Gary's BT 69" Spitfire Mk1

[Gary Clark 1]

Thanks all, its a busy but exciting time. Hopefully this little one will be into planes because his big brother just loves tractors and bin trucks!

 

I managed to get some time in the garage today and got some work done. I got the dowels in and the leading edge shaped which helped me find a way of fixing the 1/32 ply fairing base at the front which had caused me issues before (thanks to the photos earlier, thanks guys) and I'll get some photos of this later. With the ply in I fitted the formers for the fairings and added a balsa base. I used a rectangular section rather than triangular but it all feels solid and looks much tidier than before. The ply cockpit former is damaged but I'll replace the sides later.

 

It will be sheeted up to the front former then solid balsa to the leading edge. 

 

Whilst checking everything was lined up and fitted properly with the cowl, I realised the cowl was approx 4mm too long so I had to trim that and re-fit. Annoying but glad its done and everything is looking much better. I also feel fairly confident that I am on the right track now...famous last words

 

I also started using these little application bottles for wood glue and aliphatic resin, they allow you to place very tidy little glue lines rather big blobs you get from the big bottles it comes in. You can see the beads of resin I placed on formers above

 

 

 

Only a few £ on ebay and means you can keep the big bottles sealed to save it going off

 

Gary

[Paul De Tourtoulon]

If your big bottles are going 'off' then you aren't building enough Balsa planes,,,🤣

[Gary Clark 1]

You're not wrong Paul! The problem I have is that I leave the big ones open and the nozzle blocks and eventually the glue starts to go off, these little ones help prevent that.

 

Turns out nap time with a newborn is quite handy as I got out again today as my wife joined him so whilst I was waiting for the centre section leading edge to dry so that I can attach the 1/32 ply, I got some other bits done

 

 

The dowels were fitted into the ply I have inlaid for strength 

 

The rest of the centre section is looking a little beaten up due to all the faff I've had and also the amount of times it's been on and off. I'll tidy it up before its glassed and hopefully it will be ok.

Whilst waiting for it all to dry, I got the Oratex on the rudder and remaining elevator. The rudder needed a new trim tab so got that done too which means it is ready to start getting some scale details like rib stitching and trim tab shrouds. I will be doing this on the side for when I need a break from fairings!! 

 

The fin/vert stab is how I left it 4/5 years ago so it will need a bit of TLC and I'll get the panel line and rivet detail on soon too.

 

More progress today and still positive!

 

Gary

 

[Gary Clark 1]

I remembered to get a photo of the ply at secured at the front. Everything is coming along nicely now thanks to the help from Gary and Peter

 

I have been looking to try and get some detailed pictures of the rib stitching on the Mk1A so I can start detailing whilst the fuselage parts are setting but I haven't had much luck. I have a few books but not good photos of that area

 

Gary

 

 

[Gary Clark 1]

I am finally feeling happy with this spit! It has taken 5 years but finally going the way I want. I got the fairings roughly done today but the still need quite a bit of final sanding and also sanding around the edges to almost eliminate the edge around the fairing. Pretty happy with where it is now though

 

 

Hopefully another night or 2 to get these complete then I can move onto finaling the position of the tail and getting the fuselage glassed. This means I can have a glassed fuselage that is ready for scale details like panel lines and maybe rivets (this scale makes that a bit tough) but also getting a cockpit made up and sorting the canopy but also have a wing to build on the side for when I want to do some actual building. Helps break up the monotony of the whole thing being at the same stage.

 

Gary 

[Gary Clark 1]

Hi All,

 

I've been working on getting the back end all sorted and ready for the tail parts to be mounted. I had  most of the area sorted but I needed to finalise the position of the snakes, ensure the horizontal stab mounts are square and sort the tailwheel. 

 

I needed to make a horn for the rudder so cut one from G10 cut a slot in for it

 

The majority of the scale detailing will be done later. couldn't help get a photo from above to look at the "lines"

 

 

The spit is just lovely!

 

Tailwheel next then I can close up the bottom of the rear fuse and it's ready for glassing. I always debate to glass before I mount the tail or after, benefits are that its easier to manoeuvre about and sand/spray but the negative is that I'll need to individually glass little bits once the tail parts are fitted. Eg the fillet thing in front of the fin that blends it to the fuselage.

 

I've done both ways in the past but can never decide what I prefer

 

Gary

[Gary Clark 1]

And just like that, we have something that looks like a Spitfire! Fuselage needs a final sand to make it all blended and smooth but the overall shape and look is there now

 

I've decided to attach the tail parts before glassing the fuselage so that means I need to get everything aligned and secured then I can complete the front part of the fin that blends it to the fuselage. That will be glassing stage which I will do inside due to the temperature and that clears the bench to start the wing. I have ordered the electron retracts from JetsrteamUK with excellent service from John there.

 

I'll be honest, a few weeks ago I didn't think I'd get to this stage with this fuselage 

 

Gary

 

[Gary Clark 1]

Also, excuse the very dusty corsair in the background, she is getting a little TLC to get back flying. All the decals have come off so I see a new paint job on the horizon for that one

 

Gary

[Gary Clark 1]

I got the H Stab mounted today so hopefully get the V Stab on tonight and start shaping the front part of the fin. I wasn't happy that there was enough balsa to stick the H Stab to as below

 

So I added a a bit of fairly light 1/4 sheet to have a bit more purchase for the epoxy

 

 

I got everything aligned and left to set. You can see the elevator hinge holes aren't very well positioned, not quite all in the centre.....something else to fix. It was only 5 years ago! What was I thinking!! Almost seems like a different builder

 

 

I will get the fin on tonight and start shaping

 

Gary

[Nigel R]

59 minutes ago, Gary Clark 1 said:

 

I guess you're using a central elevator horn?

 

Are you leaving the area open, or closing it up, or going all out with an access hatch?

 

Agree on the extra meat, I don't like sticking tailplanes to thin bits of fuselage side either - a bit of soft block goes a long way.

 

Must be nice getting the fuse to this point, it's looking really good.

[Gary Clark 1]

Thanks Nigel, yeah pretty pleased it's actually getting somewhere after hanging around for years.

 

I have contemplated putting a hatch behind the tailwheel to get access to the central elevator horn. I'd make a fibreglass one if I was going to but I'd only manage to get limited access to the elevator horn as the tailwheel horn is in front of this and blocked by the former that the tailwheel is mounted to. This is quite a bit of work to get access to a part of the plane that may never need accessing so I may leave it out. If i ever do need to get in there, it may be worth making the hatch then rather than now

 

Gary

[Gary Clark 1]

I've not been out much due to getting models ready to fly and also that it's bloody freezing! I had I'ce on my wings when i landed a model on sunday!! Anyway, I've been thinking about rivets an if I am going to do them on this  model. I am not sure it is worth ot for this size of model? If so, what technique would people recommend?

 

Gary

[Laurent45]

Hi every body , I m Laurent from France . I started to cut my parts last year to build the bt 69’’ spitfire mk1 . I not yet started to build it , just the elevator and I twisted it so I need to start again a new one . I have a few questions for you guys . Gary Binnie I saw u have got some wheels which looks very nice and scale . Where did you find them ? And can u give the dimensions of them?   Peter G Simpson It looks like very good your ply modifications of the fuse , have you got a plan of it?  And what s is the model of your savox servo?  Thank you to post all your experience really , i hope it will not be a too much complicate built for me . Sorry for my English level . 
laurent 

[Paul De Tourtoulon]

Bienvenue (welcome ) Laurent, your English is probably better than mine !.

[Gary Binnie]

Hi Laurent,

 The wheels came with the kit which I bought around 2002. The wheels are Len Gardiner items, 3.75" diameter. I can't measure the thickness as I can't get to the wing just now but they do just fit in the wing. The hubs are slightly asymmetric to allow the collet to be hidden by the hub cap.

 

Virtually unobtainable now, I kept the label from the packaging. His website closed in 2008.

 

The vacformed plastic hub caps are also his I believe.

 

The plan says to use Robart 3.75" wheels so perhaps they have something close.

 

     Cheers

 

      Gary   

 

 

 

 

 

[Gary Binnie]

Measuring the wheels on the plan their thickness is 1.125" or 28.5 mm.

 

3.75" is 95 mm.

[Laurent45]

Thank you very much for the informations Gary , if you have occasion to give me the real thickness of your tyre it will be fine a

and Paul : google translate is my friend 

[Paul De Tourtoulon]

9 hours ago, Laurent45 said:

Thank you very much for the informations Gary , if you have occasion to give me the real thickness of your tyre it will be fine a

and Paul : google translate is my friend 

I don't have to, living in France for 40+ years and still here,,,,

[David Ovenden]

There are a few of us Brits on the forum who live in La Belle France!

[Laurent45]

On 25/12/2022 at 06:36, David Ovenden said:

There are a few of us Brits on the forum who live in La Belle France!

Really? In which region?

[David Ovenden]

2 of us live near Alès (30). Not sure about everyone else. 

[David Davis 2]

10 hours ago, David Ovenden said:

2 of us live near Alès (30). Not sure about everyone else. 

 

I live in the extreme north of La Creruse (23). If I go to the nearest supermarket it is in the Indre (36.)

[Laurent45]

On 27/12/2022 at 09:19, David Davis 2 said:

 

I live in the extreme north of La Creruse (23). If I go to the nearest supermarket it is in the Indre (36.)

Alès I never been there but it must be a nice region . I m living in tarbes 65 but I m from Orleans not so long way from the 23 .

[Gary Clark 1]

On 23/12/2022 at 15:28, Laurent45 said:

Hi every body , I m Laurent from France . I started to cut my parts last year to build the bt 69’’ spitfire mk1 . I not yet started to build it , just the elevator and I twisted it so I need to start again a new one . I have a few questions for you guys . Gary Binnie I saw u have got some wheels which looks very nice and scale . Where did you find them ? And can u give the dimensions of them?   Peter G Simpson It looks like very good your ply modifications of the fuse , have you got a plan of it?  And what s is the model of your savox servo?  Thank you to post all your experience really , i hope it will not be a too much complicate built for me . Sorry for my English level . 
laurent 

Hi Everyone and welcome to Laurent!

 

I am planning on 3D printing my wheel hubs as I have some scale ones designed and ready to go. I could easily print you a set and post them to you if you need them as it is pretty hard to find scale details like this nowadays

 

I've not had time over the festive period to get out so no progress on mine but hopefully back to it in the next few days

 

Gary

[Gary Clark 1]

I got some time in the garage again, feels like it has been forever!

 

The fillet thing (very technical) that joins the fin and the fuse is my focus again. I wasn't happy with the shape of what I had put in previously so took it out and put some more scrap balsa in to build it up. After a rough sand to shape I am here 

 

At this stage I removed it again to hollow it out. I don't get too caught up in being turbo light at the back but no reason not to save a few grams here

 

 

Still a lot of sanding to make it the correct shape and also blend into the fin and fuse but means I can fit the fin and epoxy it in place

 

Note the little dehumidifier, I had to bring my balsa in to the house, as well as the fuse, to let it dry out a bit more as it wasn't sanding well. I only struggle with damp for a couple of months a year but it is a nightmare. I want this fuselage glassed asap to help prevent any warping whilst its cold out there.

 

More sanding next then fit the control surface and their controls. I will remove them again then glass the fuselage before starting the wing. My Electron retracts have arrived so looking forward to getting that stage going

 

Gary