Improvisation plane

[gabrielete]

Hello,
I decided to design my first plane. These are the requirements:

• I want it to be floaty. Old Fogey style.
• Three channels
• I spend all day with computers at work, so no CAD, no computer design.

After some research on the internet and after applying some formulas I really didn't understand, I came up with these numbers:

• Weight: 600g
• Wing surface: 28dm2
• 1.5m x 20cm

I started drawing the wings: 3 parts of 0.5m and 4cm of dihedral, or polihedral or whatever you call that...

Wing plans:


The rips:


I haven't decided yet what to do with the fuselage, but something will come....

Post edition

Final result
View attachment 53218



Maiden

 

[gabrielete]

windy days are days for homework...

 

[Joker 53150]

A "mystery fuselage", I like it.

 

[gabrielete]

Some progress has been done... Wing finished, only wingtips are left...



First sketch of the fuselage:

 

[RAM]

I've never built with balsa but I am wondering why you need all those ribs? Seems like you could get away with less and save a little weight.

 

[gabrielete]

I've never built with balsa but I am wondering why you need all those ribs? Seems like you could get away with less and save a little weight.

Yeah you are right, it's my first design and I just drew the rips on the paper without questioning if it was too much or too little. Anyway it's already done so...

When I finish the wood work if I see it's too heavy I can cut some rips...

5 rips weigth 4g, so it's 0.8g per rip. I think I can cut 7*3 rips so I can save 16g and wing is actually 130g

 

[gabrielete]

The tail is going to have a triangular section, the rest I haven't decided yet. The wingtips are finished and the central part of the wing is reinforced to attach it with rubber bands.

 

[cranialrectosis]

Can't wait to see what this turns out to be.

I dunno why but it reminds of the Spruce Goose.

 

[earthsciteach]

So nice to see balsa builds! Its one thing to make up a foam plane as you go, but balsa is a true commitment! I applaud you!

Do you know Epitaph? She lives in Spain, too. I figure all Spaniards must know each other. Ha ha!!!

 

[gabrielete]

So nice to see balsa builds! Its one thing to make up a foam plane as you go, but balsa is a true commitment! I applaud you!

Do you know Epitaph? She lives in Spain, too. I figure all Spaniards must know each other. Ha ha!!!

Thanks everybody!!!!

I use balsa for this plane because I can improvise with it. With foamboard you need to know exactly what you want and draw it on a computer first to cut it and do that complicated Origami. I really admire people that is able to design foamboard planes. With wood you just glue the things together and then sand them, I think it's more time consuming but not as complicated to design...

I've never met Epitaph, I think she lives far from Seville, she helped me here with with some misunderstandings I had with heavier european foamboard.

More progress with the fuselage, I'm going to sand that block to make it look better

 

[gabrielete]

Progress has been done...

Fuselage


Wing covered with a tacky combination of Piper yellow and sporty squares...

 

[marc60]

That looks wonderfull

 

[gabrielete]

Flitetest lessons applied to balsa. Let's see how it goes with those barbecue sticks.

 

[gabrielete]

 

[gabrielete]

 

[tclemmo]

Wow! That's looking great! I haven't attempted a balsa build yet myself but this makes me look forward to it.
Great job so far. I can't wait to see the maiden!

 

[cranialrectosis]

What are you covering the balsa with?

That's beautiful work. I too wanna see what this looks like when it's assembled and in the air. Please film the maiden.

 

[gabrielete]

Thank you guys!!!

@tclemmo: Give balsa a try! It's not that difficult! I'ts easy to work with balsa, if you enjoy building and don't need the plane right now, try it.
@cranialrectosis: I'm covering with Hobbyking's monokote. I'ts nice and cheap. http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__245__58__Hardware_Accessories-Covering_Film.html

Almost finished, Only need to do a magnet cover for the battery and .... let's fly!!!!

 

[gabrielete]

Maiden today, it was successful. Anyway I'm going to extend the rudder.

 

[cranialrectosis]

Nice maiden!

Nice bright plane too.

What's it weigh and what kind of flight times do you get?