13th squadron Mini Zero build thread

[DinosEatPeople1]

I wanted to build a Mini Zero and someone directed me to the 13th squadron website and I love their plane! I am making this thread as a reference for anyone else who wants to make this plane for there aren’t instructions for the plane. So I will sacrifice my self to help others moving forward. I only have put the paper on the foam at this point in time but it is for reference. And so you are aware I am only planning on modifying the wingtips to make it an A6m3 model 22. I may modify the cowling as well if I don’t like the look of it.

The plans use 2 sheets of foam and with plenty to spare! Sorry that you can’t see all of it but it all fits! I have the 2 sheets separated into the fuselage and the wings. I have the mold over parts running with the length of the foam. This weekend I will be cutting out the prices and hopefully by about Sunday or Monday I could maiden it!

 

[bikemikemannis]

bad ass little plane

 

[Niez13]

I wanted to build a Mini Zero and someone directed me to the 13th squadron website and I love their plane! I am making this thread as a reference for anyone else who wants to make this plane for there aren’t instructions for the plane. So I will sacrifice my self to help others moving forward. I only have put the paper on the foam at this point in time but it is for reference. And so you are aware I am only planning on modifying the wingtips to make it an A6m3 model 22. I may modify the cowling as well if I don’t like the look of it. View attachment 183811 View attachment 183810
The plans use 2 sheets of foam and with plenty to spare! Sorry that you can’t see all of it but it all fits! I have the 2 sheets separated into the fuselage and the wings. I have the mold over parts running with the length of the foam. This weekend I will be cutting out the prices and hopefully by about Sunday or Monday I could maiden it!

Sweeet! Let me know if if you have any questions with the build! All I can say is take your time with the back molded tail piece. Very tight molding 😁.

 

[DinosEatPeople1]

Will do! And just a quick update I have finished the wings and am working on cutting out the pieces of the fuselage.

this is one side of the wing and you just copy this on the other side.

 

[DinosEatPeople1]

It has been 8 hours since the last post. 7 hours of that were building. Exhausting 😓
Well so for you humans wanting to make the darn thing here is how.

for the wing you cut out the piece and do a double bevel. Then mold the wing into shape and glue the spar on the reference marks. Glue the servo on without the control horn on or move it out of the way. Then put glue on the leading edge of the wing the spar and the trailing edge. Then put pressure down on the spar and the trailing edge. Do the same for the other wing

 

[DinosEatPeople1]

For the fuselage watch the p47 master series video on the Flite test tech channel. First mold the pieces into shape. Then glue the ends of the mold together pieces to each other. Then put together the motor box on the front of the plane and glue the formers on it. Glue the formers on to the servo mount in the back. I would hot glue the servos on as well in this stage

Then slowly and carefully glue the skins onto the formers.

then cut out the holes in the skins AFTER the glue is dry.

 

[DinosEatPeople1]

Attaching the wing is difficult to do alone so get a friend for that or blue tape. Get the hot glue down on the fuselage and then press for the wing on while aligning it. Then reinforce the wing on top.

The canopy former should go to the back of the “canopy 3“ part. Then mold it together as shown on the plans. At this point glue the hatch and canopy together and you have a plane! I will be making it flyable tomorrow.
Some more pics for y’all to see

I noticed with my power pod in there in order to get the prop spinning I would need to have the power pod far out of the box. Is this a thing that is supposed to happen ? And what would be solutions to something like this.

 

[Niez13]

Attaching the wing is difficult to do alone so get a friend for that or blue tape. Get the hot glue down on the fuselage and then press for the wing on while aligning it. Then reinforce the wing on top. View attachment 183873 The canopy former should go to the back of the “canopy 3“ part. Then mold it together as shown on the plans. At this point glue the hatch and canopy together and you have a plane! I will be making it flyable tomorrow.
Some more pics for y’all to see View attachment 183874 View attachment 183875 I noticed with my power pod in there in order to get the prop spinning I would need to have the power pod far out of the box. Is this a thing that is supposed to happen ? And what would be solutions to something like this.

Yep! That’s supposed to happen. Just allows for tighter spaces and Getting rid of formers that are brittle for the nose. There shouldn’t be any issues with it, but as sort of a fix you can put a barbecue skewer that holds it in place further in the front of the powerpod maybe.

 

[DinosEatPeople1]

So what does that look like out of curiosity? Could you post a picture of it?

 

[Niez13]

So what does that look like out of curiosity? Could you post a picture of it?

Doesn’t have the barbecue skewer going across just because personally I don’t think it needs it.

 

[DinosEatPeople1]

Thank you for the picture. I will think of a way to access the power pod without ruining the look.

 

[FlyerInStyle]

looking to build this, but hvae no idea of its characteristics when 9, not 5 gram servos are used, and so, wanted to ask if it would also fly well as a trainer.

 

[DinosEatPeople1]

looking to build this, but have no idea of its characteristics when 9, not 5 gram servos are used, and so, wanted to ask if it would also fly well as a trainer.

With my modification on the wingtips it makes the ailerons much more effective so don't do that. A zero is meant to have ok roll rate not like a Ki-43. In the hands of a good pilot this thing is probably flying like a dream. In the hands of me on the other hand twice into the ground and sitting around the garage waiting for repairs. So if you are a good pilot you can do anything with it. Otherwise you will discover the ground.

 

[FlyerInStyle]

With my modification on the wingtips it makes the ailerons much more effective so don't do that. A zero is meant to have ok roll rate not like a Ki-43. In the hands of a good pilot this thing is probably flying like a dream. In the hands of me on the other hand twice into the ground and sitting around the garage waiting for repairs. So if you are a good pilot you can do anything with it. Otherwise you will discover the ground.

yes, I am a horrible pilot...

 

[DinosEatPeople1]

yes, I am a horrible pilot...

Well I am too so I would suggest another plane that has trainer qualities instead. I hope my Curtiss Pusher does but we will have to see.

 

[FlyerInStyle]

Well I am too so I would suggest another plane that has trainer qualities instead. I hope my Curtiss Pusher does but we will have to see.

ok. for now thinking of the mini telemaster by @SquirrelTail

 

[DinosEatPeople1]

ok. for now thinking of the mini telemaster by @SquirrelTail

That one should be great! You can probably do all that you want with that one

 

[Niez13]

yes, I am a horrible pilot...

I will say that my Zero design is very stable, it might be a little less aerobatic with 9 grams but that might be what your looking for. It is stable for a agile plane, that's the best way to put it. @SquirrelTail 's Telemaster would be a good option too depending on what your thinking .

 

[FlyerInStyle]

I will say that my Zero design is very stable, it might be a little less aerobatic with 9 grams but that might be what your looking for. It is stable for a agile plane, that's the best way to put it. @SquirrelTail 's Telemaster would be a good option too depending on what your thinking .

I have taken up the extreme, and have finished a tiny balsa wing, and everything else foam glider, loved its performas=nce, and decided to make a larger, all foam, rc version!! will see how that works out.