Robert Parker Posted April 9, 2021 Author Share Posted April 9, 2021 Hi Mike, Thanks for the water handling traits, my Sunderland will be flown off a dolly unless our patch gets flooded. I'm the club secretary for AVRCC (Amman Valley Radio Control Club), we fly (when we can) at Gwain Cae Gurwen. Is this anywhere near you? Regards Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike T Posted April 11, 2021 Share Posted April 11, 2021 Hi Robert, I'm in Cardiff, but I do know Gwaun (a hallowed spot, birthplace of Sir G. Edwards), as I used to pass through it regularly to visit family in Ammanford. I was asking about your location in case you had a secret stash of flyable water! The nearest ponds to us were just off the Heads of the Valleys Road, but the tracks to these have now been blocked or gated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Parker Posted April 15, 2021 Author Share Posted April 15, 2021 Hi All, Just a quick update on progress, the sheeting is now complete and sanded just the front nose block, rear turret floor to carve, the cockpit floor, and the wing mounting plates left to do and that is the basic fuselage construction completed and that it is a big big fuselage....... .........that's a 12" ruler standing next to it. That's all for now Regards Robert 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 Splendid job as usual, Robert. Looking forward to seeing your progress... Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murat Kece 1 Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 looks well built and clean.. Looking forward to seeing the end product..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Parker Posted April 25, 2021 Author Share Posted April 25, 2021 Hi All, Progress has not been at my usual pace recently, I have now finished the fuselage and ready to start the wings but before I do I have to carry out some urgent house repairs I discovered yesterday which will take up my time next week. I photo copied part of the plan to cut out the wing section to make life a little easier And I did the same for the stabiliser. I made 2 copies, one for each side and traced through for the opposite side Well, after a deep breath the section was cut out, spot on then added the wing mounting plates. The nose block is sanded to shape and the tail block done too. That's as far as I have got Next, it's on to the wings Regards Robert 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 Great work - this is one I intend to build in the near future too, so glad to be along for the ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Parker Posted May 5, 2021 Author Share Posted May 5, 2021 Thanks Andy welcome aboard. Hi All, I have started on the wings and have come to a bit of a delay. All was going well, ribs cut out and sanded down and started gluing the ribs in place when I noticed on the plans that the support plates for the wing floats were to be made from 9 x 6 obechi with ply plates on top. The obechi was not in the box of wood supplied, but having had said box for some years I may have "borrowed" it for another project, possibly my Dornier Do24 that I built a couple of years ago. Plus I realised that I had not bought any extension leads or power cable to put in the wings or even any servos. So all of the above have been ordered and have already started to arrive (next day by 4 max) Plans and instructions at the ready....... One set of ribs cut out This is the rib that needs the float supports and I think it would be easier to do before gluing in place I had to notch the spare for W18 to fit flush with the tops of the other ribs, the notches are 6 x 3 on a 6 x 6 spar, the other option was to plane the spar down when able to remove from the board, but the top was high so I went for notching the spar. This progress so far and awaiting deliveries which hopefully wont take too long, so that's all for now Regards Robert 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronos Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 Hi Robert, just come across your build, looks really nice. I liked the look of the Sunderland, so at the start of the first lockdown sent for one and began to build during the lockdown. Here are a couple of photos of my finished one. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Parker Posted May 8, 2021 Author Share Posted May 8, 2021 Hi Ronos, Your Sunderland looks great have you had chance to fly her yet. What did you use for covering? Regards Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronos Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 4 hours ago, Robert Parker said: Hi Ronos, Your Sunderland looks great have you had chance to fly her yet. What did you use for covering? Regards Robert Just flown her the once and was hand launched. She was no problem just a small bit of down elevator and she was better on small rates, she looked awesome. I covered her in light glass with Poly-C with at least 6 coats on, primer a light sanding and then airbrushed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 Looks great Ronos! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Parker Posted May 9, 2021 Author Share Posted May 9, 2021 Hi All, All of my deliveries have arrived and work has resumed on the wings. Wing tip supports made ready for installation Wing panel almost completed Once again the notches in the tip rib requires the top spar to be notched over by around 3mm but at least they all matching We have reached the end of progress for today, next, I'll add the shear webbing before lifting from the board and starting the other wing panel That's all for now Regards Robert 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwain Dibley. Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 Well done Robert, she's coming along nicely. D.D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Parker Posted May 10, 2021 Author Share Posted May 10, 2021 Thank you D.D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Parker Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 Hi All, I now two wing halves built to the same level. Lower spar fitted and when dry I'll fit the trailing section of the inner rib and cut back the excess spar material. Next, is the top sheeting which should be straight forward. That's all for now Regards Robert 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Parker Posted June 28, 2021 Author Share Posted June 28, 2021 Hi All, I have now sheeted the tops of both wing halves and given them a good sanding down whilst wearing my new dust mask well worth the money. Next, will be to install the wiring for the motors, speed controllers, and servos then building the nacelles. That's all for now Regards Robert 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eflightray Posted July 2, 2021 Share Posted July 2, 2021 I hope you don't mind me showing my Sunderland. She's 90" span, scratch built using mostly Depron foam, built and first flow back in 2010, (and I still have have it) with some balsa where I thought it required. Has flown off water, but mostly off fairly short grass. Owing to the size, the wings are split into three parts. A center section with the motors, and two plug in outer panels. The Sunderland was a beautiful aircraft. Ray. (Swansea) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Parker Posted July 3, 2021 Author Share Posted July 3, 2021 Hi Ray, No I don't mind at all. She looks great and at 90", she must have a great presence in the air. We are not a million miles apart by the looks of it I'm 15 miles out of Swansea and fly at GcG when I can, though that possibly will not happen this year. Regards Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Parker Posted July 6, 2021 Author Share Posted July 6, 2021 Hi All, Wings are progressing, all of the electrics have now been fitted as well as the aileron servos. I have made a start on the nacelles, I jumped the gun a bit here not reading the instructions, or thought I had read them but it is not the end of the world just a little awkward shaping the leading edges after the lower sheeting has been fitted and I will need to pack up the centre section when it comes to joining the wings. Next will be the lower sheeting and leading edges and then on to the laminated wingtips. That's all for now Regards Robert 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike T Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Coming along nicely Robert! @eflightrayI recall seeing a YT video of a Sunderland flying off the ponds further up the valley - was that yours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eflightray Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 2 hours ago, Mike T said: Coming along nicely Robert! @eflightrayI recall seeing a YT video of a Sunderland flying off the ponds further up the valley - was that yours? Quite probably. It was just the once as the ponds are too close to the A465 for me, (too risky). This - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6j06opQtp4 Note she took off well before full throttle. Ray 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike T Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Excellent! Some inspiration for Robert (and not too far away if he wants to give it a splash!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Parker Posted July 8, 2021 Author Share Posted July 8, 2021 Hi Mike, Our club did consider flying there a couple of years ago, but like Ray we thought the proximity of the A465 was a little too close for comfort. I would not mind giving some of my water birds a chance to have a go flying off water, my Dornier is still waiting to be maidened along with a lot of other models I have built recently. I just have no time to fly at present due to family illness for at least the rest of this year and possibly into next. Thanks for the comments I need some encouragement/support at this moment Regards Robert 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 You will have some nice maidens to look forward to! Keep yer pecker up and keep building..... GG 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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