ACE Guppy Scratch Build
- Thread starter rockyboy
- Start date
TooJung2Die
Master member
No kidding. It's all wonky angles. Did you line it up to the fuselage top view or eyeball it?
I did line it up on the top view of the fuselage plan and clamped it all together then I had to pick it up to get glue in the right spot and of course the clamps moved so I did that again and then discovered that the angle of the fuselage wasn't being clamped flat against part of the former so I had to pick it up and move it and clamp it some more and generally it was just tricky. I haven't gone in the workshop this morning yet to look at it and see the results....
The front was so stiff I couldn't easily pull it together for the nose, so I added a little ammonia and clamped it together to get some curve.
And I also discovered something new for me - ammonia dissolves Superphatic! So I'm going to need to reglue the middle former too...
And I also discovered something new for me - ammonia dissolves Superphatic! So I'm going to need to reglue the middle former too...
After a break due to family drama (caring for an elder parent across the country is challenging and knocked the motivation out of me for a bit) I'm getting a little time back in the shop now.
So over the last couple days I glued a rough nose block on the front...
And glued some bracing for the wing hold down dowels...
And the cross grain sheeting on the bottom
And starting on the servo rails..
And some final shaping and blocking on the motor pylon...
And last of all I cut a couple 1/16" strips, soaked them in ammonia, and gently bent them around a form made of pins stuck into a thick slab of balsa...
Once the bent balsa dries up tomorrow I'll spread some glue on the pieces and clamp it back into place again, then do some bracing on the inside of the shape.
So over the last couple days I glued a rough nose block on the front...
And glued some bracing for the wing hold down dowels...
And the cross grain sheeting on the bottom
And starting on the servo rails..
And some final shaping and blocking on the motor pylon...
And last of all I cut a couple 1/16" strips, soaked them in ammonia, and gently bent them around a form made of pins stuck into a thick slab of balsa...
Once the bent balsa dries up tomorrow I'll spread some glue on the pieces and clamp it back into place again, then do some bracing on the inside of the shape.
Willy Nillies
Elite member
Alright! The Guppy is coming back to life! Ha! Noticed good use of a recycled All Star wing! 
Sincerely,
Doug and Becky
WillyNillies.com
Sincerely,
Doug and Becky
WillyNillies.com
OliverW
Legendary member
It makes me wonder what happened to the all star...Alright! The Guppy is coming back to life! Ha! Noticed good use of a recycled All Star wing!
Sincerely,
Doug and Becky
WillyNillies.com
Million dollar question, will she actually get an .020 or are you going electric?
Willy Nillies
Elite member
He built another wing with ailerons for it.
OliverW
Legendary member
Right lol. Thanks
Willy Nillies
Elite member
Oh Boy! I would loan him one of my Pee Wee .020's if he'd fly with it!
Sincerely,
Doug and Becky
TooJung2Die
Master member
Me too! That's one of the reasons the faux glow engine motor mounts from Willy Nillies are so appealing.I run all electric - no wet fuel engines (or fuel smells) in the house is one of the agreements that keeps me having both a spouse and an RC hobby
Willy Nillies
Elite member
Well darn. Guess we'll just keep making the plastic replica's.....
Sincerely,
Doug and Becky
WillyNillies.com
Sincerely,
Doug and Becky
WillyNillies.com
Turbojoe
Elite member
Well darn. Guess we'll just keep making the plastic replica's.....
Sincerely,
Doug and Becky
WillyNillies.com
They look just like the slimer version only cleaner and quieter.
LOLJoe
We're all on the same page with the faux motors!
And as a bonus, especially on this build, a faux motor will help push weight further forward and counteract a little of the tail weight.
Work is slow but progressing... finished up the servo rails - just need to CA soak the servo screw holes.
And the inner parts of the vertical stabilizer and rudder begins.
And as a bonus, especially on this build, a faux motor will help push weight further forward and counteract a little of the tail weight.
Work is slow but progressing... finished up the servo rails - just need to CA soak the servo screw holes.
And the inner parts of the vertical stabilizer and rudder begins.
Interior framing for the vertical stabilizer & rudder. Glue only at the ends of the two parallel pieces where the rudder will be cut off.
Nice and sturdy - ready to be cut apart!
Separated! Just needs a little more sanding and extra blocking for the hinges and this will be ready for covering.
Time to start the horizontal stabilizer. I didn't like the sharp corners of the origonal design, so I used a flexible curve to lay out a line of pins.
Same process at the vertical - ammonia to soften up two 1/16" strips, then bend it in place to dry.
Once the strips dried, time to add glue and pin it back into the curve again. Doing some test fitting of a potential elevator piece and framing too...
Nice and sturdy - ready to be cut apart!
Separated! Just needs a little more sanding and extra blocking for the hinges and this will be ready for covering.
Time to start the horizontal stabilizer. I didn't like the sharp corners of the origonal design, so I used a flexible curve to lay out a line of pins.
Same process at the vertical - ammonia to soften up two 1/16" strips, then bend it in place to dry.
Once the strips dried, time to add glue and pin it back into the curve again. Doing some test fitting of a potential elevator piece and framing too...
Last edited:
Similar threads
