Richard Crapp

Strangely I was working on the Gull 4 dores yesterday. They are a different style to your Vega Gull. Part of the Gull evolution. The top at the moment comes off and can be hinged to the rite. To make the dore on the left open will require some sawing! https://www.rcscalebuilder.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35651&PN=1&TPN=15 There are three nice photos here including the cabin file:///C:/Users/Richard%20Crapp/Desktop/PERCIVAL%20GULL%20IV%20-%20Classic%20Aircraft%20Sales%20Ltd.htm

Nice advantage of those huge tanks is that it will save you from detailing the cockpit. I did not want to see here toes anyway!

It's about the same with me. I had to put the gull aside to freshen up the 12 year old Wessex try-motor that may be called for flying duties. It's done except for test flights so I can now tinker with the Gull but wont get it flown this year. I was going to ask if you knew how many hinges the rudder had? but i decided on 3 and its done now. Don't get to hung up by folding wings. I found out with the Swordfish they can be more trouble than their worth. Mine fold but only after I remove the wing tube! More of a party piece than useful.

Any build news John.? I look forward to them. I am just getting a bit more done on mine.

I don't think that is a big problem . You just have to alter the vertical plane of the hinge. Like re-fix it with the bottom of the hinge more to the rear. You might have to insert some more hard wood. The real one had warnings about not stressing the hinge area , the tips to be supported during the fold process. In the pictures you can see the tips nearly hit the flore when folded.

I like your servo arrangement with the horn on the inside where it should be. I will move mine. The four flaps you refer to must be the inner ones on the centre section. The Gull four dose not have those but it dose have an air break between the front undercarriage struts. A fascinating detail that i will be unable to resist.

I meant Kolm, not Valach. I have one of those at 70cc and it dose not fit, by some way. the 60 is only slightly less tall. Unfortunately the Kolm is eye wateringly expensive! I have a full detailed thread on RCSB https://www.rcscalebuilder.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35651&PN=1&TPN=7 Is Laser's www sight still down, or is it me?

If the 180 is not enough i would look for a 50cc 4c. The Laser 200 , The Large Enya's and Saito at around 40cc don't seem a big enough increase for the extra £s Unfortunately the rang of 50 cc 4c is small. Valach have one at £1500. Gaui have one at £1000 but there are questions , Enya have a one at .... a lot! Is Laser's www sight still down, or is it me?

Thanks John, For the bits that were missing on Auther's construction, that's nearly everything, I am using Dennis Bryant's 1/4 plan. It is nice not to strain the brain to mutch. I can trust DB plan, just needs 153% enlargement on the printer. I think the Gull will fly on the 180 but with no excess of power. I am relying on the clean design. We will see. BTW, i have a story about DH86 but hesitate to clutter your thread.

No worries with priming, just open throttle 1/2 and spin with starter. Laser carbs are so well made that If you close the carb no fuel will pass. All my recent cooling ducting is done with firm black foam sponge, off the type Mick Reeves sells for tyres, Cyno'd to the inside of the cowl. if it touches a real hot spot it just melts back a little then stops. The foam touches the fins and all gaps are sealed. I was just thinking that you could use some blocks to seal some gaps. Power is a Laser 180. My Gull was a airframe started by Auther Searl, perhaps 30-40 years ago so it has scale of 3.7 and a few oddities . My wing now has a M/R spitfire wing tube, but still has hinges to fold the wing, and retain it, This means i have to pull the hinge pin, remove the wing and tube then replace the hinge pin. It is just a party piece as I did not want a true folder, to difficult to transport. All surfaces are complete with a little finishing. here is a picture of the flap box, It has a locating dowel into the wing root as dose the wing.

Test from Richard

Mine was an enlargement of the Switzer-Jerry Bates plan , same thing. It was 1/4 and flew on 2 Enya 90's

Found your thread, very nice to see a finished model. I am building a Gull 4 and will probably use G-ACGR as a subject as it is so well documented. I found mine in a sale at the LMA Gaydon event, first picture below. No tail, Ailerons or flaps and no cowl. Mounting for a Zenoh 38 is present, I shall start with a Laser 180 and hope that will be enough. It was actually started by Auther Searl but must be 30-40 years old. I bought the Dennis Bryant plan from Sarik that is about 75" . My carcase has 114" span so is 3.7 scale, I can put critical parts and outlines through my A3 printer, enlarge 151% and get quite a good outline. I ripped out some Groupner blade style wing joiners and installed a Mick Reeves Spitfire tube to get the 5deg on the outer panels. Currently working on the Flap boxes, On the F/S these fold up and over to allow the wing to fold. My wings will fold but only when i remove the wing tube. Most of my builds are on RCSB with more detail