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John Fontana

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  1. John Fontana
    Thanks, Dylan. Look forward to seeing some piccies of the 200% version.
  2. John Fontana
     This thread is probably long since dead, but, 2 years and 3 months after starting this project from laser cut wood, I have finally completed the build. It is now awaiting its maiden but given the current UK weather, that might be some time... Edited By John Fontana on 08/02/2016 16:56:18
  3. John Fontana

    John Fontana posted a gallery image in Member Albums

  4. John Fontana

    John Fontana posted a gallery image in Member Albums

  5. John Fontana

    John Fontana posted a gallery image in Member Albums

  6. John Fontana

    John Fontana posted a gallery image in Member Albums

  7. John Fontana
    Hi, BEB. Many thanks for such a detailed build thread which is helping me enormously in my first ever build. Can I ask a couple of questions? 1) When you fashioned the post of the fin to fit into the tailplane, did you cut a piece off the base of the fin just leaving the post, or did you add another piece of balsa to the base of the fin, shaped to form the post? 2) Can you give an indication for the undercarriage of how far below the fuselage the axles for the wheels are positioned, just to give me an idea of dimensions for the U/C? Thanks Edited By John Fontana on 12/02/2014 12:26:13
  8. John Fontana
    Well in that case, BEB, I am well and truly stuffed also.
  9. John Fontana
    BEB, I am really enjoying the detail of your build thread, along with the dash of humour. I started early December getting a lot of help from Dylan's thread - good to see you posting again, Dylan. I am just a little ahead of you but have stalled on the build of the cockpit section. So putting in a plea for your continuing detail when you get to this stage. I am particularly having problems with the positioning of F2A, F3 and F5. Also I would draw attention to a discovery that I and I think VA made that the assembled wing appears to be too wide from leading edge to rear at the wing's centre point, so that it does not drop straight into the wing mount area on the fuselage. F5 still has to be placed against and in front of F5A, making this problem even more acute.
  10. John Fontana
    VA - sorry to hear about the problems. My daughter had the same experience with it all falling through on the day she was due to move. So perhaps by way of distraction.... I have come close to completing the wing, with the two halves now joined. I did a trial fit on the fuselage, and the wing will not fit onto its support on the fuselage. The gap on the fuselage is too small to accommodate the width of the root of the wing. I have double checked the fuselage and the wing on the plans, and they have been built accurately to the dimensions of the plan. The difference is only small, but if the front and rear formers (F2A and F5) for the cockpit also have to fit into the gap, there will be a significant discrepancy. Which brings me to my other query - I can't work out where these formers (F2A, F3 and F5) sit in relation to the wing and fuselage. If you haven't already built this section, I would appreciate some close up pics as you go along.
  11. John Fontana
    Sorry to hear that, Dylan. Hope you can get something else sorted as soon as you can feel up to it. You are obviously fated to be the first to complete their mass build project.
  12. John Fontana
    Vecchio, Looking really excellent. A carrot to a donkey like me! John
  13. John Fontana
    Ok, Dylan, now I understand. A picture tells a thousand words... I somehow missed that part of your blog.
  14. John Fontana
    I did as Andrew suggested-2 A3 sheets for 80p, sellotaped together. Phil, you are right that Lindsay states in the RCM&E article that it is possible to build over the plan in two parts. As an intellectual challenge, I have pondered over how this can be done but with my congenital absence of spatial awareness, I can't work it out. If one builds on the plan and then inverts it to add the wing tip to the other end, the aerofoil profile is under the wing rather than on top. Not to labour the point too much, but if there is a simple way of doing it, it would be useful to those building the two halves of the wing in future.
  15. John Fontana
    Thanks, Andrew, will do, but doesn't it strike folk as crazy, that in the age of digital manipulation, the plan providers can't add the mirror image as standard, and if they have to, add a little to the plan price?
  16. John Fontana
    Thanks to all for the replies. I must confess to having all but forgotten about the build article in the RCM&E since it is by necessity in a short magazine article short on detailed illustration of the sort one gets on a build blog, but it obviously has some very relevant nuggets of information, so I will re-read it. Now here's what I imagine is a really dumb question, but try as I can, I cannot come up wit the answer. I am now ready to start the left wing half. The plan shows the layout of the right wing half, but does not show the left, and the paper is too thick for it to show when the plan is turned over. Does one have to trace it onto say greaseproof paper and then invert? Surely this could lead to errors unless real care is taken? What is the usual technique adopted?
  17. John Fontana
    Thanks, Vecchio and Dylan. I sorted out the D section and cap strips. I now have another stumbling block - the wing joiner. From Dylan's photo, it looks as if the wing joiner sits across the two ribs at the wing root end, against the two spars that join the first three ribs. The first two ribs have slots on their upper and lower edges but these do not allow the joiner to slide in and sit flush wit the upper and lower spars. Do I need to cut through the first two ribs to allow the joiner to slide in, then gluing it securely in place? And how do I set the correct dihedral? I enclose a pic of the are under discussion. Thanks
  18. John Fontana
    Well, it took a while but I finally figured out what cap strips are, where they go and what their function is! A couple of queries - Could you clarify what is the D section that gave you so much trouble fitting retrospectively. Also, re positioning of the balsa strip that forms the leading edge. Should the front edge of the ribs be glued into the centre of this LE strip, so that both top and bottom edges of the strip stand proud of the ribs, allowing for the fitting of the cap strips and balsa sheeting on top, so that the latter two end up flush with the top and bottom edges of the LE balsa strip. Hope I am explaining myself clearly enough.
  19. John Fontana
    Thanks, Dylan. I read about the extra pressures on you, and hope you can resolve them happily soon. I have found your blog to be excellent and really useful, with really good step by step detail so appreciated by a novice like me. Indeed, I do not go into my attic workroom without my IPad to refer to! It's good to know you are happy to accept queries if I have any. Do tell me to push off if it gets too invasive; I will understand.
  20. John Fontana
    Thanks, Vecchio. Don't know why but the prospect of the wing I have found more daunting, and been putting off making a start. Anyway, after your reply, I have today begun. Might be posting more queries though as I go along!
  21. John Fontana
    I am just starting on constructing the wings using supplied laser cut wood parts. I have placed the ribs in position on the 6 mm square spars, but found that the two slots cut on the leading edge end of the two ribs nearest the fuselage are larger than 6 mms, and so a loose fit. Has anyone else come across this? Is it an error or am I missing something?
  22. John Fontana
    Dylan, Such bad luck. I have to say that the same possibilty has occurred to me, since when i work, I tend to put things down somewhat absent mindedly. I have been making a special effort to keep my working area unusually tidy! I have completed the horizontal stabiliser and two elevator halves, plus the fuselage, but decided not to cover the latter till as late as possible, to give me access for as long as I can.
  23. John Fontana
    Ah, forgot about the former tilt angle-thanks VA.
  24. John Fontana
    Now I understand!
  25. John Fontana
    VA, how did you decide on the positioning of the wing plate. I have looked hard at the plan which seems to show it tight up against the former behind, where as you have it set more forwards. I am just wondering if the hole in the wing plate needs to ultimately line up with a hole in the wing?
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