Author Topic: 1/4 scale Opel Rak  (Read 91416 times)

Fred

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1/4 scale Opel Rak
« on: January 03, 2007, 12:49:56 PM »
Hi there,

New year, new projects ! We start with my new dsign, a 1/4 scale Opel Rak. You can find lots of picture and documents here : http://www.retroplane.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=413


Sacle : 1/4
Wingspan : 2.50 mtrs
99% wood, the remaining 1% are the aluminium tubes for the tail (12 and 10 mm diameter)

Central Wing section :

Ribs lovers, this model is for you ! 5 formers, and almost 100 ribs ! I can tell you that I'm happy to have a CNC machine ! So, here are all the bits and pieces for the wing :


The building of this central piece is not that easy, mostly because everything is built "in the air" ! So, you really need a good eye for everything to be square ! The spars (4 for each wing) are made using 8x8 pine strips.


Then, well, you just have to add all the other ribs ! :wink:
After nearly 2 hours, you have something like this :
Education is important, but flying RC planes and gliders is importanter!

Fred

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1/4 scale Opel Rak
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2007, 12:58:33 PM »
The tail booms are attached to the wing / ribs using 3 pieces of plywood that take the aluminium tube (a picture is easier to understand..)



Well, now, you can have a break (tea, coffee, alcohol or whatever you prefer !) and have a look at your latest baby !



So, the central wing part is almost finish. Next, the external wing sections (2)

Fred
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Alan_Perse

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« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2007, 13:16:59 PM »
Looks great Fred  :D . Looks like an interesting glider, haven't seen that design before. Have you got any other projects going  :wink: .

Fred

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« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2007, 14:59:20 PM »
Well.. for now, this one will be enough !  :P
Next one.. Hummmm.. still secret !  :D
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Alan_Perse

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« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2007, 18:48:33 PM »
Secret Eh!!  :P  :wink:

Fred

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« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2007, 08:12:17 AM »
Secret.. Well, let's say not known yet !  :P  :P

So, here we go with the external wing panels :
So, at least 1 and a half panel is done ! I had a shortage of pine for the spars ! used 10 mtrs, and I need 2 mtrs more...

One panel :


Junction central wing / external panel :


Tonight, I'll try to finish the remaining wing panel, and the central wing section.

Fred
Education is important, but flying RC planes and gliders is importanter!

Alan_Perse

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« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2007, 09:47:15 AM »
Hey Fred, will you be sticking rockets on your model  :) .

Fred

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« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2007, 10:15:24 AM »
Hey Alan,
Yep, that's the plan  :D
Only for meetings, for the scale touch !
But I hope that this glider is going to ...glide correctly without the rockets (and going in flames after that !  :lol: )

Well, we'll see... That's going to be interresting anyway !  :D

Fred
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Fred

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« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2007, 07:59:43 AM »
Not a lot of work done yesterday, but things are still moving !




Plan for this week end : TE and LE for the wings and I start building the fuselage or the tail section, we'll see.

Fred
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Alan_Perse

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« Reply #9 on: January 05, 2007, 11:50:16 AM »
You call that Not A Lot Of Work!  :shock: . That's a hell of a lot of work  :D . I only have the balsa ribs of my K8 cut out. I still have to work on the Ply ribs. Damm you and your CNC machine  :D .

Fred

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« Reply #10 on: January 05, 2007, 15:19:21 PM »
Well, not that much really.. Only 2 spars glued yesterday, and the tubes for the wings keys... That's all.
But thanks to the CNC anyway, as without the machine, I'll still drilling holes on the ribs ! (around 200 for the wings...)
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joe

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« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2007, 15:35:19 PM »
Wow! lookin good Fred! :D  :D  it's goin to be great!
Just got my phone line working again since before christmas(eircom suck donkey b**ls).Am still a bit shakey from the withdrawal but starting to feel better!

Fred

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« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2007, 16:18:29 PM »
Welcome back to the Matrix !!  :D
Education is important, but flying RC planes and gliders is importanter!

Fred

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« Reply #13 on: January 08, 2007, 08:09:51 AM »
Hi there,
After a Saturday at the slope, a bit of work has been done sunday on the Opel, starting with the fuselage. The pieces :



Not a lot ! So, that goes really quickly to assemble :


After that, not a lot of work need to be done on it. Plywood sheeting, and space for the pilot, batteries and receiver.. Yep, no servos on the fuselage, they are all in the wings and tail !
First look at the fuselage with the wings :

Well, looks like the picture... Always a good sign !
Back to the wings for a while, and it's time to glue the LE (10mm balsa) and the TE (1.5mm plywood) :


Then, we do the same on the 2 external wing panels, and we can do a final setup and have a look back on the beast :



Well.. Not bad at all ! And the more I look at it, the more I think that can have a decent flight !

This week, it's time to work on the tail (elevator and rudders) section ! More ribs !

Fred
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joe

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« Reply #14 on: January 08, 2007, 15:15:31 PM »
Wow! you really do work fast Fred! looks good.Bet your glad you built that cnc machine!