AndyD Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 Now my ballerinas up and flying a new project is needed,seeing Peter Millers arolab lo-camp got got me really intrested with a radial engine upfront,but now ive gone all electric im missing a bi-plane so a search started,big,simple to build open radial.sport scale(not up to the the John Ranson/Danny Fenton build quality)so the Gere sport with rotec radial seems to fit the bill,built and owned by Richard Shaw ive started drawing up my plans,as its going to be third scale the radial is going to be the challenge,useing Peters article on making dummy radials ive started the engine first as if it dont work out it will probally be abandoned,as im new to build threads im useing it to motivate myself as it worked well with the ballerina. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 after 4 or 5 hrs ive got lots of discs,lots of discs, a cheap hole cutter was used/more like a medeival thing of torture,luckly hands and fingers were kept clear,lots of concentration as i think it would hurt some if digits got in the way,health and safety spring to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 a simple plan but enough info for my build,and the glueing starts,quite enjoyable,just glad its only 7 cylinders.can you see what it is yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 somehow it seems to be coming up in the ballerina build dont know why but its got to be me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete B Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 I've just moved it over to the O/D Project section, Andy. Interesting project for a nice-looking aircraft. Looking good so far! Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 many thx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 Would opening up the bolt holes with a larger drill save some weight, or would the drilling rip the cylinder apart? Just wondering as the bipe has a shortish tail moment by the look of the picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 This is going to be interesting! PM me your email address and I will email you the full orthographic drawings from Rotec and a couple of their photos of the full size engine. Edited By Peter Miller on 20/03/2016 09:12:02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 20, 2016 Author Share Posted March 20, 2016 Hi cymaz i did think about bigger holes but if its anything like the bud nosen 70s kit it will be tail heavy,but then again his was 96 1/4 inch span using a geared .60 10cc engine,people are now putting 50cc petrol engines in them aspecially zenoah 60 to try and ballance them,time will tell. thx Peter not sure how to do it but here goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 20, 2016 Author Share Posted March 20, 2016 thx Peter great drawings not sure i will do them justice,just been weighing all the parts,pretty heavy about 2 Ib,but then again its third scale and the motor is bolted inside it then the whole lot bolts to the fuz like a normal_ist engine, so if needed a normal ic engine can be bolted to the plane ,well thats the idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 20, 2016 Author Share Posted March 20, 2016 bit more sanding and glueing,design as you go,probally not the best way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 Is it a case of "start at the front and work your way to the back" build? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 20, 2016 Author Share Posted March 20, 2016 sort of cymaz,i can see it all in my head but putting it into practice and on papers another matter. abit more done,given the bits a couple coats of emulsion,seals the grain and little marks quite nicely,also house freindly unless theres decorating to be done then it might remind you or the other half and stop the building process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 20, 2016 Author Share Posted March 20, 2016 a design change half way through,turned the motor round and set in further,i think its working out so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 what it should look like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 now my version,it will be ok at 100 ft up in the clouds,done a bit of spraying,reasonably happy so far,the weights still on my mind at the mo but the batterys will be back further han normal due to the engine position so it might be in my favour,(still trying to covince myself). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 as things go im happy so far with the radial and its only sport scale anyway so i think i will finish drawing up the plans for the plane now,as its 76 inch span im in two minds weather or not to make the wings two piece or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich too Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Nice you have far more building patience than me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Nice engine. Just the rocker box tops with Rotec embossed on each one to do. THatlifts it from nice engine to WOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 i tried your foil tecnique for the tops Peter,i think ineed some better quality foil though the slightest touch and it tears it seems extra thin.plenty of time yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 I used ordinary cooking foil I would suggest polyester resin for casting them. I also used plastecine (Modellingclat for the mold and it was really as good as using Isopon. which I used on my Continental engine many years ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 mine is cooking foil but tescos own(other makes available)dont know how you would get on covering a turkey as it tears like tissue paper ,to buy list foil,tubeing for exhausts and im trying to find a cheap and light sollution to making nuts for around cylinder bases etc,could cut some balsa ones,50 x 3mm nuts,it would pass the time but not very enjoyable.going a bit far i surpose as i wouldnt even notice them again once they on.plug leads as well.and front cone and i thought i was nearly finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share Posted March 24, 2016 a bit lost on what to do tonight as my ballerina repairs only took half hour,so i had ago at the rocker top covers,made from balsa i traced the logo onto the covers then wrote over the top useing pva glue,looked ok but maybe needed thicker glue,i then decided to go for the mk2 engine with black covers but when sprayed the logo didnt show up atall so out with the paint and done the logo white,reasonably happy with the results as long as you dont get to close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 That looks great Andy, drop of fuel and it'll run John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share Posted March 24, 2016 thx John just 11 more to do,just had a silly idea,make a smaller version for the ballerina. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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