richard dalgleish Posted October 2 Share Posted October 2 Anyone interested in a build thread? This will be Typhoon no2 for me, the first one i lost after an engine failure 3 years ago. Pic below. Laser 155 engine Original BT cowl, canopy and spinner. I salvaged the original retracts, pilot, exhaust stacks, but that was about it. I've built a new retractable tail wheel assembly, lighter and better than the previous one. I 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave parnham Posted October 2 Share Posted October 2 Following along with interest Yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale Bradly Posted October 2 Share Posted October 2 Yes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard dalgleish Posted October 2 Author Share Posted October 2 I cant promise pictures everyday, but will do regular updates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Walby Posted October 2 Share Posted October 2 Following with interest 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted October 2 Share Posted October 2 Yes, very interested in following progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted October 2 Share Posted October 2 yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Freeman 3 Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 Love to see this build, I have seen many of your other builds in the mags and they are are stunning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew exton Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 2 hours ago, Chris Freeman 3 said: Love to see this build, I have seen many of your other builds in the mags and they are are stunning. got to agree looking foreward to this andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 BT's advice shown on the Typhoon plan about keeping the back end as light as possible behind the CG point is so vital - and something that I took my eye off during my build of his Mk1a Spit.....been doing this long enough now so I should have known better. Reckon I'm 2lbs over weight at 14lbs which isn't such a show stopper once up and away - the model flys perfectly well once plenty of airspeed is gained, but takeoffs and landings do need so much care and attention. I Don't expect any model of this type to fly like an Acro Wot, but it's not worth making things unnecessarily hard for yourself. The undercart takes quite a load as well. Shaving some weight off by moving certain things forward where I can, and I also suspect that the CG given on the plan of my Spit is quite conservative. My own calculations show a possible rearward allowance of about a further 8mm back from BT's plan position and will save a worthwhile amount of nose ballast given how short the nose of the Mk1 is. A dangerous area to be experimenting with - so I'll take great care with any rearward change in CG, although given that I found the elevator response during the twenty or so flights I've had so far with the model so far to be very benign, I reckon there's some room for adjustment and nose ballast and hence overall weight reduction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard dalgleish Posted October 3 Author Share Posted October 3 2 hours ago, Cuban8 said: BT's advice shown on the Typhoon plan about keeping the back end as light as possible behind the CG point is so vital - and something that I took my eye off during my build of his Mk1a Spit.....been doing this long enough now so I should have known better. Reckon I'm 2lbs over weight at 14lbs which isn't such a show stopper once up and away - the model flys perfectly well once plenty of airspeed is gained, but takeoffs and landings do need so much care and attention. I Don't expect any model of this type to fly like an Acro Wot, but it's not worth making things unnecessarily hard for yourself. The undercart takes quite a load as well. Shaving some weight off by moving certain things forward where I can, and I also suspect that the CG given on the plan of my Spit is quite conservative. My own calculations show a possible rearward allowance of about a further 8mm back from BT's plan position and will save a worthwhile amount of nose ballast given how short the nose of the Mk1 is. A dangerous area to be experimenting with - so I'll take great care with any rearward change in CG, although given that I found the elevator response during the twenty or so flights I've had so far with the model so far to be very benign, I reckon there's some room for adjustment and nose ballast and hence overall weight reduction. My first Typhoon needed 2 1/2 lbs of lead to balance, all up weight was 17lbs. It still flew very well and still landed at walking pace with full flap and some power. I'm being extra careful on this build though, servos at the back of the firewall, lighter weight glass cloth and not so many coats of primer and base coats. My Taylor Mk1a Spitfire also needed some lead, about 1lb, total weight is about 12lbs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 I will be watching, I maidened one for a friend around 30 years ago, I don't remember how much lead was in the nose, but it nearly hid the engine, probably a St or Rossi at the time. As said, build the tail light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 42 minutes ago, richard dalgleish said: My first Typhoon needed 2 1/2 lbs of lead to balance, all up weight was 17lbs. It still flew very well and still landed at walking pace with full flap and some power. I'm being extra careful on this build though, servos at the back of the firewall, lighter weight glass cloth and not so many coats of primer and base coats. My Taylor Mk1a Spitfire also needed some lead, about 1lb, total weight is about 12lbs. Interesting that your Spit came out at 12lbs - the sort of target that I was seeking but wound up a couple of pounds over. IIRC Brian Taylor quotes something like an AUW of 8lbs for his competition model - goodness knows how he managed that. The Typhoon looks to have a nice thick wing and not too much taper - imagine a touch of washout as well, don't know, haven't seen the plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard dalgleish Posted October 3 Author Share Posted October 3 13 minutes ago, Cuban8 said: Interesting that your Spit came out at 12lbs - the sort of target that I was seeking but wound up a couple of pounds over. IIRC Brian Taylor quotes something like an AUW of 8lbs for his competition model - goodness knows how he managed that. The Typhoon looks to have a nice thick wing and not too much taper - imagine a touch of washout as well, don't know, haven't seen the plan. It is a fairly straight wing, nearly 3 inches thick at the wheel wells. There is some washout too, it makes for a good flying model. I'll weigh the Mk1 Spit again, I've only put two flights on it so far but it flew very well. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Somerville Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 Love a BT build thread. Will definitely be following along. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted October 4 Share Posted October 4 Richard, what a lovely job you've made of your Spit - very accurate colours and detailing. It's amazing what skills within our hobby there are, yet rarely get the exposure that they deserve. BTW, my Spit is also in the markings of Geoffrey Wellum, he of 'First Light Fame' - nowhere near as authentic as yours though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard dalgleish Posted October 7 Author Share Posted October 7 Tail plane almost completed, typical BT design. Just the elevators to profile, hollow out and hinging. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard dalgleish Posted October 8 Author Share Posted October 8 Some work on the elevators last night, built in two halves then tack glued together for rough shaping. I've hollowed them out as the plan shows, I'm not sure how much of a weight difference it makes though. Will glue the halves back together tonight for a final sanding and finish off the hinging, then onto the fin and rudder. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 Dare I say, that you better stock up on lead ?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Robson Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 Hi Richard, I have the plans for the Typhoon, it's in the line to build. I could never understand Brian's logic when building tailplanes, elevators and rudders. The early plans all used solid balsa, sticking strips of paper over to simulate ribs. I always changed them to 1/16" sheet with ribs and spars, or 1/16"sheet top and bottom on solid types. Following your build with interest. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 A ripe candidate for a composite foam/balsa structure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan p Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 Irrespective of construction type Tyhoons have a insatiable apatite for lead😋 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Sharp Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 The Napier Saber was a beast of an engine weight 2360lbs/1070kg Also the sister to Hawker Typhoon the RR Vulture powered 2450lbs/1111kg Hawker Tornado ( cancelled at prototype due to engine issues and need for merlin for spits,hurricanes etc). Required short noses. The RR Merlin weight by comparison 1640lbs/744kg... So models need the right amount of ballast to balance properly. I am following with interest as I plan to start a Typhoon next. It is however the Tony Nihuis version and will be more stand off scale... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Robson Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 1 hour ago, Ron Gray said: A ripe candidate for a composite foam/balsa structure. You know me well Ron.😆 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 20 hours ago, Eric Robson said: You know me well Ron.😆 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.