Lazy Bee 2020

TooJung2Die

Master member
Looks great. Ever think about how much airplane building and boat building have in common? You have the keel, bulkheads, ribs, stringers, etc.
 

rockyboy

Skill Collector
Mentor
Let's get some servo rails in - this one for the elevator servo...
PXL_20201120_233301686_copy_1024x768.jpg


And now the rudder servo

PXL_20201122_034032581_copy_1024x768.jpg


Now to start on the front end more. First these hard balsa longerons sticking out front to hold onto the nose
PXL_20201119_223233143_copy_1024x768.jpg


Then there were four. The instructions say to "crack them to make the angle" - seems odd, but it worked
PXL_20201120_190657446_copy_1024x1365.jpg


Now gluing on the nose cheeks to those longerons - the firewall isn't glued in yet...

PXL_20201122_235817731_copy_1024x768.jpg


The parts as assembled seemed to fit nicely, but created at least 5 degrees of left thrust at the firewall - and that's just not right. Not on the plans that way either. So after a little sanding, measuring, leveling, and squaring up the firewall is now perpendicular to the center of the fuselage, and getting glued in.

The plans call for epoxy here, but I'm just going with weld-bond and some extra 1/8" supports as fillets in the front and back corners. Should be plenty strong (famous last words, I know...)
PXL_20201123_035401009_copy_1024x768.jpg


Now for the doublers on the top of the fuselage, the backplate of the nose, and the single stick on the top that holds things in alignment there.
PXL_20201123_154732626_copy_1024x768.jpg


I need to bend some sheeting to finish off the top and bottom of the nose and rough seat the motor and esc. Not sure if I'm going to try this crazy "rubber band mounted motor" idea in the instructions or not yet...
 
Last edited:

PsyBorg

Wake up! Time to fly!
LOL! I was going to start calling him Clamp Man! I've never seen a better stock of building clamps.

Joe


I think I did that whole nah nah nah nah na nah nah nah nah na nan ah CLAMP MAN! batman spoof thing a while back but I think it was in pm's. I then pointed him to new type of home made clamps to try or add to his collection to feed the addiction.
 

rockyboy

Skill Collector
Mentor
I didn't notice the plywood layer of the cabin roof was supposed to be 1/8" down from the top of the fuselage, so instead of plywood on the bottom and balsa on top, I'm putting it in the other way around.

PXL_20201124_223256262_copy_1024x768.jpg

And finishing up the bottom sheeting...
PXL_20201124_222106497_copy_1024x768.jpg


Rather then using the ammonia to bend the nose sheeting on the frame and potentially soften up that, I wrapped the sheets around a handy can that's close to the right size to dry.
PXL_20201124_222709478_copy_1024x768.jpg

Once they dried with the curve, it was simple to trim to a rough fit and glue them in place.
PXL_20201126_221525654_copy_1024x768.jpg

All trimmed and sanded to shape.
PXL_20201127_204311363_copy_1024x768.jpg


And adding the cockpit window frame.
PXL_20201128_011937843_copy_1024x768.jpg
 

rockyboy

Skill Collector
Mentor
Added in the blocking around the upper front window frame and CA'd some thread around the bamboo skewer per instructions.
PXL_20201128_224024650_copy_1024x768.jpg


Also went to the flying field for a bit this afternoon. Winds gusting to 20mph but had a couple fun flights anyway. Here's my NuBee, a knock off design inspired by Andy Clancy's Speedy Bee, getting a little sunshine today.

PXL_20201128_172217224_copy_1024x768.jpg
 

speedbirdted

Legendary member
Looks good. I wonder if there's a 1/2A version of this plane? I might build that, to put some of my ridiculous stockpile of Cox engines to work :p

Is there a plastic windshield included with the kit or do you make it using clear covering? I see some builders will add a fillet along the bottom edge of the windshield with some extra sheeting behind it to make covering film behave better in the area where it meets the front turtle deck.

1606606521500.png
 

rockyboy

Skill Collector
Mentor
Thanks for the tip on the bottom fillet! I was looking at that area and thinking it was going to be tricky getting that covered nicely. Fillet will help for sure.

I am pretty sure I've seen people post about running an 049 on these at the stock size - might not be super energetic but as a park flyer it should still be fun!

Time to work on the tail surfaces - started by bending the tail wheel wire and then epoxying it between the two lower rudder pieces.

PXL_20201129_203221024_copy_1024x768.jpg


Then it's time to put the center framing together for the rudder.
PXL_20201130_173805602_copy_1024x768.jpg


While that's drying I cut some lightning holes in the horizontal stabilizer. Not that it's much difference in weight, but it looks a lot better like this!
PXL_20201129_200315504_copy_1024x768.jpg


Then time to start getting the elevator framed up.
PXL_20201201_001300617_copy_1024x768.jpg
 

rockyboy

Skill Collector
Mentor
Adding that laminated rudder piece

PXL_20201201_153420178_copy_1024x768.jpg


And the final internal framing for the elevator...
PXL_20201201_035331417_copy_1024x768.jpg


And those lower window frame pieces and some balsa filler - thanks for the great suggestion!
PXL_20201201_155209795_copy_1024x768.jpg


Let's put the door latch plate in place - using rectangular magnets harvested from a busted small brushless motor :)
PXL_20201201_161344858_copy_1024x768.jpg


Fitting the tail wheel and trying out the light placement in the rudder
PXL_20201201_234808447_copy_1024x768.jpg


I love this stage - she's all together in the bones!

PXL_20201201_231936844_copy_1024x768.jpg
PXL_20201201_231948929_copy_1024x768.jpg
 

rockyboy

Skill Collector
Mentor
aaww man, you do amazing work!!!!!!!!!
Thank you! It's fun, and I try to improve or try something new on each one :)

On this one it's time to set all the hardware & electrics in place and see if she balances - big silly shocks and tires added, and a motor capable of 300-ish watts on 9x6 w/ 4s (10x6 prop pictured, going to be too big and dig into the grass on landing)
PXL_20201203_025432904_copy_1024x768.jpg


And she balances perfectly with a 3s1300! There's a little more hardware to go in the front with the wheel collars, but the covering will add some weight to the back too. Feeling really good about the balance on this!
PXL_20201203_024419189_copy_1024x768.jpg


And for the weight - no covering, control rods, hinges, wheel collars, or wiring to the tail lights yet, but 29.2 oz! I'm curious to see how much the covering and paint adds especially, but it's in a good place right now. Even if it shoots up to 36 ounces that's only 2.25 pounds, and with a 3s battery on 9x6 prop it should easily be in the 80 watts per pound range.

PXL_20201203_024521628_copy_1024x1365.jpg