Futura57 Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 I think that's called a labour of love Simon đ¤ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted October 26, 2023 Author Share Posted October 26, 2023 Labour of love? Not really. More annoyance! It really "grates" when I have built a plane that I know should fly but for what ever reason does not or flies poorly. My first Depron EDF was a Skyray, although it was actually a ducted prop, was nuilt in 2011. exactly the same size as the Bigger Skyray and it flew brilliantly from day one. Of course it could have been pure luck but the next plane also an EDP but not a delta flew just a well. The current Skyray was intended to mimic the first and hopefully with better scale features benefitting from 13 years of Depron building experience but so far it appears not.  Hence the annoyance. đ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted October 27, 2023 Author Share Posted October 27, 2023 To save Depron I have printed the necessary formers and a new nose cone. Along with the salvaged canopy bits. The formers are in halves as the nose will be built as a half shell over the plan. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted October 29, 2023 Author Share Posted October 29, 2023 Making a start on building the nose with a "half shell over the plan".  A big drawback of using printed formers rather than Depron is you can't pin each plank to them so you have to "form" each plank by fingure manipulation to be as good a fit as possible and then rely on weights but no heavy as to distort the former to keep the plank in place until the glue dries. It makes planking a shell an even slower process than it already is. Hopefully it will all come out right by the end.  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted October 30, 2023 Author Share Posted October 30, 2023 After a solid day's work the nose skin is now substantially complete. The canopy is taped in position. The windshield provides a location for the canopies front peg. The rear of the canopy is secured by a magnet. At least doing it this way round ensures the canopy is an exact fit The nose section will be left overnight for the glue to fully harden. This will allow the planking 'ends' at the nose former to be sanded flush prior to glueing the nose cone on. It may look virtually complete but there is still quite a bit to do. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted November 1, 2023 Author Share Posted November 1, 2023 The nose is now complete. Using relatively skinny printed formers makes the nose remarkably empty. This is a bit of mixed blessing as it makes adding things like the battery box and mounts for the receiver rather more "fiddly" to do. soon it will have to be glued to the fuselage. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futura57 Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 Nice work, requiring much skill and patience. Almost too good to risk flying again đ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted November 2, 2023 Author Share Posted November 2, 2023 The Bigger Skyray is now at last structurally complete. It still needs the receiver adding although it has all been connected and it works. The very last operation will be a light spray of clear acrylic to 'harden' the paint finish The spray is on order but there is no rush as the weather forecast for next week is for lots of wind & rain and the field is plenty wet and muddy enough already. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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