Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 As it was a non-flying day I was looking around the workshop scratching myself deciding what to do. My eyes alighted on a retired Slipstream Sbach 342 50cc covered in dust. Two thoughts came to mind. If I "bend" one of my 50-60cc electrics in the future would I have a replacement? Furthermore, is the airframe in good enough condition to refresh and convert to electric? In a past life she housed a MVVS50 up front and in her flying life no damage had been sustained. Furthermore, if she is recoverable she could be a replacement given the current dearth of sensibly priced 50cc ARTFs and save me a few quid. Just to whet my appetite I found a video clip of this aircraft for mine and your delectation! **LINK** So lets have a look. Looks pretty sound. Missing the tail wheel assembly though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 11, 2020 Author Share Posted June 11, 2020 Looking at the tail feathers, I originally converted the elevators to a pull/pull system a la Capiche 140. I think I will revert back to the original design with the elevators driven by two servos housed in the tail feathers. Just need to cut out the covering slot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 11, 2020 Author Share Posted June 11, 2020 What makes the airframe suitable for electric use is the large amount of space in the fuselage. There is a bit of old woodwork to cut out and tidy up, though. Edited By Adrian Smith 1 on 11/06/2020 17:37:15 Edited By Adrian Smith 1 on 11/06/2020 17:38:29 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 11, 2020 Author Share Posted June 11, 2020 The main wings are in good shape and sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 11, 2020 Author Share Posted June 11, 2020 Turning to the business end. There is a lot of extra wood/bolt/strengthening to the motor box that needs removing/tidying up. There is not the vibration from an electric motor compared to I/C. The cowl is in a reasonable condition apart from the cutout at the bottom of he cowl that was used for the silencer. I am thinking of keeping the cutout for ventilation purposes, but also to use a metal gauze to "fill in" to make it look like a large radiator. Any favourite ways if attaching gauze to he cowl? any thoughts would be most welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 Epoxy resin should be good enough for the gauze. DLE 55 would haul it around nicely.....buts that’s me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marsh Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 The same one I got. Bought it cheap, as the firewall was ripped out, but light damage, anyway. Flies really well and one of my favourite aircraft. Has a DLE60cc twin in it,which is ideal, powerful and no vibration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Calcutt Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 To fill the cowl I use plasterers scrim tape,on the inside the tape is self adhesive.Then I put masking tape on the outside,I use frog tape.Smear the scrim with brown gorilla glue.when set fill the outside with plastic padding.I have just done a cowl for electric and it looks good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 11, 2020 Author Share Posted June 11, 2020 Thanks for the suggestions, Cymaz & Andrew. Not sure which way I will go yet. I will quite likely go the electric route in any event as I am happy with the performance of my other 60cc size conversions. Thanks for the photo, Paul. Interesting that they are still around in use. I will be fitting in the job on it between flying days (Monday & Tuesday look good at the moment) , therefore I guess it will be a slow progress re-conditioning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 14, 2020 Author Share Posted June 14, 2020 I had and hour or so to play with therefore I decided to make a start on the cowl. The top half is reasonably ok which meant I am going to spray the black underside first as that's a bit rough. Masked up first after a rub down with fine wet & dry. All sprayed and put aside to dry and harden before doing a bit on the white on the top. A bit of seepage, but I will address that later on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 14, 2020 Author Share Posted June 14, 2020 As I am going for lightness for the electric conversion I found a suitable C/F undercarriage in my spares to replace the original dural one. Yup I know it is Extra 300 style and not Sbach shape, but it's going to have to do. Hopefully some more progress later in the week as tomorrow & Tuesday look like flying days. Edited By Adrian Smith 1 on 14/06/2020 14:55:36 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 25, 2020 Author Share Posted June 25, 2020 Too hot for me to fly today therefore into the cool of the work shop. Started by cutting the cowl gauze to shape. Made sure there is some overlap. Then marked where the glue will be. I am using Araldite in this instance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 25, 2020 Author Share Posted June 25, 2020 All glued in and weighted while it drys overnight. I think I will probably introduce some small nut and bolt fixings to secure the finished job and making it look like a large radiator. Next job after that is to work on the motor box wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 Last job to finish off the cowl using small nut, bolt & washers and blue thread locker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 First I thought I would remove the tubes that were used for the pull/pull elevators as I will be using separate servos in the tail.I recovered with matching film covering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 Next recover the elevators where the studded horns were drilled. same for the underside of the elevator. Repeated both sides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 To the business end of the plane. I drilled out the original mounting holes to fit my dowel infills. and stuck with 30 minute epoxy. That's it for this session. I will do some work on the U/C and spates next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 Next on to work on the spats. I removed the decals ready for re-painting and a sticky residue was left on the surface. I recently bought a bottle of this stuff that cpmpletely cleans the mess off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 There are some small splits in the spats that need repairing. I am using my tried and tested method of fibre glass cloth. Left aside to dry ready to rub down and spray paint. I am thinking of using the red that matches the film covering. I am also going to next remove the U/C and refit a G/F version and refit the wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 Slow progress. Anyway I trimmed off the surplus GF and wet/dry sanded the spats. Now for non-I/C applications I really like to use Holts auto gloss colours as the finish looks really good. Therefore out came the red paint to spray the spats. Really pleased with the finish. Set aside to dry before adding some spare decals. Then I am ready to put her all back together and then decide what to do. I did think I might put some electric gear in her, but I already have one active 60cc Sbach 342 which is a Goldwing model. I know for a fact the SlipStream Sbach 342 is a great flyer and deserves some regular use. It is now ready to have I/C or electric applications added. I am debating putting her on ebay at some point as I am running out of "shop" space. It will be a wrench, but it may come to it. More pictures when I have finished the final details. Edited By Adrian Smith 1 on 03/07/2020 15:24:03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Smith 1 Posted July 7, 2020 Author Share Posted July 7, 2020 Right, all re-conditioned and ready for fitting out for electric or I/C. Good for quite a while now as she is a decent sound airframe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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