Stephen Bowdler
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Everything posted by Stephen Bowdler
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Ah. Now it makes sense. Very neat. Thanks for the explanation Phil. Another question. The plans don't show any shear webs between the lower and upper spars (except for the panel joiners around rib 3). I have never built a wing without shear webs. Is this correct.......?
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Phil, can you clarify the wing washout details please. The plan, page 2, state 1.5 deg in one place and 2 deg in a different place. Which is correct? They also show a 1/16 x 1/4" strip flat under the full length of the outer panels to achieve this washout. Surely this should be a tapered wedge. Or am I missing something?
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Hi All, Just received my short kit so the build will start this weekend. I have to get it finished by the end of May as I'lll be away all summer - better get my skates on!
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The Blue Tail Flies
Stephen Bowdler replied to Stephen Bowdler's topic in PSSA Mass Build 2016 - A4 Skyhawk
Thanks Harry, The black areas where painted in the same way as the rest of the model - masked and the sprayed with aerosol paint. -
The Blue Tail Flies
Stephen Bowdler replied to Stephen Bowdler's topic in PSSA Mass Build 2016 - A4 Skyhawk
Thanks Harry, The black areas where painted in the same way as the rest of the model - masked and the sprayed with aerosol paint. -
Finished my Sky Hawk AUW weight is 1350g, a fraction under 3lb so similar to other builds covered in glass. It balances with the Rx battery right forward plus 15g of lead. I'm not sure why it has come out tail heavy compared with the prototype. This is my first PSS model and a really enjoyable experience it has been too. It wont win any prizes for scale detail or build quality but not too shabby for a first attempt. I'm off to Cornwall next week for a few days flying with some mates so I hope to get some test flights in then, before the Great Orme event next weekend.
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The Blue Tail Flies
Stephen Bowdler replied to Stephen Bowdler's topic in PSSA Mass Build 2016 - A4 Skyhawk
Just about finished my Sky Hawk in time - next week I will be in Cornwall flying with a few friends so no building time left before the Orme next weekend. -
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Israeli Air Force A4 Skyhawk - Shalom
Stephen Bowdler replied to Peter Garsden's topic in PSSA Mass Build 2016 - A4 Skyhawk
Wow. That is a superb model! You must be pleased with it. Well done. There are so many great Sky Hawks being completed I'm starting to feel slightly nervous about turn up at the Orme with my effort. I'll probably hide it behind a rock -
The Blue Tail Flies
Stephen Bowdler replied to Stephen Bowdler's topic in PSSA Mass Build 2016 - A4 Skyhawk
Finished the exhaust cowl this morning, except for painting it. The poster board / glass / epoxy moulding worked a treat. I added two layers of 25g glass to the inside and then trimmed it to size. My drawing of the A4-C shows the area between the top of the cowl and underside of the fin as being completely filled so I made a shroud to fit this area and enclose the elevator linkage. The sides are 1/16" ply with horizontal and vertical balsa spacers at the rear end. It fits nicely inside the tail plane doublers and there is enough clearance for the push rod to operate. The two parts were then loose fitted to the fuse and then bonded together with thick CA. It would have been better if I could have tapered the trailing edge to match the fin section but that would have made the shroud too narrow for the linkage at full up throw so I hade to compromise and settle for just blending the rear edge as best I could. I want to be able to remove the cowl in case I need to get at the linkage inside so the whole thing slides on from the back. I shall hold it in place with four micro servo screws. Should look good once painted. -
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The Blue Tail Flies
Stephen Bowdler replied to Stephen Bowdler's topic in PSSA Mass Build 2016 - A4 Skyhawk
I have put off making the exhaust cowling long enough so this morning I made a start. I'm having a bash at an epoxy / glass moulding. First I made an oversize cowling from poster board with tabs on both edges and the front edge. This will end up as the core in sandwich construction. Then I taped in place on the fuselage with masking tape on the tabs. The three layers of 25g glass cloth laid up in a minimum amount of epoxy. Once it has cured I shall remove the moulding and apply one, may be two layers of glass / epoxy to the inside surface. It will be interesting to see how it works out. -
The Blue Tail Flies
Stephen Bowdler replied to Stephen Bowdler's topic in PSSA Mass Build 2016 - A4 Skyhawk
Thanks John, Andy, I did as you suggested and, second time around, all is well. Just need to clean off the masking tape adhesive when the paint is fully hardened. -
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The Blue Tail Flies
Stephen Bowdler replied to Stephen Bowdler's topic in PSSA Mass Build 2016 - A4 Skyhawk
The fuselage is now sprayed and awaiting decals and detail. I have had my first serious problem with build so far. I prepared, masked and sprayed the vac formed canopy with car body aerosol paint from Halfords. Once dried I found that the adhesion of the paint to the plastic was almost zero. Some of the paint flaked off as I removed the masking tape. Have any of you any advice on how to successfully paint the canopy? Any special surface preparation or paint to use? Thanks in advance. -
The Blue Tail Flies
Stephen Bowdler replied to Stephen Bowdler's topic in PSSA Mass Build 2016 - A4 Skyhawk
No progress on my Sky Hawk for the last month due to holidays but I'm back in the workshop now. I covered the wing and fuselage completely in one day using Poly-C and glass cloth. That stuff really goes on quickly in warm weather. No problems with warping / distorting of the parts - so far so good. Today I have given the fuselage a first spray coat of primer filler. It's suppressing how it has showed up slight imperfections in my sanding and filling which weren't obvious before hand. Hopefully more elbow grease and another coat of primer will cure that????? -
