapped to M11x0.75. 10mm copper tube formed to replicate the original system shape, all silver soldered including a brass supporting strap screwed into the engine box with some silicone in between to hopefully absorb the vibration.

 

Hi Chinesespaceman
I used 1/6th scale Petes Pilots. Trimmed off about an inch to get the correct height.

I like the exhaust you have made. I went for the simplest option 90 degree adaptor and standard exhaust stright out underneath. I had a rubber deflector originally poking out of the bottom of the cowl but that fell off on the first flight. a friend made me up a fiiting that i can screw an aluminium tube to the exhaust to facilitate taking the Cowling off easily.

 

Cheers, Mark

If you do a search on Ebay for Dragon Pilot figures, they are military. There are pilot figures by Assagai but they tend to just be shoulders. Both nicely detailed but a little pricey. They are 1/6 scale.

 

Nice detailing on the Petes Pilots Mark

 

Cheers

Danny