Peter Miller Posted November 25, 2010 Author Share Posted November 25, 2010 Now the actual moulding of my canopy. This technique is called the drape method. The pattern is large and cold so should be heated in the oven, Gas mark 1 for about 15 minutes. This stops the cold pattern cooling the plastic as the moulding is made. The hot pattern is mounted in a workmate. The plastic needs to be about 1/2 mm or just a bit more. the larger the moulding the thicker the sheet. It is clamped firmly to strips of hardwood. I even stuck mine down with CA. The plastic is heated. Here I am using a gas ring. NOTE use gloves. The ring is not on for this photo. Heating has be even all over and the plastic has to be very floppy. This takes experience. If the plastic is not hot enough it can be reheated for another attempt. The hot plastic is draped over the pattern. This is my second attempt. A bit too hot on one side but OK. Note gloves. Note that the pattern started to separate in the oven. Never mind, it will look good at 50 feet in the air. This is the canopy just after removing from the pattern. And trimmed up to fit the model. The finish depends on the finish of the pattern. Mine is not brilliant. A coat of fuel proofer will help inside. Smaller canopies are easier. You make the pattern in the same way. Then you take a piece of plywood well over the size of the pattern and cut a hole the same shape as the pattern buy with a little clearance . Radius the edges of the hole. Clamp the plastic down firmly and heat evenly. When floppy press the pattern through the hole. I once knew a modeller who didn't clamp the plastic down but put it into the oven to heat. The sheet of 0.030" X12" X 8" plastic came out 2" X 1 1/5" X 1/8" thick!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted November 25, 2010 Author Share Posted November 25, 2010 Bye the way. K&S do various thicknesses of plastic suitable for moulding. I use 0.030" Buy a couple of packets at least. You will ruin one or two sheets getting the knack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Hooper Posted November 26, 2010 Share Posted November 26, 2010 Thanks Peter! I've been looking at the pop bottle method too, and I'm wondering if either method has any particualr advantages. tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted November 26, 2010 Author Share Posted November 26, 2010 The pop bottle system works very well for soem shapes of canopy. I have done a very big canopy with a gallon bottle but the ribs showed up. Things like a B-17 cockpit and turrets etc are best done with the pattern and ply cut out method. Smaller bubble canopies are the same. It is a case of using the best method for the job and that is a matter of experience. I cover windows and moulding in detail in "Essential TIps and Techniques" Vol One published by Traplet Publications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 Well, a bit more progress. A very simple cockpit, just a panel and a pilot. The panel isn't scale in layout. The pilot is one of my Assagai pilots, just about the best pilots you can buy, only on Ebay. Note, even the teeth on the zip are modelled. The cockpit has just been stuck down with canopy glue and held with four screws. The SC 30FS installed. I am sure that most of it could be hidden but I like plenty of access on the field. If you haven't got it, you will need it. The spinner is in the post to me! The radio installation is simple. Battery under the tank, Rx wrapped in bubble wrap and strapped down. 3 Supertec MiniL servos. The ailerons are operated by 9 gram metal geared servos with 100% differential, i.e. lots of up and almost no down. Edited By Peter Miller on 02/12/2010 12:12:53 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 Finished at last. THis shows the outrigger made from a kitchen cleaner tube. Also shown is the servo hatch. Logo and flag on the fin by BMD GRaphics. They put on some extra research to find out just what it was. The fuselage registration by BMD GRaphics. Now theysay that Sunday will be fine, sunny and mild with ow wind speeds. Hollow laughter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 Final figures. Wing area 481 s. in. Weight 60 ounces. Wing loading 19.55 sq. in. per square foot. Power .30 FS Span 74" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Hooper Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Wow! A sunburst finish! Looks great Peter. Is your strip covered with snow at the moment? tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted December 9, 2010 Author Share Posted December 9, 2010 No, No snow here. We only had a couple of inches but I don't go flying when the temperature is below about 5C and it has been for at least two weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Hooper Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Posted by Peter Miller on 09/12/2010 11:19:15:No, No snow here. We only had a couple of inches but I don't go flying when the temperature is below about 5C and it has been for at least two weeks .........and now it's about -5°C................. tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 We have the snow now and it has been -8 for the last couple of nights and never climbed above freezing all day. Luckily I am stocked up and can last for two weeks without going out...much to the disgust of my next door neighbour. I seem to provide her transport a lot of the time along with a lot of other people. I shall spend Christmas drawing up three now plans. One for RCM&E. Well, they have one on file, one waiting to be sent in. Then building furiously for a few weeks.Edited By Peter Miller on 19/12/2010 18:36:25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Hooper Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 You, sir, are indefatigable! tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy watson Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Been quietly watching Peter, and really like it. When will it be in the mag? (Not that I don't have a list!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Posted by Peter Miller on 19/12/2010 18:35:47: Luckily I am stocked up and can last for two weeks without going out...much to the disgust of my next door neighbour. I seem to provide her transport a lot of the time along with a lot of other people. Edited By Peter Miller on 19/12/2010 18:36:25 Good to hear you have lots of balsa in...................... Fournier looks really nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted December 20, 2010 Author Share Posted December 20, 2010 Hi Tim. That's me. Work like heck and then burn out for a few weeks. I just replaced three windows, now I need to get enough to do the front windows. no double glazing in these old cottages and last night it was -12 outside. Andy: There is a biplane coming first. The Fournier has not been test flown yet and it looks like it will be a while before the weather allows that, I need warmth (comparative) and bright sunlight and blue sky. A couple of Sundays ago it was cloudy so I didn't take the model. Then the sun came out. $%"&****! Anyway. probably be sent in to the mag within a couple of months. Frank. Oh yes, I have good stocks of wood and everything else needed., I like to be able to build anything I want without waiting for materials. I shall have to put in a big order to SLEC soon though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 Well, after two months waiting for calm, sunny weather we got a perfect afternoon. Well, almost perfect, it was cold. The Fournier is great and I got a lot of flying shots. On the first flight my pilot who flies for the camera made a beautiful low inverted pass. Pictures will be posted tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted January 22, 2011 Author Share Posted January 22, 2011 Proof of the pudding I am very happy with this one., as good as my RV-7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Hooper Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 She looks great, Peter!Any tendency to tipstall, at all, at all?tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted January 22, 2011 Author Share Posted January 22, 2011 IF one is really brutal with her the wing will drop but in a very leisurely way. She won't bite in normal flight and aerobatics. The secret is a thick root and thin tip and 3 degrees of washout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindsay Todd Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 I like it Peter, very nice indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ashby - Moderator Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Well done Peter, nice scheme too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Cardona Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 nice one peter!! good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Harrison Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 Pity the 'Pull out Plan' is only for the Fuselage!!!???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted June 5, 2011 Author Share Posted June 5, 2011 I am sure that they will publish the wings next month. UYou can start on the fuselage and I posted the missing former on the thread Whoops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Cantwell Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 peter, it captures the full size very well, look forward to seeing the plan, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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