Phil Cooke Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 yeah well done Pete, you interview very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 I am shaping my intakes ready for fitting to the fuselage. I have used a dremmel to cut the top overhand off so I can attach the top sheeting of the fuselage to span the top sheeting.. I have decided that I will attach some thing ply wiht a 1/16th balsa spacer so the join will be clean. I shaped some balsa former for the insde of the formers which hopefull will stiffen it up with my handy profiling tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 19, 2015 Author Share Posted March 19, 2015 Seem to be doing a lot but not showing much progress at the moment. Tonight I made the blocking off pieces for the air intakes. Into one I fitted my switch - took up the tips Tim Mackey suggested re putting a switch in the end of the jet. Good one. I won't be switching this one off by mistake on landing, that's for sure - see my Hawk blog for how disastrous that was. You can see in the background the Aero Tech Epoxy, which is meant to be brilliant for gluing Fibreglass apparently. Will check it in the morning. Have not received my jet outlet mouldings from Real Model Pilots and have sent a chaser. I think this finish is going to be close but am hoping to make it for April. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 21, 2015 Author Share Posted March 21, 2015 Today I have attached the air intakes to the fuselage with the Aero Tech Epoxy. I am a bit disappointed that the fit has left gaps, which I will have to fill with epoxy and microballoons. Not much left to do now - other than fit the fin and upper fuselage moulding. When the glue is dry, I will fit the top 1/8th inch sheeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 21, 2015 Author Share Posted March 21, 2015 I also put the solarfilm on the inside of the intakes first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 21, 2015 Author Share Posted March 21, 2015 I made a suitable hole in the middle of the wing to take my Savox micro servos. No need to block up, as the servos are so small, yet metal geared and reasonable torque. Am using two not one so I can use the ailerons as air brakes also. Can see an end in site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Jones Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Peter, good to see this progressing but I have a question, why film cover a fibreglass model instead of painting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 Posted by Matt Jones on 21/03/2015 21:55:57: Peter, good to see this progressing but I have a question, why film cover a fibreglass model instead of painting? Good question Matt. I am rubbish with paint. It takes a long time to get a good finish I experimented with my Alpha Jet and found it sticks very well, and gives a very smooth surface. It is quicker. If I was doing a camouflage finish I would have no choice, and would paint it. As I am choosing the prototype I will get a quicker and better finish with film. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 It's looking good Pete, did you get your tails to hang at the required angle of droop?? I'm looking forward to the first fully assembled shot, I've not cut the top of the fus off mine yet so still have all the wing fitting fun to come! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 As I am using fibreglass I have no way of attaching the top sheeting, so I have constructed an artifical ledge out of 1/16 inch balsa and some 1/64 inch ply. Edited By Peter Garsden on 22/03/2015 18:31:51 Edited By Peter Garsden on 22/03/2015 18:33:30 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 I have covered the rest of the gap in the fuselage with 3mm balsa. The edges will need som filler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 With some struggle I have managed to install my micro Savox 0257 Servos. They fit easily even with a balsa floor to the servo hatch. I used my handly wire kink bender to create the attachment at the servo end. Edited By Peter Garsden on 22/03/2015 21:33:50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 I need to get me some of them z-bend pliers. Great work so far Pete! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Good to see another Tonka with some RC gear in it - must be getting close! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 I have cut out the parts for the fin support. I nearly made a mistake. Andy, I think there is an error on the plan. It shows that the fin is 1/8th inch thick whereas it is 1/4th inch. I have photographed the top view of the fin support which shows only a gap of 1/8th wide for the fin. Fortunately I spotted the error before I had cut out all the parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Pete I dont think the plan is in error - Andy's drawing shows a built up fin with a 1/8th ply core at the base - so the slot for fin insertion (as drawn) is correct at 1/8th even though the fin itself is thicker the 1/8th ply tongue is correct I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Houghton Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Peter, I'm still following your work with interest. Like Matt, I was curious about your use of film covering, but I shall look forward to seeing the finished result. I enjoy these 'alternative' builds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 Phil - my plan shows 1/4 inch sheet fin not a built up one. It seems there are many versions of the plans as Andy has said. So it would be correct if the fin on my plan was built up - as it with Andy Blackburn's plan. Well the afterburners arrived yesterday in the post. Unfortunately they were the ones meant for Andy Blackburn. Andy if you PM me your address I will forward them to you. Steve from Real Model Pilots has promised to send me larger ones, as my jets are 60mm not 55mm like yours - something to do with not shaping the blue foam quite small enough at the outset.. Anyway - have made the crutch for the fin. Have found some magnets I bought last year to hold the fin so I don't have to use Diamond Tape. The problem is that I can't get them in now until the top comes off because I have done the top sheeting - annoying. I am using Andy Conway's suggested attachment shown on his blog. I am hoping I can find a screw of the right dimensions to attach to the bottom of the fin, and the magnet underneath. Bit of head scratching here. Obviously the crutch needs some pairing and sanding to suit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 Also have sanded down the nose, but it definitely doesn't match Phil's or look the right shape. Don't know if this is because of the shape of my F1, and the say I put together the various pieces for the nose block, but I have been left with a hole where there is no balsa. Can't work out why. You can see that I stuck in a piece of balsa patch, which will be fine when it is sanded. I also had to patch up the nose block near the root as again the balsa did not quite fill in all the gaps. One of the disadvantages of using blue foam and having to get the shape right in the beginning of the build I suppose. Still when it is doing Mach 1 at the Orme, will anyone really care? Also carved a rough shape for the bit behind the cockpit. More shaping to come for the spine on top of the wing. Yes - Solarfilm on fibreglass - worked on the Alpha Jet and seemed to stick better without Balsaloc than on ply, which is a disaster without Balsaloc. Don't know why it works though you have to take your time and use a higher heat setting I suspect. Can see an end in sight - though the trouble and strife is not happy with my hermit life style! Got a banging on the floor the other night when I thought she was awake - was just sanding and very quietly too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 I had a problem like this on the Fulcrum Pete - I couldnt sand the ogive shape that was required, and ended up all pointy! Get her flying, and if it bothers you too much you can always perform some rhinoplasty in the future and lop it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Conway Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Pete: I've never had the fin come off inflight and that was without any magnets, but as others were showing concern I put one on my build to show how I went about it. Your build is coming along faster than mine also like your display in the back seat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 Just looked at your marvellous cockpit and after burner post - awesome literally. Also re read your thread on the magnet and access hole arrangement. My fin is a very tight fit, so I am not worried about losing it, and have worked out how to fit the magnet. Great idea for access hole where it can't be seen. Will do the same. Tonight have shaped the spine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 Have inset a piece of 1/4 sq spruce to take the screw to attach to the magnet. Used gorilla glue again as it was a bit of a loose fit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 27, 2015 Author Share Posted March 27, 2015 Last night I did less but achieved more. I sanded the whole fuselage top spine to shape and matched it in. Still somes shaping to do in situ when glued but not far off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted March 27, 2015 Author Share Posted March 27, 2015 I then used my really handy Proxxon Dremel to cut the hole for the wing I had marked, and the underneath of the wing template. It is so brilliant with its flexible arm. You have to get one if you haven't already. I used the thin diamond tipped disc which worked a treat. I also needed my Chrimbo present magnifying head set. Couldn't have seen enough close up detail without it. As a result I could make a very accurate cut then sand back the fibreglass Edited By Peter Garsden on 27/03/2015 05:10:44 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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