LPP's chippy

[LPP]

Have finally plucked up the courage to start a ‘build’ thread for my chippy.

Well, where to start.

Like some of you have grown up with a love of all aviation things in our household, my Dad was a keen aeroplane modeller in his early years and introduced my older brother to it, naturally I tagged along. They did the building and I was the general little helper and dogsbody.

At that age although the fascination for aviation was there, the building and flying for me wasn't taken up, I was happy to watch, apart from the plastic kits and the odd small free flight build.

My first experience actually in the air was when I was about six with a family pleasure flight in the good old Skeggie Auster. Later on I joined the Air Scouts, it was in that time we went for an air experience day at a local gliding club, enjoyed that so much in the open cockpit of a T31 that after seeing the lads there in the ATC, made enquiries and joined, just to get the gliding. Succeeded in getting my solo gliding certificates on my sixteenth birthday. Also got lots of weekends at RAF Newton for Air Experience on Chipmunks, fantastic.

Same year started work, no, not the RAF or aviation related but in engineering as an apprentice mechanical fitter, enjoyed working with my hands. Left the ATC as girls had appeared from somewhere, couldn't afford the gliding so took up sailing instead! I continued still watching the model builds as older brother was still going strong on building and flying with Dad. They had gone from the galloping ghost of the early sixties to full house proportional stuff in the late sixties. I occasionally helped at the flying field if I wasn't too occupied elsewhere.

Before I knew what had happened, was married and had a family, now all grown up, unfortunately no interest had been kindled in aviation with them despite taking them to many events, full size and modeling. Have no complaints though, still say best thing I ever did getting married.

Fast forward 34 years to the year 2000, new millenium. After visiting my brother in Australia and seeing his beautiful 1/4 scale model DH2 and Sopwith Pup in the air, couldn't stop talking about them. Much to my surprise, my wife buys me a Grampian Skyline kit, veneered foam wing. Thoroughly enjoyed building that and then joining a club and learned to fly. Everything else since then has been ARTF apart from a bit of wishful thinking in buying a few part built models with the intention of completing them, which unfortunately didn't come about.

So, why the Chipmunk, like many, the memory of youth and the experiences of flying will be a huge incentive to complete a scale model of one similar to the one I first experienced aerobatics in. I say similar as for the life of me cannot find my old ATC book with the record of what I flew in.

Now, this chippie build will be the ideal opportunity to make a descent start to 'proper' building with the guidance of all the experts here as am greatly lacking in the complete building experience due to ARTF assembling and many repair jobs.

I'm considering eventually completing mine in the BBMF black scheme although it's possible for that idea to change, perhaps when my ATC book turns up.

I'll be doing the IC version, have a Laser 70 earmarked to go in it.

Looking forward to this build but will be a late starter as have to work away from home for a few weeks and will be playing catch up when I return.

Got a massive learning curve ahead with the building and the mastering of the forum and posting photos which I haven’t tried yet.

[AlexJ]

Hi LLP,

Welcome to the build, it should be good to learning from each other.

I am going to pop a Laser 70 in mine too , have you considered getting the fuel tank suitably located for the low carb height? I plan on making a box assembly with a nylon mount, instead of the beech bearers.

Kind Regards

Alex

[LPP]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for the welcome.

Now that's a good idea. Must admit hadn't even thought about it. Good idea, I'll have to have a good look. An excellent reason for sharing, thanks.

Cheers

LPP

[Nigel Day]

Hi LLP and welcome.

I'm new to modelling, especially scale, so I'll be lagging behind and looking for guidance too.

[Martyn K]

Nice intro LPP. And another blog. Looking forward to this.

Martyn

[john stones 1 - Moderator]

Hi LPP

The best thing you did was getting married, me too i'm a lucky man but don't tell her I said that

John

[Nigel Day]

I'm with you and LPP John.

[Andrew Price 2]

Girls also did it for me - just as I arrived at the top of the ATC flight training list - if only I had realised I was worth waiting for!! Good luck with the build.

[Terry Walters]

Hi LPP - Well done on getting involved with the rest of us on this build. I'm just about to get the workshop sorted to start on Wed. It should take about that long to get it organised!

Good ATC - it's got a lot to answer for......

Terry

[Danny Fenton]

Great to have your build up and running. I think Simon Delaney also added a nylon mount by cutting the wooden bearers flush with a bulkhead. Don't be to hasty not to use the rails its a tried and tested method after all. I may still use them on the leccy version
Cheers
Danny

[LPP]

Thanks for all your welcomes and encouraging comments.

Extra wood on order and should be here for when I'm home again to get started.

Thanks Danny for the advise, I certainly won't be too hasty, being late to start I'll be closely watching everybody else with their progress and learn from that.

LPP

[LPP]

Terry, I wonder what we would have to answer to with the ATC if girls had been allowed when we were young, like they are now.

[Terry Walters]

Posted by LPP on 28/09/2014 10:11:49:

Terry, I wonder what we would have to answer to with the ATC if girls had been allowed when we were young, like they are now.

LPP - so you didn't have a Girls Venture Corps (GVC) then? We did even in the 60's and very welcome they were too!

Hurry back!

Terry

[LPP]

Been back home a couple of weeks but unfortunately not been able to make a start yet as other more pressing commitments cropped up.

Have managed to read up all the progress with everybody and am most impressed, Danny's guidance is superb. At least I'll have a complete guide to read when I finally get started, although looks like will be quite a delay as work takes me away again next week for two or three weeks, at least I'm getting the funds in.

When I'm away, internet connections are sporadic, so have lots of reading to catch up on when I do get back.