Giant Plane Builds into 2022

[billyshaw22]

Little update, started the wing build but ribs are temporary until I get all the alignment right.

 

[billyshaw22]

I got my nose glued on ready to shape, I also got a hatch built for wing mounting and I decided to take it up stairs in the living room for a quick test to get it out of the shop..

 

[billyshaw22]

So the wing is started and getting everything set, I want to make sure there will be enough strength and yet still light

 

[billyshaw22]

Building the motor boxes, I used 1/8 ply to the spar and epoxied everything in, I used 1/4 ply for the firewall, i epoxied that in and I plan on pinning the sides to the firewall with 1/8” round hardwood pegs. I am also planning on running hardwood supports on the rear side of the firewall to the sides for more strength.

 

[wilmracer]

Looking great!

 

[billyshaw22]

Looking great!

Thanks!

 

[Baron VonHelton]

Building the motor boxes, I used 1/8 ply to the spar and epoxied everything in, I used 1/4 ply for the firewall, i epoxied that in and I plan on pinning the sides to the firewall with 1/8” round hardwood pegs. I am also planning on running hardwood supports on the rear side of the firewall to the sides for more strength.

I have GOT to get me some of those blue "zip grips" you got!! Awesome!!

 

[Corsair RC]

I started to build a monster MS p-51 mustang but I don't have the electronics for it.

 

[billyshaw22]

Not a lot of progress since I have been having some complications with my cad program. Although it’s slowing me up, I was able to get the vertical fins started and laid out, I have one ready to figure out mounting and the other is shortly behind it.

 

[billyshaw22]

So I got the vertical fins and rudders ready for the mounting configuration along with that I started a side project (maybe another build thread?) which I made the motor box up for while I was waiting for the glue to dry on my wing tube sockets I made for the out board wing panels

 

[billyshaw22]

I did the added the supports to the firewalls and I also fitted the wing tube sleeves into the wing. I added the formers to the bottom of the motor box and made sure everything is close to being square as possible. I’m not 100% true square between the two firewalls, however I will be able to shim the motors to achieve the correct angles I will need so I’m not as worried about that. My main concern is strength and weight.

 

[billyshaw22]

I got the center section flipped upside down and I and adding some braces and starting to sheet it, I plan to sheet the bottom only for now, I will wait to sheet the top until I have the outside wing panels so everything fits correctly before I lock it up.

 

[FlyingTyger]

This is what the stack looks like

Are you removing the plastic film/coating that comes on this foam? If not, are you doing anything to help the glue adhere through it?

 

[billyshaw22]

Are you removing the plastic film/coating that comes on this foam? If not, are you doing anything to help the glue adhere through it?

after everything is built, I will remove the plastic, I only leave it on to help keep from hanger rash. I don't leave any plastic on the internal parts of the plane or at the glue joint. I found that if you leave it on and glue to it, it will peel off at some point.

 

[billyshaw22]

So after work through out the week I’m picking at the build, I have put other builds and projects in front of it over this last week getting ready to go to edgewater for the open house today…..so What I did do was getting stringers finished and all the supports put in on the center section. Hope fully tomorrow I will be getting back at it, along with the sopwith camel build.

 

[billyshaw22]

With building on the camel, I also went through the center section on the wing and made sure the glue joints where good on all the braces i got one little sheet done on the top as well. I felt I had to do a test fit to the fuselage to make sure everything is staying squared up. Everything looks good and so it’s ready to start some of the sheeting.

 

[billyshaw22]

I’m trying to get both planes to sheeting points so I don’t have to go back and forth, when I do the sheeting I take up a table just to lay the sheets out and cut them, so it’s a pain to do one or two little sections.

 

[billyshaw22]

So slowly I’m getting things done, I ended up adding more supports got and got them done, I also started on the flaps and getting the idea of how I want them to work. At this point it’s not looking like auto of progress, however there is a lot of trial and error going on, that’s the time killer..

 

[billyshaw22]

Well this is going to be where I stop on this project for a while, I’m obviously not going to be getting it done this year for any of the events, however I will be still working on it when I get time but just slowly. I am in the process of trying to get the camel finished up for wings over edgewater so this will be on hold. I did get the wing tubes sleeves in and the bottoms of the center section sheeting done. I have the flap ribs cut out and getting all of that ready to build so it will be a small side job I can do and not take up a bunch of space.