Colin Leighfield Posted December 17, 2018 Author Share Posted December 17, 2018 The conversation on Danny’s thread lead me to think that the gap between FS3 and F7 was too long, so I made an extra former and the stringers are now better supported. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 2, 2019 Author Share Posted January 2, 2019 After the inactivity caused by Christmas I have done some more work on the fuselage sheeting and also the undercarriage. To increase the surface area of the wire to be imbedded in the rubber shock absorber I have encased it in carbon fibre tube. The box that the rubber will be cast in is made from 3mm liteply. Just started on this. I did an experimental cast of the two pack material and it looks spot on for toughness and resilience. I will shortly mix enough to fill the box with the wire in situ. It looks promising. I have also worked out how to make sprung wheels. Not sure it will be necessary though. Edited By Colin Leighfield on 02/01/2019 22:32:22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 4, 2019 Author Share Posted January 4, 2019 I have mixed and poured the synthetic rubber into the box. It sets in a couple of hours but fully cures in a week. I will build in some reinforcement before closing it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 4, 2019 Share Posted January 4, 2019 Nice progress Colin ,a question how are you connecting the rear U/C wires from the wing counterpoint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 4, 2019 Author Share Posted January 4, 2019 Hi Martian, thank you. This is intended to be the version with the single cantilever legs and Dowty sprung wheels, quite different from the standard Mk1 and 2. As far as I can see there aren’t any wires there. Also the undercarriage is completely clear of the wing. The reason I have made the undercarriage this way and dreamed up the moulded shock absorber idea is to resolve some of the difficulties in making it strong enough and still have acceptable spring reaction. I hope it will work, but I’m optimistic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Now it makes sense .I,m sure it will work optimists rule the world Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 ... still following, Colin. Despite the former Festive Season and the accompanying beverages, I'm still wondering about the final result of your 'rubber' suspension, but I really like your approach. Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 Hi Colin, Really impressed with how neatly you have folded the brass around the steel wire for the UC. how you do you do it A wee tutorial would be appreciated ernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 Thanks Martian, I can’t see any reason why it won’t. If I had thought of it earlier I’d have mounted the whole u/c this way. I think it has potential for other planes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 Chris, it was you that convinced me to go the two pack synthetic route. I think it’s a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 Ernie, I don’t think I’m competent enough to teach anyone anything! Basically I bent them into a curve using pliers, then formed them around the wire using a hammer and a flat chisel. The important thing was shaping them to be flat on the face that would be against the wood former and when I had that more or less right, I crimped them up in the vice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 9, 2019 Author Share Posted January 9, 2019 Now it has had a few days for the polyurethane rubber to cure the undercarriage feels very good, resilient and strong. Starting now to work on blocking in the nose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 nice work Colin. looks to be an interesting suspenion set up. Tony B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 10, 2019 Author Share Posted January 10, 2019 Thanks Tony, I can’t match your skill and speed though. I think this idea for mounting an undercarriage has a lot of potential. Because of the range of Shore hardness/flexibility there is scope for optimisation as well. It might be the answer to making a sprung wheel, I’m thinking about that, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 13, 2019 Author Share Posted January 13, 2019 Slow progress, but happy so far. I need to sort out wing and cabane detail next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 16, 2019 Author Share Posted January 16, 2019 I’m currently trying to get the lower wing centre section right, I’m on the second version now having scrapped the first attempt as being beyond salvation. Don’t ask how I managed to do that. I do wonder sometimes if Dennis Bryant ever actually tried to build a plane from this plan, or whether he extemporised the original as he went along and drew the plan afterwards from memory. It really could do with re-drawing accurately and the detail much improved. Sarik should do that, it’s not as if it is a cheap purchase. I am working to the plan, the only difference in the wing is the insertion of the tubes to make the wing cellules plug in. After thinking otherwise with the first attempt I’m now going to build each wing in one piece and and then separate the three sections afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 you are making good progress Colin, remember nothing good comes easy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share Posted January 17, 2019 Martian, don’t worry. Sometimes self-inflicted by trying something different and bodging it! Sorted now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 Having had second thoughts about the lower wing centre section I decided to go back to my first idea and do it right. Instead of lining up the carbon tube/brass tube wing fittings with the spars I have kept them separate. Looks ok to me, now I can build the wing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 19, 2019 Author Share Posted January 19, 2019 I’ve been looking at slim aileron servos and have ordered two Hitec HS125MG from Servo Shop, they look about right to me and will arrive quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 20, 2019 Author Share Posted January 20, 2019 Moving on with the lower wing. The missing rib next to the centre section is because my calculation on the dihedral was out and I need to do some work there. Edited By Colin Leighfield on 20/01/2019 17:49:18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 I was able to get two hours in tonight and spent it sorting out the mis-positioning of the wing-joiner tubes to get the correct 1 7/8” dihedral. Some untidy surgery but it is right now and all key connections secured with epoxy. The ribs in positions 1 and 3 are made from 3mm Liteply instead of 1/16” balsa. It will enable me to get the opposite wing panel right first time! Before I start on the second panel though I will do the leading sheeting, cap strips, webbing and leading edge. Although the idea of the wing joining is to leave the centre sections and cabane in place, I also wish to be able to remove them for access so will still make them detachable as on the plan. Edited By Colin Leighfield on 22/01/2019 22:30:25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted January 23, 2019 Author Share Posted January 23, 2019 A bit further with the port lower wing tonight. It is always interesting to see the rigidity produced in a wing by sheeting the leading edge. I really doubt if webbing between the spars does’ anything with a wing like this because if ever there was enough movement to create that kind of loading I would have thought the wing had in effect already failed anyway! Still that’s just an opinion so I will do that job next. The Hitec slim servos for the ailerons have arrived from Servo Shop, although it will be a few days before I get as far as the upper wing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Lovely work young man. i stll have to finish my upper wing off. just dont seem to have the time at the moment. Tony B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Lovely neat wing work Colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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