Craig Spence

Thanks Nick, yes especially lucky with Robart there 👍 My worry is not just that they’re gone but for replacement parts in future if needed. Fighteraces are great for quality products and service but I’ve been told by Phil he will only pull it if it’s 100% accurate. The thing is Im not wanting him to mass produce it? I was also going to get them to do the plug for me but at a cost exceeding £500 I just can’t afford it. Id also begrudge it because they’d keep the plug (or make a copy from it) that I paid £500+ for and make money from it? So unfortunately I’ve come to the decision I’ll have to do it myself and I’ll have to do it in two parts. Being in two parts isn’t a major issue though as it has a kind of canopy roll bar. I'm sure I’ll be able to do something with it. Cheers 👍👍

Thanks very much Nick, really appreciate the kind words. I do plan on adding most surface details and have got some micro screws I’ll be installing to replicate the scale details. Cockpit detailing will have to wait unfortunately. There isn’t a canopy for this model on the market at the moment and I’ll have to make my own which really will be time consuming and the cockpit will have to wait until the canopy has been fabricated.

Have not done an update for a long time on here. I got the plane on its wheels for the first time and all seems pretty good. Still having some issues with retracts and getting them to sit in the wheel wells. Hopefully I will try to add more content in the coming months. Hope you all have a good Easter weekend and if you’d like to look at how I got to this point I have a build thread on Facebook as well https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076796093601 Thanks

Thanks Gary 👍

Thanks again

Thanks Gary, I’ll have a look 👍

Good morning all, I’m looking for recommendations for a club that’s suitable for large scale planes in Kent (I’m based in Sevenoaks, closer to here is ideal). Ive already been a member of Bickley so not interested in returning and currently a member of FOOHLS which is great but limited to two wind directions. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

Haven't done an update on here for a while. Both wings now glassed, offered up wings to check intake symmetry at the front and all looks ok. More updates to come soon.

Thanks Trevor, I’ll be going with the set up I have now but when Sierra make a set I will adapt to suit them. Agree with everything above 👍 cheers

Thanks Nick, my original intention was to spread 3 bays (as I’ve done in my bolt) as you have but I went against in the end to reduce weight and make it simpler. As you said you have long legs whilst mine are relatively short and it’s a tricycle gear plane. I hope it pays off 😂 At present there rock solid but are behind the main spar which is different to what I’m used to. Only time will tell. Thanks for all the info and I’ll have a look into the carbon.

Thanks Nick, I have some Kevlar pulp I normally use to beef things up. I haven’t put as much info on this thread but the layup is; 1/4” birch ply laminated to 1/4” lite ply. Then half inch balsa block as a shoe. tye leading edge has a 1/4” birch ply sheet web as well. Trouble is with getting these to fit is that no one’s made a commercial set yet so I’ve had to get an engineer to help make the retracts. They should rotate to fit the wheel well but it’s a mod I can’t afford on time so I reduced the wheel thickness. Where do you use the carbon? On the doublers?

Retracts installed and I had to sand the wheels down. I can’t find the spec I need for the wheels so I’ll make these good after sanding.

Another small update but good progress this week. Both port and starboard wings have the tips on now, I spent a good few hours sanding the tip and leading edge. Gotta say I love the curves on this. Rough sand today and once the Port wing is done I’ll fine down getting ready for glassing. Although glassing may have to wait until the intakes are done and both wings offered up to the fuselage. For that to happen I need to finish the other fairing! Anyhow, progressing well for now. Oh, both retracts are installed as well and I sanded the wheels to fit

Yeah I know, it’s been much more difficult than usual 😂 Especially when there are no standard parts for the build as well. No retracts on the market, no spinner, no canopy etc…. All these other little bits will add to the time of the build.

Haven’t been on here for a long while due to a house move, workshop build, garden renovation etc.. Anyway, I have one retract plate glued in now and it’s been a pig. the only way a scale wheel can fit in here is if you have slight twist and turn retracts. I’ve had to adapt for this and will reduce wheel thickness and diameter. Retract plate was reduced in size from my original choice to reduce weight. more updates to come. cheers