McDonnell XP-67 "Moonbat"

[FoamyDM]

It's one for real flight that I downloaded off of the Knife Edge Swap Pages

Thank you sir

@leaded50 - Wow this is really coming together.

 

[cyclone3350]

soon tail is ready too The stab and fin is though..

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I have been meaning to ask U since U first posted the canopy. How did U go about making this one. From what U have posted, it looks fantastic.

 

[leaded50]

I have been meaning to ask U since U first posted the canopy. How did U go about making this one. From what U have posted, it looks fantastic.

Thanks, I used some "plastic material"...(unsure whats actual name) and cut strips approx 3 x 3 mm. First maked a "base" on actual fit in the hatchopening. Maked the 5 bows shaped to get it correct gluedon the base , then glued in bits between. Then painted the hole framework. At end using parts from plasticbottle as "windows" (here 5 parts lengthwise) glued on.

 

[cyclone3350]

Thanks. Looking for some ideas. I have done thermo forming using plastic bottles and was thinking of vacum forming using PET plastic for the P6m.The P6M-2 had a framed greenhouse style canopy that could work with way U did the Moonbat.

 

[leaded50]

Thanks. Looking for some ideas. I have done thermo forming using plastic bottles and was thinking of vacum forming using PET plastic for the P6m.The P6M-2 had a framed greenhouse style canopy that could work with way U did the Moonbat.

i was thinking on doing a thermo formed canopy too... but saw it was quite easy do the shape without

 

[leaded50]

 

[leaded50]

something done today too. Installed servos/ split pushrods for elevator, esc´s eg.

 

[leaded50]

just a few panels back.... needed wait for servo cabel extensions, and one motor who comes in mail , and find a way to make the frontwheel steerable, before glued in place. Its not wide up front, and need make a "special arrangement" to get it functional.
The build showed, it was possible shape foamboard enough to get "rounded dome -styles" (panels rounded both ways.) Much work with adjustments indiviually, use of table edge and objects, careful use of heatgun, and further on to shape the panels .

 

[leaded50]

here is how the underside went..

 

[leaded50]

then its "just" to mount rest of electronics, retracts, eg. use some lightweight filler here and there, sanding, and treat the whole plane with thinned woodglue, before last fine sanding and paint

I did made a glidetest, that went very good, it glides better than thought.

 

[cyclone3350]

WOW! U R just moving right along with this one. Looking good. The Moonbat looks like there is an incredible amount of lifting surface. Did it glide like it had a very light wing loading?

 

[leaded50]

WOW! U R just moving right along with this one. Looking good. The Moonbat looks like there is an incredible amount of lifting surface. Did it glide like it had a very light wing loading?

Correct, its glided as that. Not the lightest plane made though, because all extra the shape needed. 1050g without motors, retracts and battery, but rest intact. 1375mm wingspan, 1035mm long. 3 servoless electric retracts, + 6 servos (alierons, elevator,rudder, flaps, steering)

 

[leaded50]

to even out the connections on skins + remove execive glue, sanding do the trick. As seen here, its also two different types of foamboard, one has orginally a layer of shiny white plasticcovered thin alu on one side thats removed. That gives a rough paper surface that needs treated to get slick, easy to sand though.... I use a layer of thinned woodglue for getting a good slick surface before paint. It will also strengthen it and ensure shapes is kept.

 

[leaded50]

rear servoless electric retracts mounts done. It will fit between formers D & E, and have a 75 mm wheel on the 3500g retracts (more than double of what the plane will weight) . Here too, used that lightweighted "plasticmaterial" (dont know exact name on) stiff & sturdy and sticks superb with just hot-glue.

 

[leaded50]

one of nacelles is done, got its motor/esc installed, ready skinned... and the fake machineguns between nacelles and main fuselage.
Some "touches" by sanding, and install the hinged retract covers that side is done

 

[leaded50]

rear retracts innstalled, and their hinged hatches. Even the flaps is in place mounted with its servo.
First "fog-sprayed" layer and sanding is done, to see better where it was imperfections "big enough" to needed be attended. And to start coloring without spraypaint eating foam where its in open.
All electrical, servos, pushrods, retracts and its cables is in place and connected to the reciver. Just one motor missing, is in mail in a few days with its spinners.
Reason for using that hinges on the flaps was "tofold". Easy to detach if need into the room over. If wanna hand-launch it, its the only place to grip the plane. By a landing with no gear down... its something to skid on, and remove damages.

 

[cyclone3350]

Looking good my friend. Looking forward to the finished product.

 

[leaded50]

at last, got all retracts functional! In front needed make a push/pull steering system, than the original retract steering actuator on the side..... didnt had space for it . Just to make the front retract covers, and its shut mechanism and done. Still awaiting for shop find a bigger frontwheel though, so dont need take from another flyable plane.
Even flaps setup is done, working.

The last motor seems be delivered at monday.

 

[Matthewdupreez]

WOW... very neat... Maybe Flitetest Should employ you like, @Splinter189(John Overstreet)

 

[leaded50]

WOW... very neat... Maybe Flitetest Should employ you like, @Splinter189(John Overstreet)

Thanks ! well.... hiring is in doubt.., I havent exactly made many airplanes for easyness in build... most are more or less "some complicated". , as this model here too, the Moonbat, it wouldnt be easy as a kit , and a shop servicesenter would be overworked explaining in build techniques.
Eg. customer: "help me, i dont get it and wanna fly it tomorrow!" support: " as stated by ordering, patience, trail & error,individual adjustments is in need of most parts" - customer: "yeah,yeah, i bought it to fly" - support: "have you ever made domeshaped skins by foamboard before?" - customer: "noooo" - support: "do you understand how?" - customer: "no" - support:" have you angled correctly ALL skin edges to fit joints?" - customer: "no, just a few?" - support : did you maked them with reducing angle?" .....and further on it goes

In build difficulty on a scale from 1 to 10, this is for shure a 10. (even more like a at least a 12..)
Such builds will be a "one off" custombuild, not a "mainstream" one. Its some trail & error in the building, even if had a kit. Just to get the parts straight in correct angles, the nacelles, wings, rear, front was a lot of boring work with laser levelling/line and adjustments before get glue stick. I needed make a "jig" for keep the "proplines" correct.

even if would be pleased to see other could build and fly "this thing" too, its too many parts in foamboard eg. that isnt correct to the "paper plan-parts" when fit on the plane.

I like to trigger my own creativity, to find solutions to achieve the result i wants.... but it dont mostly make it easy to follow for others, "sad"
enough.