Matt Halton Posted September 24, 2008 Author Share Posted September 24, 2008 Heh, it does look old doesn't it?It's built many many models,what you see now are layers of epoxy and cyano....bless it, may it serve for many more years yet and maybe end up in a museum somwehere!Still cuts like new though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Halton Posted September 25, 2008 Author Share Posted September 25, 2008 Started the upper skins today, there gonna be a lot of sanding! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Halton Posted September 25, 2008 Author Share Posted September 25, 2008 The general upper surface skinning bagan today,things are looking more promising that this thing is on the way to being finished at last.I should have the upper skins complted tomorrow afternoon, then I can finally cut this beast free from the board at long last. I plan to finish the skin over the hatch area at the nose and fans, then build a substructure,tack it into place on the formers then cut it away when set.I wish there were more Sea Vixen builders out there to join in, it's a lonely place... Anyway,I'm looking forward to getting the board free at last, then I shall complete the wings and cut ailerons etc.More soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ashby - Moderator Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 That does look good Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn sharp Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 i wish i could get hold of the model to build along side ypou and compare notes belive me but its looking good and you are doing a good job discribeing and explaining the way its all going together you got me hooked so all the best Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Halton Posted September 26, 2008 Author Share Posted September 26, 2008 Update:She's off the board,and I can't believe how light it feels, like a bag of wind, Phil definitely has 'in built' lightness down to fine art status, it certainly will glide I think.I'm so pleased that I'm going to realise my dream soon,a Sea Vixen at last!Next job, fit the ply internal box and beam mounts for the nose retract, then onto sheeting the bottom,I'll finish the wings up last.There a couple of ply ribs to fit underside before finishing.Still not sure how to go about securing the wings with the alum tubes,I want to remove the wings for transport.Glad you joined in David!Martyn, yep, sorry it's not available yet, but you will hopefully be more clued up on the building of the beast once it's flown.Thanks for your kind comments guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Mullins Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 wow, now that you can see the underside you can really see all the frame work.looks brill! Im sure many people will buy the kit when it is out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 That looks amazing! Your are a very talented builder, Matt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Halton Posted September 27, 2008 Author Share Posted September 27, 2008 Thanks guys, I hope to see more Sea Vixens in the future That would be too cool.I made two ply retract box sides from 1/16th ply, cut by hand too..A template was made from cardboard to ensure a good fit before cutting ply.I also glued in the 2 retract bearers with 30 minute epoxy, so that it can soak right into the wood and make a stronger joint.Not much, but something... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Halton Posted October 5, 2008 Author Share Posted October 5, 2008 A small update for you.I have cut away the fuse hatch now, and it is huge! Plenty of room for getting batteries in/out and RC gear access.I will be shortly setting up the retracts. It's a slow build with plenty of planking, but am getting there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Halton Posted October 11, 2008 Author Share Posted October 11, 2008 Today I started to skin the other side of the wing with 1/16" balsa sheet. First I had to make some ply doublers as per plan calls for,to support the alum tubes. I also threaded some cotton through the formers for the aileron extension cables which will be added later. I picked the shortest distance the the nose of the plane to keep the cables short to plug into the rx. All has gone well on the first panel.I decided I will cut the wing skin away later to add the tube retaining system Phil explained. I'm at work tonight,so I'll leave this panel to set overnight before I remove the pins and liquor bottles used to weight the skin to adhere to the ribs. You can see the balsa posts on the corners used to build in the correct washout. More soon. MattPS Realised later (after sticking the wing skin on,) that the cotton thread is inserted where the alum tube goes...oh well, I had better try to use thin piano wire instead-all the best plans etc............DOH!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Halton Posted October 15, 2008 Author Share Posted October 15, 2008 If anyone is still watching this tread, I'll post some more.The model now has alierons cut and faced with 1/4" balsa,and the tail is finished.Wings have tips added and profiled ahd trailing edges are sanded to shape too.,Don't look much but a heck of a lot of work.!Retract install next before I skin the lower fuse.I then will carve a plug to pull a canopy on my home made vac machine.I hope next summer is better for flying than this year...I hope to debut by spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn sharp Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 watching i await each step please carry on posting and keep up the good work Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Moore Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 I'm watching with great interest Matt, do you think this would work in depron? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Richards Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 I'm still watching with bated breath. Show us a picture of your vac forming machine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 Im still watching eagerly for the next steps.Keep up the great work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Halton Posted October 22, 2008 Author Share Posted October 22, 2008 General viewCanopy fittedNoseblock fitted.Glued on and drying.Blanks for nosebooms cut.Pinnied balsa sheet underside dries.General viewCanopy fittedNoseblock fitted.Glued on and drying.Blanks for nosebooms cut.Pinnied balsa sheet underside dries.Ok, we are making good progress now,Just the underside to skin,and fit retracts and fans in the main. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Mullins Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Looks marvellous! You must be really proud of that build, I know I would be. Have you had any thoughts on how/what you are going to cover it with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Halton Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 Hi Ben, thankyou, I am a bit proud I must say, my first balsa build for a few years!I'm going to use Tissue and Poly C, after a coat of non shrink dope.The nosecone is carved from foam, so will get glass cloth and epoxy. Finished the 2nd inlet today, quite a time demanding job to do right. The pics show the underside of the bird, the lower inlet extensions are 2 x 1/4 balsa lams the upper one is 3 as the pic shows. Had to use a little more filler to clean up the look, the right inlet still needs sanding to get the filler to conform. I'll build the fairings between the motor exhausts and wing tomorrow. More soon MattHow she looks at the momentPlan viewBoth fairings in situAgain.....Glued, but not sanded yet.The 3 inlet lamsSandedPinning sheet balsa strips before adding the inlet extension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Halton Posted October 31, 2008 Author Share Posted October 31, 2008 Made the tailpipes extensions, wrapped 2 layers of 3/32nd balsa sheet after wetting to aid bending, and glued with cyano.Fillets done too,the photo's show how these were made. Just need to make the tail fairing which fits between the jet pipes,and save one or two little jobs,this thing is near ready to cover!(at last...)It feels pretty light,once I find my scales,I'll let you know what it weighs bare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Stokes Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 What happens next last entery 31 Oct 08....???? Did the forum get moved... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klippy Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Hi Stephen, just what I'd like to know! I know Matts' been busy with a stunning looking Marauder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Simmons Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Hi. Been following this interesting tread... Hope Mat will go back to finshing her after a break. The Answer to what Span of the model which I believe is 50 inches. (as re, earlier post in the tread ) Got that from this website of the designer http://www.philipnoel.co.uk/ for De Havilland DH110 Sea Vixen FR2 Weight, Unknown.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Halton Posted May 7, 2011 Author Share Posted May 7, 2011 Sorry for the lack of build progress guys-I have been looking at this model again today, and think I should set about finishing her. My B-26 build has been driving me garrity with respect to the folding gear doors so have put it aside until I'm back in the mood (I am a funny so and so like that) This is a beautiful aeroplane and I think it deserves finishing...Not sure what happened to Phil though, haven't heard fro him for as long as I've been waiting to hear my lottery numbers are the winning ones... I hope he is OK, and still designing great stuff. I think the Chinese pulled the rug out from him.(with their never ending plethora of ARTF's) Shame though, he is an exceptionally talented designer, and a very nice bloke. I hope you are ok Phil if you are reading. ,Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jez Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 hi mat great reading your blog but the question is are the kits available and if so were can i get one from fingers crossed cheers jez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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