McG 6969 Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 ... I had the opportunity to admire Dirk's work 'live' in his workshop, but I'm still blown away by his skills and dedication... absolutely extraordinary... Am I the only one with a burning desire to see those fuse halves getting together now? ... Cheers Chris 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirk tinck Posted December 1, 2021 Author Share Posted December 1, 2021 Hi all ! Thanks for the comments guys !! @Paul :It was probably the one from HobbyLand (now modellbaustudio )or the one from ripping ?? I still have one from Hobbyland NIB... @Chris : I'm trying to get it out on sunday ! That's no promise though... To get it out by sunday , i need to join the halves friday night !Better move on then !! The fuse edges are now clean and i started to sand the area where the joining strips (glass )will come.Trail fitted the two halves and it looks good !! I know experts use peel ply as the last layer in the mould .This gives you the advantage you don't have to sand the surface to glue anything on or in this case join different parts (or glue formers in ). However i don't like it...When "peeling"it off,there is the risque of pulling the part away from the mould resulting in uneven joints or resin getting between part and mould (you damage the pva ) It's a little more work to sand the edges but it gives me mindpeace ... Time will tell ! Tanks for watching !! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murat Kece 1 Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 ?excellent.. impressive? ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 Thinking back, it was in 1984 sold as a slope soarer and I think that it came from Wales,,, not the fishy one,,?, I also bought at the same time a U 2 slope soarer both fuselages were in polyester,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirk tinck Posted December 5, 2021 Author Share Posted December 5, 2021 Hi all ! Sorry but no fuselage yet...It's taking a little more time than i thought ! Sanded the inside of the fuse halves (Where the connecting layer comes) and coated the contact flanges of the moulds with pva in case some resin gets between the moulds... The fin on the underside is prepped in a different way as the rest : I can't reach in there with a glass ribbon so only thickened resin (microballoons ). To hold the resin in place , i'm glueing a foam sausage between the halves (sorry no pic). Here you can see the foam in place (also a piece for example ) x x x x x x x x x x x 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirk tinck Posted December 5, 2021 Author Share Posted December 5, 2021 The two halves are joined now and i started to lay down the connecting ribbons glass cloth. At the seam comes a little worm of thick resin so the liquid resin has more resistance to get between the moulds.Next comes 3x100gr to reinforce the seam. x x x x x 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirk tinck Posted December 5, 2021 Author Share Posted December 5, 2021 The bottom side is done now (easy side , acces through the hatch openings) . The upper side will be done when the bottom side is dry , to avoid touching it . I tryed a little piece and found out that this side will be done with the help from a mirror. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Brilliant work Dirk, soon the new fuselage will emerge from its hand crafted cocoon!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 That amount of work makes me feel really guilty for complaining that I had to actually cut some kit pieces out of 1/4" hard balsa yesterday...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirk tinck Posted December 6, 2021 Author Share Posted December 6, 2021 Hi all!! Thanks Phil ! @Grumpy Gnome :It's starting to weigh on me too now but it will be forgotten when the fuse is out and OK... I started on the upper side this morning as we're closed today. I did the back part first (most difficult )so that is out of the list...Special jobs require special tools , so i added a long stick to my roller and brush to reach the end of the back part (55cm )through the opening in the fuselage. Next is the little nose part. It's done thesame way but this is only 10cm. Next is the little part behind the nose hatch , just in front of the canope opening. I you ever had to work in a small place and follow your actions in a mirror , you know this is a pain !! Just one to go :The part behind the canope opening , same MO The part in the middle of the canope opening was done yesterday and the overhang is allready cut away Another vieuw of the back part : That completes the joining of the fuselage halves. When all this is well cured , the edges will be trimmed and then we're ready to take all the bolts away and open-up the shell ! Untill then , a big clean-up-shop is needed to welcome the newborn ....and the wing moulds !! Stay tuned ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan p Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 I don't think any comment can cover the awesome way you have carried out this project. ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirk tinck Posted December 8, 2021 Author Share Posted December 8, 2021 Hi all Feeling not so well all day , i wasn't sure i would make it to the fouga works...After a walk with the dogs , i couldn't resist to take the connecting bolts out and clean up the overhanging glass. 105 in total !! Nothing but some sticking pva holds the different moulds together. If you twist the whole combo , you can hear it cracking ! So !lets try to get this baby free ! In my opinion , the small moulds arround the hatch openings must come off easy. Once you have a knife between , you can twist a little and put a mixing stick in the seam , then two , then three... By the time you reach the opposite side , the mould is free...if the pva did his job ... No problms here !! Next in line are the two front parts .After some twisting , the first fell off ! And the other side ! The nose is completely free now and still no defects ! No white paint sticking in the moulds !! The back side are the four quarters so i suspect no problems there What a beatyfull sight !! Fitted the nose cone and the tail cone : A perfect match !! Also happy i can get the thrust pipe in !! This is what you get when you forget the little worm of thick epoxy on the seam before connecting ! The liquid resin , used for the glass ribbons creeps between mould and new part , and between the moulds Well , she's out !! Another milestone !! enjoy !! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manish Chandrayan Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 Beautiful ?. I am sure you are already feeling better ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 Wow! Just wow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 Looks fantastic Dirk, well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Fenton Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 Absolutely stunning work, well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 Youve got to be over the moon with that fuselage Dirk, a fantastic result justifying all your hard work and dedication!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 Great stuff, so soon into production ?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murat Kece 1 Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 Excellent... Amazing.. Very well done Dirk... Following with great interest.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan p Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon? Well done Dirk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 3yrs in the making and what a result - MAGNIFISENT ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirk tinck Posted December 10, 2021 Author Share Posted December 10, 2021 Thanks for the comments all ! This must be the first time i did not see my workshop for 3 days in a row !!...Thanks to , Yes... Covid. The virus has finally got me , and my wife Diana...We think we got it from the grandchildren. We both have mild symptons but work is out of order. Ten days quarantine now ... I hope i'm over this soon and can restart working !! No work , no pay ! Keep safe ! Dirk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan p Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 wishing you both a swift recovery 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Yes, look after yourselves, and get well soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Good luck and Look after yourselves, did you have the Modena or Pfizer jab ?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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