JohnRambozo
Posted a thousand or more times
No problem. Sometimes its more fun to figure it out from the clues.
jrCessna O-1 Bird Dog (Intermediate Build Trainer)
- Thread starter JohnRambozo
- Start date
No problem. Sometimes its more fun to figure it out from the clues.
JohnRambozo
Posted a thousand or more times
Well, its coming together pretty nicely. I'm not crazy about the wing mount. I have to see how others have done that for high wing planes. I also realized I messed up the fuse taper (top/bottom view). I should have tapered from the nose back to the start of the cockpit then continued a lesser degree of taper all the way back.
I didn't start tapering until the rear of the cockpit so the cockpit is looking pretty wide. It should fly fine and I'll finish this one since its almost done, then I'll update the plans with a more scale representation. I have to do the Bird Dog justice.
I think a pair of skis is in order for the landing gear with the record-breaking snowfall we've had this year.
I didn't start tapering until the rear of the cockpit so the cockpit is looking pretty wide. It should fly fine and I'll finish this one since its almost done, then I'll update the plans with a more scale representation. I have to do the Bird Dog justice.
I think a pair of skis is in order for the landing gear with the record-breaking snowfall we've had this year.
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ClearSkiesCalmWinds
Active member
Great share!! Keep up the great work.
twodogs
Member
My bad, it does start the taper back at about the landing gear/strut attachment points. Just so you know, when you get to test flying, the full size and all the models I've researched all had a problem with ground looping. Some have actually put heading gyros in them for take off and landing.
good luck,
Brad
good luck,
Brad
JohnRambozo
Posted a thousand or more times
Thanks, twodogs. I guess I wasn't as far off as I thought. I must be getting some images of variations on the original design.
twodogs
Member
A lot of the 3-views you find on the net are done by artists from pictures or looking at the subject and not from technical drawings. two of the best birddog kits (vailencourt and trittle) both have the top of the cabin wrong, vailencourt says it's easier to build straight and judges won't catch it, but it's still wrong.
Interesting build thread here:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-...837866-25-cessna-l-19-0-1-bird-dog-build.html
Brad
Interesting build thread here:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-...837866-25-cessna-l-19-0-1-bird-dog-build.html
Brad
JohnRambozo
Posted a thousand or more times
That's a great discussion and pretty amazing skills over there. I'd love to build a 1/4 scale some day.
I didn't read it all yet but I did catch the part where they talk about the scale sized former vs. the non-tapering shape from the plans.
Its deceptively complicated in there but I'll make it work. I'll probably have to break it down into just the lower fuse with upper formers and side panels for the cockpit.
I actually have the prototype ready to go, except for landing gear and windshields, both of which I'm doing today.
ClearSkiesCalmWinds
Active member
Great! Eager to see this one in the air.
JohnRambozo
Posted a thousand or more times
I updated the first post with progress pics up to completion. I have to say, I don't hate it.
I'm really excited to get it off the ground. Unfortunately there are several feet of snow covering pretty much all of New England. Its finally in the 40s and starting to melt which makes for some very wet snow. I am considering flattening out a n airfield in the snow at my favorite park.
I do still want to go through a second draft with attention to the fuse shape around the cockpit. The shapes I cut for this one didn't work out that great. I may also go back and do the curved turtle deck on the aft of the fuse. Its boxy now and doesn't look bad, but why not get as close to scale as possible?
What do you guys think?
JohnRambozo
Posted a thousand or more times
Thanks, twodogs. I think I have to agree. Rear turtle deck is a must for version 2. I want to get that cockpit area looking just right, too.
Even though its already less simple than my original concept, it came together really easily. I spent 3 sessions on it, total.
JohnRambozo
Posted a thousand or more times
Just scale for now. If it needs more surface I'll enlarge. I think its going to be fine, though. Its pretty big.
ClearSkiesCalmWinds
Active member
Have you considered keeping the wing flat over the cab and starting the dihedral at the edge of the cab.
![20150304_074202[1].jpg](https://ftforumx2.s3.amazonaws.com/2015/03/91986_d4c7aa410b28d1b717ff04b8e14202d1_thumb.jpg "20150304_074202[1].jpg")
Great job! Keep it going.
![20150304_074202[1].jpg](https://ftforumx2.s3.amazonaws.com/2015/03/91986_d4c7aa410b28d1b717ff04b8e14202d1.jpg "20150304_074202[1].jpg")
Great job! Keep it going.
JohnRambozo
Posted a thousand or more times
That's a good suggestion. I think I will do that for the next one.
Have you seen any kind of sturdy landing gear designs? The ones for the FT Storch are nice and strong but I'm trying to keep it scale looking. The basic FT single wire design is pretty flimsy. I'm sure it will work but something stronger would be nice.
You could try just using the lower half of the storch landing gear (the part that doesn't go to the top of the fuselage). Otherwise, thicker wire should work.
JohnRambozo
Posted a thousand or more times
Well, the wheels mount on the part that goes to the top. I suppose I could make it so that part connects in the same place as the rest... or as you said... thicker wire.
JohnRambozo
Posted a thousand or more times
The weather is finally starting to warm up and some rain last night helped bring the snow height down a bit. I can even see grass near some trees, now. I'm seriously considering a maiden in the parking lot across the street from me.
In the meantime, I've started painting the prototype in the red and white U.S. Army paint scheme. I've added scale lettering and traditional Stars & Stripes emblems to the first post for anyone to download. You could really use them for any plane at all, but they are specifically sized for the Bird Dog.
I just have to paint the wings and a bit on the tail. Pics coming soon.
It should end up looking about like this (pic borrowed from Joker's balsa BirdDog thread):
In the meantime, I've started painting the prototype in the red and white U.S. Army paint scheme. I've added scale lettering and traditional Stars & Stripes emblems to the first post for anyone to download. You could really use them for any plane at all, but they are specifically sized for the Bird Dog.
I just have to paint the wings and a bit on the tail. Pics coming soon.
It should end up looking about like this (pic borrowed from Joker's balsa BirdDog thread):
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ClearSkiesCalmWinds
Active member
Crazy waiting. But don't rush. The fun is in the details. Lol!
