Rafa L

I like it very much!

Nice plane. I like it!

I add central section of top wing: I cut the struts level with the wings, painted central panel and presto!: Now I have to electrify my Tripe... I'll tell you about it!

Hi all: Before mountig the wings, I inserted some little pieces of CF rod in the internal struts an fuse: Then, Mr Newton and a little epoxy helped me to mount the left wing set: Then right wing panels: And when epoxy set...

Then I mounted the wings in the templates and cyano glued the struts and wings: Wings + strut + templates formed quite a rigid set which I'd mount all together.  

Hi all! Monuting the wings was the trickiest task in Tripe's construction. I marked the wings, and drilled them: central holes and struts holes.    I CAD drew two lateral templates of the wings and struts positions, and marker external struts: External template is higher because of the diedral. External struts is located a bit forward than internal.

Hi! Back again. I'm still working on my Tripe. It's "almost" ready... but in my case, "almost" can be three or four mounths (I told you I am a very-very slow builder). When I posted last time, I had the fuse completely white: No doubt: I decided to reproduce Raymond Collishaw's "Black Maria". I used emanels and this was the result: For the wings I used 3mm. Deprom. My "Troll" (http://www.amjd.ch/dossier/modeles/troll/troll2.pdf) has got 3 mm Deprom's 85 cm span wings and it is OK. So, I cut and curved them by rubbing them against the banister: Then I painted them. Emanels again: (to be continued)

Nice plane. It would look superb on our field!

Hi pals, I finished the tail end and now I’m going for the wings and the paint work.   In December mag Cyril said he’d used ceiling emulsion with poster paint… it sounds a bit strange (for me, at least).   What kind of paint did you use in yours? Thanks for your help.   

Hi pals: Nice to know that Wess' plane is such a good flyer. I hope the mine will be too. Now I'm working on the U/C and wheels of the Triple. For the U/C's axle I used 1,5 mm CF rod. By the way, can anyone tell me how much is 20 SWG in metric?… or …Where can I find a SWG / metric conversion table?  I used sewing thread to reinforce the U/C legs' junction.    For the wheels I used 50x3 mm O-rings and the hub is a sandwich ply(1/16) + deprom(1,5mm- 3mm sanded-) + ply.

Hi Wess, Cyril's model was 177gr. Yours is a bit heavier, but well powered. Have you flown it? I hope your plane to be a great flyer.  SOPWITH- I made a ply (1/16) frame to reinforce the bottom deprom sheet, just where U/C legs and servo will seat.

SOPWITH- liteply (1/16) firewall for AXI 2204/54 Cheeks,  and lightening holes in B1

SOPWITH- A template will help to place the struts in the exact place  

SOPWITH - Enough place for the batt? I adopted Timbo’s solution for the battery bay: I made a “ceiling” and opened a gate at F3 low part. I added a ply frame to reinforce F3.

I started making a firewall template with my CAD program and… what a surprise, there is a little trouble with the plan: whilst in front view the fuselage’s 46 mm. wide, on the top view it is 57 mm: How did you sort it out? Thanks.

Hi Timbo,   You’re right, I’ll to make F1 with something stronger than depron.   I’ll also need a mounting box or something similar to get the motor 10mm or so forward.  

Hi Timbo,  Most of the tests on 2204-54 in Modelmotors’ web are done under 2 Lipo, that’s why I was afraid of burning the motor. But you’re right and figures are clear. I’ll take your advice and go for 2204-54 + 3 Lipo + 7x3,5 prop.     The nest point: the battery: I saw in your post you’ll use 460-3s. The smallest I’ve got are 800-3s. I’ll have to purchase smaller ones.  Motors without this mounting tube the C&K’s got will allow a completely empty battery bay to put the ESC in (and maybe the RX too). That will help me in right balancing the model. (I usually use plenty of glue and often my models are tail heavy)! Thanks for your help. Rafa

Hi Timbo, Hi Terry, Thanks for your help. I agree with you: these AXI aren’t cheap, but the mine is collecting dust in the drawer waiting for a plane.   AXI 2204/54 + APC SF 9x 4,7 + 2 lipo =  25 W out / 38 W in (%66 efic.)If the target-weight is 6,25 oz., power ratio will be  64 W/lb. Is it enough for a little floater like this (the SOPWITH)? AXI 2204/54 + APC SF 7x 3,5 + 3 lipo =  35 W out / 45 W in (%77 efic.)In this case power ratio will be 89W /lb, which sounds better, but…This second combination is more efficient, but I think I’d burn it. What do you think? Thanks Rafa

I think I’m also going for the SOPWITH (floater than DR1) The bottle of NESTEA seems to be perfect for the cowl.C&K motors no available in Spain. Do you think the AXI 22004/54 could be OK? Thanks for your help.