Matt Carlton Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 With the sad demise of my last OD model, I have scribbled up a replacement which I have called "Bécasseau". Simpler and more robust construction is planned. Possibly a foam wing which might actually be more achievable with balsa prices as they are! Anyway, here's the first sketch. I'll update as I go along. Slowly. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Carlton Posted March 23, 2022 Author Share Posted March 23, 2022 We progress. Trying to make this a bit more robust, so what we have is a basic 3/32" box. As an experiment, I positioned the longerons about 1/16" higher than the top of the sides, to give a bit extra for the decking sheet to glue to. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Carlton Posted March 24, 2022 Author Share Posted March 24, 2022 So, a bit more on the fuselage. The front hatch was a bit of pain and I'm not super happy with the fit, but it'll probably be ok. Just waiting for some model-lite filler. I want to get the fuselage as near as possible to complete before I move on to the wing. Still undecided on foam vs built. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 Nice work Matt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Carlton Posted March 25, 2022 Author Share Posted March 25, 2022 Thankyou. Ground to a bit of a halt whilst I figure out what to do with the canopy. I suspect that it might end up being "solid" and painted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 People do say that moulding plastic drinks bottles into a canopy is quite easy, although I've not tried it personally... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 Here's another example video. Looks to me like the main issues are a) not burnign your fingers with the heat gun, and b) the cost of the balsa plug now it's more valuable than unicorn poo! ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Carlton Posted March 25, 2022 Author Share Posted March 25, 2022 I did consider doing the "pop bottle" method and I might give that a go, but getting the plug to an acceptable standard might be a pain. It would look much better though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad_flyer Posted March 26, 2022 Share Posted March 26, 2022 If you don't want a particular shape, then all you need is to find a bottle nearly the right size and heat a little to bend/shrink/coax the edge to fit to the fuselage. No plug, but you have not got much choice of shape. But I think my levels of "acceptable" are rather lower than yours! This looks like a beautiful model. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Carlton Posted March 26, 2022 Author Share Posted March 26, 2022 Well thankyou, I hope it will be. I have thought of the method you describe, I will mull it over, I don't want to spoil the ship etc, so there's no rush really. I might try vortex vac forms range of canopies and see if something is suitable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted March 26, 2022 Share Posted March 26, 2022 Next time it might be easier to design a model around an existing canopy! However it looks rather like you would need a canopy similar in style to that being supplied for the Joker 25 by Kevin b - on the Joker plan the canopy measures 3inches wide by 2 inches high to top of canopy by around 6 inches long ( I measured the plan -I havent seen the canopy yet) So if by any chance that would suit then you already know the supplier -Kevin b -from your laser cutting enquiry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Carlton Posted March 26, 2022 Author Share Posted March 26, 2022 I think the canopy for the Joker would probably be a touch small, the overall height is somewhere around 80mm but I'd need to have a proper measure up to be sure. There are a few companies out there doing some vac forms, but they don't all have an illustration or dimensions. I'll have to just bite the bullet, but thankyou so much, I'll have a look at the measurements in the morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Carlton Posted March 29, 2022 Author Share Posted March 29, 2022 One cut down Galaxy Magician canopy later and.... not too bad. It can always be replaced if I make it removable. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Carlton Posted March 29, 2022 Author Share Posted March 29, 2022 Tonight, tailplane, rudder and elevator were roughed out. The fuselage fairings are attached to the fin, which slots into the tailplane. The tailplane will be covered, then the tail unit glued and faired into the fuselage. A bit of film backing taped onto the tp will protect it during that process. That way, I can cover the fuselage sides under the tp flat on a board without the fin/tp etc being in the way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Carlton Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 After a little while, some more progress was made. Needs a set of wings. As yet undecided on foam vs built up. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eflightray Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 "Needs a set of wings. As yet undecided on foam vs built up." Why not built up foam wings. (if only we still could get genuine Depron ? ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Carlton Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 Built up foam is an interesting idea. I remember doing a sort of "hybrid" with a solid foam d-box and ribs slotted into it. Worked well but no real advantage. With the price of balsa now, its probably cheaper to get some obechi veneered cores made than to buy the wood to do built up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarlyBird Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 8 hours ago, Matt Carlton said: its probably cheaper to get some obechi veneered cores made than to buy the wood to do built up. Looked at SLEC for 1/16" sheet balsa but only hard grade available ☹️ Not good. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wagg Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 1 hour ago, EarlyBird said: Looked at SLEC for 1/16" sheet balsa but only hard grade available ☹️ Not good. Steve Have you tried Balsa Cabin ? I have had balsa a few months back from them. As noted though balsa prices are not cheap. https://www.balsacabin.co.uk Their way of doing business is a little different but have always been good over the time I have used them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarlyBird Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 18 minutes ago, John Wagg said: Have you tried Balsa Cabin ? I have had balsa a few months back from them. As noted though balsa prices are not cheap. https://www.balsacabin.co.uk Their way of doing business is a little different but have always been good over the time I have used them. Yes Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 If you look at 3" sheet at both Slec and Balsa Cabin there is a better choice in stock. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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