80" PT-17: Flite Fest 2023 Community Challenge – Barnstormers!

[wilmracer]

A lot more work done last night.

• Installed the remote receiver in the rear of the model. Receiver is a X8R and I used this 3D printable mount to ensure the antennas remain properly aligned for the best possible reception. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:258146
• Added rear turtle-deck skin
• Installed aileron servos and secured extensions. Due to the sound system transducers and the heat they can create I ensured the extensions were secured with aluminum tape the full length of the wing. I didn't want to risk one rubbing against the transducer and have a possible failure in flight. Also didn't want them rattling around.
• Began work on the standoffs for the motor. I want to get the spacing of the engine from the firewall right and then try to disguise as much of the electronics as I can within the "scale" mess of hoses, wires, and stuff. I think the ESC will hide neatly in the oil tank but I'll cross that bridge in a bit.

 

[The Fopster]

A lot more work done last night.

• Installed the remote receiver in the rear of the model. Receiver is a X8R and I used this 3D printable mount to ensure the antennas remain properly aligned for the best possible reception. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:258146
• Added rear turtle-deck skin
• Installed aileron servos and secured extensions. Due to the sound system transducers and the heat they can create I ensured the extensions were secured with aluminum tape the full length of the wing. I didn't want to risk one rubbing against the transducer and have a possible failure in flight. Also didn't want them rattling around.
• Began work on the standoffs for the motor. I want to get the spacing of the engine from the firewall right and then try to disguise as much of the electronics as I can within the "scale" mess of hoses, wires, and stuff. I think the ESC will hide neatly in the oil tank but I'll cross that bridge in a bit.

The painting and weathering on that engine are stunning. Amazing work!

 

[wilmracer]

The painting and weathering on that engine are stunning. Amazing work!

Thanks! I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Not as much work done last night but still making forward progress. Firewall is built and painted and I'm working the standoffs for the motor. The standoffs are offset to account for the down/right angle of the motor so the prop will still center appropriately. I REALLY need to get the mounting brackets for the wings built... I need to install the cabanes before I can attach the firewall.

 

[Flying Farm Kid]

Thanks! I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Not as much work done last night but still making forward progress. Firewall is built and painted and I'm working the standoffs for the motor. The standoffs are offset to account for the down/right angle of the motor so the prop will still center appropriately. I REALLY need to get the mounting brackets for the wings built... I need to install the cabanes before I can attach the firewall.

Looking absolutely fantastic.
I just got back from wings over Edgewater with my family and we had a blast I brought my stearman and flew it there.
I cant wait to see yours finished it is going to be massive.
Keep pushing though

 

[Yankee2003]

Looking absolutely fantastic.
I just got back from wings over Edgewater with my family and we had a blast I brought my stearman and flew it there.
I cant wait to see yours finished it is going to be massive.
Keep pushing though

Way to be supportive Flying Farm Kid!
Glad you could make Wings Over Edgewater. I was going to try and make it this year but my dog is having a bit of a health issue.
Still waiting to maiden my Stearman. 🙂

 

[wilmracer]

Ran a girl scout RC event over the weekend that kept me from getting much build time. I really need to press now to get this done...

 

[wilmracer]

Progress continues. Not as fast as I'd like, but I do feel like I'm almost over the hump. The wing attachment has been a bit of a challenge but I'm happy with how it is coming out. I think one more evening and I should be basically done with that effort. The only other real challenge I'm anticipating is finalizing the mount for the dummy radial. I'm going to focus on getting her airworthy before making her pretty but the dummy radial weight will be necessary for getting the CG right so that is not an optional step.

 

[The Fopster]

Progress continues. Not as fast as I'd like, but I do feel like I'm almost over the hump. The wing attachment has been a bit of a challenge but I'm happy with how it is coming out. I think one more evening and I should be basically done with that effort. The only other real challenge I'm anticipating is finalizing the mount for the dummy radial. I'm going to focus on getting her airworthy before making her pretty but the dummy radial weight will be necessary for getting the CG right so that is not an optional step.

Building a biplane reminds me of what a friend said when we had our second child. One is one, but two is twenty…

 

[wilmracer]

Building a biplane reminds me of what a friend said when we had our second child. One is one, but two is twenty…

Yup! Twice as many wings, at least 4 times the effort. BUT... Having had one of these before I know she will be a great flying plane.

 

[wilmracer]

As usual I'll be cutting it VERY, VERY close this year. She will be there no matter what, but won't fly unless I'm confident she's airworthy. If things weren't so busy at work I'd take this week off as well as next so I could finish her and get a maiden in this Thursday evening at our monthly club meeting. We'll see.

Struts and cabanes are DONE. I'm really happy with how they turned out. I'm particularly happy with the cabanes. There is aluminum bar stock inside the airfoiled aluminum tube for the main 4 sections, and the cross bracing is 4-40 threaded rod with ball line ends and airfoiled aluminum over the threaded rod. I drilled and tapped the threaded bar to accept 4-40, so the cross bracing is bolted in and very sturdy. I really like a feature of the P6E Hawk owned by @willsonman so after FF I'll recreate it for this model. I'll print 4 more of the wing mounts for the cabanes, secure them to a ply plate, and then drill for some velcro straps so I can secure the outboard struts to it. This will protect the cabanes from getting bent AND protect the outboard struts for transit. His also has a convenient handle cut in and I'll do that as well.

Once the cabanes were on I was able to secure the firewall and then start mounting the motor and accessories. The ESC will eventually be covered by a scale oil reservoir. There are a LOT of little things I'll add to fill the gap between the firewall and the dummy radial. I'm sure I'll get questions about why the engine is just hanging so far out there, but it IS scale

Tonight I finished laying down the yellow covering on the lower wing and attached the ailerons. I don't have time to do the rib stitching on this wing but that can be done after FF. With a bit of luck maybe I can start laying down the blue tomorrow.

 

[Flying Farm Kid]

As usual I'll be cutting it VERY, VERY close this year. She will be there no matter what, but won't fly unless I'm confident she's airworthy. If things weren't so busy at work I'd take this week off as well as next so I could finish her and get a maiden in this Thursday evening at our monthly club meeting. We'll see.

Struts and cabanes are DONE. I'm really happy with how they turned out. I'm particularly happy with the cabanes. There is aluminum bar stock inside the airfoiled aluminum tube for the main 4 sections, and the cross bracing is 4-40 threaded rod with ball line ends and airfoiled aluminum over the threaded rod. I drilled and tapped the threaded bar to accept 4-40, so the cross bracing is bolted in and very sturdy. I really like a feature of the P6E Hawk owned by @willsonman so after FF I'll recreate it for this model. I'll print 4 more of the wing mounts for the cabanes, secure them to a ply plate, and then drill for some velcro straps so I can secure the outboard struts to it. This will protect the cabanes from getting bent AND protect the outboard struts for transit. His also has a convenient handle cut in and I'll do that as well.

Once the cabanes were on I was able to secure the firewall and then start mounting the motor and accessories. The ESC will eventually be covered by a scale oil reservoir. There are a LOT of little things I'll add to fill the gap between the firewall and the dummy radial. I'm sure I'll get questions about why the engine is just hanging so far out there, but it IS scale

Tonight I finished laying down the yellow covering on the lower wing and attached the ailerons. I don't have time to do the rib stitching on this wing but that can be done after FF. With a bit of luck maybe I can start laying down the blue tomorrow.

Looks fantastic!

 

[wilmracer]

Landing gear covers are on and the foam is shaped. Covering starts tonight.

 

[Yankee2003]

Landing gear covers are on and the foam is shaped. Covering starts tonight.

Godspeed…….you’re starting to make ME nervous…

 

[wilmracer]

Godspeed…….you’re starting to make ME nervous…

Its still gonna be close, but good progress tonight.

 

[The Fopster]

Its still gonna be close, but good progress tonight.

Crikey that motor looks good mounted up front. This will be epic!

 

[RossFPV]

Its still gonna be close, but good progress tonight.

Is that motor 3d printed? It looks amazing!

 

[wilmracer]

Is that motor 3d printed? It looks amazing!

It is! I have some tweaks to make for Mk2 and then it will be on Thingiverse. It is a decent replica of the Wasp Jr (R-985). I'm happy with how this version turned out and the next version will be even beter.

 

[wilmracer]

More work done tonight. Aileron control horns and linkages are installed, windshields made (but not installed yet), belly pan added to the lower wing, and got a start on the cabane brace.

Also have the first part for the radial mount printing right now.

 

[wilmracer]

Cabane brace and strut storage done, at least for now. The zip lock container has a screw on lid and is epoxied in place. It will hold spare clevis pins, cotter pins, wing retention bolts, and anything else I might need. The struts will be secured with velcro. After FF I'll put a coat of paint on it. No time to spare now.

 

[wilmracer]

OK... SO FREAKING CLOSE NOW!

After I got my daughter down last night I worked until 2AM. I got the wiring installed and tested, combing on the cockpit sides, a few small details including the temporary pilot (he failed to save an SBACH 342 from the trees so he needs to spend some time in a trainer ) and I worked more on the mount for the radial. Also filled some of the openings in the underside of the top wing and will go back and recover them with the yellow Oratex tonight.

I dodged a bullet when I went to install a part for the radial mount this morning... Everything printed PERFECT, I just failed to account for the down/right thrust when I modeled the part. I noticed before the glue set that the dummy radial wasn't on the centerline. Pulled the part of quick and I'm doing a quick test print to validate the RIGHT layout and I'll reprint the part today and install tonight.