Dan Workman Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share Posted February 12, 2018 Be interesting to see what sort of prop it would turn, might make a good pylon engine its revs so high! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASH. Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Dan, what tools did you use to cut the canopy out so cleanly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Lovely work. Following along! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Workman Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share Posted February 12, 2018 Thanks Nigel Ash, i used a normal stanley knife with the snap off blades to cut the canopy along the bottom. I used a razor saw to cut the front and back. Then just sanded it back to take the 1/8" formers and faces of the canopy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Manuel Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Lovely lines that I could never even dream of achieving. I'm surprised to see that the canaliser is on top if the canopy rather than the fuselage. Assuming the canaliser generates lift (otherwise what's the point), isn't there a risk that the canopy will move around or even be ripped off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Workman Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share Posted February 12, 2018 Gary yes there will be forces generated by the canaliser to a certain degree just from rolling, pitching etc but the main reason for the canaliser is to direct the airflow directly over the fin and rudder. It makes the rudder much more efficient/powerful. And if you use less rudder to sustain KE then there is less chance of inducing unwanted roll and pitch- less to mix.Its seems to be pretty standard procedure to have it on the canopy but yes you do have to make sure its very secure. It wouldnt do too much damage and you'd be able to land safely but if anything does fall off your model while competing thats that round zero'd!Edited By Dan Workman on 12/02/2018 19:00:53 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Stainforth Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Great work! Looks as though it will have a really low wing loading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Manuel Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Posted by Dan Workman on 12/02/2018 19:00:15: the main reason for the canaliser is to direct the airflow directly over the fin and rudder. I didn't know that. You live and learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ton van Munsteren Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 My compliments on the build you really are a craftsman. Cheers Ton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Etheridge 1 Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 I think Dan is setting new standards with this plane as far as individual modelling goes. I have not seen such a superb construction made before with the use of two dimensional CAD and laser cutting (?) . You can hardly suggest it's traditional modelling although of course balsa and ply are being used. Well done Dan , I bet there are not many if any that could match what you are doing, or are there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Workman Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share Posted February 12, 2018 Thank you Ton and Mike for the compliments.No i wouldnt suggest its traditional modelling at all, apart from the materials being used!My biggest problem is im quite (read very) impatient builder. As long as its straight, light and strong enough im happy, if it has a good finish thats a bonus. But the more you do it the more likely you are to have a good finish. I do tend to use cyano more than i should though!!The 'self jigging' element of using Cad is great. I will put some pics up soon of the wings. It all slots together like a jigsaw! Then i use a female jig to sandwich the wings when sheeting. It all makes for a very straight wing with not much effort. But i suppose the effort came while drawing it up on cad!There a few guys within f3a who build there own models, to a much better standard than me! I just want to get it in the air and start practicing, i need it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Fascinating thread, and absolutely first class work. Well done. Following with interest even though F3A ain't my thing! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultymate Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 If you're going to try a prop on that motor Dan, don't overload it they love to rev and sadly they love nitro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 How did you get the balsa to to the compound curve at the front? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Workman Posted February 13, 2018 Author Share Posted February 13, 2018 Lots of planking. I use 10mm strips of soft balsa, it takes ages but there isnt really any other way as its a compound curve.You can just about see in one of the photos the top half of the nose. The bottom was really hard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 How thick is the planking Dan? In some of the photos where the light is shining through the wood it looks like light 1/16"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Workman Posted February 13, 2018 Author Share Posted February 13, 2018 3/32" all over. But it will be thinner in parts due to sanding. I've used this before and seems strong enoughDan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Dan, what CAD are you using to do the fuse formers and shape? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Workman Posted February 13, 2018 Author Share Posted February 13, 2018 Hi Nigel i use Turbocad 18, bought it off ebay a few years ago. Not the most recent one but works for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Thanks Dan. Do you find it works well to do the interlocking / lattice type stuff on the formers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Workman Posted February 13, 2018 Author Share Posted February 13, 2018 Pretty much there with the fuselage. With not much else to go on the fuz it comes in at 912g, pretty happy with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Workman Posted February 13, 2018 Author Share Posted February 13, 2018 Yes Nigel when its all interlocking you can pretty much assemble it without glue to check it all fits and is square, then you can run round with thin cyano. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Weight sounds good. I find the raw wood weight of a fuse often works out around 20-25% of final AUW, I don't know if that holds true on a current style F3A. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Workman Posted February 13, 2018 Author Share Posted February 13, 2018 Im aiming for about 4750g including lipos so its not too far off Start of the wing cradle and basic wing structure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
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.