AT6 Texan Scratch Build (Alp's plans as foundation)

[dberg97]

I love foam building. Build, crash (or plain wear out), repeat. Our beloved Scout XL got caught in the rain and warped. We scavenged the electronics and went looking for the next build. My kid wanted a Texan, but 1.5 meter. I used Alp's plans upscaled to 125% as the basis. Here's Alp's plans. https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1oVzwqWwGZbZ01MOHYyOF9GN1k&authuser=0. He called for posterboard for all skin pieces, but I wanted foam board. I had to add 1 1/8" to the width of each skin piece and use Master Series curvature technique, but it worked out well. I also added a plywood spar in addition to the two foam spars in each wing since it will have heavier wing loading. I added a few 3d printed parts (canopy, exhaust, dummy engine, and front cowling), gave it a nice glossy yellow paint job, and added vinyl decals. It might be the prettiest foamie I've made so far.

 

[dberg97]

Beautiful scale flight.

 

[Draftman1]

very nice! my favorite warbird era plane

squadron13 has a foamboard master series type.

 

[dberg97]

I saw that. Not much different between the plans.

 

[Kit Cloudkicker]

Sweet! I'd like to build one. Any chance you could post or send me the .stl files and info on prop, motor and esc please?

 

[dberg97]

Sweet! I'd like to build one. Any chance you could post or send me the .stl files and info on prop, motor and esc please?

Here are the .stl files.

 

[dberg97]

Sweet! I'd like to build one. Any chance you could post or send me the .stl files and info on prop, motor and esc please?

The electronics were from an ill-fated e-Flight Corsair:
Avian 70-Amp Smart Lite Brushless ESC
EFLM4115 BL15 Brushless Outrunner, 850Kv
Master Airscrew 12x6 prop

The canopy can be a bit finicky and I think the size I posted above was the final scaling. I super glued the halves together and then hot glued it to the fuselage. I did NOT cut the hole in the fuselage indicated on the plans where the canopy mounts to maintain the structural fuselage integrity.

 

[dberg97]

Sweet! I'd like to build one. Any chance you could post or send me the .stl files and info on prop, motor and esc please?

The battery bay is the least appealing spot on the entire plane. I simply used packing tape to close it. I added a layer first as a base and then the strips to close on top so I can change it out if it loses tackiness. My battery straps have popsicle sticks reinforcing the back of the foam. I keep meaning to replace them with the battery tray 3d print file below that utilizes velco strips that have D rings to make it easier to load/unload. Let me know if you have other questions.

 

[zpilot]

one quick question: Is the parts marked as poster board or foam board. Thank you.

 

[Mr Man]

one quick question: Is the parts marked as poster board or foam board. Thank you.

What exactly do you mean by that?

 

[dberg97]

one quick question: Is the parts marked as poster board or foam board. Thank you.

I used foamboard for all parts regardless if it was marked as posterboard. The plane wouldn't have enough rigidity and structural integrity with posterboard since it's scaled up.

 

[zpilot]

What exactly do you mean by that?

A couple of sheets the parts (skins for the fuselage i think) are marked as poster board. Knowing that most of the aircraft is constructed of foam board and this a adaptation of another plan, just needs clarification. Thank you.

 

[Mr Man]

The original design used posterboard pieces for the skin, I built this plane once and can say that it makes it easier to build.

 

[zpilot]

Having now built 2 of the AT 6's from the plans, I made a few modifications as our club runway is paved with moderately tall native grasses (weeds) all around. I added fixed gear to #1 and retracts to #2. Fixed gear only required ply mounts glued (epoxy) to the spar. So what is a At 6 without retracts? #2 is modified for retractable main gear. I found that the retracts for the Horizon Hobby D 18 are perfect in size. It only required adding a 3/16 strip of foamboard to the top of the spar for clearance and turning the gear legs 90 degrees and removing the plastic and shorting the legs by 1/2 inch for the proper orientation. Mounting was a little more complicated in that the mounting plates had to be recessed so that the gear mounts were flush with the bottom of the wing. and reinforced properly. The result is awesome! Next a flap modification?! I love this aircraft and is a great flyer, Thank you to the designer for this outstanding model.

 

[Mr Man]

Good idea with the retracts, can’t wait to see a flap version!