Jump to content

Warbird Replicas Ju88 Night Fighter build


Ady Hayward

Recommended Posts

Hi Danny,

Thanks for the comments as they are appreciated and promote thought. The water based varnish and glass cloth covering tends to remain slightly flexible as opposed to epoxy or polyurethane finishes so the indenting seems to do little to compromise the structure. I haver built and covered several models now with this technique and not seen any sign of stressing along panel lines even after thrashing the planes around in a very unrealistic high G assortment of aerobatics. I would go your route on a pure scale type but this takes far less effort and time.

Cheers

Adrian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Folks,

I found that with even my clumsy attempts at airbrushing I got something that looks something like a paint job. The RLM 76 used was the Vallejo Pale Grey Blue 70.907 and used 70cc in all which provided 3 coats of the airframe (With the first coat cut back with wet/dry) and I have used Hobby Color#69 RLM75 Grey. The first coat looked very dark and nothing like the pictures I have found on the net so for the next coats I mixed in around 25% RLM76 which looks a bit better but still maybe a bit dark and used one 10cc pot +2.5cc of the RLM76 so I haven’t put too much extra weight on the airframe so far.

sdc12489 (copy).jpg

I took time between coats to fix the retracts in place having them fit semi recessed in the nacelle rather than go the scale and more complicated route. The 6mm ply plates are epoxied in place and will be held by a couple of servo screws as well through the side panels plus where practicable a bit of triangular balsa too so to increase the glued area.

sdc12480 (copy).jpg

sdc12497 (copy).jpg

Once the retracts are in place the next task was to hollow out the recess for the wheel which has to go right to the upper skin so go carefully when removing the foam! The various servo cables were routed through the wing and just the aileron servos were fixed in place leaving the flap and retract servos to be fitted later.

sdc12481 (copy).jpg

sdc12484 (copy).jpg

sdc12482 (copy).jpg

sdc12483 (copy).jpg

sdc12486 (copy).jpg

sdc12487 (copy).jpg

To give some idea of scale I took a couple of pictures of the assembled airframe thus far with my Ford Focus in the background. This model is somewhat bigger than the usual 50-60” fighter types so has plenty of wing area for not much extra weight, plus twice the power....It should go well and land slowly if all goes to plan.

sdc12490 (copy).jpg

sdc12491 (copy).jpg

sdc12493 (copy).jpg

sdc12494 (copy).jpg

 

Adrian

Edited By Ady Hayward on 29/05/2016 00:09:12

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Hi Folks,

Although it has been a while since the last post I have been busy with researching the markings and adding panel line highlights, weathering and making the radar antennas. I was rather surprised to find out how dirty the engines were in use and have tried to replicate the same.

sdc12505 (copy).jpg

sdc12506 (copy).jpg

The gun pack took a bit of thinking and I eventually used some 4mm carbon tube as 20mm gun barrels and let them into brass tube which was hot glued into the foam gun pack. This allows them to be removed to prevent being torn out in transit.

sdc12503 (copy).jpg

sdc12504 (copy).jpg

The wing mounted antennas are piano wire let into some square ABS tube which locate in larger ABS tubing glued into the wing leading edges. The nose array is made from brass tubing for the nosecone portion and piano wire for the dipoles, all very easy to make once the correct sized pieces of wire were cut and soldered together.

sdc12499 (copy).jpg

sdc12508 (copy).jpg

Adrian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Its looking fabulous Adrian . I try not to comment but youre doing such a grand job . I really like the heavy exhaust stains . Think I'll put a bit more on mine . In fact Ive just come back from some evening flights with it .

I have to say the format works really well . Its pretty much hassle free , Two cheap four cell packs pop in then away she goes . Incredibly realistic take offs and generally very smooth .

I did a lot of touch and go stuff tonight just to build up some more experience with the model . The flaps work well and keep her very steady , The all up weight of 10lb 7oz is very comfortable for a 74" model and compares really well with other similar sized electric twins which are more like 13- 14lb . None of the 12 landings showed any sign of nose over which is good news for the radar aerials!

Richard

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Richard,

Many thanks for the heads up on the flying characteristics. All being well the maiden will take place tomorrow (Friday 24th) and there will be no surprise handling issues. I have checked the c/g and it is around 20% chord back from the root Leading Edge so a little forwards perhaps but ideal for a maiden. All being well a report will be posted on the flying tomorrow.

Adrian

 

Edited By Ady Hayward on 23/06/2016 23:52:47

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi again.

Good news.... The maiden has been done and I must say this is the best maiden flight that I can recall in over 40years of model flying. The Ju took off in a scale manner with no real inputs to the controls and was in a nice climb at around 50% throttle. I kept the wheels down just in case but was a non issue. Rolls are barrel like but look very much to scale and she pulled up through a large loop requiring a little back pressure on the sticks and just increasing the throttle from 1/3 when level to 100% at the top then slowly backing off on the downside. The flaps work well giving a good increase in lift when depressed at the 1st stage@ 25 degrees and a lot of drag when depressed fully at around 60 degrees+. I did a flapless landing and she just wheeled onto the grass in a classic greaser of a landing. I found a couple of little snags after the flight which will be simple to sort out.

Am I chuffed with this flight......You bet I am.  I forgot to add that she weighs around 10lbs and the wind speed sounds worse than the 5-8 kts that was blowing at the time

Here is the Youtube link: **LINK**

 

Adrian

Edited By Ady Hayward on 24/06/2016 17:51:37

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Cliff,

Many thanks for the kind comments. I did enter her in the BMFA scale flying only event last Sunday (26th). She was well received but my lack of concentration resulted in a totally unnecessary nose over during the take-off and 1st landing resulted in low scores. I didn't come last but could have done better.

She now has 3 flights under her belt and still rates as the nicest twin I've had the pleasure of flying.

As for the future builds....Watch this space.

Adrian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Folks.

Here are a couple of pics of the crew and cockpit fittings. The instrument panel layout was copied from a photo of the actual machine and the radar operator station is a little ad hoc based on other pics of the equipment. The idea is a little detail goes much farther/ time spent than a full cockpit that gets but a glimpse, plus it is not intended to be a F4C standard anyway.

sdc12526 (copy).jpg

The crew are Ace WW2 RAF latex mouldings painted by my son, the equipment, seats etc are sanded foam blocks and the instrument panel is abs etched sheet with a clear laminated sheet to which are glued the bezels from abs.

sdc12527 (copy).jpg

All bar the pilots were done and painted in a day and when the canopy is back in place again the interior looks good enough for a country job.

sdc12529 (copy).jpg

Adrian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

This will be a double post on two threads so apologies if you have read it already.

Yesterday was my clubs summer BBQ and i invited Richard over to chat with the guys at my club who have been building his Yak as well as demo his Ju88.

For me personally the Ju88 is nice but not a model i ever thought of buying as it just didnt really do it for me, and while looking very good in the video i have seen i was still not especially motivated by it.

That was until i saw Richards model in the flesh. Now i have seen it in the corner of his garage many times but to see it fully assembled and in flight was something else. For such a simple model in terms of construction and finish, the final result is utterly convincing in the air and looked very menacing as it flew at a very realistic speed even in the extremely turbulent wind we had at our patch on sunday. While the Ju88 is still not 100% my cup of tea It was very impressive and i was sat there pondering which 4 strokes would fit it, and for those on the fence about a twin, be it this one or any other from Richard of this type (foam cores, simple construction, not a year long epic), my suggestion is to go for it. Get a few mates together, get two or 3, or perhaps if two get bombers and 3 get fighters you can have a huge amount of inexpensive fun with mock dogfights and 'escort' missions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Chaps , I have a small batch of Ju88s in stock now . They dont have manuals yet but if you think you can manage from Adrians thread and you want to grab one while they available then best to contact me .

Our website enquiries does seem to spam some people so pm or call if you prefer.

Regards to all twin fanciers ....

Richard

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Folks,

It has been quite a while since I last posted. To date I have completed 12 flights and entered the Ju in a flying only scale event at my home field (RMAC, Warboys) and the scale days at Old Warden. Both events had many people ask about the aircraft and why the RAF markings, and a couple even wondered what type of British fighter/bomber it was!

finished ju-88 (2).jpg

finished ju-88 (3).jpg

finished ju-88 (4).jpg

finished ju-88 (5).jpg

finished ju-88 (6).jpg

finished ju-88 (7).jpg

finished ju-88 (12).jpg

finished ju-88 (13).jpg

finished ju-88 (14).jpg

finished ju-88 (15).jpg

The flying side is always a pleasure with this aircraft and it has flown at pretty much all ends of the flight spectrum. I have found that on my current elevator setting + 20mm it is very nice on the pitch axis but will not sustain inverted flight and sometimes will nose over if the grass is a tad too long so my next project with her is to get a few more mm of travel. I did have the misfortune at Old Warden last Saturday of having a crash at low level, flying low, slow with ½ flap (At the bequest of a camera man). It was my own stupidity that allowed a bit of bravado to creep in and paid the price. The arrival cracked the nose, removed most of the dipoles and took the motor clean out of the right nacelle. Fortunately the damage looked much worse than it was and it was flying the next day having had a new front bulkhead glued in place of the damaged one and the Ju looking none the worse for the ordeal.

Adrian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Hi Cliff,

I'm really glad you enjoyed the flying. This Ju-88 kit really is an easy build and also great intro to multi engine flying. The powerful rudder will cope well with asymmetric power in flight and She'll be even better if the props were counter rotating. The bug has bitten a little methinks.

Adrian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...