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Gliders => Scale => Topic started by: Peter on January 02, 2008, 19:46:26 PM

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Peter on January 02, 2008, 19:46:26 PM

Not really a build tread - I work too slowly for that!  But a progress report on a Pilatus B4 build from an old Mike Trew plan.  As you can see from the photographs, the fuselage is coming on.  Half planked (that took a bit of time!) and currently I am working on the controls before planking the rest.  Made the tailplane last weekend - it is bolted on.  As I have changed the wing section I want to be able to alter the longitudinal dihedral as I suspect that on the plan is too high for the HQ25/12 section I am using.  So far so good - but anyone else building from this plan, watch out for F11 - this does not have the correct profile!  

Anyway - best wishes to all for the New Year.  Scamper - I hope all this talk of DG1000s does not mean you have give up on your B4!!!

(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Peter/PilatusB4general.jpg)

(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Peter/PilatusB4tailend.jpg)

(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Peter/PilatusB4fus1.jpg)

(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Peter/PilatusB4centreFuzdeltail.jpg)

(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Peter/PilatusB4smallTtail.jpg)

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: scamper on January 02, 2008, 20:24:41 PM

Looks very good.  :clap:  Hope to get going on mine again soon. I got the wood, piano wire joiner and airbrakes from Topmodel with the DG-1000. All i need now is the motivation. :lol:

I put F11 in and didnt notice until later that it was wrong. I had to glue another piece of ply to it to get it to the right profile.

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Fred on January 03, 2008, 07:40:24 AM

Hi Peter, good to hear back from you  :D
The Pilatus is looking really good indeed  :clap:  :clap:

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Alan_Perse on January 03, 2008, 13:39:51 PM

Nice work. Keep it up. :clap:  :clap:

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: cvanscho on January 03, 2008, 17:42:04 PM

Nice job, Peter!

Chris

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Peter on March 31, 2008, 21:06:08 PM

Right - seems with this poor weather quite a few of us are busy building.  Here then is an update on progress with the B4.  Fuselage is mostly planked now and servos/controls installed.  It looks much better now I have added a nose block!  Currently working on the first of the wings - fully sheeted structure so trying to get the innards sorted before adding the top sheeting.  The idea is to build both wing panels minus the top sheeting so that I can sort out the joiners/dihedral/alignment to fuselage. Constructing a canopy is looming so any advice much appreciated - not done this before. Also  would like to make a hinged metal (aluminium?)frame for the canopy perspex - how should I go about this?

(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Peter/B4March08%20001small.jpg)

(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Peter/B4March08%20005small.jpg)

(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Peter/B4March08%20008small.jpg)

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Stephan on April 01, 2008, 07:13:04 AM

Hi Peter
for the first time I see a B4 in an all wooden approach realy great  :clap: That changes from this fiber and foam stuff.
Stephan

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Fred on April 01, 2008, 15:38:27 PM

Hi Peter,
Like Stephan, totally agree !
Really nice job, and so rare to see a Pilatus built in wood !  :clap:  :clap:

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Alan_Perse on April 01, 2008, 15:52:18 PM

I agree also  :clap:  :clap: . And when it's fully built you won't even know it was built from wood.

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Peter on April 01, 2008, 20:45:51 PM

Thanks guys. Yep it is amazing what you can do with wood - time consuming but satisfying! I'm quite impressed with what complex shapes and curves you can create with a bit of effort.

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Fred on April 01, 2008, 21:06:28 PM

Well, I can't disagree with that !  :mrgreen:

Sorry I haven't answered your question about the canopy...
Well, with balsa locks, you can make a plug and then vaccum form the canopy (http://www.gliderireland.net/vaccumforming.htm) but manually is also fine (use a 2 liter coke bittle...)
I have the vaccum box if you want to borrow it ! (and clear plastic too...)

For the frame, I will do it in brass tubes and soldered. Easy to form in shape, easy to solder too (see the frame for the 1/3 scale Ka3..)

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Peter on August 29, 2008, 17:08:41 PM

An update on progress - or a couple of photos anyway! Actually beginning to look like a glider.

(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Peter/P1010113lowres.JPG)

(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Peter/P1010125low%20res.JPG)

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Alan_Perse on August 29, 2008, 17:13:56 PM

Peter. I dont know if its a problem with my computer but I can't see the pictures  :( .

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Peter on August 29, 2008, 17:15:51 PM

Nope - I cannot see them either .  I'll try again.

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Alan_Perse on August 29, 2008, 18:03:59 PM

I can see them now. Looks sweet  :D  :D  :D . Keep up the good work.
Makes me want to make a glass glider out of wood to.

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: joe on August 30, 2008, 22:01:07 PM

Keep up the good work Peter. Looks great!

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Peter on August 03, 2009, 14:16:43 PM

Well that took a while!! But it is ready to go.

(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Peter/PilatusB4Aug09%20019small.jpg)

(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Peter/PilatusB4Aug09%20004small.jpg)

(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Peter/PilatusB4Aug09%20005small.jpg)

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Happy Days on August 03, 2009, 15:43:35 PM

Now that looks like something to be proud of Peter :clap:  :clap: well done 'ol Fruit.

So when is it going to take to the air?

K.

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Alan_Perse on August 03, 2009, 19:19:14 PM

Wow. That looks nice. Great Job Peter  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: lothar4862 on August 03, 2009, 20:40:57 PM

Well done!

she looks great.

Regards

Lothar

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: joe on August 03, 2009, 22:27:12 PM

Wow!!
Very nice job Peter. It looks fantastic and not a bit of fibreglass to be seen!! :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Peter on August 03, 2009, 22:36:32 PM

Thanks guys - moment of truth - next weekend I hope, weather permitting.

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Fred on August 05, 2009, 09:11:01 AM

Looking really good Peter !!  :clap:
So rare to see a B4 all in wood these days !  :clap:

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Tresbling on February 24, 2010, 03:52:22 AM

I am building from the same plan!

I haven't started the wings yet, and I must say my building quality is not up to yours! I have a few questions...

Did you stick with the dihedral shown on the plan? Seems a bit much to me.
What section did you use and why?
And most importantly... How does it fly?!

Many thanks

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Peter on February 27, 2010, 20:30:14 PM

Hi 'Tresbling' - glad to hear you are working on a B4.  I stayed with the dihedral on the plan, but fitted a carbon fibre rod/tube rather than the brass box shown on the plan. I used a thinner HQ2.5/12 section as I talked with someone who built this model some time ago and they said the scale-like section shown on the plan was not that efficient and that restricted conditions in which it would fly. Anyway - I have flown mine three times now - the weather has been rotten over the winter so it last flew September.  I'm pretty pleased with it. Still want to play around with the tail incidence as soon as Spring arrives.  However - it seems to be pretty efficient and if anything, I struggle to get it back down on the ground again!  I fitted Graupner air bakes rather than make up the blades as shown on the plan.

Good luck with your wings.  Post some pictures of your build.  Always interesting to see how other people 'do it'!

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Tresbling on February 28, 2010, 20:34:18 PM

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the reply. This project is odd because I built the fuse when I was 16 (now im 24!) and then lost interest. Its been hanging in the garage gathering dust since then. The tailplane got stepped on so ive rebuilt that, and also done lots of other finishing. My building standards back then were not up to scratch! Im doing the canopy frame at the moment, Traplet still sell the canopy for this plan (but it isnt quite big enough!).
Taking the wings from 17% down to 12% is a bit drastic, i trust it is still strong with the wooden construction. Did you keep it at 12% right down to the tip?
I too have bought graupner brakes for it, didnt fancy building them. Ive used the brass box/steel joiner. What did you use for the main spars, they look lighter than spruce.
Sorry for all the questions, this is my first plan build. I'll put a couple of pictures up when I make some progress.
Al

Title: B4 from plan
Post by: e-segler on November 13, 2010, 15:43:44 PM

Hello Peter,

I am planning to built (after finishing my Sagitta) a B4 from a plan.
Yours is from Traplet?
Are you satisfied about the plan? Was there any problem while you where  building the model.

The airfoil that you used is a HQ 2,5/12. Does it fit to the model?

Greeting, Leo.

My English is not so good.....but my flying skills are very, very bad!!!

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: Peter on November 14, 2010, 11:54:13 AM

Leo,

Plan was fine and yes it was the Mike Trew Traplet version - just one inaccuate former - if you change the wing section like I did, you also need to modify the fuselage formers so as to accommodate the new wing root.  Good luck with the build - post some picures as you go along!

Peter

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: e-segler on November 18, 2010, 10:41:39 AM

Peter,

Thanks for your information. I wil see if i order the plan.
B.t.w. it is very interresting that you can order a canopy!

Best wishes, Leo.

Title: Pilatus B4 build
Post by: alibodin on June 06, 2011, 21:14:41 PM

Excellent build an inspiration, just recieved the plans for this, looks ok to build. I will probably build on a jig and have complete formers rather than two halves. The COG looks quite far forward, anyone any guidance on the COG please?

Alistair