Build log - Miles Aerovan M.57

[messyhead]

Hi folks. I thought I’d make a build progress thread for this interesting plane.

I bought the plane, almost complete, from my LHS. It was being sold off from the collection of a gentleman that passed away.

I’ve had it stored for a while, but have started working again on it recently in the hope to have it complete this year.

 

[messyhead]

I’ve been working on the wing. I had to make the ailerons and flaps from the plans.

Shaping the balsa was a learning experience as I’ve not done much with that. They turned out ok though.

 

[Mr NCT]

Hi folks. I thought I’d make a build progress thread for this interesting plane.

I bought the plane, almost complete, from my LHS. It was being sold off from the collection of a gentleman that passed away.

I’ve had it stored for a while, but have started working again on it recently in the hope to have it complete this year.

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Neat looking plane. What kind of power do you think you'll use?

 

[messyhead]

Next up I fitted the motors. I used Overlander Tornado Thumper 3536/1500kv motors. The kids lane came with 2 40a esc’s.

I was a bit nervous about putting power through them, as the plane had been in storage for quite a while before I got it. But the test runs went fine.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/Ce4MmX1FOz2

 

[messyhead]

Neat looking plane. What kind of power do you think you'll use?

I’ve got some 3s 2200mah that I was going to use, but the plan has a 3s 5000mah listed. So I’ll see what it’s like for balance.

That actually brings me onto a question about receiver power.

If I use a separate receiver battery, and also have the esc plugged in through the throttle wire, do the servos take power from the lipo or the receiver battery?

My glow planes just have a receiver battery for everything.

 

[messyhead]

I had to make the undercarriage support from steel rod. Again, something I’ve never done, so another school day 😁

I heated the wire then bent it using a template as a guide to form the right shape. It turned out pretty good.

I need to make the struts next, though they’re just a scale detail rather than functional.

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[Mr NCT]

I’ve got some 3s 2200mah that I was going to use, but the plan has a 3s 5000mah listed. So I’ll see what it’s like for balance.

That actually brings me onto a question about receiver power.

If I use a separate receiver battery, and also have the esc plugged in through the throttle wire, do the servos take power from the lipo or the receiver battery?

My glow planes just have a receiver battery for everything.

You only need one or the other. If you want to use a receiver battery then remove the red wire from the cable going to the esc. You're probably fine using just the power off the esc, though.

 

[messyhead]

I worked on the landing gear today. I added the fake struts




I also started on the internal servo mounts, should get them finished tomorrow. I’ve ordered some wing mounts that should arrive on Friday, so I can finish the wing.

I need to start thinking about covering. At the moment, I think I’m going to seal it with sanding sealer, and then paint it.

 

[messyhead]

I did quite a bit more work on the Aerovan. So it’s now ready for sanding, sealing, then paint. But that might take a while as I’ve never done that before.

I added the servo rails



In the process of doing that, I burst a panel on the front, so I had to fix that





I also fitted the aileron servo plates, and had to make ones for the flaps




All that’s left to do is profile the wing leading edge

 

[messyhead]

Finished profiling the wing LE. Now I’m onto sanding a sealing before painting.