Beaufighter

[chris meek 1]

I sourced a 3d printed pilot roughly the right size off of Ebau once painted an obligatory ‘in the office’ photo was needed! Tbh I enjoyed the painting process and he’s not too shabby looking for a first effort.  
started on the wing centre section - seems ok apart from ribs 1 to 5 needed the rear spar slots either put in, or re positioned - not sure if there’s a fault in the file at the cutters but in all honesty it’s a minor issue that’s easily solved. Unfortunately I’m back at work for a few days so nothing more will be done until next week now.. hopefully get the top sheeting sorted on the centre section. 

[J D 8]

  That's a fine pilot, looks ready for action.

[chris meek 1]

20 hours ago, J D 8 said:

  That's a fine pilot, looks ready for action.

Thanks - found it fun! 

[chris meek 1]

So it turns out that sheeting the centre section didn’t take as long as I expected! A couple of hours last night and top is sheeted, flaps made up and ready to finish off/hinge this morning. Then it’s on to the engine nacelles ready to fit.. 

[chris meek 1]

Spent the day fitting the flaps and making up the engine nacelle formers - total weight is now 3.4lbs, hopefully still on target for around 10lbs total weight… 

[chris meek 1]

Busy couple of days - outer wing panels sorted and attached, its surprising just how big this is! 🤣

[chris meek 1]

So back to the beaufighter build! 
No major visible progress at this stage, yesterday’s job was making up and fitting the servo mounts for flaps and ailerons… After a delivery from SLEC (first rate customer service as usual!) today I’ve been cutting out and fitting the lower sheeting on the port outer wing. 
Hopefully a delivery tomorrow of some servo extensions and Y leads and I’ll get the lower sheeting finished off. 
Once that’s done it’s on to the nacelles which means I get the pleasure of some planking. 🤔 

 

 

[chris meek 1]

After spending the morning programming my transmitter finally have movement in the Beaufighter! 
Next week will be finishing off the centre lower sheeting and I need to reverse the port flap servo so it looks nicer instead of a kinked linkage - waiting for a signal reversing Y lead to come through the post before I can do that, and cut out and hinge the ailerons but it’s good to see it start to come to life….

 

[neil martin 1]

Hi Chris, congrats on the build progress. Great thread, im looking forward to seeing the finished article! Really liking the brown paper method too, I may consider it on mine. I watched the Ron Gray FW190 video on brown paper application and it seems to work really well. 

I'm also building the TN Beau, it's my first ever proper build, took a bit of a gamble but all going well so far. Like you I had problems with the kit and spar slots were missing on the ribs. Seems to be a common problem as I've read other beaufighter threads reporting the same issues so it must be an error in the design. 

You're currently at about the same stage as me, I've just finished engine nacelles and theyre ready for planking, currently working on some DIY wing fairings. Loving the build so far, the Beaufighter is a personal favourite so am looking forward to getting it in the air someday. I say "someday" as I'm about to move house so all rc equipment and tools are being packed away for now, I reckon it'll be a couple of months before I'm back on it. In the meantime I will continue to enjoy your build log, it's certainly looking good so far 👍 

Edited Sunday at 07:20 by neil martin 1

[chris meek 1]

Thanks Neil lovely build and I appreciate the comments! I was planning on adding some wing fairings as well but got too enthusiastic about the covering and completely forgot to add any! I suppose I could add some above the covering though…. 
The beaufighters one of my favourites as well (that and the mosquito) - I may opt to build the larger John Ranson one after this, or maybe go for another attempt at the mosquito.  Either way it’ll be a coastal command strike wing aircraft.