Adam Ashford Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 Hi all I thought I would put my build up so people can either give me some pointers or maybe get some inspiration. A little bit of background then. I used to build balsa aircraft with my dad when I was younger, and have recently rediscovered my love for the hobby. I looked around for a long time trying to find a model I liked. I wanted to make a biggish scale model. I looked at c130, lancasters, and finally decided on a b17 Flying Fortress 77" wingspan. Not too big and from looking at the plans not too challenging. So I got the plans printed from a very kind gentleman on ebay. He really did a good job of rearranging the plans so they could be printed. So I setup my front room. Sry to the mrs I'm trying to upload photos but can't at the moment any help would be greatly appreciated regards adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Ashford Posted May 29, 2013 Author Share Posted May 29, 2013 Just sorted it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 Hi Adam, you had a couple of false starts on this thread so I've just tidied them up. No problem, but sometime you have to be a little bit patient when creating a new thread as it takes the machinery a moment or two to swing into action! There may be a short pause but it will work! Regarding inserting photos - check out the Site Guides section here which has a number of tutorials on how to do all that sort of thing. There is also a thread known as "the Sandbox" which is just for users to "play around and experiment" without risking messing up a main stream thread. Enjoy! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 Ah - you sorted it faster than I could type it! Well done! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Ashford Posted May 29, 2013 Author Share Posted May 29, 2013 Cheers sorry for the false starts I think I was just too hasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Ashford Posted May 29, 2013 Author Share Posted May 29, 2013 So I thought I would start on the rear wing as it seemed the easiest part to get back into this enjoyable hobby. I used my trusty printer with photocopier and copied all the ribs Then stuck them to the balsa with a clue stick and carefully cuts them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Ashford Posted May 29, 2013 Author Share Posted May 29, 2013 All ribs where then fixed to the trailing edge with a thin strip to keep there square Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Ashford Posted May 29, 2013 Author Share Posted May 29, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew767 Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 Very nice Adam.....i'll watch this. Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Ashford Posted May 29, 2013 Author Share Posted May 29, 2013 Cheers andrew next all the ribs were glued in place and cross pieces added and half the leading edge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Green Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 Signing in to follow. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Ashford Posted May 29, 2013 Author Share Posted May 29, 2013 Then the wing was sheeted The plans called for one sheet to be used and the two corners that were cut were to be added to the front however I didn't have a sheet large enough so I used two sheets for each side. Edited By Adam Ashford on 29/05/2013 15:51:29 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Ashford Posted May 29, 2013 Author Share Posted May 29, 2013 Some more pics of the sheeting process Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 looking good Adam,am going to be following Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Ashford Posted May 29, 2013 Author Share Posted May 29, 2013 Second part of the leading edge glued on and the leading and trailing edge shaped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Ashford Posted May 29, 2013 Author Share Posted May 29, 2013 And this is where I am at the moment with the ends glued on. Just waiting till tomorrow for the glue to cure properly so I can shape them. Also should be starting on the main wings tomorrow if balsa arrives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Ashford Posted June 5, 2013 Author Share Posted June 5, 2013 Hi just a bit of an update. Having started on the wings I have encountered a few issues so I'm not as far along as I would have liked to have been. first I had to wait a few more days than I would have liked for the balsa to arrive. Anyway I started cutting the rips etc. and fortunately noticed before cutting some parts to strenthen the wing ribs, I noticed that they were made out of 1/8 ply. Never mind so I had to go and find some more tools to cut the ply and also some ply. So I haven't really progressed that much but more will be done this weekend. Has anyone built this plain on here? Also does anyone know where I can get the fibreglass dowels and also the canopy's any help greatly appreciated some pics of my not to great progress. Forgot to mention the guy who printed my plans also did me a wing sheet. As the original plans only show one wing the recommend you to turn the plans over and oil them so you can see through to build the other side. The gentleman printed me a mirror image along side the real one so I don't need to do this Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Ashford Posted June 11, 2013 Author Share Posted June 11, 2013 Right finally got one of the wings finished last night lets hope the next one doesnt take as long. This one still need a little sanding but I will wait until covering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Very nice Adam, I have started building a Tony Nijhuis B-17 that is slightly smaller at 72" and is for electric power. will this one be I.C powered? Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Looking good. I have a Royal/Marutaka Zero in build at the moment. I spent a lot of time scratching my head over the plans! I need to do some more carving on it! - I'm watching with interest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Mundy Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Looking good Adam, what are you doing about servos ? ........................if your fitting one in each wing you will find it difficult cutting the holes once the wing is built up (as I did) I now always cut the holes for servo wires before wing assembly. I will watch with interest well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Ashford Posted June 11, 2013 Author Share Posted June 11, 2013 Hi all thank you for the kind comments, after doing alot of research for this build i have come to the conclusion of putting a mini/micro server in each nacelle for each engine. Also one for each aileron embedded in the wing, and I'm hoping to do flaps in the same manner. I also have some ideas on creating a bomb bay. But at the moment these are just ideas. I'm not sure on engine sizes yet but they will ic with a header tank in each nacelle and 4 main tanks in the wing. Again I found this out with a bit of research. thanks again for the comments hopefully I will progress a little more tonight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Ashford Posted June 18, 2013 Author Share Posted June 18, 2013 Just a very brief update. I have nearly completed the second half of the wing. I know progress has been slow but I have many other things occupying my time at the moment. so I have been thinking about power systems. The plans call for .10 to .25 two strokes. I wanted to go for the higher end of the power because I think I will be adding a little more weight than the orginal. Just wanted people's thoughts on these Os la 25 or if anybody has some other ideas please let me know. Preferable cheap ish cheers Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Green Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 You can't go wrong with an OS. I always try to buy motors with a front ball race, rather then plain bearing. It's not a good idea to use a starter on a plain bearing motor if you intend to use one. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Lipman Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Hi Adam looks like a nice job on the B17,same as the one I started some time ago and can't seem to get started on it again so I'm looking to you for some inspiration.I will be watching this build. I got my cowls and canopys from a bloke on ebay called "us wing" at the same time that I bought the plans I don't know if he is still doing them. Regards Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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