The Dauntless build

[Grahamd]

Hi David, I guess its the fact that it looks like a junk yard, I've never seen a picture of a clean one, unless its rusty, paint chipped and patched it aint a Dauntless. Unlike a lot of other models, they more the Dauntless gets hanger rash, the better it looks LOL.

G

[arthur bishop]

GrahamD, Humility is the sure sign of a great man,I and many others are really enjoying and grateful for your photo work and commentary,please continue GrahamD.

[Handyman]

Hi Graham, you are a man after my own heart. Nothing gives me more pleasure in seeing a project take shape on the building board or actually in your hands. I have always been impressed by the accuracy of a dry fit of components produced by the lazer method.

Do you find that the burnt edges of the parts take away some of the integrity of the glued joint, or do you a light sanding before the final assembly.

I am very much like you, and I never hesitate in changing something on a plan or kit, to make it ,(in my opinion), work better.

Keep up the good work, but don't burn too much midnight oil.

Regards...Handyman.

[Grahamd]

Thanks guys for the nice thoughts and comments, some of the original laser cut kits some years back did leave a nasty charcoal residue that used to be a problem with CA, but these new lasers don't seem to have half as much.

I've added a couple of Cyparis stringers (excuse the mess), and its starting to look like a plane now.

Taking care to ensure the rear end is horizontal to the building board, so the tail (Stab) will sit correctly.

[Grahamd]

Started sheeting the fuse today (probably my most fav job in building, getting that sheet round complex curves is fun, well I think so).

I also need to 200% check and check again that the horizontal stab sits level plus 3deg pos incidence (more on that latter). So far so good, as I need to sheet the tail area of the fuse and attach the stab BEFORE removing the top half of the fuz off the building board.

[Grahamd]

A bit more sheeting around the tail area this time, having once again made sure the horizontal stab is level.

This little box at the rear of the cockpit is the rear gunners locker, where the guns were folded into when not required.

[Grahamd]

Finally happy with the tail seating, I've fixed it to the fuse

And today I've covered the elevators in Solartex, which will then be coated in a few coats of Poly-c (Well I did write the article on the stuff, so I better endorse my own findings), then rubbed down.
Just for extra confidence I've also added some extra cross members under the stab, now the fuse has been removed from the building board.

Next I hope to start on the bottom of the fuse.

[Grahamd]

Oh I forgot to show you my brackets I made from G-10 to hold the ball joints I robbed from some M3 ball joint sockets.

[Grahamd]

Blimey these elevators have slowed me down, still better safe than sorry. Now on with the bottom half of the fuselage.

[David Ashby - Moderator]

Wow, you're still getting on prtty quickly by my standards Graham, excellent.

David.

[Grahamd]

If I had the retracts (they are on order) I might have also done the wings at the same time, NOT.

[Grahamd]

As I need to sheet the engine area, I've made the twin front guns today using 1/32" sheet balsa soaked in a 50/50 mix of water and amonia

I get mine from Homebase amongst the cleaning chemicals.

The wonder of a 50/50 mix is amazing.

First step is to cut a length of dowel just under the diameter I needed.

Now I took some 1/32" sheet balsa and SOAKED it both sides

Now slowly wrap the balsa sheet around the dowel, just dont force it, if it wont go, soak it some more.

Now I wrapped some clear tape around both ends, the tape wont stick to the wood (not only is the wood wet, the amonia attacks the glue), but will stick to itself. Leave for at least an hour or so, until 100% dry. Now before removing the tape, use a sharp knife and trim the two edges till they meet perfectly as a nice round circle. Remove the tape, and whilst holding the tube, apply some CA to the join.

Just a simple case of gluing the guns in place now, and latter I will give them a coat of epoxy before sheeting over them.

I also made up my pushrods as I need to install these before I sheet the bottom of the fuz. I got some CF pushrods (JP) and these nifty ally adapters from Model Images. These ally ferrules are threaded for M3, so nice and easy to join/link.

[Grahamd]

Last night I built the wing seat area of the bottom of the fuse, this box like assembly went to gether like a breeze, and is very strong, yet light. Should be little chance of the wings not seating correctly (fingers crossed)

[arthur bishop]

GrahamD, Hey Bro,well done, it's lookin' good! and I'm enjoyin'.

[arthur bishop]

GrahamD, sorry to come back,(I'm doing a Columbo) those ally ferrules, I have been searching for those,where are Model Images please?

[Grahamd]

Here you go Arthur

http://www.modelimagesonline.co.uk/

[Grahamd]

Made a silly mistake, but luckily caught it in time !!!

I had installed and screwed the rear wheel assembly in the wrong place, DOH (in my best ~Homer Simpson voice). As you can see by the red lines, I had to move the unit down, but luckily I could use two of the existing holes. Another bit of luck was being able to eventually remove the rear former so I could get at the thing..... Could have been nasty if I hadnt spotted it now, reminder to brain, think twice next time, before allowing hands to make mistakes...

Still the rest has gone ok, I installed the CF pushrods using 3mm threaded rods, and large 3mm ball links.

The other end goes to two servos (one for each elevator), although I've used the standard nylon servo arms to get the rods to the right length etc, I'll probably change these for Ally ones latter.

[Grahamd]

Nipped down to Mickey-d's for some fodder, and snaffled a hand full of straws, then used 5 of them push into each other to thread the servo wires down to the tail for the rudder servo. Also installed a large Snake for the tail wheel, got to get all this done before I can move on and sheet the rest of the fuse.

[Grahamd]

Had a rather busy time this weekend on family matters, but today at least I got the fin and rudder installed so its looking like an aircraft now.

[arthur bishop]

Graham, Thank you for address, SBD is lookin' good!. havent lost the excitment, Build on Bro,Build on.

[Grahamd]

Just a quick update:

I'm almost finished sheeting the bottom of the fuse, will try and get some pictures tonight

[Grahamd]

Still sheeting the bottom of the fuz, but it looks like a Dauntless now

[Erfolg]

A truly interesting blog.

Learnt something about ammonia, and bending.

Obviously an accurate buider, spirt levels etc.

Keep it up

Erfolg

[arthur bishop]

GrahamD, As a fairly oldish timer at 77,I look back at the times long past when I enjoyed making and 'throwing' (hand launching) those Aero's of the past,when ROG came along wow! we felt like real pro's. now I follow your building of the Dauntless I am so excited for your continued excellence in the build and descriptions,Well done Graham.

[David Ashby - Moderator]

Brill Graham, been away a week but she's coming along nicely.

David.