kevin b Posted March 27, 2022 Author Share Posted March 27, 2022 The nice weather this week means I have not been building. However I need to crack on with the Joker as I now have some models to repair (or replace). Having fitted the undercarriage mountings I then fitted the leading edges. This was followed by the wing joiner, half to each wing. The two wing halves could then be joined flat, upside down. I could have done the leading edge sheeting first, but it made little difference as I have a reasonably large working area. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 Kevin, could you explain further about the WC3 and it's opposite concave item - are they balsa and if so how is the concave part formed? I was expecting lasercut ply items perhaps several layers of 1/8 top and bottom! Also the u/c bearers - they look as if they are several layers laminated from ply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted March 28, 2022 Author Share Posted March 28, 2022 (edited) WC3 is was cut on my bandsaw from a piece of 19 x 39 x 72mm balsa. The undercarriage mountings were cut from 6mm ply and shaped on my mini circular saw. They could be made from 2 laminations of 3mm ply as you suggested though. Next is the top sheeting. Edited March 28, 2022 by kevin b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 Thanks Kevin. I can now see from that photo that the u/c bearers fit over W15 and W14 while a bit is recessed to fit between W15 and W14. Easy to make in 2 layers ply with diffferent widths. I see how you shaped the balsa now - my bandsaw and my skill with it won't allow such accuracy! It seems that W19 and W20 are not used unless retracts are fitted. One either fits W15 and W14 or W19 and W20, but not both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 (edited) I have to say that looking at the wing that it's obviously a bit stronger where the u/c blocks are and also in the centre section but less so between W3 and W4 which is always where wings tend to break -just outside of the fuselage! I wonder whether you might consider some reinforcement before you sheet the wing? Maybe a piece of sq spruce from one u/c bearer to the other, with a shorter piece on the top side? Edited March 28, 2022 by kc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Masher Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 I will stick to the plan as far as possible when I build one. Too many extra belts and braces quickly turns into a heavy model which doesn't match the handling of the original. That's the beauty of building from a plan and kit, we can each personalise to our own taste Keep 'em coming Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted March 29, 2022 Author Share Posted March 29, 2022 Now then. Wing sheeting. I started with the top as it is flat. That way I could fit the centre sheets across the wing join for added strength. The full leading edge sheets are curved and taper, so have to be fitted individually. Then the cap strips are added and we are ready to turn over and start again. Only on the lower side you have to fit all the sheets separately due to the dihedral. Once the wing is covered it can be made to fit the fuselage. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted April 4, 2022 Author Share Posted April 4, 2022 Now the wing can be made to fit the fuselage. First of all the WC 4 trailing edge parts need to be fitted. I replaced these with a single, thicker piece of wood which was then shaped to fit. This will increase the strength of the wing join and I will also be fitting a larger piece of ply where the wing bolt goes through. As there is no tuned pipe the centre section will be covered as well. Once the glue has dried and shaping done the wing leading edge can be shaped and fitted to F24 using dowels to locate it. Making sure that the wing is fully seated on the fuselage. Note. The dowels do not at this stage go into the wing itself until F24 is glued in solid. then the wing can be removed and the dowel holes drilled. Note 2. I forgot to mention when sheeting the fuselage that I had not fitted the tail skid. This was because I am going to fit a steerable tail wheel (we have a rough field !). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted April 4, 2022 Author Share Posted April 4, 2022 I have am just finishing producing the wood kits that were requested and have sufficient materials to produce one more if anybody is interested. The kit contains all the wood required, a full plan and a Petg canopy. The cost is £110.00 including U.K. delivery. You would have to provide your own hardware, adhesives and covering materials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 (edited) Rapid progress Kevin! A couple of questions come to mind that might help other builders--- Did you fit WC2 ( inner cross piece for dowels) before sheeting the wing or is this unnecessary? What angles did you bend the torque rods - is there built in differential considering the plastic pivots have the pivot point a bit forward of the wire? Edited April 4, 2022 by kc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted April 4, 2022 Author Share Posted April 4, 2022 I did fit the WC2 parts, yes. After F24 had glued the wing was removed and then the dowel holes drilled, I used a slightly smaller drill to make sure that the dowels were a firm fit in WC 2. The torque rods are just standard Radio Active ones, but if you are fitting a central wing bolt I would suggest moving them further apart. I will be showing that shortly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 (edited) Kevin, one point has arisen in fuselage assembly which is not shown in your photos - F5 seems to need to be inset into the fuselage sides by 5mm ( I mean actual fus sides not just F11 ) whilst F4, F6,F7 etc are just inset into F11 and the shoulders rest on top of fus sides. Can you confirm this is correct? The line of F19 seems to depend on this being correct. Edited April 5, 2022 by kc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted April 5, 2022 Author Share Posted April 5, 2022 kc. Here is another photo, if it helps, F5 glues inside the fuselage ply reinforcement. There is no slot in F11 to accept F4. It just glues between the ends of F11. Remember it is not set vertical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 Thanks for that Kevin. I think the slots I cut in F11 were not quite deep enough. Actually I think F4 is vertical on the plan although it could be read a different way - it looks like it's the line of the canopy that slopes. However if the lasercut parts are intended to slope then thats obviously the way it needs to be assembled, otherwise the height won't match F5 and F6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted April 5, 2022 Author Share Posted April 5, 2022 Actually, you are correct. F4 is vertical. I think I moved mine back, which meant I had to slope it to fit. This morning I found I had glued WC4 on upside down and the aileron controls were on the outside. I think I will have to stop working late on an evening ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis Watkins Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 6 minutes ago, kevin b said: This morning I found I had glued WC4 on upside down and the aileron controls were on the outside. I think I will have to stop working late on an evening ! Plus one for No Late Night Working Kevin In a past life I thought I was clever finishing school reports very late in the evening. They were of course complete nonsense when I read through in the cold light of day. How often has any of us built two port wings late at night, my hand is up ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted April 12, 2022 Author Share Posted April 12, 2022 Now the wing dowels are fitted we can install the wing mounting bolt to secure the wing and check its alignment. At the same time the battery cover is fitted in place. I also enlarged WC5 to fill between the F23 parts. Just to increase strength. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted April 24, 2022 Author Share Posted April 24, 2022 Having got the wing to fit the underside can be finished off The wing bandage was fitted before the final sheeting. At the tail end more work was done while waiting for the resin to dry. Then the wing was installed so that the tail could be aligned. Soon be time for - sanding (groan). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted April 30, 2022 Author Share Posted April 30, 2022 Tail now on. Wing fillets fitted and under wing sheeting finished. Esc cover and undercarriage checked. Final fit of top hatch. And now............ Sanding. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extra slim Posted April 30, 2022 Share Posted April 30, 2022 Gonna be the biz that!.. looking good 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted May 6, 2022 Author Share Posted May 6, 2022 Sanding is done and now a final assembly before covering. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 Covering now done and ready for final assembly. Stewart will be flying this one. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 Very nice Kev, Stewarts a lucky fella. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, john stones 1 - Moderator said: Very nice Kev, Stewarts a lucky fella. ? Not quite sure about that, but he does have a smile on his face. ? (he only agreed to do it on payment of a banana) Edited May 11, 2022 by kevin b 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted May 23, 2022 Author Share Posted May 23, 2022 Progress seems to have stalled, but hopefully it will be completed this week. However, judging by the recent weather it might be a while before it is flown ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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