Geoff S Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 Posted by Dwain Dibley. on 05/12/2020 20:18:42: The obligatory "Dry fit" David, it has to be done Matey. D.D. It's a waste of time, really, Dwain, but it's impossible to resist. We claim it's a check but, in fact it's to encourage us to keep construction progressing. I'm as guilty as the next It's looking stunning, David. Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted December 15, 2020 Author Share Posted December 15, 2020 True Geoff, "dry fitting" is seldom really needed. As you say it's more a morale booster, especially when there's lots left to do on a project. A question for biplane lovers. The plan doesn't mention washout. Is it worth adding a couple of degrees on a big biplane like this? It has parallel wing chord and the lower wing has less span the the upper - so I'm inclined to think it doesn't need washout - but anyone got experience with a similar model. I haven't incorporated on my other biplanes (Tiger Moth, Hawker Tomtit, Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Robson Posted December 15, 2020 Share Posted December 15, 2020 Hi David, the Hawker Fury also has parallel chord and a smaller lower wing and there was no washout on the plan ,nor did I build any in and it has been fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted December 15, 2020 Author Share Posted December 15, 2020 Thanks Eric, That confirms my thinking. I have been sorting out a building jig to give me the correct dihedral when setting up the wing tubes in the outer wing panels. There is 2 degrees dihedral and I have gone for zero washout. I hope to start building the first outer panel later on today. Edited By David Ovenden on 15/12/2020 11:41:33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted December 15, 2020 Author Share Posted December 15, 2020 Made a custom board (with correct dihedral to build the wing tip panels on) to make aligning the wing ribs and with the wing tubes easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 Finally got the first tip panel done. Took me MUCH longer than it should have done. All of the ribs at the curved tip didn't match the plan. Spar cut-outs in wrong places and shapes didn't match up so there was quite a bit of adjustment and trimming to do. Because I added a top spar (which threaded through the ribs so it didn't show beneath the covering) it was quite a fiddle to thread on all the ribs and add the wing tubes then glue everything in place without altering the alignment. The tip components also took a while to cut out and shape to fit exactly. Still in the end it all worked. The tip panel aligns perfectly with the centre section wing tubes and the dihedral is spot-on. The other 3 panels should be quicker now I have a system and know the snags in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted December 22, 2020 Author Share Posted December 22, 2020 The trouble with biplanes is that there are 2 wings to build. One done now so 50% left to do. I am happy with the way the wing joining tubes have worked out. I obviously calculated correctly and cut the holes in the right places! The odd bits of wood stop the drawstrings for the motor wires getting lost. Got to build some engine nacelles now. Edited By David Ovenden on 22/12/2020 11:25:14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 That's looking good David. How stiff do the panels feel with the unconventional spar layout? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted December 22, 2020 Author Share Posted December 22, 2020 Hi Bob, The wing actually feels very stiff. I have added webbing between the top and bottom spars - 1/8th ply inboard where the wing tubes attach and 1/16th balsa outboard towards the tip. It seems to have done the job. The carbon fibre wing tube goes right through the centre section and 20cms into each outboard wing panel, so that is acting as a very strong extra "spar" too. However, its not until the model gets into the air that we shall really know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted December 29, 2020 Author Share Posted December 29, 2020 A bit more progress. Upper wing centre section just about done with wing tubes and extension leads for aileron servos installed. The partial top sheeting is not a mistake - It is where the fuel tank is on the full size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted January 1, 2021 Author Share Posted January 1, 2021 A little more progress today. 5th wing panel of 6, so only one more to do now. Plus the ailerons of course. I will build those on a central 1/16th sheet core (like the elevators) rather than all built up as the original design. I find the sheet core method is quicker and less prone to warp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted January 4, 2021 Author Share Posted January 4, 2021 I would have got a little more done today but... we had snow overnight. The garden is just about large enough to use my Durafly Tundra. So it was on with the skis for a couple of STOL flights before the snow melted!. Back in the workshop I got the wing tip added and an aileron built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted January 8, 2021 Author Share Posted January 8, 2021 Some sort of "milestone" on the journey today. All 6 wing panels plus the 2 ailerons are largely complete. There is still a lot of sanding to do and some strut mounts to add, but nevertheless they are largely finished and I am happy with they way the wing joining works and that they seem very solid and warp-free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Nice work David, that certainly was a lot of ribs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Carlton Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Looking very nice indeed. Wing joins certainly very neatly done 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted January 10, 2021 Author Share Posted January 10, 2021 Posted by Bob Cotsford on 08/01/2021 14:15:19: Nice work David, that certainly was a lot of ribs! Hi Bob, Yes, more ribs than I realised when I started. But having started I was determined to finish. With both wings now done I can start on bending the wire for the top wing mounts (and attach them to the fuselage) checking I set up the correct incidences for the 2 wings. Then I can build the underbelly section onto the lower wing and finalise the lower wing mountings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted January 10, 2021 Author Share Posted January 10, 2021 Posted by Matt Carlton on 08/01/2021 14:28:39: Looking very nice indeed. Wing joins certainly very neatly done 👍 Thanks Matt. I'm pretty happy with the fit, but it is amazing that when you look very carefully you can always find some small mis-alignment that manages to creep in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwain Dibley. Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 Posted by David Ovenden on 08/01/2021 14:06:30: Some sort of "milestone" on the journey today. All 6 wing panels plus the 2 ailerons are largely complete. There is still a lot of sanding to do and some strut mounts to add, but nevertheless they are largely finished and I am happy with they way the wing joining works and that they seem very solid and warp-free. Seems a shame to cover it up David. D.D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 Stunning work...love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share Posted January 15, 2021 Pressing on, but its been quite a bit of metal work. I have bent the wire for the upper wing "pylons" and added the wing mounting plates. Also made up some dural wing-joiner plates to retain the outer wing panels. Aileron servos are now fitted and I've started on adding the stringers to the fuselage, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 Maybe just me, but it's starting to look more like a whale than a condor! The plan was not very clear on where/how some of the stringers were fitted. In the end I just went by eye and used some scrap packing to get things in the right place. I want to start on the engine nacelles tomorrow. That should be fun. The plan shows 1 degree downthrust on the engines but no side thrust. Mmmm Not sure about that! I am thinking 0 degree sidethrust on the left engine but a couple of degrees of right thrust on the right hand engine. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted January 18, 2021 Author Share Posted January 18, 2021 Got nearly all the parts for the engine nacelles cut out this afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted January 23, 2021 Author Share Posted January 23, 2021 Much balsa carving and sanding today as I was working on the nose cone of the Condor. The nose block will be integral with the cockpit and lift off to give access to the Lipo battery bay in the front of the fuselage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted January 25, 2021 Author Share Posted January 25, 2021 Made the top of the cabin this morning. It will eventually (once the glazing is done) remove along with the nose-cone as one unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted January 26, 2021 Author Share Posted January 26, 2021 Worked on the underwing fuselage section and got the u/c wires fitted. Tomorrow I will start on the 2 engine nacelles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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