Userofmuchtape&glue
Posted a thousand or more times
Okay! that put my fears to bed good and proper! 
Balsa-Foamboard test build - FT Spitfire
- Thread starter Hai-Lee
- Start date
Hai-Lee
Old and Bold RC PILOT
Just one other thing I forgot to mention and that is the equipment hatch is also Balsa and a wedge fit so when it is fitted it improves strength further.
Another secret not easily realized in the pics are the cross bracing pieces glued to the Upper fuselage formers and the fact that the bottom half of the cockpit rear former is reinforced and mounted lower almost mid fuselage height to stop bulging and compression of the fuselage sides at the beginning of the largest hole in the fuselage.
By the way I stumbled upon a simple way of doing CURVED corners/folds in FB which may be of use for you in the Blenheim build if you are interested.
Another secret not easily realized in the pics are the cross bracing pieces glued to the Upper fuselage formers and the fact that the bottom half of the cockpit rear former is reinforced and mounted lower almost mid fuselage height to stop bulging and compression of the fuselage sides at the beginning of the largest hole in the fuselage.
By the way I stumbled upon a simple way of doing CURVED corners/folds in FB which may be of use for you in the Blenheim build if you are interested.
Userofmuchtape&glue
Posted a thousand or more times
I would love your method of curves! I am working on a 61cm L-2 grasshopper now.
Hai-Lee
Old and Bold RC PILOT
The curved corners are simple really just cut the channel where the curve is wanted, (at the corner) but make it around 7mm wide for 5mm FB and instead of removing the foam you just remove the 7mm wide strip of paper. When the paper is removed just fold it up and the exposed foam will crush and leave a nice curve on the paper side and a nice 90 degree inside corner.
When using it to make a fuselage with "curved corners" you will need to transfer the join to the centre of the bottom of the fuselage leaving a 5mm wide strip of paper to overlap on the outside whilst the inside is butted together.
Doing this you end up with nice 5mm radius corners instead of the harsh right angles of current designs. If you have some FB scraps you could try it and even possibly redo an FT design using the rounded corners like the Tiny trainer perhaps and claim it as your own!
Today was a crazy day for me and not much progress was made but the wing upper planking is completed and sanded so now I turn to closing in the wings and joining then prior to covering.
Will supply pics next post of today's work.
Later!
When using it to make a fuselage with "curved corners" you will need to transfer the join to the centre of the bottom of the fuselage leaving a 5mm wide strip of paper to overlap on the outside whilst the inside is butted together.
Doing this you end up with nice 5mm radius corners instead of the harsh right angles of current designs. If you have some FB scraps you could try it and even possibly redo an FT design using the rounded corners like the Tiny trainer perhaps and claim it as your own!
Today was a crazy day for me and not much progress was made but the wing upper planking is completed and sanded so now I turn to closing in the wings and joining then prior to covering.
Will supply pics next post of today's work.
Later!
Userofmuchtape&glue
Posted a thousand or more times
Thanks!
I will defiantly use it.
I am actually making a 120% FT TT right now... I might do it!
I will defiantly use it.
I am actually making a 120% FT TT right now... I might do it!
Hai-Lee
Old and Bold RC PILOT
You will find it won't work properly if the pieces are cut out as per the original plans. Rather than the sides being the same dimension as the maximum height you will need to decrease the height by 5mm at the top and the bottom the channel increased to 7mm and the top and bottom pieces also adjusted.
If you wish to try it at 120% just let me know which version of the TT fuselage you are going to use.
If you wish to try it at 120% just let me know which version of the TT fuselage you are going to use.
Hai-Lee
Old and Bold RC PILOT
Another short day today but pushed a little closer to completion anyway, (must be getting close by now).
Finished the upper surface 5mm false wing ribs
Made and later fitted the 5mm wing sealing strip/rear spar
Tested the Dihedral brace for correct amount of dihedral and visual balance
Tested the clearance and fitment of the central cross planking
And finally checked the balance point when empty (just rear of rear wing spar). Looking good for an easy balance so far
Also fitted the nose decking as the pics show and tapered the wing tip underneath ready for covering. Getting close to covering just a little more wing work before the wings are permanently joined and the centre sheeted ready for covering and of course the rear equipment access hatch.
More tomorrow I hope!
Finished the upper surface 5mm false wing ribs
Made and later fitted the 5mm wing sealing strip/rear spar
Tested the Dihedral brace for correct amount of dihedral and visual balance
Tested the clearance and fitment of the central cross planking
And finally checked the balance point when empty (just rear of rear wing spar). Looking good for an easy balance so far
Also fitted the nose decking as the pics show and tapered the wing tip underneath ready for covering. Getting close to covering just a little more wing work before the wings are permanently joined and the centre sheeted ready for covering and of course the rear equipment access hatch.
More tomorrow I hope!
Userofmuchtape&glue
Posted a thousand or more times
That looks so pretty! are you getting nervous for maiden yet?
CrossedUpChris
Member
Looks fantastic. You should leave it uncovered and hang it up ��
Have you considered putting wing fairings on like the nerdnic spitfire?
Have you considered putting wing fairings on like the nerdnic spitfire?
Hai-Lee
Old and Bold RC PILOT
That looks so pretty! are you getting nervous for maiden yet?
Perhaps a little, not because it might have problems or anything like that but rather that It has been a bit of a time investment and the test flight program I have in mind will be extreme and I hope I do not have a "Dumb Thumb" moment.
Hai-Lee
Old and Bold RC PILOT
It was designed to fly and die for a cause so a retirement to being an ornament is not in its foreseeable future sadly but the construction should mean that, unless I smash it into something, it should remain flight worthy and waterproof for years.
As for the fairings, they have been considered and even designed and taped in place temporarily to envisage fitment and alignment. I doubt they will be a permanent part of the plane as it was and is an exercise in weight strength and durability of the materials and methodology selected.
The whole push behind this was the love of the balsa models but for many they are too fiddly and exacting with a lot of work at risk to fly and basically an unforgiving structure and the love of the FB models and their simplicity of construction and resilience The issue with the FB planes was to me that their structures tend to degrade rapidly over time including delamination, warping, and loss of material strength due to the absorption of atmospheric moisture over time.
My exercise was to give a half way point between a FB and a Balsa model with a far less exacting or precise building methodology for those who want to play or to have a design that they really enjoy become a little more than a disposable plane. Many personas who love their FB planes build many of the same design as replacements for their favourites over time.
As stated before some may wish to try something like this but for many it is too much work or even cost. The servos, motor, etc will be ordered this coming week, hopefully just when they are due to be fitted!
Anyone wanting more info, to try this themselves, need just ask and I will give all info I have and any assistance I can to assist them.
Hai-Lee
Old and Bold RC PILOT
Hopefully I should have the weight in another day or two as I have to join the wings, sheet the wing centre section and finish off the access hatch. After the weighing occurs the real fun starts with the fitting of the electronics and then the dreaded covering.
Any progress on your Spitfire design?
Any progress on your Spitfire design?
Well I have mine under way. The fuse is de-papered and has NASA reinforcements on the inside, the cross bracing has the grain in all linear directions. The tail I chose to iron the edges for added strength with out adding or subtracting weight. The wings are currently de-papered on the inside and ready for the Swiss cheese treatment like the mock up wing. Then the outside will get the paper removed before 1/16" balsa sheathing. The holes in the wing reduced the weight by 25% (44g down to 33g) this is not including the paper weight reduction. Once complete I should be at or under stock weight with much added strength, I hope!
Hai-Lee
Old and Bold RC PILOT
Looks BIG! I hope the ironing works for you on the tail. Make sure you make it fully waterproof so that you do not get blistering or delamination long term.
What do you think of the change in the foam when the planking was added? Did you find it a lot different and stronger?
Anyway I will watch your build with interest.
My build is at the covering and electronics stage after a little work today. I also rechecked the weights compared to those of my sons plane, (standard version).
My wing weight Fully finished without any lightening holes, (currently), is 158 grams Vs my sons wing weighing in at 170 grams before assembly.
My fuselage weight when Decked with Balsa instead of paper is 105 gram with covered tail Vs my sons plane's fuselage at 124 gram also decked with Balsa.
My ready to finish plane weighs 263 grams Vs my son's version which weighed 294 Grams a definite weight saving of around 10% and the strength, (especially the wing), is stunning.
I could have easily reduced the weight further with lightening holes and even by reducing the width of the false spars I used. I could also have used some lightening holes in the central planking to save around 10+ grams, (estimated).
Anyway pics of today's work,
Centre wing sheeting, (same top and bottom).
Top decking done ready for finishing
Ready to test fit the wing
Wing tested fitted
Equipment access hatch open.
As for the covering it will take a little time as now I will place the order for the parts I am missing and return to the orders I have been ignoring for the last few days. I may spend some time tomorrow building some FB jigs so that I can assemble them and let them dry whilst I do the next. Added bonus is that they will be more uniform and far straighter.
I shall return, when ready to finish and test fly. I will monitor this thread though in case anyone wants to ask questions whilst I await the parts delivery..
What do you think of the change in the foam when the planking was added? Did you find it a lot different and stronger?
Anyway I will watch your build with interest.
My build is at the covering and electronics stage after a little work today. I also rechecked the weights compared to those of my sons plane, (standard version).
My wing weight Fully finished without any lightening holes, (currently), is 158 grams Vs my sons wing weighing in at 170 grams before assembly.
My fuselage weight when Decked with Balsa instead of paper is 105 gram with covered tail Vs my sons plane's fuselage at 124 gram also decked with Balsa.
My ready to finish plane weighs 263 grams Vs my son's version which weighed 294 Grams a definite weight saving of around 10% and the strength, (especially the wing), is stunning.
I could have easily reduced the weight further with lightening holes and even by reducing the width of the false spars I used. I could also have used some lightening holes in the central planking to save around 10+ grams, (estimated).
Anyway pics of today's work,
Centre wing sheeting, (same top and bottom).
Top decking done ready for finishing
Ready to test fit the wing
Wing tested fitted
Equipment access hatch open.
As for the covering it will take a little time as now I will place the order for the parts I am missing and return to the orders I have been ignoring for the last few days. I may spend some time tomorrow building some FB jigs so that I can assemble them and let them dry whilst I do the next. Added bonus is that they will be more uniform and far straighter.
I shall return
, when ready to finish and test fly. I will monitor this thread though in case anyone wants to ask questions whilst I await the parts delivery..
Userofmuchtape&glue
Posted a thousand or more times
Simply stunning...
Hai-Lee
Old and Bold RC PILOT
Kevin, Re-reading your post I realised that you are using the 1/16 Balsa it is actually heavier than the paper you removed.
If you have access to 1/32 Balsa and planked inside and outside the strength would be far greater than a single internal layer of 1/16.
Additionally if you used foam, (only), fuselage formers with lightening holes and covered in both sides with the 1/32 grain diagonal to the fuselage and different diagonal on each side the former, (with matching lightening holes in the balsa), would almost feel indestructible.
Without external bracing I recommend that you insert some skewers in to the vertical and horizontal fins of the tail or they could flex badly in flight, (normally with a little age and high "G" maneuvers).
I will watch the evolution of your Spit over time, Perhaps you could Re-Post your Spitfire on a new thread dedicated to your build because you are now doing development and experimental work, (perhaps I helped inspire the project but it is your work fully and your experience may help inspire others.
You already have one subscriber for sure!!
If you have access to 1/32 Balsa and planked inside and outside the strength would be far greater than a single internal layer of 1/16.
Additionally if you used foam, (only), fuselage formers with lightening holes and covered in both sides with the 1/32 grain diagonal to the fuselage and different diagonal on each side the former, (with matching lightening holes in the balsa), would almost feel indestructible.
Without external bracing I recommend that you insert some skewers in to the vertical and horizontal fins of the tail or they could flex badly in flight, (normally with a little age and high "G" maneuvers).
I will watch the evolution of your Spit over time, Perhaps you could Re-Post your Spitfire on a new thread dedicated to your build because you are now doing development and experimental work, (perhaps I helped inspire the project but it is your work fully and your experience may help inspire others.
You already have one subscriber for sure!!
Hai-Lee
Old and Bold RC PILOT
Ready to start the Evans VP1 anytime you are,
Userofmuchtape&glue
Posted a thousand or more times
Thanks! I am waiting on Hot glue and I still have not got graph paper. But I can still start I suppose. I got Auto Cad
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