richard dalgleish

Fuselage to one side for a bit whilst I get the wings started. I always like to get the wings to a stage where I can sort out the wing attachment to the fuselage. Ailerons built this week for a start, typical BT design with brass tube and piano wire hinging. More to follow.

Trial fit of the retractable tail wheel. There’s not much space in back of the Typhoon but it hinges up nice and central, so glued in the ply hing points. More to follow.

Framed up the fuselage this week, all nice and straight.

Hi John I don't think I have ever tried the carbon paper method, I do quite enjoy the pin pricking and dot joining.😃 Can you still buy carbon paper? Richard

Hi Chris I find the best method is to trace the parts, prick through with a pin and join the dots. The band saw makes light work of the cutting out the parts. The good thing about cutting your own parts is that you are in control of the wood quality, and it doesn't take that long to have a set of parts cut out. Regards

Hi Mike i haven’t built the wing yet, but I will be posting pics. i have a load of pictures of my first Typhoon. PM me your email address and I will send you pictures, if you want me to. Richard

Fuselage formers cut out, thought I would weigh them before cutting the centres out just to see how much weight saving there is. More to follow.

I would not use hard balsa for the braces, I have built quite a few of BTs models and all have had the braces changed to ply. I nearly lost my 82" Corsair when the balsa brace decided to give way, luckily the wing did not fold. Re the outer panel ribs, only rib #5 is angled, all other ribs are built perpendicular to the building board. I'm currently building my 2nd Typhoon at the moment. Regards

Back on topic, Fuel tank cradle/support installed. The remaining fuselage formers traced and marked out. More to follow.

Hi Mike There are no build instructions with any of Brian’s plans, you’ll find all the details and info on the plans. Most people swap out the balsa wing braces for plywood and swap the balsa spars for hardwood but apart from that just follow the plan. As far as I know Unitracts are no longer in business, so you are limited on choice of retracts, ideally they should be 96 degree units, the closest you’ll get off the shelf is 95 degrees. On my first Tyhoon I had some custom made, I’m just trying to decide whether to use them again or buy some Electron units. As for your engine choice I think the Saito will be underpowered, my first Typhoon started life with a Saito 30 petrol then I swapped it out for a Laser 155. I’m using a Laser 155 this time. I have seen them flown on Laser 150s and 180s. Bear in mind the all up weight will be about 16lbs if you can keep the tail end weight down, my first one was 17lb including nearly 3lb of lead, saying that it flew great and landed at walking speed. Regards

Good spot, just testing to see if anyone notices😀

Been a while since I posted, being working on the fuselage. Ive decided to mount the servos above the tank and as far forward as possible as I need to get the tank as low as possible, it will mean having a cut out in the leading edge of the wing to the clear the tank. More to follow.

I've built a few of Brian's designs and i think the plans all show the firewall butted onto the sides. I always change this and sit the firewall between the sides, use 30 minute or 1 hour epoxy with a good size triangle section and it should be fine. Picture of my first Typhoon below.

Rudder almost finished, I'll Dremel out the centre core before covering. Onto the fuselage formers next.

Quick update, working on the fin and the rudder. Again, typical BT construction. More to follow.

Some work on the elevators last night, built in two halves then tack glued together for rough shaping. I've hollowed them out as the plan shows, I'm not sure how much of a weight difference it makes though. Will glue the halves back together tonight for a final sanding and finish off the hinging, then onto the fin and rudder.

Looking forward to that, enjoyed the recent one.

Tail plane almost completed, typical BT design. Just the elevators to profile, hollow out and hinging.

I'm tempted but have all the parts to build the Brian Taylor version.

What's the wing span on these?

It is a fairly straight wing, nearly 3 inches thick at the wheel wells. There is some washout too, it makes for a good flying model. I'll weigh the Mk1 Spit again, I've only put two flights on it so far but it flew very well.

My first Typhoon needed 2 1/2 lbs of lead to balance, all up weight was 17lbs. It still flew very well and still landed at walking pace with full flap and some power. I'm being extra careful on this build though, servos at the back of the firewall, lighter weight glass cloth and not so many coats of primer and base coats. My Taylor Mk1a Spitfire also needed some lead, about 1lb, total weight is about 12lbs.

I cant promise pictures everyday, but will do regular updates.

Anyone interested in a build thread? This will be Typhoon no2 for me, the first one i lost after an engine failure 3 years ago. Pic below. Laser 155 engine Original BT cowl, canopy and spinner. I salvaged the original retracts, pilot, exhaust stacks, but that was about it. I've built a new retractable tail wheel assembly, lighter and better than the previous one. I

Thanks Nick, your 190 was nice too, liked the electric start on the engine.