Craig Thomas Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 Today I've finished putting the plane together. The alloy spinner has turned up so all is complete. Finished work and thought I'd have a bash at balancing the plane. From what I can see from the plan and after measuring. The cg is 75mm back from the leading edge. Working as that as a starting point, it's gonna need around 50g of Lead under the read stab to get her balanced any where near? Does that sound about right? I've ran out of stick on lead so willoyd have to use a piece of roofing lead. Is it a bad idea to add the lead role the rudder? I'm thinking it probably is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Hi Craig. Well done! 2 ounces is not thing to worry about. She will not notice that little bit extra. I would carefully lift a little of the bottom sheet under the tailplane and epoxy the lead to the fuselage side in there. The lifted sheet and then be glued back and no one will see it under the fuselage. It is what I do normally. My last time was on the new Super Marauder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Thomas Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 Thanks Peter. I just wish I had balanced other before covering her. I'm going to have to gut the covering and through the balsa roxanna get inside the fuse. That's another lesson learned during the build. I'm hoping for a maiden this week if the weather says calm. I'll keep you all updated. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 You can't really tell until the model has been covered. The only thing that one can do is prepare a hatch. A pacth of film will hide any problemes. Trust me on this!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Thomas Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 My God. I've just read my last post. How did you make sense of it peter. There was that many typos it bearly made sense. Predictive txt has a lot to answer for. 😂😂😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Well, to be honest, Craig... I didn't had the impression to understand all of it properly... But then I thought it just was my latent English language ignorance... So I'm glad you pointed it out as being slightly 'different'. All good then with me now... I just hope your 'lead' positioning gets more effective than your 'auto-correct' though... Plenty of luck with your CoG... Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR Slang control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted April 30, 2016 Share Posted April 30, 2016 Posted by Craig Thomas on 29/04/2016 21:57:11: My God. I've just read my last post. How did you make sense of it peter. There was that many typos it bearly made sense. Predictive txt has a lot to answer for. 😂😂😂 My typonese is just about as bad...and that is just my hurried typing and failing to check what I have written before submitting it. Add to that I answered just before going off to bed so pretty tired Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted April 30, 2016 Share Posted April 30, 2016 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Thomas Posted May 1, 2016 Author Share Posted May 1, 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WolstonFlyer Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 Hi Craig, your model is looking great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 Now that's a modellers bench! Looks good Craig. Not long now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Thomas Posted May 2, 2016 Author Share Posted May 2, 2016 As t,he building work is finished I've spent the afternoon doing a bit of titivation on the ballerina. I've added a screen. I took a photo copy of the screen on the plan and folded it in half and cut it out. But proved unsuccessful as a screen as it wasn't really wide enough, so had to make one add hock. 2 small screws hold the edges down, then have ran canopy glue round the inside to sel the screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Thomas Posted May 2, 2016 Author Share Posted May 2, 2016 Then I added the cockpit dash. I took a copy of Chris's photos and scaled it on the printer so it would fit. Then I cut a piece of balsa so it would fit, stuck the paper dash on with pritt-stick, stuck sellotape over the paper and stuck the whole thing into the cockpit. Looks OK for a first attempt I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Thomas Posted May 2, 2016 Author Share Posted May 2, 2016 I then copied Vhris Barlows idea of Side padding on the cock pit. Contacts adhesive, fuel tubing and chamois leather was used. Once dry I'll paint the padding with black pair, hopefully it will work and look ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Thomas Posted May 2, 2016 Author Share Posted May 2, 2016 I'm also in the middle of madding a head rest. But for this I've opted to have a bash at making it from carbon fiber. I bought a bit sheet of it as was gonna have a go at a carbon fiber cowl but bottled it. So I might as well have a go. Once the resin is dry I'll post a picture. If all else fails I'll use leather the same as the side pads. 👍😋 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 THatis the way to do windscreens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 its really coming together now and the dash looks great,i make my screens out of cornflake pakets first untill im satisfied then then transfer them to clear sheet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Thomas Posted May 3, 2016 Author Share Posted May 3, 2016 Thanks Andy. I used paper as a template. Turned out well I think. Will have to see what the side padding turns out like? I see Chris Barlows goes all the way round on the cockpit. Will see what it's like once painted. I had to fit a remote glow lead aswell yesterday. Of all the things I didn't check, I couldn't get the glow heater onto the put due to the angle of the head. So it was a case of un plumb the tank again and fit one. All plumbed back in again now, just need to paint the padding and she's ready for her maiden tomorrow weather permitting. 👍😬🛫🛫🛫✈️✈️✈️🛩🛩🛩 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Thomas Posted May 3, 2016 Author Share Posted May 3, 2016 My first ever attempt at using carbon fiber. Not particularly successful I fear but never the less., it has made its way into the ballerina. Really glad I didn't attempt a cowl, it would have been a disaster. The battery's are on charge ready for a maiden tomorrow. If I'm honest, I'm a little nervous. I've only ever maidened one plane before, I usually get a more experienced pilot to have a go first wish me luck guys, it have been a little over 4 months work and many ££££,s to get to this stage. It could be all over in a matter of 😩😩😩 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 Behave yourself Other than a few clicks of whatever to trim it you should have little to concern you, make sure motors sweet and maybe set a high and low rate on elevator/ailerons, good luck and enjoy yourself John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 If you have the throws right and the CG right you will have a pussy cat on your hands.. Be ready for a hint of right rudder as you start your take off roll. You will soon wonder what all the fuss was about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Thomas Posted May 3, 2016 Author Share Posted May 3, 2016 Thanks John. I'll be able to add a picture to the Finished Ballerina thread tomorrow. 🤓 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Thomas Posted May 3, 2016 Author Share Posted May 3, 2016 Thanks Peter. Cog seems to be right. And throws are set. So fingers crossed. I'll get one of the guys down the field to video it on my phone. 💪👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 Asking an experienced pilot to do the first flight is nothing to be ashamed of Craig. You can film the flight yourself then and do the next flight yourself knowing that the model is trimmed and fine. Including someone else on the pre-flight check before the maiden is just good practice. Including.... the direction of all surface deflections. The "aileron club" has many members, including quite a few that do not want to admit it. Good luck, Lucas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Thomas Posted May 3, 2016 Author Share Posted May 3, 2016 Thanks Lucas. I'm afraid I'm a none volentary member of the ailaron club. My membership began when I thought it would be a good idea to have a play with Flaparons on my Acro wot. 😋 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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