Martin Gay Posted November 13, 2019 Author Share Posted November 13, 2019 Before joining the two fuselage halves, be sure to add the wing bolt plates and the assembled battery box, along with the tailplane bellcrank assembly. The rear slot for the actuating rod is not machined into F15 as not everyone will choose to use the SLEC item. Cut the rear slots into F15 to suit your bellcrank. Dry assemble the sides until you are happy with the fit. Edited By Martin Gay on 13/11/2019 15:12:21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 13, 2019 Author Share Posted November 13, 2019 Clamp and glue the keels and former halves together: Edited By Martin Gay on 13/11/2019 15:18:16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 13, 2019 Author Share Posted November 13, 2019 Add the nose rings: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 13, 2019 Author Share Posted November 13, 2019 We skipped over the assembly of the tailplane bellcrank and as this is a possible "gotcha" here is a quick guide if you are using the tailplanes with dihedral. - First bend on the pivot wire at 10deg - Slide brass sleeve on - Fit a suitable spacer to stop bellcrank moving sideways [optional] - Fit bellcrank - Fit second spacer [optional] - Second bend [careful not to damage brass sleeve] - Pivot wire must be free to move in brass sleeve - Re-check bend angles using ply guide and then glue brass sleeve into F15 Edited By Martin Gay on 13/11/2019 15:18:48 Edited By Martin Gay on 13/11/2019 15:31:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 13, 2019 Author Share Posted November 13, 2019 Nose shaping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 13, 2019 Author Share Posted November 13, 2019 Looking for something like this: Edited By Martin Gay on 13/11/2019 15:26:08 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kettle 1 Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Thanks Martin nice and detailed, it all helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 ... it absolutely helps a lot, Martin. The Sabre 'Dog' has a tailplane without dihedral. I presume the procedure must be nearly the same, except for bending the pivoting wire obviously? ... Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 Fin cut to size and laminated. To fit the fin, and bellcrank, the keel pieces between both F15's needs to be removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 Fin cheek pieces made. Initial shaping carried out before the fin was glued on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 Final shaping was done with the fin in place using a piece of abrasive paper against the fuselage sanding away the underside of the cheek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 The fin strake: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 Tailplanes laminated up and the tube positions marked using the tailplane joiners: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 Top wing skin added: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 Whilst that was drying, the tail cone was shaped up: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 The wing cut out needs to be formed. This is done by cutting the bottom off of F6 - the top of the lower hole marks the correct cut line for that former. Most of the bottom edge of F14 indicates where the fuselage sides need to be cut to - see red lines below: It is best to trim close and then sand to section to fit the wing. Be Aware: The front part of F14 is horizontal to fit through F6 and is not shaped to the wing section. Below is a photo of the prototype model showing one half of the fuselage resting on the wing (without its top skin). This shows F14 sitting directly over R3 (for strength) and also that the fuselage side below the front portion of F14 does not need to be cut away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 Views of the wing placed on the fuselage to aid trimming. Lots more sanding required! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 Once the wing is "fitted" to the fuselage then the wing centre section trailing edge can be assembled. The large centre plate on the top surface (Photo below) is there to stop over-tightened wing bolts from distorting the trailing edge. If it is all lined up correctly the top of the centre plate will butt up against the wing bolt plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 At this stage the model is about ready for final shaping and sanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 The Sabre is now ready for your chosen covering - this one used fibreglass which is the subject of a recent RCM&E article so we will skip over that and get down to the finishing/painting side of things. This involved lots, and lots and lots of primer/filler coats of paint with lots, and lots and lots of sanding in between. Whilst all of this was going on the paint masks were made up using a vinyl cutter. Edited By Martin Gay on 15/11/2019 13:52:49 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 Once sanded and ready for painting the cockpit area was finished and the canopy added. Some aluminium "speed tape" formed the framing for the canopy. And the fuselage in front of canopy was built up using "knifing putty" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 Now the "FUN" begins - a final coat of primer/undercoat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 Masking for the final paint scheme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 All will be unveiled in good time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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