Building my new Fournier RF-4

[Peter Miller]

Well I thought that I would do a blog on my new model. Just have to hope it flies after all this.

 

The model will be a 1/6th scale Fournier RF-4 with a span on 74" and an SC V 30 for power. It will be similar to my RF-7 but even more to scale.

 

So here are the first few pictures.

 

Fuselage sides with doublers and triangular stock in  corners

 

This fuselage is joined at the rear as the sides are straight there.

 

Then the front formers are added while pulling in the sides over the plan.

Glue to turtle deck sheets to the sides and leave them to dry.

Wet the outside and apply heat while bending them over. trim and piun down. Note use of map pins.

The fully shaped fuselage, the triangular wood allows for a lot of shaping of the underside.

 

First stage of building the cowl.

Next stage in building the cowl. It is now ready to be shaped up.

Starting on the wing. All lower sheet and capstrips pinned down

Ribs, spars and leading edge added

The wing is wedged up with washout wedges (Red arrows) and then to top sheet is added. Note cloths pegs at spar and map pis on leading edge.

Edited By Peter Miller on 11/11/2010 19:16:41

[RonSpencerUK]

Looking good. You really get on with it!

How many hours work do the photo's represent?

[Ton van Munsteren]

Thanks Peter for the pics looks nice and easy build.

 

Always goor for the motivation and knowing what lovely model we will see in one of the next magazines.

 

Please keep on posting but don't go to fast I still have to build the Tailwind.

 

Ton

[Peter Miller]

It is about one and half weeks work with an average of about 3 hours a day, possibly  a little less as I have not been rushing this one.

 

However the parts were cut out by SLEC which saved about a day.

[Daniel Cardona]

is this going to be a pull-out plan peter!? looks great ,perfect home for .30 four stroke

 

regards

Daniel

[Tim Hooper]

Posted by Peter Miller on 11/11/2010 19:14:43:

Well I thought that I would do a blog on my new model. Just have to hope it flies after all this.

Of course it will, Peter!

 

It just looks 'right', if you know what I mean....

 

tim

[Peter Miller]

I expect it will be a pull out plan but that is up to the editor.

 

Tim

 

I am experimenting with 3 degrees [positive and about 3 degrees washout. The tips are only 4" wide. I shall also be using differential on the ailerons which are 50% chord at the tip.

 

I will be posting a couple of pictures shortly.

 

I have to do fairings for this one, like yours.

[Peter Miller]

Well, it was wet today so no flying. Got some more doen

 

Shaped the cowling. Decided not to use both apple cheeks as there would not be much left after fitting an SC 30FS

[Peter Miller]

All sheet and capstrips added to one wing

Tail parts cut out. Note my Great Planes sanding block. Shapes perfect V s fo the hinges and perfectly round edges on 1/4 and 1/2" sheet.

Joining the wings. This is done with the second wing still pinnin=ed down. It is not unpinned until all shet and cap strips have been added. THis ensures no possibility of warps creeping in.

The centre section being joined. Note that the rear portion of R-1 is not fitted to the second wing until this stage.

 

On wings with less span I normally add the front part of R-1 and leading edge sheet at this stage.

 

In passing building boards a 48" X 12" Melamine covered chipboard with cork tiles glued down. I have two which means I can work on one wing and then change boards to work on the second while the first dries.

 

 

[Daniel Cardona]

wow...a big one piece wing i tought i will come as a two piece. still tempting to build one

 

keep it up pete!

 

regards

daniel

[Peter Miller]

IT is only 74" span. Making it two piece would have added a lot of weight comparatively speaking. I can get it in my car resting in the passenger side footwell and down the side of the passenger seat.

[David Ashby - Moderator]

Posted by Peter Miller on 14/11/2010 18:29:42:

I expect it will be a pull out plan but that is up to the editor.

 

 Look great to us Peter, assume you've been in touch with Graham?

[Peter Miller]

OH yes David. I usuallt talk to Graham before I puit pencil to paper.

 

He still has Melody on file so no rush. I also have another model drawn up for him bu t that will be for next year.

[Peter Miller]

Not a lot done today. I went flying this afternoon. Great, sunny and flat calm but chilly.

 

I did take a couple of pictures of the airframe pinned together.

Complete airframe just needs wing fairings. In this state it weighs 1 lb. 8 oz.

 

I can live with that.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited By Peter Miller on 16/11/2010 18:32:07

[Daniel Cardona]

1 lb.8 !! peter my shoestring at half the span and at that state was 1lb.....good selection of wood pete.

 

daniel

[Tim Hooper]

Posted by Peter Miller on 16/11/2010 18:31:31:

Not a lot done today. I went flying this afternoon. Great, sunny and flat calm but chilly.

 Same here, Peter!  An excellent afternoon - far too nice to spend it over a smouldering building board........

 

The Fournier looks great.  I assume you use a CAD programme  for design, prior to getting the parts cut?  Just asking, like.

 

tim

[Stephen Grigg]

When one of your models is given away as a free plan Peter can on buy a Kit with laser parts like youve done with this one?

[Peter Miller]

Daniel.

Yes, careful wood selection and only using the minimum sizes.

 

Tim.

 

I draw all my plans on an AO size drawing board. I do use Compufoil to design the wings but then tape them down and trace them as part of the plan.

 

I was interested to hear the Red Bull designer on About Anglia last night saying that he also draws his cars out half size on a drawing board and that he didn't use CAD as he like the action of drawing with a  pencil. Amen to that! I have to see the model full size on the drawing board.

 

Stephen.

 

IT all depends on whether RCM&E  will have them cut out. I don't get all mine cut, only the ones with lots of ribs but the magazine often does have them cut anyway.

 

The Fournier will most likely be cut due to all those ribs. The cutting program will have to be corrected as I have found several errors in my drawing. The advantages of building form the actual plan that I send in.

 

The RCMW plans all seem t be made as CNC cut kits. I am pretty sure Swizzle Stick is already one and I believe the V-Witt will be. They have their own cutting machine.

Edited By Peter Miller on 17/11/2010 08:09:46

[Peter Miller]

Daniel

 

Thinking about it, there is probably not a a lot more wood in the Fournier than the Shoestring so your weight of 1 lb is pretty good.

[Stephen Grigg]

Thanks Peter.

[Stephen Grigg]

So in the December RCMand E isa list of Peters models and kits to go with them,thats handy.

[Peter Miller]

I think that is just a some of them. I am pretty sure that there are more.

[Peter Miller]

After a time here are a few more pictures.

 

THis shows how I made the wing fairings, mostly 1/64 ply except the triangle at the rear.

 

Very similar to TIm's on the Courier but not as neat.

 

This is the dowel reinforcement for the fin.

[Peter Miller]

Today I spent a lot of sweat starting to make the cockpit canopy.

 

First take a big block of pine. I had to laminate mine.

Then shape it with a power plane (£12 from Aldi a few years ago!)

Then shape up with the good old Surform.

And while we have it in the workmate make a deep slot in the bottom. A future posting will show why that is important.

[Tim Hooper]

Posted by Peter Miller on 23/11/2010 18:36:23:

 

Very similar to TIm's on the Courier but not as neat.

 

 

Flatterer!

 

I'm very interested in your canopy moulding technique, Peter.  Once again, it's something that I've always shied away from, so I'll be watching with interest!

 

tim