Building Jim Newberrys Puddleduck

[Chris North 3]

Hi DD. I am really enjoying your thread and the fact that it contains so much detail for each step - it will be very useful when I get back to building again once the new house is sorted. There are so many so called build threads that contain plenty of words and then a picture of the finished model - which is not always that helpful! - so thanks for the effort you are putting in.

[Dwain Dibley.]

Thanks for the kind words Chris, It's nice to know these blogs actually help people..

D.D.

[Dwain Dibley.]

I spent a couple of hours before work this morning, I start a 14.00 hrs, getting the wings together.

Once they are glued with the Dihedral braces in place it is a simple case of filling in the cut outs top and bottom, with scrap balsa.

I then gave it all a good sanding. I also need to add a piece of balsa to the wing to stop it sliding rearwards under pressure from the rubber bands.

Jobs left to do are...

• Finish off the Tips.
• Reinforce the wing joints.
• Put some magnets in the canopy.
• Add the front cowl part.
• Make the undercarriage, including rear skid.
• Covering.
• Fit the motor and radio.
• Fit the dowels for the wing bands.

Not much now then, so a maiden will ensue quite soon, as long as the weather cooperates.

D.D.

[Dwain Dibley.]

Now then,.... If you look at the last picture, you will see a patch on the SB wing leading edge sheet. I put my thumb through it and repaired it. Then I did it again in the next bay............... The balsa sheet was very brittle, which I didn't notice when I applied it. So now I have a wing with two ugly patches on it. There were two options....

1. rip the sheet off and apply a new one, which I would have to travel 8 miles to buy, or
2. Cover the leading edge sheet with something.

I did the latter, with brown paper, and now it's like a ply sheet. I also did the middle section, top and bottom.

It's a bit like Marmite, you will either love it or hate it....I will accept either opinion without retaliation.

D.D.

[Piers Bowlan]

A neat solution Dwain, I'll have to try brown paper covering sometime.

[Ron Gray]

I like that DD, looks rather good imo.

[Geoff S]

Well, in a way it's good to know even the great DD can put his thumb through 1.5mm sheeting. At least our building skills (and, in my case, I use the term loosely) have a little in common. That's a great bodge, Dwain. One of these days I'll reveal all the neat escapes I've made (and hidden!). That's something I'm quite good at.

Looks like you're making excellent progress and I'm sure it will fly like a dream once the weather sorts itself out.

Geoff

[Dwain Dibley.]

Thanks guys, It looks OK don't it..????

Gut wrenching when the old thumb went in tho, but As you say Geoff, a good Bodge/Dodge/Codge, sorts it out.

I have now finished the tips and covered the wings, added the "Decals", and am ready to move back to the fuselage.

D.D.

Tip pieces cut out X 2

All nice and square.

Decals added.   Written on brown paper and covered with film. I tested this on scrap first in case of runs.

Homage to the Designer.

Finished. Still very light, but solid as a rock.

Edited By Dwain Dibley. on 24/03/2018 23:34:43

[Dwain Dibley.]

Most of the jobs in the list above are now complete.

I have installed the snakes and got all the surfaces working. I used spare ends with clevises to make the push rods up and secured the ends with CA and Heat shrink tube.

Dowels are in for the wing bands.

The fuselage is covered, the Brown paper theme carried through to the nose and tail. The tail is glued on

The magnets are in the hatch top and screws in the fuz to catch them.

I just have to bend up the undercarriage wires, fit the motor and front cowl.

D.D.

Tail Skid and a bit of brown paper.

Top and Tailed.

Magnets and screws. I always seal the magnets in with whatever covering I have used.

Balsa pieces to hold in the snakes, i made 8 in total. You can also see the snake exits.

Bottom covered.

Snake holders.

Skid and snake ends, showing the fixing method.

See through.

The covered item. I plan on painting the front Black.

[Dwain Dibley.]

Today I made the undercarriage, front cowl piece, and painted the front end. I also fitted the motor and worked out where to to put the ESC. All that remains is to fit the Under carriage and Fly

I have thoroughly enjoyed this build, Kudos to Jim for a great design.

D.D.

My trusty old undercarriage Jig.

I made a new front piece

Checking the clearance for the prop.

Easy access through the front to the motor screws.

Covered.

And painted.

[Jim Newberry - Nuviation Ltd.]

Looks good DD! Hope the maiden goes well. I have to say, I like the brown paper dodge, I'm going to file that one away for future use.

Jim.

[Dwain Dibley.]

Thanks Jim, I'll give you that one Mate...... LOL

I am looking forward to the first flight, plus I have the Boomerang to thrash....

I will post a video when she flies, that's if my Girls will do the honours with the cameras again.

D.D.

[Dwain Dibley.]

Well of course i couldn't leave it without the customary photo shoot with the wheels on....

It took a bit of time today as well, to get all the bits of the power train in the smallish space, but it all fits.

Also, I had recently bought 4 orange rx's from H K, the plan was to use one in The Puddle Duck, however, the first one out of the box had a faulty Throttle channel, So I have fitted a Spektrum 8 channel I had in the drawer, a bit over kill, but I know I can trust it.

The more I look at this model, the more I like the way it looks, and with the wheels on, the vintage stance just sets it off right..

D.D.

[Dwain Dibley.]

In all the excitement, I had forgotten to make and add the screen, so today I cut some material and glued it on.

Always a tricky thing to do screens, but with a bit of patience, and cutting a bit here and a bit there, it all works out.

Some canopy glue and a few clamps and the job is done.

Talking about clamps I got 4 New ones from Wilko the other day, while I was killing time waiting for a rear seat to be fitted in my van. Reasonably priced at a fiver for a pack of two.

D.D.

Here you can see the glue that has not yet dried, it goes clear when it does eventually dry. Normally fully cured after about 24 hours...........Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Dwain Dibley.]

Ok, so today I thought I had better balance the little Puddle duck, it took 130g of the churches finest roof to balance her on the main spar. I put it , well wrapped, in the front of the cowl, under the motor.

I also did a static power test, results as follows

Half throttle 124 W @10 A

Full throttle 200 W @ 18 A

This was using 3s 2200 mah lipo, with an 11 X 6 wooden prop, the motor is the PO-2834-910 Kv (1020Kv as per the article no longer available), and a 40 A ESC, I ordered a 30 A but got a 40 for the same money so happy campers.

Numbers are well within margins and I cant see that I will need 200W but it's there just in case.

D.D.

[Dwain Dibley.]

Maidened both models today....................YAY!!

Both were non events, the Puddle Duck had power to spare and flew quite happily on 1/3 throttle. The first flight saw the rudder on the left stick, where it should be for mode two, but my thumbs were so rusty, that I decide to land and put the Rudder in the Aileron port (right stick), that felt better, and a more comfortable second flight ensued. I had to add 2 clicks of left trim and thats all.

Well chuffed..

The Boomer was the same, I put the watt meter on her before the maiden. The recommended prop is 14X7 on 4 cells, I used a 13x7, as I was worried about ground clearance, with the field grass being a bit tall.

I got 500 W at 30 A I reckon I would see 600 W with the 14x7. Same with 5 cells and a 13, also there is an option for 6 cells with a 12x6.

Happy campers.....

Video of Puddle Duck to follow.

D.D.

[Dwain Dibley.]

[Dwain Dibley.]

[Dwain Dibley.]

It was a Blistering day at the field, here are a few snaps of the day.

D.D.

Pete's Fokker.

Home made engine on Pete's Model....one carb feeds both engines.

The Pits.

The essential Equipment.

Today's Fleet.

The First Spring Lambs were all over the place.

[Jim Newberry - Nuviation Ltd.]

Looks like a great day out DD, good to see the Puddleduck in the air!

With rudder/elevator models I always have the rudder on the right stick - the way I look at it, mode two puts the primary roll control on the right stick. With a four channel model this would be the ailerons but for a three channel model it will always be the rudder. Hope you get plenty more flights in over the summer!

[Dwain Dibley.]

Yes Jim, it makes perfect sense, and it made for a smoother flight.

It's a cracking little model, and I think it would handle a bit of wind too.........

Keep 'em coming Matey..

[Geoff S]

I also fly mode 2 and on rudder/elevator models I mix rudder and aileron 100% so I can use either stick. I found if I put the rudder on the aileron channel I was wiggling the left stick (rudder) on take off and it was having zero effect because there was nowt connected to it

Well DD your Puddleduck looks great. However that's the quiet, sunny, no wind day for 2018 so you might as well put it away ready for next year

Geoff

[Dwain Dibley.]

That is a good idea Geoff, I may well nick it.... I too was wiggling sticks and wondering why there was no response..................

Thanks for the compliment by the way, I'm quietly optimistic for some more nice weather, however, that's why I built the boomerang......to fly on all the other days.

D.D.

[Rene Wallage]

Right, I've taken the plans out of the mag, and put them in a nice clean plastic folder. Come the glorious (or not) day that my Stevens Aeromodel Skybuggy gives up the ghost, I'll build the Puddle Duck...

[Dwain Dibley.]

Good Man Rene....you will love it ..

D.D.