Chris Barlow Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 With my A-10 in the sign writing shop (read dining room table) and my TN electric Bronco stalled waiting for more 1/16th balsa I finally made a start on this years mass build. Having met Lindsay several times and seeing the models he comes up with I was quite pleased when Skywriter was chosen for this years build and although I don't particularly need another vintage style bipe I do have space for an small aerobatic electric one. So the plan is a little tweak to the wing section, strong foam core wings and a bit of lightening at the tail end to avoid any additional nose weight and we're away. I started on Sunday with the fuselage, cutting out the sides and doublers and laminating them together. Whilst the glue was drying I cut the forward formers and stuck the fin/rudder together over the plan, leaving to dry over night. Monday night these were peeled off the bench and the tail plane was glued up over the plan. I used slightly smaller widths for the tail plane peices, 19mm wide IIRC. Final task for the evening was to cut and glue some 1/4 sq longerons to the inside of the fuselage sides. Tuesday evening I was lazy and watched some you tube and fell asleep! Tonight having just received some electrical goodies from HK I was able to position and fit captive nuts for the motor and test the position of F2 before chucking the lot into the fuselage jig with some aliphatic. Amazingly it all landed like this! (the tail surfaces are there because I'm impatient) Captive nuts for the motor. I really don't like fixing the crucifixes with plain wood screws! This is where the tail is up too. Still need to cobble some elevators together. And finally the power plant. That's where I'm up to right now. Later I be back on it to pull the tail of the fuse together glue up an elevator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 What's the powerplant n how many cell ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share Posted January 25, 2017 Umm, Cheapest I could find on HK. Seriously though, it's a Turnigy Aerodrive 3542 1000kv (max 625w I think) with a 65A ESC to tame it. I'm planning to run it on either 3000mah 3s or 4800mah 3s depending on current draw and balance requirements. Propped to draw around 450 - 500w. Should keep things cool that way I hope? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 What you skinning the wings with ....balsa ? John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share Posted January 25, 2017 I treated myself to a few sheets of Obeche! Not cheap but much stronger. I intend to practice making the Bronco and Skywriter wings (3 in total) before attempting a 3m U-2 PSS wing so plenty of hot wire cutting and vacuum bag laminating to try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Can't fault that..practice makes perfect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share Posted January 25, 2017 Posted by john stones 1 on 25/01/2017 22:36:00: Can't fault that..practice makes perfect ...or a lot of scrap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low pass Pete Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 HI John Welcome to the 2017 MB. Will follow your build with interest. Cheers Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 Posted by Chris Barlow on 25/01/2017 21:58:12: Umm, Cheapest I could find on HK. Seriously though, it's a Turnigy Aerodrive 3542 1000kv (max 625w I think) with a 65A ESC to tame it. I'm planning to run it on either 3000mah 3s or 4800mah 3s depending on current draw and balance requirements. Propped to draw around 450 - 500w. Should keep things cool that way I hope? Turnigy Aerodrive and Turnigy AE ESC's play well together in my experience. 625 on 3S means max. 56A, so you motor should burn before the ESC does. Whether things stay cool depends on the propeller you mount. But if you set this up to with a 13x8 it will draw around 450W (safe). Should work, Lucas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 Following with interest too, Chris. Hope you will give us a lot of info regarding your foam veneering & vacuum bagging when the time comes. Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Davis Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 That's not a messy workshop, this is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trebor Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 Beat this, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 them is tidy them is. this is a messy workshop. not proud of it either, needs a good clear out when we get some better weather. Tony B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trebor Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 Mine is getting on top of me ( literally ) Its nice and cosy though, I sit and look at it. Edited By trebor on 26/01/2017 12:50:43 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 This is a mess. And there a viper hibernating in there. And this is the best view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iqon Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 Thats not messy, you still have standing room Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 I'm not even going to try to compete ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted January 27, 2017 Author Share Posted January 27, 2017 A bit more done last night and tonight. I haven't used formers F5 to F9 instead electing to use 1/4 sq spreaders across the fuselage instead. Whilst still in the jig the rear sides were pulled in over the spreaders and the fin post scribed and glued. I cut some 1/8 balsa sheet to match the curves over the unused formers and very carefully cut the slots for the stringers. These were then glued to the top of the spreaders in the original former positions. Tonight I have fitted all the stringers down the sides and over the 1/8th formers, carefully filing any slots that were a bit tight. That little task has taken the best part of 2 hours and the fuselage now looks more like a porqupine! I've also fitted the 1/4 balsa triangle under the chin of the nose. I still have to sort out the wing mounting plate and dowel former, battery cradle and some more 1/4 sq uprights down the fuselage to stop the sides from cupping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich too Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Posted by Donald Fry on 26/01/2017 13:09:05: This is a mess. And there a viper hibernating in there. And this is the best view. brilliant, that's worse than my daughters bedroom!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extra slim Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 and the winner is..... my old mans!!.. still... I almost never have to order anything, it is typically found in here, and also, at night, space is made to house his nice BMW!.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trebor Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 At least the floor should be clean with that old carpet cleaner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extra slim Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 a ha... there is no doubt plans for the 'hover'.. it is probably earmarked for a wing and a motor upfront, or mountings to fit a pulse jet!!.. good old british ingenuity!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Posted by Chris Barlow on 27/01/2017 01:08:16: A bit more done last night and tonight. I haven't used formers F5 to F9 instead electing to use 1/4 sq spreaders across the fuselage instead. Whilst still in the jig the rear sides were pulled in over the spreaders and the fin post scribed and glued. I cut some 1/8 balsa sheet to match the curves over the unused formers and very carefully cut the slots for the stringers. These were then glued to the top of the spreaders in the original former positions. I've also fitted the 1/4 balsa triangle under the chin of the nose. I still have to sort out the wing mounting plate and dowel former, battery cradle and some more 1/4 sq uprights down the fuselage to stop the sides from cupping. This makes sense! if you have longerons this is a very light and clean contruction. Do you need to do some diagonals where the formers were or is the fuse torsionally stiff as it is now? Lucas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted January 28, 2017 Author Share Posted January 28, 2017 I was going to cut holes in the 1/8 sides between the formers but decided to leave them solid to save putting any diagonal bracing in. The fuselage is very, very stiff with the external stringers added too so I do think you could cut the holes in the sides without any additional strengthening. Wish I'd done it now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted January 28, 2017 Share Posted January 28, 2017 Yep the fuzz sides are strong but it feels light enough to me, i like how its designed John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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