David's Standard Ballerina

Well I thought I would throw my hat into the ring and join the mass build having come back to the hobby last October after 25 years away. I have recently built a Pegasus Boomerang and a Middle Phase, both from kits and wanted to now build a model from scratch. Something I have only done twice in the past all those years ago when I built a Pronto trainer and a Spirit low wing aerobatic model which was too advanced for me really at the time.

So I bought some wood etc. and started to plan the build, where I found the ‘preparing for the 2016 mass build’ forum useful particularly in identifying some of the discrepancies that crept in between Peter’s original drawing and that finally released as the free plan. This enable me and others too I image to avoid at least some of the errors when starting to build.

This will be a standard build with no significant modifications (or should I say no planned modifications!) using a Saito FA40; just have to have a picture…..

This is not as detailed as some of the other excellent build blogs, but it’s nice to join in and offer what I can and perhaps also receive some useful feedback if anyone feels inclined.

Taking a step forward from the pile of wood, the first thing I did was to build myself a ‘Peter Miller’ building board comprising of 4’ x 1’ of conti board from B&Q covered with a double layer of 3mm cork tiles from Wickes. Immediately putting this to one side I set about cutting out all the formers ribs, tailplane, fin, fuselage sides etc. using a coping saw for the ply parts and a scalpel for the balsa.

Here’s a few of the parts…

With most of the parts cut out I started to put the fuselage together and here you can see the two sides are now joined with F1 – F6 plus the cockpit deck.

I don’t have a jig but I marked the centre of each former, drew a straight line on the building area of my bench, anchored the fuselage with weights at the front and middle positions and then pulled the rear together and glued.

All lined up fine, added the front turtle decking and snake outers; I didn’t think the holes in the formers as marked on the plan lined up very well but that may have been me. (probably was).

Nice piece of art work for the front end David, fuzz looks spot on

John

Thanks John, just followed Peter's instructions.

The fuse is coming on nicely Dave. Good progress. I'm a first time scratch builder as well, it really is quite enjoyable. I've tackled the wing first. Great little engine you have for the front. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

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Hi Percy, you are right about the tailplane, actually it was me I believe who first raised this with Peter; you will see the next image coming up shortly will feature the mod to the fuselage. but thank you for your feedback, just what I am hoping for.

Next came the spruce spars for which I temporarily stuck a paper template to the front and rear formers to line up the spars correctly; well almost correctly, the gaps vary a little but not enough to worry about.

Yes, tailplane butts up against F-10.

Don't ask because I don't know. I do have my own opinions though

Lots of plans have errors on em, even some big expensive scale ones, look on it as preparation for future builds.

Nieuport 17 I built had 4 sheet plan, on top wing panels one was 3/8" bigger than the other, I only found out when measuring to glue the tail on.

John

For some reason I found the engine cowling a little bit challenging just in terms of getting it clear in my head exactly how to go about it and I think mine has varied just slightly from what Peter did but it seems to have turned out ok.

I also think I did not quite interpret the plan correctly for the front turtle deck which should have overhung into the cockpit, however I managed to add this as an extra and it seems to blend in ok.

Very neat cowling with beautiful cut aways round the engine.

I won't dare bring mine to Greenacres!!!

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I was thinking of applying sanding sealer first inside the cowl and then painting with some Flair Spectrum paint and finally fuel proofer on the top for good measure. Externally it will be a polyester covering. Any thoughts?

H.K covering is good and cheap as well

John

my stringers vary more than i would of liked but whose goin to measure them,lovely build and welcome.

John, what is H.K. covering?