McG 6969 Posted January 13, 2017 Author Share Posted January 13, 2017 I guess you were not the only one, Andy. I had a silly smile myself when I was writing it down... especially imagining Gaston with the mallet... Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR Tic-Tac #2 Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted January 14, 2017 Author Share Posted January 14, 2017 Hi to all again, Not that much, but some progress though at La Grotte today. After drilling the corresponding holes in the wing, I adjusted and dry fitted the hinges for both ailerons which went quite smoothly. This was the last step before final ‘fine’ sanding both sides - and having some OneTime filler for some ‘major dings’ - of the wing to prepare for the glassing. Then a moment of truth was to put Bella’s ‘large’ wing on my favourite scale. Honestly, I don’t really remember the multiple weight figures from other Ballerinas builds as it is quite some time ago - "it's not a race", you know - and they were often given with different components already installed like the u/c or the servos, for example. As mine is a different ‘scale’ as well, it gets difficult to have a comparison figure. Anyway, I think that with a 1436mm - instead of 1346 - wingspan, I can only be pleased with a weight of just under 256gr. And, this is what we have so far. Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR Being Pleased Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 When comparing models the main figure of interest is the wing loading and this takes into acount varying sizes of model with in limits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted January 15, 2017 Author Share Posted January 15, 2017 Hello Peter and thanks. Not so sure if I expressed myself correctly (once more) here above regarding Bella's wing weight. What I meant is that having made my wing 90mm larger span wise, if I can keep my AUW similar (or less) than the 'classic' Ballerinas, I will obtain less wing loading. With that approach in mind, I was pleased to have a temporary result of 256gr for the wing. I can now hope to keep it at around 350 > 400gr once glassed, painted and the servos installed. Or am I 'wrong' here (again)? Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR GR/DM² Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 No. Not wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Chris I am sure 256 g is quite an acceptable weight. It is the 'heavy' bits (U/C, servos and glassing) that quickly add up but it certainly looks like your Ballerina will be 'lighter' rather than 'heavier'. Of course you really don't what to know the weight of my super lightweight Depron wing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Sounds o.k to me. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted January 15, 2017 Author Share Posted January 15, 2017 Thank you for your comments, guys. @ Peter > well at least I can feel a tiny bit relieved now. I was afraid that my writing was too 'Frenchy-messy' again... @ Simon > Yes, I am pleased with that outcome. Especially that Bella's u/c is already mounted to the fuselage - and of course included in its weight - so only servos, glassing and paint. But, you're right, I don't even want to know your "super lightweight" wing weight as I've been following your build blog. But then as you stated yourself somewhere in a thread, you are totally "paranoid" in relation to weight. I really would like to postulate for a membership to the 'Chaddock League', but then I really need a lot more experience built up before... @ John > I remembered, reading your blog, that your wing was on the light side as well. Now to be honest, I weighted mine without the wing dowel... Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR 'Chaddock League' Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted January 16, 2017 Author Share Posted January 16, 2017 Hello everybody, To make life a little easier when glassing, I made a ‘workhorse’ with a piece of wood and a few nails to support the ailerons during the covering process. I believe Gaston had a slight overdose of his favourite energy drink and triggered by some primary degree inspiration, it apparently ‘gave him wings’ already… Next I started to prepare and cut the different parts of fiber needed for the covering. I did cut the wing parts a little longer for the top and bottom as my intention is to have a 60mm reinforcement ‘overlap’ at the centre section. Very probably not even necessary though. Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR Energy Boost Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 Hello to those still out there, I started with the fiber glassing of the ailerons, going on with the wing while the smaller parts are drying. Unfortunately the glassing of the white Depron with semi translucent fiber isn’t quite of great photographical interest… or maybe even quite boring. I thought of sharing of few glassing tips on the go but I don’t really know if it would be that interesting either. So, I suppose it’s best to put the Bella build thread ‘on hold’ for a while. Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR Sharing Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 only tried glassing once after watching Danny Fentons vids,never trid it on depron though,the thought of learning something new is never boring,keep it up its really coming along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 Thank you for your nice comment, Andy. Danny's method uses polyester resin that is stronger but also a lot 'thicker' and consequently heavier. Hence the need of 'absorbing' foil the eliminate as much surplus resin as possible. Most polyester resins - like the one I used for my cowl - wouldn't be compatible with foam and would even melt it. The V33 Marine varnish I use for the Depron is water-based and brushes over the fiberglass very thinly but dries out very hard. Of course you should use just enough to have the cloth wave still visible when dry, avoiding any surplus weight. My intention wasn't to write an 'Instructable' anyway - lots of them on YT already - but just to give a few tips along the way. The jury is still out there somewhere... looking for the 'fibre'. Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR Fibre Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share Posted January 25, 2017 Hi again to anyone still out there, Some of you might have the idea that I’m having some fancy after-ski parties in the neighborhood of Biarritz… Well, it isn’t, as I’m still going on with the Bella build, but ‘slowly, as usual’. As I wrote before, there isn’t really much to tell or to show when glassing, let it cure, glassing the other side, sanding, applying Fred’s Sauce to one side, then to the other, sanding again… and again. This is what I mean… both ailerons glassed both sides & waiting for Fred’s filler/primer. Impressive ’visual impact’, ain’t it. But as Andy suggested, here is a trick that I’ve learned during my progress. I tried on a test piece to cover both sides at once. Well, even for the smaller parts like the ailerons, I don’t even try to glass it that way as you can’t get a proper result especially at the corners. The aileron above is done one side at the time, let it dry, cut most of the overhang away and just sand back gently till the un-needed parts of fiber just ‘fall’ off. As The LoTH often declares, maybe I’m a bit too ‘meticulous’ at times (?) but then I guess that’s just me. More to come when I manage to get my feet off the sandy beach of Bora-Bora… Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR Party Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Ah you're still working then, began to think you had rag arms John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 I keep watching too.Don't say a lot but what is theree to say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosco Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Im still here too Chris. Just been a bit busy with work as usual and have also been playing around with an 'experiment' that I'm hoping to maiden this weekend.Your progress might be slow but it is still coming along. Keep it up.Rosco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted January 26, 2017 Author Share Posted January 26, 2017 Thank you, guys. Just got back from La Grotte and believe me John, no "rag arms" today but just getting 'crazy' with all that sanding 'powder'. This should be normally an 'outside' job, but at this moment the season in BE is acting like Murphy, I guess. You're right, Peter. Nothing much to show from my side equals to nothing much to answer about. But it's great that some of you are still out there though. I realize you were quite busy currently, Rosco. But are you secretly having 'experiments' without even letting us know... ? Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR Experimental Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosco Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 To be honest Chris, I don't think many on this forum would be interested in my experiment besides, I don't really want to hype it up too much because it may comletely flop!If there is some success, I'll post something.Rosco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted January 27, 2017 Author Share Posted January 27, 2017 Posted by Rosco on 26/01/2017 19:43:39: To be honest Chris, I don't think many on this forum would be interested in my experiment besides, I don't really want to hype it up too much because it may completely flop! Maybe not "many" should be interested but then probably some would, Rosco. But then maybe it's because your 'experiment' isn't really purposed to be 'flying'... So, you could be experimenting with an EDF Hovercraft... ? Makes me curious as I always wanted to build a full size hover-thingie with a Rotax 582 two-stroke from an Ultralight... but I'll wait silently for your results. Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR Hovercraft Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted January 27, 2017 Author Share Posted January 27, 2017 Hello gents, Yesss… , still busy with the Bella. All the bits were covered both sides with the Fred Sauce after glassing was completed. If The LoTH decides to pay a visit to La Grotte now, I would have a ‘big’ problem - as during the sanding process - that ‘flour’-like powder is creeping all over the place… I really shouldn’t have that done while ‘indoors’… ... but then - still following that famous 'Purple Plan' - do I have a choice? Let’s have a few ‘positive’ tips. Even with light weight fiber, sometimes the glass covering refuses to take the correct corner angle, but then a simple cloth peg can be of assistance to grip the sides together from underneath. Also it happens that the glass decides to cooperate at the corner but doesn’t want to follow the thin side of the piece. Adding a bit of weight can persuade it to keep nicely vertical. Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR Pegs Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted January 30, 2017 Author Share Posted January 30, 2017 Hi to all, Still no Biarritz ‘pistes de ski’, nor Seychelles sanded beaches, but still plodding around with the Bella. I forgot to post the weight of the wing & ailerons after glassing. Sorry, Rosco… So, at nearly 315gr, it’s nearly 60gr heavier when glassed with varnish or Poly C as you gents would call it. As there is still some sanding to do next, I think I should be pleased with that result - taking in consideration the 1436mm wingspan - as it means that I’m still in the running for the 400gr target with the servos & extensions… and around 430gr if I’m careful with the Fred Sauce & the final paint of course… Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR Obesity Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted February 1, 2017 Author Share Posted February 1, 2017 Hello everybody, I’m still trying to have some progress made to the Ballerina. The glass cloth got finally lightly sanded and foreseen of a layer of Fred’s Sauce then - after drying - the ‘big’ sanding session was started. The ailerons are done now as well as the bottom of the wing. I will be very pleased when the top part will be done allowing me to have a decent cleaning of all that dust in La Grotte. This is really a job to be done outdoors on a nice sunny springtime day. I guess my building timeline went totally wrong. Speaking of “progress”, in fact I don’t even have that impression when looking at the different bits. Some time ago, I had nice looking white foam combined with some cute balsa edges… now it seems that all my pieces got ugly and cloudy-grey shaded… Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR Progress? Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 Chris You know the solution to keep the white bits white - just don't glass them! Edited By Simon Chaddock on 01/02/2017 20:16:00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted February 2, 2017 Author Share Posted February 2, 2017 Hi Simon & thanks for commenting. I should totally agree with you except for the fact that the Depron and the balsa bits were still looking great and shiny after the glassing. My silly idea to mix some grey acrylic to Fred's Sauce brought this kind of 'visual disaster'. Next time I'll consider using a few pink drops... or even fluo yellow... Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR Fluo Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted February 3, 2017 Author Share Posted February 3, 2017 Hello gents, “Have you ever had one of those days when the only thing holding you back is your own stupidity”… (quoted from ‘somewhere’ on the net). With all the wing bits finally sanded down - some of them needing two passes of Sauce to properly fill the ‘handling dings’ - I got finally ready for some priming job. I had some water-based grey primer spray cans and started to give the ailerons a first layer… without reading the ‘small letters’ of the tag stating that the propellant gas was a … solvent!!! As I had been meticulous about sanding the Sauce deep enough to just fill the small dings and to avoid as much as possible excessive weight, I very probably went too far and left some tiny openings for the solvent to penetrate the foam. I’ll need to have some deep 'surgery' here, cut the ‘sick’ foam covering away, replace it… and start the glassing and the finishing procedure all over. Of course, I could have started with the wing instead of the ailerons, so somewhere I should feel ‘lucky’ I didn't… But, I’m not that sure if I needed ‘this’ right now. May I allow myself a gigantic moan here, please… Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR Moan Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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