cymaz Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 I am just about to glue the fuselage sides to the main body of the superstructure. When I glue the tail end together how do get both fuselage side straight and true and not end up with a banana??????? This is for my Precedent Stampe build. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greybeard Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 I would use my building jig or similar. I suppose that you could make something with some shelf brackets. A number of bananas - that are best forgotton - have shown me that this is the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Mark the centre of the bottom of each former . Draw a line along the bench and assemble over that aligning the marks to the line Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Hi cymaz, i'd make a jig from mdf. cut around 6 accurate rectangles, say 150X100 mm. Cut them across the diagonal, and you have the basis of a decent jig. you need a flat building board, and a method of fixing them, but it's not rocket science. I made mine about ten years ago, and am using it as I write this ernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Fenton Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 I am with Peter, build to a straight line drawn on the building board. Use engineers squares to project vertical lines as you go. I never got on with the jigs. Cheers Danny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Thats my method as well. just a nice straight line on the bench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Etheridge 1 Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 I feel I have to state the obvious here,----don't paint it yellow! MJE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted November 6, 2012 Author Share Posted November 6, 2012 The Stampe fus is too long for the building jig. I checked the superstructure and it is square on the diagonals. I will add the sides and glue only to the superstructure. Then clamp the tail end together. If I put a plumb line in the middle of the rear former and mark the middle of the rear post and stretch cotton between the two. This will give me a striaght line from the front. I mark the fuselage sides down to the rear at equal intervals. If the fuselage is straight the measurement should be the same each side all the way down........ am I correct................would this work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Fenton Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 I would avoid doing it that way, if I understand you correctly. If the two sides bend differently (almost certainly will) then your plumb line will not be where you want. However forcing the sides in to be centred on your line should work. If thats what you in fact meant? I would start by positioning over the centre line, bringing the sides together using the marked line and the line in the middle of the bulkheads/cross members that Peter mentions. As you get further back towards the tail, you may need more pressure on one side than the other. I don't clamp them together at the tail until the very end. If you have done it right they will meet perfectly...... Cheers Danny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Simmons Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 I always have my sides oversized and then cut to suit after fixing to the model. I found out to my cost never cut the sides beforehand as the wood has other ideas and gaps then appear. . It depends on the model if a jig is required and you can do it this way. Otherwise buld a Buccaneer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Reynolds LaserCraft Services Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 I found that with the Stampe, if the forward formers are true and square you can simply dry clamp the tail post together and it will be spot on, provinding both sides are identical, if they are not, when you centre the tail post the ends will not meet up exactly, i then checked the straightness of the sides with a 1 metre rulemounted onto 3 blocks, purely to check for straight lines, not squareness or central position, try it all dry first and if its all good, get the glupey glue out My double check method was to get a 12" rule, tape this to the front former with 7" exactly sticking out, and measure from that point to the centre of the tail post, do the same for the other side and both measurements should be the same if it is in the correct position Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 a few year ago....i got an award at our AGM for my skills at building things slightly/a lot skew whiff......so if anyone wants any advice how not to do it....let me know... ken anderson .....ne...1... skew whiff dept..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Etheridge 1 Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Many years ago (1961/2) I made a Southern Junior Models 'Southern Dragon'. Whoever designed this kit obviously thought about the 'banana issue' . A balsa 'crutch' was built first around the centre line of the fuselage looking on the plan view. Once the crutch was finished the bulkheads were added to the crutch and then the stringers etc to the bulkheads. A similar arrangement was designed for the polyhedral wing spar which was constructed first. I always thought that if I designed my own plane i would use the crutch method as it ensured there was no distortion. The Southern Dragon was only 42 inches span and was a free flight model. There was the usual warning about putting your name and address on the model which I ignored and hence lost it on it's first flight. The plane /plan is still available through Ben Buckle. MJE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted November 7, 2012 Author Share Posted November 7, 2012 There is always good old Pythagoras and his right angle therum, (that's not a vintage build). I will do both methods..bringing the tail together over a straight builing line then double check by measuring. The ruler never lies!!! I have checked my string method and the measurements either side of this all the way down the fus were identicle each side. I have one chance to get this right. Its more nerve wrecking than a maiden flight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Fledermaus Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 I I thought some newbie’s to balsa bashing and born again types like me might be interested in my world patented anti banana jig wot I knocked up, sorry made this morning. Using the old centre line method it’s an old IKEA shelf I’ve been saving for sometime and some wooden blocks faced with balsa which has been stuck on with double sided tape. The blocks themselves are also stuck in place with double sided tape – it didn’t need anything fancier in the way fixings than that. Just position the fuz over the centre line, position the blocks either side and stick down. You might just be able to see that the nose is raised so that the tail can sit flat, square as well as centered on the line. Yes, it’s not pretty but it worked a treat I don't think SLEC will loose any sleep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted November 23, 2012 Author Share Posted November 23, 2012 Good on yer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reno Racer Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 I would start by positioning over the centre line, bringing the sides together using the marked line and the line in the middle of the bulkheads/cross members that Peter mentions. As you get further back towards the tail, you may need more pressure on one side than the other. I don't clamp them together at the tail until the very end. If you have done it right they will meet perfectly...... I follow DF and PM's advice and use this method on all my builds. I've found one of the those cheapo DIY laser levels perfect for this, as they project a red striaght line beam down the centreline of the model (over your original drawn line) and this helps when bringing the tailpost together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert chamberlain Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 I'm not quite sure what is meant by a "crutch". I've no doubt seen one used in building a fuselage, but have probably called it something else. Bob C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Etheridge 1 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Bob C, just imagine a crutch you would use if you were disabled.You would have one under each armpit. Well the crutch used in the Southern Dragon fuselage construction looks exactly the same and would suit a disabled dwarf! MJE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Etheridge 1 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Here it is Bob--Benbuckle can provide it ,my nephew has / had mine but I bet he has lost it ----can you see the crutch? MJE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruprect Spode Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 'Crutch' building is my preferred open structure method, Either do the sides or top and bottom halves first. Pin down the centre line longerons for top and bottom or upper and lower spines for the sides. Glue on the half formers then the stringers, when dry remove from the board and join the halves together. Ruprect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Etheridge 1 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 The Southern Dragon Crutch outlined. MJE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Not sure what happened there, but my "no" immediaely followed Mikes earlier post where he asked...."can u see it ?" Somehow, Ruprect sneaked in between us LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Cardona Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 i never tried the crutch method before but it seems is the most user friendly method to build a straight fuselage with no problems. but somehow it's not so common in plans these days. regards Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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