911hillclimber Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 Having been bitten by my Standard Buccaneer build , and the situation of keeping at home, fancy a small model build. By small I mean 30" span or less, and 2 models stick out in my mind. 1 4-Max Hyper Cub. Nice looker, kit looks great and George does a package of hardware for the electrics. 750mm span, call it 30". 2 Mini Eros. Only available as a plan, but might be a good time consuming way to use time and have a nice model after. Power source/hardware much as above. Does anyone do a pre cut kit? To build from sheet looks to be demanding, my carpentry skill are not the best... Just read that you can get balsa cut by laser from a service company if you provide the plan, can anyone shed any light on this please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 You are probably going to have time to build both of them I should think, the way things are going. There are many out there that can cut you parts, but I would suggest trying one of the established companies unless you have a recommendation from someone you know and trust. More often than not, the quality of the parts cut is dependent on the quality of the original plans. When I am cutting from plans (for myself) I can spend quite some time cleaning up the templates before committing the files to the machine. Recently I have been"playing with some old (free magazine) plans. It's amazing how many of the templates drawn on them do not fit. Some being the wrong size and others being the wrong shape, or not square. Modern digital plans are a lot easier ! Though there are still mistakes to be found (when building) on them. Mind you, for me half the fun of building from plans is trying to make them work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 Why don't you learn to cut out your own parts? It will save a lot of money and adds to the pleasure of building. You can use handwriting carbon paper to mark through the plan onto the wood. If the company does not have the shapes on file they will charge a lot extra to prepare the program to cut them out. In the old days (50s and 60s and even later) precut parts was a rarity. I can remember the amazement at finding precut wing ribs in a Junior 60 kit in the 50s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
911hillclimber Posted March 22, 2020 Author Share Posted March 22, 2020 Thank you, interesting. the purpose is to take up some time, so the mini Eros would be best and the greatest challenge. I should look at the plan closer. It is the wing rib side that will be the challenge to get right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 I do believe that a plan built aircraft can take up time. And your wallet will complain about the machinery and tools that will make the task easier. But all it needs is a blade, and a sanding block to finish the rough cuts. Dont know your object of desire, but techniques like " sandwich rib cutting" make life easier. Ups and downs, you sure? If it flies, it is your creation, that for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 Double push twitch. Edited By Don Fry on 22/03/2020 19:29:35 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 Wing ribs ( except tapered wings) are best cut by making a 1/32 birch ply template - cut with knife or scissors, sanded to perfect shape. A couple of drawing pins just poking thro will hold it onto balsa whilst you run a scalpel around. Last cut out spar cut outs. Template can be fitted onto balsa to minimise balsa wastage. Alternative nis to cut balsa rectangles or oversize ribs, drill 2 holes thro to take a couple of pieces of threaded rod to make a sandwich of all ribs between 2 ply templaes, sand the block to shape and finally cut spar notches whilst still in a pack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
911hillclimber Posted March 22, 2020 Author Share Posted March 22, 2020 Think I've found a suitable plane Dumas Supermarine S.6B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted March 23, 2020 Share Posted March 23, 2020 Of course that is free flight scale and rubber powered = a specialist section of our hobby which needs lots of space to fly. Fine if you have the experience and space............ Going back to the wing rib or laser cut ideas, check out iGull for wing ribs only or Belair for laser cut part sets. In both cases you can download the plans free on Outerzone for most designs. For thing like the Southerner with tapered wings it's worth buying the ribs laser cut but for non tapered wings it's an expensive way to build. I advise building a model that will be the next in line to advance your flying. rather than someting that looks pretty.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted March 23, 2020 Share Posted March 23, 2020 I think out of the two, I'd go for the hyper Cub. Reason, if it's a kit, with a set of bits from George, and some instructions, you follow the instructions and build it. It teaches you how these things go together, what components should weigh, order of work. A plan, choose your wood, in that case choose propulsion system, convert to RC. That's a lot of steps to get right. One thing you haven't said. Where would you like to end up in the hobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
911hillclimber Posted March 23, 2020 Author Share Posted March 23, 2020 Thank you for the replies and also the good advice. The Supermarine is on it's way. Why this plane? I very nearly went for George's 'kit' as it is all there and a nice model can result. But, if I answer Don's last question my choice will be explained I hope. My life long hobbies/interests have all been cars, motorcycles and bikes, I love restoring and using them. This has also taken me to racing some of the cars, hill climbs only, hence my 'nick-name' I've done this for 30 years, wife loves it so all good to say the least. Moving one of the French motorcycle just before Xmas I wrenched my left elbow which is still damaged, so need to rest it. My thoughts are normally doing things to the 'toys' over Xmas in the cold garage, but thought I would resurrect my school boy interest in model aeroplanes and try R/C. This is very very light work compared to what I normally do, but at 68 years almost, I do need to watch what I'm doing... Thus the Standard Buccaneer build which has been great other than the frustration of the radio, but all now fixed. That plane to almost done. However, of course, now nowhere to fly it due to the Cirus, so that step will have to wait. The motor racing world has stopped, in-fact it never got going in 2020, so having to do something, another plane was suggested by my WIFE. I wanted one that was different and trickier to do, hence the Supermarine. I fully intend to fly the Buccaneer, retired, I have lots of time mid week. The Supermarine may never get covered, might just get to the skeletal stage, but I suspect I will get parts off George and electrify it. One has been so modified in detail on the internet and flies well in still air. That is my current frame of mind. details of the electric converted plane from the usa: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcgroups.com%2Fforums%2Fshowthread.php%3F2131530-24-Dumas-Supermarine-S6B-BBCC-4-entry&psig=AOvVaw2ts40n9h1A3MfSGumYqQoQ&ust=1585065646341000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCMCEvej7sOgCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE Edited By 911hillclimber on 23/03/2020 16:01:23 Edited By 911hillclimber on 23/03/2020 16:06:02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
911hillclimber Posted March 25, 2020 Author Share Posted March 25, 2020 My box arrived today, and the contents are good and interesting, esp the plans! This plane is small... I think I need to find 3 servo's esc and battery before I start any build and lay out where I can or need to position things and how to gain access. So, 24" span, small and will be very light, but what servos etc to use? Any help will be very good please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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