Lucas Hofman Posted January 27, 2017 Author Share Posted January 27, 2017 A little progress every day: The squares on the cutting mat give a good guidance to get everything square (and my rectangular sanding blocks help keep the former perpendicular to the surface). Lucas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted January 27, 2017 Author Share Posted January 27, 2017 Glued the doublers on the inside of the fuselage in place tonight: The article accompying the RCM&E drawing is quite sketchy on the the building part, or rather it does not contain any pictures of the build. However, Lindsay build blog is very good and more then compensates. Lucas. ps. please say so it all these small steps are boring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Hi Lucas, Any forward step isn't "boring" at all, young man. I'm afraid that your lack of reactions is just due to the fact that the 2017 Mass Build very certainly isn't as successful as last year's Ballerina was. If you compare all the 'first 5 points" the Skywriter got in voting to the number being concretely built - or projected in the near future - at the moment, there is some kind of a problem with this MB. Just keep it up. You're doing great as you did last year. Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Not boring, it's informative John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted January 28, 2017 Share Posted January 28, 2017 Lucas, I notice from Johns photos in his blog that I've forgotten the 1/8th balsa fillets to the rear of the wing seat on the fuselage sides. I notice I'm not the only one! Also I see you're cutting your own parts? If you're using the original plan in the mag then watch out for former F4a which was to small in width on my plan. Fortunately I used the top section of F4 to mark and cut F4a. Finally as above, not boring at all. It takes a lot of time to take the photos as you go along and document each step in a detailed blog, but it will be extremely useful for first time builders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted January 28, 2017 Author Share Posted January 28, 2017 Chris, thanks for the heads up. I did use the original plan the cut the F3A/F4A. Even twice - I want to be able to easely check the bolts holding the upper struts and remove the struts when needed so I am planning an extra hatch from F3 to F4A. Checking now I see that also F2H/F3H are too narrow on the plan. 4 helping formers are do not take much time to make again, but so good to find out now. Thanks again Chris. Lucas ps. 6 flights with the Ballerina today from the frozen lake. I cannot complain about the amount of hobby time available! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted January 28, 2017 Author Share Posted January 28, 2017 Glueing the F3/F4 assembly in place: Better view on the glueing area by doing this in two steps. Not the square against the tailplane seat - this ensures that the fuselage halves are aligned, and that the tailplane seat will be horizontal when the fuselage halve are brought together later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted January 28, 2017 Share Posted January 28, 2017 Posted by Lucas Hofman on 28/01/2017 14:33:14: ps. 6 flights with the Ballerina today from the frozen lake. I cannot complain about the amount of hobby time available! Where in Norway are you Lucas? We're visiting Bergen at the end of Feb and the kids are hoping for snow! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted January 29, 2017 Author Share Posted January 29, 2017 I am living just west of Oslo Chris. Very little snow here (although it is snowing now). But all the lakes and even the some bays of the Oslofjord are frozen, so live is good for those flying models! In Bergen is is usually raining, and you need to get a little inland (and up in the mountains) before this falls as snow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted January 30, 2017 Author Share Posted January 30, 2017 Glued the last two formers and the tailpost in place tonight. I had to sand them a 1-2mm smaller to get a nice even curve in the fuselage sides: This is fun! Quite a few hours of preparation now form a fuselage in short time. Tomorrow the tailplane seat, the tailwheel plate and the stringers and the the aft part of the fuse looks the part. Happy building, Lucas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Looks the part to me Lucas John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Soon be time for some bench flying Lucas! The Slec jig really does make fuselage assembly so easy and accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share Posted January 31, 2017 Posted by Chris Barlow on 30/01/2017 23:09:31: Soon be time for some bench flying Lucas! The Slec jig really does make fuselage assembly so easy and accurate. Indeed it does. And I am also fond of those little clamps (think I bought them from SLEC too). Lucas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share Posted January 31, 2017 two steps forward, one step back! Or in this case 0 steps forward, 1 step back: When fitting the top stringer I noticed that there was a very big change in height from F8 to F9. Looking closer I saw F9 hanging 3 mm under the fuselage sides F9 (on the drawing is missing it "lowest" 2 teeth. And since I have no longeron to define the vertical position I had pushed the former to far down. Cutting loose might damage the sides and the tailplane seat so I have opted to make a "F9A", and now with the lower teeth, and glue that on the front face of F9. Not a big deal, but irritating. Tommorrow better. Lucas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 That's a pain. I usually get paranoid when things are going well or very easy and start looking for what I've missed or not noticed! The little Slec elastic band clamps are great too! Do you use the locking tab or just let the elastic band hold the clamp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted February 1, 2017 Author Share Posted February 1, 2017 I do not use the locking tab. The elastic bands detoriate in a year of so but SLEC was kind enough to send 20 spares with another shipment. I have some with 1 and others with 2 bands, to have varying pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted February 1, 2017 Author Share Posted February 1, 2017 This is fun: I put all stringers dry in place, pull the elastic bands over and check that all stringers are pressed down in the notches. When all is OK a drop superphatic in each notch and all is down. could be done with CA too but I do not like the smell and the brittleness of the joints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 You enjoyed that bit did you I like to see a man happy in his work, looks accurately done as well John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted February 2, 2017 Author Share Posted February 2, 2017 And this even more! A work of art! Beats television every time! Lucas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted February 2, 2017 Author Share Posted February 2, 2017 Last months free plans included a template to flue the firewal at the correct angle (am I the only one studying every plan even if I have no intention at all to build it....). That was a nifty idea. I have drawn one for the Skywriter (2 degree down, 2 degree right). Cutted it from a bit of depron: if you want to do the same you can find a PDF on my dropbox (https://www.dropbox.com/s/4nl7bf93946e4a7/template%20firewall%20placement.pdf?dl=0) Lucas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted February 3, 2017 Author Share Posted February 3, 2017 Using a template makes it more easy to get the thrust line correct: The lines on the jig make aligning the template a doddle. Recommended. Lucas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted February 3, 2017 Author Share Posted February 3, 2017 Oops! What I forgot when glueing the firewall was to check whether the top of the fuselage sides was level. Luckily it was only a few tenth of a degree of. F1 came in late tonight. I wondered whether I should follow the angle of the firewall or just glue i perpendicular to the datum line. I choose the later, can always sand the cowling front to it is aligned with the propeller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Hofman Posted February 4, 2017 Author Share Posted February 4, 2017 An exersize for you gentlemen: where is the mistake? : Hint: it is a silly one, but easy to fix if you are thrifty. (Answer will come tomorrow) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Hi Lucas, I'll give it a try then... ... hemm... if the former behind your laminated firewall is the front former of your top hatch... well, then your hatch is going to have some 'right-thrust' as well... But maybe I'll get another silly idea later on... Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Your outer fuzz doubler top should be level with inner sheet. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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