Building the "Mr Vintage" kit

[Robert Parker]

Hi All,

Time to get back to building again now the heatwave has passed and my house can be entered without feeling the heat coming from the walls, with a kit that caught my eye on a well known auction site, and I got it for a good price too.

I must admit that I have not heard of this particular kit before and was wondering if any of you out there have built/flown one.

There is no manufacturers/designers name on the box, plans or instructions which is a pity as they deserve some credit for a well presented kit and I hope it flies as good as it looks.

The kit is very well put together with the majority of parts labelled by hand. There is plenty of wood/ply in the box plus all of the hardware required as well as some litho plate, a nice touch for the aft section of the fuselage, see photos.

 

Specifications are:

Wingspan: 70"

Fuselage Length : 46 3/8"

Wing Area: 910 sq in

Power: 70 fourstroke or 800 watt motor

Radio: 4 channel

This will be powered by an OS 70fs which was sitting the cupboard.

 

A very plain box indeed. And yes I have had a good clean up of my bench, at last.

Inside,

Plans are clear to follow

All the parts laid out on the bench........

Bonus, all the tail feathers are ready made to a very high standard just need hinging, wish my joints were that good. The leading edges must have been steamed to get that curve in Cyparis wood

The fin and rudder too have been made to the same high standard with the leading/trailing edges have two laminations of Cyparis wood

Should fit

And of course the instructions

And this what Mr Vintage looks like

I think the litho plate is a really nice touch

I got the finished photos from the auction listing, for what is in this kit plus the pre-made tail feathers they could have asked for more I think.

 

That's all for now.

I plan to start building in the next day or so and will keep you all posted.

 

Regards

Robert

 

Edited August 15, 2022 by Robert Parker

[GrumpyGnome]

I saw those at Elvington this weekend - that's where the picture are from.  I was very tempted. I especially liked the example with wire-spoked wheels.

 

Watching with interest..... 

[Paul De Tourtoulon]

That looks nice,,

 

 

 Following your build.

 

Edited August 16, 2022 by Paul De Tourtoulon
following

[Capt Kremen]

Web Site? Contact Details for the 'Mr Vintage' kits please ...

[Gary Manuel]

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsCVs003RZf8OY8VxcOfeE1dTkwlssb4Z

 

Contact details (no website though) can be seen in the first of the videos in this playlist of a build of one of these.

Edited August 16, 2022 by Gary Manuel

[EarlyBird]

[Guest]

I built one of these back in 2014 from a free plan on Outerzone,it was called Miss vintage 59.

I had had a job sourcing the wire wheels but after many hours on the net I eventually found a pair of Topflite wheels in a model shop in Athens,,,,,,,€35.

59"span with OS26 fs up front,still hanging up in the hanger and never been flown.

 

Shortly after I posted the pic on the forum I received a PM from a fellow forumite with a pic of his Miss vintage,( can't remember his name.old timers must be taking over)

In my opinion a superb bit of craftsmanship and if I remember correctly he was reluctant to post a pic of his model but risking a repremand I am posting the pic now because it deserves to be seen by all,makes mine look agricultural.

[Robert Parker]

Jim,

I think those cowls add a lot to the model, something to consider for later on.

 

I find it hard to understand why there is no manufacturers name on any of the kit, thanks to EarlyBird for the details.

 

Regards

Robert 

[Guest]

Robert

The Mr Vintage plan looks a direct copy of Miss Vintage plan,I'm sure its an American plan,check it out on Outerzone,plenty of info there on the web site.

Jim

[kc]

It seems to be a larger  -70 inch- version of the 59 inch Miss Vintage with some modifications such a wing ribs

[Guest]

KC

deffo a copy and as you say enlarged by 10",a fair bit of work has gone into it regarding the laser cut stuff.

[Robert Parker]

Hi Jim,

I have looked at the outerzone plan and all of the photos and yes, I agree with you that this is a larger version of Miss Vintage.

 

Regards

Robert

[jeff2wings]

Well,the Americans do say 'bigger is better ' and I see no reason why that would not apply here! I will be watching with interest particularly as you outbid me for this kit lol !

[Robert Parker]

Hi All,

Building has started and going well so far.

I usually start with the tail feathers but as these are already done so onto the fuselage.

I have already moved away from the instructions just to make life a little easier.

Transferring the former positions to the fus sides, one left and one right and then laying out the Cyparis strip and I found that there were two pieces missing for the lower front of the fus and there were two shorter pieces over about half the length.

Lucky I had some spare in the form of old push rods that I could utilise. This shortage was another reason to start at the back, thinking that by using all the long material then if there was any left over they may fit,

1st rear section made

Once dry the second side swiftly followed.

Something that did catch my attention was a little detail on what I assume is part of the wing retention, and if so may make fitting and removal a bit of a pain, yet to read instructions on that part but just a thought.

The issue (circled) As I understand it means that the main hatch has to be removed to allow the wing forward retention to be fixed, why not a dowel?

Now having read the instructions there is no mention of this detail. Plenty of time to think about it.

Next, the forward section.

 

That's all for now.

Regards

Robert

 

[kc]

Having looked at the Miss Vintage plan as well as your photo it would seem that the wing wouldn't rotate enough to enable a dowel to be used.  Because wing is tight against 2 bulkheads and has a structure above which would jam against the bulkhead if rotated.   2 extra wing bolts at the front might be easier  ( 1 only might work if offset to allow screwdriver to miss the cockpit/windsreen parts )

 

[Robert Parker]

Hi All,

I've had a very productive weekend, this will be quick build at this rate.

Both fuselage sides are completed, formers added, and joined together.

Front and rear halves joined and formers added. The snake inners are for the closed loops for the rudder and elevator.

Joining the second side, plan flipped over and a liberal coat of baby oil over the plan and all is revealed.

Finally joining both sides together

I managed to find a nice pair of spoked wheels, a little pricy but should look the part.

 

Next, adding ply to the bottom and top of the front section of the fuselage, bringing in the tail end then rear bracing and some thinking about motor mounting.

At this rate I'd better start thinking about a colour scheme too.

 

That's all for now 

Regards

Robert

 

 

[Paul De Tourtoulon]

What's the 4 engined plane leaning up against the wall.

[Guest]

Robert

I went with the closed loop system as described in the instructions,works well,two wires throuigh one snake inner.

Jim

[Robert Parker]

Paul, 

The four engine wing leaning against the wall is from my Short Stirling own design, has been maidened very briefly

She's becoming a bit of a hanger queen, so I built her sibling too, the TN plan pack.

Now there's a sight that has not been seen since the 1940's

 

Jim,

The former was already drilled so I went as plan.

 

Regards

Robert

 

[Guest]

Cheers Rob,

Too late now as you have the fuz sides joined ,the wing fix problem could be solved by tilting the top of F3 slightly rearwards and modifying the rear cockopit sides to match and one dowel up front.

stay cool

Jim

[Robert Parker]

Hi All,

The fuselage is all but done now, 

Rear end pulled together with spacers and diagonals all glued in place plus cocktail sticks drilled into all of the joints as per instructions for added strength and no weight gain.

Back to the front and I have decided to mount the engine sideways

The top ply added and the wing top fairing made. I'm leaving the 1/2" sheet for now until the wings are sorted and happy with them and fixing the front of the wing.

 

Next, starting the wings they should keep me busy for a bit.

 

That's all for now 

Regards

Robert

[Robert Parker]

Hi All,

The wings are almost done, they did not take long at all, two evenings per panel

A real joy to put together everything fitted. I only had to cut the diagonals and reduce the webs as they were from stock sheet material

I had to guess the dihedral at 28mm under each tip rib

 

Next, centre sheeting then flip over and repeat. trial fit to fuselage

 

That's all for now 

Regards

Robert

[Robert Parker]

Hi All,

Progress has been steady since I last posted and I have started covering.

That's the fuselage covered and the wing bolts self tapped into the blocks, I had not tried this method before but seems to be a good bite.

Tank floor glued in position and fire wall drilled for pipes and throttle cable

Again another first for me with the wings, this time with the covering. As the roll of covering was only just wide enough to the top and the bottom with virtually no overlap, I covered each wing panel in one, that is the top and bottom in one single piece per side with just enough to cover the trailing edge then add the ailerons and centre top section cutting away the film to allow the glue to the wing.

Gluing the top section in place. Despite thinking about other methods of wing fixing I went for as per manufacturers instructions and bolted the front of the top

section in place.

Rudder and fin covered and placed in the stabiliser for photo.

 

The covering used was from 4 max and it is the first time I used this covering material and it will not be the last time, it is easy to apply and shrinks very well, I have used over 4m of the roll (5m) so it makes it very economical too, cheaper than some 2m rolls.

 

Next, solder the u/c legs together then dry fit the stabiliser to ensure everything aligns and mark the glue area then cover and finish off the rest of the covering.

 

That's all for now

Regards

Robert

[kc]

Steel bolts if slightly tapered with a file can be used to cut a thread into hardwood or ply.   Toughening the wood with cyano after tapping helps and then retapping.   A bit of candle wax etc helps the bolts go in easily.

[Robert Parker]

Hi All,

On the home run now, all of the covering is done and everything is coming together nicely.

Tail feathers glued in position, I added some 1/4 sheet between the longerons for a great glue contact

A little on the pricey side but I think they add a lot to the model.

The wheel kit, pre-centered hubs and packets of long and short spokes and adhesive plus the tyres

the completed wheels  and ready for the tyres

I painted the rims and hubs with chrome paint

The wheel in  place, I had to extend the axles by soldering some brass tube on, just need to drill for the split pins  and some washers, engine side mounted gives an un-obstructive view for the pilot

Tank and battery fitted

Litho plate gussets cut and glued in place.

 

Next, servo installation, closed loops, throttle linkage and balancing. 

 

I was thinking I could be carrying out the maiden next weekend, however, I have been informed by SWMBO that the bedrooms, hall stairs and landing need decorating before xmas, read that as by end of November, so I think my flying will be curtailed quite a bit for the next few weeks, without any overtime work may throw at me, only 5 years, 2 months and 20 days to retirement, not that I'm counting.

 

That's all for now 

Regards

Robert