Peter Curran 1 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I will attempt to build the A36 using Tonys P51B plans. the fuselage will be fibreglass (plug and mold). I have started by tracing the fuse profile onto tracing paper as one piece, glueing it to some 7mm ply and cutting it out with my scrollsaw. Pictures to follow once I work out how Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Welcome to the forum Peter, sounds interesting. See threads here for instructions on how to insert photos and links etc BEB Edited By Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator on 01/02/2014 10:37:07 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 here are some pics of my build so far plans have been traced onto the tracing paper, the future pilot is overseeing the process the profile has now been glued to the ply sheets formers ready to be cut out profile cut out then sanded to shape formers cut out and attached to each side of the profiles Edited By Peter Curran 1 on 01/02/2014 13:07:49 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 spray foam added between the some of the formers time to trim it down, so above is before, below is what happened next becomes then attacked with the belt sander pilot and beer bottle to show size Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 looks an interesting construction method sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted February 2, 2014 Author Share Posted February 2, 2014 Tony, my intention is to create the fuselage with detailing in two halves, which will allow me to then create a mold from which to create a fiberglass fuselage. then I can replicate it as required, esp if others would like one Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted February 3, 2014 Author Share Posted February 3, 2014 A bit more work done Sprayed some more foam well maybe a little too much but it generally cut and sanded down well the cutout parts in the picture above and below were parts of foam that did not stick properly or did not set right will get some more spray insulation foam tomorrow and try to fix the problem areas. Question to the group, esp to anyone who has attempted this sort of build before. would it be easier to cut the fin off now and build it in later before creating the mold? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin McIntosh Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Ouch! I`ll stick with balsa. Good luck with that as it looks interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu knowles Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Very interested in following your methods here. I take it that you will skin the foam with something to give you a hard shell? Why do you prefer expanding foam to white polystyrene foam or even blue foam? Seems a relatively easy way to get a shape... keep posting! stu k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Hafner Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Will be watching this one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 Stu, I am using expanding foam simply because it is easier/cheaper to get hold of at the moment. I will be sanding it down to the required shape then skining it with fiberglass, sanding it smooth and filling any depressions with car bog etc. I intend to do some detailing ie, panel lines, rivets and hatches, before using it as a plug for the mold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted February 8, 2014 Author Share Posted February 8, 2014 A little more work has been done. I was not sure if the Fiberglass I picked up from Bunnings would be suitable to cover the spray foam I used to get the shape. It was a good thing I did a test as the resin turns out to be polyester and destroyed the test piece I did So out came the 50/50 PVA/Water mix and the local paper for some paper mache to create the barrier between the two Once this has dried I will put a layer of Glass cloth and resin to give me a hard surface to ensure that it is flat and to add the detailing needed to make it look scale. More to follow Any pointers on what I could be doing wrong or easier ways to do it will be greatly appreciated Edited By Peter Curran 1 on 08/02/2014 05:19:46 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin McIntosh Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Why not just use epoxy resin from the start? You will need it for the finished product anyway. Polyester may be cheap but it is very brittle and you cannot really use standard mold release wax; also it tends to set much too quickly for skinning and large molds. I think you will also find that you have great difficulty sanding that down to a super smooth finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 Update for today I have mixed up some resin and added it to some fiberglass oh and I put them both on one side of my fuselage I forgot how smelly and messy fiberglassing was Depending on how this side sets up I will give the other side a go tomorrow Martin I am only using the polyester resin as that is what was at the Hardware store at the time. I will be looking for epoxy resin shortly. As it is, if it fails I can start again using better products and know what I did wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 Next installment I have now covered the second half with fiberglass and sanded back with the belt sander (vacuum cleaner attachment for the dust). , It was getting a hard to keep the gap between both sides closed with only the spring clips, so I then decided to add some screw plates to hold it while sanding along the top and bottom seams first layer of BOG applied and she is starting to look like a Mustang (Slowly) more to follow tomorrow after more bog and sanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 looks good sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 more work completed more bog added and again attacked by the belt sander I thought it would be a good time to cut out the wing saddle, that was fun with the jig saw I put both sides together to see what she looks like and here she is so far She is getting there slowly. Its a good thing I am in no hurry to get this done. More bog and sanding to go, small patches and holes to fill and sand, then I can start on the detailing/wing fillets (better make some of the wing to do this part) more work will be done over the weekend (hopefully) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 I have this thing that I was kicking around the shed for awhile and thought it would actually come in handy for cleaning the bench after some sanding please let me know what you guys think of this process! Edited By Peter Curran 1 on 20/02/2014 11:09:00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 Have arrived back from holidays in Europe, went to Turkey for Anzac day, Italy because we have never been there (Venice for some glass, apparently it is very good), France to visit the WWI cemeteries, then over to balmy old England. Flew out on the day of the Duxford airshow (insert very sad face), would have loved to see the Battle of Britain Flight. Since I got home, I picked up the fuselage to notice a large crack down the side of the cockpit. Bugga, so I pulled the foam out, cut out the inside of the fuselage to work on the cockpit/FPV setup. Edited By Peter Curran 1 on 03/08/2014 12:45:32 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 Updated on Version 2 I have restarted my build. This time I will use the traditional method of cutting it all out and building as per the plan. (we will see how that goes) After cutting out all the ply parts, followed by the balsa parts, I started to put it all together. It is amazing how long things take to build when you try to do it properly including the alignments. It wonderful to have the ability to design and build your own jigs, esp to make right angles to keep everything square. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 tip to young and not so young players!! don't leave your plans just sitting on the table when you have a cat that likes to play with paper Its a good thing I have already produced the parts on the destroyed plans. and that I had the for-thought to scan the entire plan so I can later get it reprinted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 some more work has been completed over the last week I have finally gotten the fuselage aligned and ready for sheeting I have also gotten the rudder cut out and joined to the rudder post, lightening holes added now just waiting for the ribs before working out how I am going to cover it currently only held on by sticky tape Tail plane has been cut out and started to be put together Side sheeting has been added to the upper rear fuselage more work tomorrow as it is a long weekend here in the NT (something called picnic day) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 A bit more work has been done today, the front sheeting has been added and the elevators has been build just awaiting some attention from the sandpaper and elbow grease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 It has been quite awhile since I have done any real work on my project, but over the last couple of days I have installed the retracting tail wheel Here it is in operation Today I played around with TurboCad and using my 3D printer I built the motor mount, including the offset I have cut out some of the wing ribs in 3mm ply so i can work out how to fit the retracts, as the ones I have are a different shape to the originals more to follow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Curran 1 Posted February 3, 2015 Author Share Posted February 3, 2015 This weekend has seen some more work done on the mustang. I started by cutting all the wing ribs out in 3mm ply, (double for the ones I needed in ply). Then stapling the ply templates on to the double staked 3mm balsa, I then powered up the scrollsaw and rough cut them out, followed by some shaping on the belt sander til I was happy with the shapes. then it was time to cover the plans with cling wrap and get some glue down, as can be seen in the pictures below I just couldnt help myself, I had to clamp the two halves together and fit it up to see how it looks now to get some 6mm balsa to complete the leading and trailing edges before sheeting the top. I did some measuring and found that the retacts are not the same shape and size as the plans and the oleo legs are too short, so off to the hobbyking site and ordered ones that should fit better. had to order the Zero 168mm Oleo legs, will have to trim them down and give them a bit of sanding to round them out. the P51 legs are out of stock and have been for a while http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__53757__Alloy_Oleo_Struts_Offset_with_Trailing_Link_168mm_Mitsubishi_Zero_Style_2pcs_.html http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__49207__Servoless_Retract_with_Metal_Trunion_for_Large_Models_51mm_x_43mm_Mount_2pcs_AUS_Warehouse_.html til next installment Edited By Peter Curran 1 on 03/02/2015 08:44:10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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