WolstonFlyer Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 Posted by Martyn K on 01/02/2016 15:39:52: This is what I have in mind.. You don't want to remove too much of the torso off that one, it will look even better when painted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 She's a good pilot Martyn I had her fly my Pitts Special John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 i was putting a 1/5 in mine but decided i want the pilot for something else,so im going to try a 1/4 in my bigger bally if i can find it,i really must tidy up and organize things.ive got a few 1/6 ones but i think they be a bit small in mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn K Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 Posted by Peter Miller on 01/02/2016 18:08:42: Posted by Martyn K on 01/02/2016 14:44:01: Thanks Peter 1/5 seems definitely too big I found a large 1/7 model that I would like to use but it may be just a little too small and out of proportion. M Well, if 1/5th is to big and 1/7th is too small it wouls seem the 1/6th as I said True - but my model is 1/6 plus 15% - which should be about 1/5.. My preferred pilotess is only available in 1/5 and 1/7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Hmmm, that's at least 2 Ballerinas with female pilots. Might have to investigate my daughters doll drawer and see what she'll sell, and how much it's going to cost me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Posted by Chris Barlow on 02/02/2016 18:00:38: Hmmm, that's at least 2 Ballerinas with female pilots. Might have to investigate my daughters doll drawer and see what she'll sell, and how much it's going to cost me! It's a Ballerina got to be a lady pilot, daughters dolls who you trying to kid Johnh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Be careful Chris - I was never forgiven for appropriating Ken, never mind Barbie! And that must have been 30 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn K Posted February 5, 2016 Author Share Posted February 5, 2016 A bit more progress in the past few days. You may have noticed that I hadn't mounted the engine. Like many who have modified the design, I was a bit worried where the CG was going to end up - so my plan was to get the model mainly covered, then loosely fit the engine and adjust until the balance was about right and making a small allowance for the cowl. So now covering the Fus - still using Solartex and and then fitted the linkages Trying to keep this nice and tidy - people may be watching this.. So I can now get the engine bolted into place Shocking pink! Hardware blocks glued into place to secure the cowl. Following last year's adventures with the STOL Mass Build I have elected for another aluminium cowl. Highly polished, I think they look fantastic. Starting with the nose ring, I am using the spinner back plate, a 1/16 balsa spacer and 3mm lite ply cowl font plate (which will be reinforced when the cowl has been built The lower part has a nice large vent to let the air through and Clamped into place. The lower part of the front cowl former is raked backwards for elegance. Note that the cylinder head will be out in the air stream. Cut a template. I use the very thin card that you find in the centre of Christmas wrapping paper. Its perfect for this sort of stuff. At this point, the important bit is to get the compound and composite curves and lines correct for the junction of the cowl with the fuselage. When happy, transfer the shape to the .024" aluminium sheet (from eBay) and then cut - I used a pair of very sharp scissors - and cut slightly oversize. and gently form into place. I have just added a couple of extra supports at the top curved corners but you can see the idea. Before I get too far, I will need to cut a slot for the exhaust and a hole for the needle valve screw and idle screw. Currently waiting for the pilot to turn up.. A bit more to come Martyn Edited By Martyn K on 05/02/2016 10:53:25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Impressive cowl. When I try to work in thin aluminium my cowls look like a bit of bent and battered aluminium!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn K Posted February 5, 2016 Author Share Posted February 5, 2016 Thanks Peter. Still plenty of opportunity for it to get bent and battered Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 never tried a ali cowl you make it look easy,youve given me the inspiration,wish you shown this earlier then i would of copied your idea.next model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 I tried a highly polished brass cowl on the Dawn Flyer and I'm still polishing it with Brasso years later! It's getting a burnished pattern when I get time. Looks impressive Martyn. Love the curves and the sloping intake. Colour scheme look good too. I'm liking that blue, very electric! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Talking of cowls. Did you know that either Hobbys or Hobbies (Two different companies) sell very small brass piano hinge, ideal for alumnium cowls such as Gypsy cowls. I have used it in the past. It is only about 3/8" wide when opened out flat. Not sure which of the two companies it is that sells it but you can check on thier websites if interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Just checked and it is Hobby's that sell the piano hinge They also do a really small one, only 5 mm opened out flat and 300 mm long.about £7 and about £6 for the 9 mm wide one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 im with Chris love that blue colour scheme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn K Posted February 6, 2016 Author Share Posted February 6, 2016 Thanks all. Been a bit busy at work and domestics today. The cowl is nearly finished I'll do a write up shortly and share the gotchas with you. Looks ok though martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn K Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 A bit disjointed but these will appear on Facebook so I thought I would post them here as well. Canopy just taped into place until the pilot shows up i'll post a proper update later martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn K Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 Back in sequence again. I had just started forming the cowl. If you want to build one like this, one thing is very important, you must ensure that the top of the cowl is seated on top of the front former while you are bending. You will not get it to fit afterwards unless you get it right now. So with the sides done, you can mark and cut the holes for the mixture adjustments and the silencer. Cover the areas that you are going to drill with masking tape, it will help stop the drill from wandering and is easier to mark. When happy, then slow set epoxy the front former into place. Use lots of clamps to get good contact. Note that glue alone will not be strong enough - more reinforcement is required With the sides and the holes cut and the glue set I can now remove the spinner back plate and the balsa spacer. Not much of a gap there.. File the aluminium away until it is flush with the former.. Then we need to glass the joint from the inside. I use 170g/sq m cloth - about 20mm wide with the majority folded onto the aluminium. Before you glass, roughen up the aluminum on the inside to get a good keying surface. Leave it to set thoroughly. Note I have added a block of wood at the top to give a greater contact area for the epoxy glue. Clean it up when hardened - that's the cowl basically finished.. Now painted black and fuel proofed - the view the worms will see. - Hopefully only when they come to the surface. While that was setting and paint drying etc, I fitted the aileron servos and linkages. Ball link on the horn and a Z link at the servo. The servo arm is offset to give differential throw - a lot more up than down I liked Peters idea for the undercarriage leg fairings. Mine are glued into place using Gorilla Glue and have a balsa insert behind the leg to give a greater glue area. Seems OK and probably more streamlined than a simple wire leg dangling down. Undercarriage clamper in place with aluminium plates and M3 cap head screws so they can be easily removed. I have left then deliberately big - oversize to spread the load across a larger contact area And with the model assembled - it weighs this much.. However, the CG is a bit far forward so will need a little additional weight at the tail. Some static shots in the sunshine on the lawn this morning.. and oooh - that cowl is shiny The canopy is cut from an R Whites lemonade bottle. May do something better but I'll have a think. Held in place with masking tape while I do just that and until the pilot turns up. That's about it. just the cockpit, canopy and pilot to do, then its ready for a maiden crash. Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn K Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 Forgot the underneath shot.. A bit bland - and that's the view I'll see the most of.. Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Very nice. indeed. Now all we need is some calm sunny weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Thomas Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Looks great, I love the covering job. Really wanna get cracking with mine. The alloy cowl looks superb. 👍👍👍Edited By Craig Thomas on 07/02/2016 14:05:59 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Looks great Martyn, very colourful you'll not have a problem spotting yours in a crowd John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn K Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 Thanks all My biggest problem is actually seeing it in the sky. I can walk around a crowd until I trip over it.. The cowl weighs 60g by the way. 2 oz... in old money Roll on some decent weather. Pouring down and strong winds at the moment <sigh> Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVC Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Very nice indeed Martyn. Im considering a glass fiber cowl, I would do something similar to your but maybe the weight would be too much for a "standard" ballerina, especially considering that my tail is already lighter than the solid one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVC Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Very nice indeed Martyn. Im considering a glass fiber cowl, I would do something similar to your but maybe the weight would be too much for a "standard" ballerina, especially considering that my tail is already lighter than the solid one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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