Messages

391

Scale / Ziroli 92" P-47

« on: December 29, 2012, 21:47:34 PM »

We'll need some noseweight, Zenoah 62 to the rescue.


Draw, draw, draw...


Plenty of space in the cowl.


Rudder horn from a GFK epoxy sheet.


The ball links will be sandwiched between layers.


Balsa was used as a spacer while the glue was setting.


Epoxy with microballoons and milled fiber was used to glue the horn in place.


And here the rudder has been sheeted.


I better make some arrangements if I want to have a pilot there.


Might need to remove a few more millimeters at a later time.


There is more than one way to skin a cat.


Easier to have the triangle list follow the bend of the rudder if we make a few cuts to relieve the tension.


I bought the larger TF cockpit kit when I was gearing up for the build.


Not far off.


The cockpit opening has reached full size, I had to remove part of the F5 former.


I've been itching to try some of this detailing stuff I've heard about... I sanded the stabilizer and decided to put some filling base on it, most of it will sand off though.


And here it's drying, we need about an hour at 25-30C until it can be sanded.


Next up, sand all that filler away, I've got water and soap in the tray so I don't clog the sandpaper.


And here most of the filler has been sanded away.


I use this putty after the filler has been sanded off.




More sanding.


Not many places on the Thunderbolt with overlapping joints, one of them is on the elevators.


Here I'm using two stripes of 3mm plastic tape(471) from 3M. It caused me some grief when I took it off as it decided to leave some of the glue on the elevator.


I decided to use the putty to build up the edge but as previously stated when I removed the tape I was left with some glue residue, I'll need to check if that happens with filler before I do the other elevator. I managed to remove the residue by using another tape to "grab" it.


The putty is sanded until I can see the tape brake through and then I can remove the tape giving a nice clean edge.

392

Scale / Ziroli 92" P-47

« on: December 29, 2012, 21:30:54 PM »

Some extra wood for the wing dowel.


The stringers were split so they would be easier to manipulate around the front bend.


Was feeling a bit lazy so I didn't use the smaller planks on the side.


Getting closer to the razorback look, I'm using 1.5mm(1/16) balsa not 3mm(1/8) but I'm doing 2 rounds.


I've added some wood for the sheeting.


Added some more here as the sheeting was having trouble doing that bend without breaking before I put it in.


Now we are talking...


Yet to do the second round of 1.5mm sheeting.




Big one!


Tank floor installed.


Time to do something with my ostrich egg.


Better get rid of the lacquer for a good clean wood to wood join.



Last time we'll get this view.


The ceiling was looking a tad weak so I put this column up to support it...  :lol:

393

Scale / Seagull Ka8b - Engine install and mods

« on: December 28, 2012, 00:15:20 AM »

The motor was started today, seems to have plenty of power even on those small "sample" packs. Can't wait to see it take to the air!

Ah, yes regarding the CG... nahh, just holding down the battery plate while the glue dries.


We need air for the motor.


Speed controller and battery location.


Not too shabby.


Happy birds, my mates plane is now ready for the test flight. I'll learn from his mis... ehmm success!    :lol:

394

Misceleanous / What time of year is it?

« on: December 24, 2012, 22:04:43 PM »

We're an day early in our celebrations, already unwrapped my parcels... must be getting old I mostly got soft packages!   :lol:

395

Misceleanous / BBC Two 23rd December at 21.30

« on: December 24, 2012, 22:02:26 PM »

Tx guys were supposed to be spotter/intervention pilots, so if it looked as it was going to endanger something they were supposed to gain control and get the situation under control.

Similiar thought on the toy side and I would have want to know more about the tech stuff, probably an arduino based autopilot. I'm also assuming they replaced the whole electrical system after the first attempt although no mention was made of it.

I was on site for the Gadget Show filming here in Iceland this summer and this telly stuff isn't very much fun. Lots of waiting for not so many minutes of filming etc. At least my Tx and Tx case got some screen time on that show!   :lol:

396

Scale / Ziroli 92" P-47

« on: December 24, 2012, 21:54:39 PM »

Cheers guys.

It'll be based on a 78th FG scheme with some personalisation. The Ka3 was built at a good pace so I can paint them both at the same time, in fact they'll even be able to share some of the colours!!!  :?:

Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

397

Scale / Ziroli 92" P-47

« on: December 23, 2012, 17:06:25 PM »

Cheers mate.

398

Scale / Ziroli 92" P-47

« on: December 23, 2012, 15:33:25 PM »

I used cloth and epoxy from Fibretech, you can get the cloth in many sizes and weights.



I've raised the stabilizer and cleaned the surface.


Playing cards were used to spread out the epoxy.


You don't need much epoxy.


Started by putting a small amount of epoxy on the middle of the stab, then I spread it out, first along the stab then across it.
You need to spread it well as we don't want to see any "puddles" on the cloth.


On the right trailing edge you can see cloth that has still to receive epoxy, the lighter areas on the left trailing edge are because of the white filler I used.


I used clothing pegs to keep the cloth hanging over the edges.


Here you can see the amount of epoxy I was left with after finishing the stab, you really don't need much.


Just to be safe I went over the wing with paper to get any extra epoxy.


I did not find much.


I did the elevators too.


Now you see that it pays to make sure that the epoxy goes beyond the edge of the surface. Light stroke with a sanding block.


And then we get this fine cut, where space is restricted you can cut the epoxy soaked cloth.

399

Scale / Ziroli 92" P-47

« on: December 23, 2012, 15:27:26 PM »

Then came summer and we pick up the thread on October 20th 2007.

Next up hinges. Nothing new here, drew a centerline on the surfaces, mated them marked the hinges location, then drew a vertical line on each surface and drilled the resulting +. Result was 16 lined up holes for the hinges. You can just about make them out on the third picture down.


What is happening? Well this was supposed to be a scale-ish build of some sort so I better make some effort along those lines.


Don't think I can complain about it, looks decent enough I hope.



Next I decided to tackle the fin and rudder, mainly because the parts kept getting in my way    Not much to say about it, nice and simple wood frame, if everything that needs to is kept square we are well on our way to happiness and eternal nirvana. Next up is adding a wood block to the bottom of the rudder and setting up a control horn.






Got to put some effort into this scale thingy...  made this little sanding block.


So I could sand down the trailing edge of the stabilizer.


And put some plywood there.


Then we got something that looks like this.


I put plywood on the elevator so I could screw the control horns to something more substantial than balsa.


That was then covered with 1/4" balsa.


Back to the tail gear.






The tailwheel has been linked up and is working fine.


Here I've started to sand down the blocks I'll fasten the door hinges too. As the hatch isn't straight I'll need to get the right radius on the blocks so it's easiest to put some sandpaper over the spot where the blocks go and rub the blocks over it, then it acquires the radius from the surface.




Here we are, I've got to finish the edges a little bit more.


And open, notice the plywood on the front and back that keeps the doors from going too far down to hatch.


Everything is in it's place and seems to fit.

400

Slope Soaring / Ninja

« on: December 23, 2012, 15:18:47 PM »

I let it cure with the plastic on, that gives the smooth finish.

You might want to do a test to see if the plastic you have sticks to the epoxy, food wrapping film doesn't stick but it is so thin that you'd probably have a hard time getting it go on without wrinkles.

I cut down sandwich bags.

401

Slope Soaring / Ninja

« on: December 23, 2012, 01:38:23 AM »

Regarding the fiberglass finish, plastic bags are your friends. Not sure what the correct name is but it's the "soft" clear bags, not the ultra thin(noisy ones) but the more substansial ones.

Put them over when you've squeezed out most of the epoxy, "rub" them lightly down but beware that any crevises and folds will show up on the finished coat. This will give you an almost mirror smooth surface and help keep the edges neat.

402

Scale / Ziroli 92" P-47

« on: December 23, 2012, 01:25:08 AM »

Short kit from a company called Laser Lizard, canopy, cowling and plans via Model Images(now defunct) in the UK.
International project, among the suppliers are: Model Images, Laser Lizard, Fighter Aces, Ashtek, ModelExpress(is), S.M. Services, Bobs Hobby Center, Fibretech.

403

Scale / Ziroli 92" P-47

« on: December 22, 2012, 13:46:22 PM »

Cheers, maybe not popular but there are few running around.
This is my mates place, I'm afraid mine is a bit more humble on an old desk.  

Now we are up to 14.January 2007, got a bit white around that time.

The snow is getting close to 150 cm(59") from the roof edge.


Can I get to my Jug... I'll ponder about it for a little while.


Getting there.




I'll start on the wing shortly.


Turnaround...


I'll need to do some changes around the tail wheel area. Ziroli drew the Robart #160 retract on his plan, it goes from the blue circle and up to the green when retracted.
CJM retract goes between the same coloured circles depending on where it's installed(same colour lines). I'll also need to run the pull/pull wires for the steering from behind the retract or use some springy thingy on the lines.


Tail seat.


Next up, doing some wheel doors for the tail wheel. Notice the clear plastic film to keep the cloth and epoxy from sticking to the fuselage.




Here is the hatch all trimmed up and ready for action.




Here we see the tailwheel at its final resting place, I made an U shaped plate from plywood for the retracts to bolt to, that plate sits on beams that are joined to the fuselage formers.








To solve the steering dilemma I'll run the wire in a tube behind the tail wheel.


Starting to look like the part.


The traditional support of control runs over longer distances, so far only the blue.


Servos for the elevators. Allen servo screws from Modelfixings, very convenient for tight spaces.

404

Scale / Ziroli 92" P-47

« on: December 22, 2012, 02:08:24 AM »

Next up the fuselage, for that we need a jig.






One razorback coming up.


The kit cutter sent this 3/16" for the firewall!!!   :shock:


B25 from YT, P47 crutch and P51D from Top Flite.


Centerline marked.


My plane was pregnant and I didn't know it, Ready 2 in hiding.


Getting there.


Old firewall in the new firewall cut out.


And here they are side by side, not a doubt in my mind that this was a smart move.


BIG


Balsa stripper from Master Airscrew, used for making stringers at the moment, might also come in hand when it's time for some planking.




Busy as a bee.


String theory.


Arrrrr, time to walk the plank matey.

I cut down some of the balsa for the planking, notice that the cuts are not straight, this makes it easier to plank the fuselage.
BTW if someone needs any extra weight to get the right CG in their models I got a lot of "balsa" that would be well suited for that. Well chuffed with JP for shipping that "balsa".


To keep the structure warp free I planked both sides at the same time


Oh dear, looks like VSOP works on balsa too!   :lol:

405

Scale / Ziroli 92" P-47

« on: December 22, 2012, 01:57:26 AM »

You asked for it Fred!    

Our story begins on a dark winter night, no one was up except...  nahhh but I've always wanted to start with that line!    :lol:

The story begins late in 2006, 28 of November to be exact.

Big plane, the full size has a wingspan of about 12.4 meters.




CJM retracts.




Laser cut parts.




We need some books.




We start on the tail.












Starting to look like something.


The sheeting is big.




You can never have too many clamps!






Few trees were cut down...