Guillow's Spitfire Build
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
ORIGINAL: Phlip
Yeah, CP, I'm running long torque rods. I think I picked the right gage {0.047!QUOT! or 3/64!QUOT!} as a compromise between being too heavy and being too twisty. I guess I'll see. My HOB .25 size PT-19 has pretty long torque rods that work quite well. Of course it's a bigger plane ...
Yeah, CP, I'm running long torque rods. I think I picked the right gage {0.047!QUOT! or 3/64!QUOT!} as a compromise between being too heavy and being too twisty. I guess I'll see. My HOB .25 size PT-19 has pretty long torque rods that work quite well. Of course it's a bigger plane ...
Al Lenz
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
Hi AL! To control flutter, I keep the torque rod short, and use 2-56 threaded wire push rods. The control surface needs to be thinner than the part it is hinged to, and I cover the parts as a unit, so there is no hinge line gap. Finally, for a fast plane, use the inner holes at the servo arm and go at least 3/4 inch up on the torque rod or control horn end. It also helps to use medium weight balsa sheet for the control surfaces instead of light.
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
I've made a bit of progress this week:
I've reinforced the LE and TE for wing mounting (thanks again, Skaliwag). I've joined the wing panels together with the center section.
I've reinforced the LE and TE for wing mounting (thanks again, Skaliwag). I've joined the wing panels together with the center section.
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
I've added the top and bottom wing spars. I wasn't real happy with the way the slots didn't line up and the spars snake down the wing, but, I guess they'll do. If I had it to do again, I think I'd wait until this stage of assembly to cut the grooves so that I could make them straight.
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
Wow, it's been a while since I did anything on this. This is just the way it goes with me, I guess. Life is always getting in the way of the important business of model airplanes.
These are some old photos ... it's still been a while since I've done any building, but I needed to clear out my camera, so I figured I'd get caught up on this thread, and maybe that'll inspire me to get building again.
So, the wing is done:
These are some old photos ... it's still been a while since I've done any building, but I needed to clear out my camera, so I figured I'd get caught up on this thread, and maybe that'll inspire me to get building again.
So, the wing is done:
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
I've also built the horizontal stab/elevator assembly and hinged it with robart 1/2 A hinge points.
I built the ass'y in one piece and sanded it before cutting it apart and hinging it:
I built the ass'y in one piece and sanded it before cutting it apart and hinging it:
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
I built the vertical stab stock. I cut out the engine cowling, and extended it and prepared it for use as a plaster mold for the plug to form a soda bottle cowling on:
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
I sprayed the inside of the mold with Pledge, and filled it with plaster of paris to make my plug. The only other thing I've done recently is to run in my new Norvel .061. I've no pictures of that, but it ran quite well. Tached at 16,900 RPM with a Master Airscrew 6-3, and idled reliably just below 6,000.
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
Some new progress! But just as I get rolling again, I have to leave home for a week in Germany. Anyway, before the trip I figured I'd empty the camera, so here we go:
These three shots show how I've planned to modify the wing saddle and the stab angle to get the incidences I want. I tried for very close to zero, zero, zero, but erring on the negative, positive, negative side of zero.
These three shots show how I've planned to modify the wing saddle and the stab angle to get the incidences I want. I tried for very close to zero, zero, zero, but erring on the negative, positive, negative side of zero.
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
I glued up the original die-cut stab slot, and then cut a new one. I traced and modified the wing saddle parts, and framed up the first fuse side. I realize that the wing sadle keel will not last long, but I'm putting it there for strength until the fuse is fully framed up. That's about it for now. I'm still working on the cowl plug ... adding filler putty and sanding to get it in shape for shrinking my soda bottle. I'll have pictures as that gets to be something.
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
Oh boy ... again it's been a while. Been spending as much free time as possible at the field, so the build has been on hold. But I've just begun reading FIGHTER BOYS The Battle of Britain, 1940 and I'm inspired to make some progress again.
First, I'll get caught up on the previous progress, then I'll hit the building board!
After taking the first side off of the building board, I thinned out most of the formers from the inside with the sanding drum on my Dremel. Then I took the formers for side-2 and traced the modifications onto them. Then I sanded them to the same shape.
First, I'll get caught up on the previous progress, then I'll hit the building board!
After taking the first side off of the building board, I thinned out most of the formers from the inside with the sanding drum on my Dremel. Then I took the formers for side-2 and traced the modifications onto them. Then I sanded them to the same shape.
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
Next, I continued the assembly of the fuselage by gluing on the side-2 formers. Then I took the sanding drum to the top and bottom keels and thinned their height between the formers. Out of aircraft ply I made a servo tray and glued it to the side keels.
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
Whoa! Dodged a bullet here ... I never even thought about interference between the elevator and throttle servos and the aileron servo once the wing is on, but it looks like it'll work!
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
Next, I added some supports to help keep the elevator pushrod from bowing and flexing. I made the pushrod adjustable with a length of small silicone fuel line around an inch or so of overlapped music wire.
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
I took the top part of a 2-liter Pepsi bottle and shrunk it over my plaster-of-paris plug to make the engine cowl. After the shinking, I popped out the plug (easier said than done) and trimmed it up.
Now I'm heading off to begin adding the stringers to the fuselage.
Now I'm heading off to begin adding the stringers to the fuselage.
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
Great job so far! I know it is a lot of work. I've built most of a full house Guillow's P-51 17.5" wing span.
Where can I read a thread about building cowels out of plastic bottles?
What did you do to the front edge of your ailerons so they can move up and down. Are they double beveled, rounded, or single belveled? I can't tell from the pictures. I'm never sure about the best way to do that and make the least gap. Others say they cover both sides but I don't see how the aileron can move if it is covered on both sides.
Where can I read a thread about building cowels out of plastic bottles?
What did you do to the front edge of your ailerons so they can move up and down. Are they double beveled, rounded, or single belveled? I can't tell from the pictures. I'm never sure about the best way to do that and make the least gap. Others say they cover both sides but I don't see how the aileron can move if it is covered on both sides.
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
ORIGINAL: chevy43
Where can I read a thread about building cowels out of plastic bottles?
What did you do to the front edge of your ailerons so they can move up and down. Are they double beveled, rounded, or single belveled?
Where can I read a thread about building cowels out of plastic bottles?
What did you do to the front edge of your ailerons so they can move up and down. Are they double beveled, rounded, or single belveled?
I double beveled my ailerons. The bevels leave a good size gap at the wing surface, but they're tight at the hinge line. I'm hoping to have the plane light enough to fly relatively slowly so that flutter won't be a problem. But we'll see. I also plan to cover with silkspan and dope, so covering over the hinge line won't really be an option, either.
Phil
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
Chevy 43, I have an article from an old magazine about making cowls & canopies out of pop bottles. I can't post it, but if you want I will E-Mail you a copy.
Steve
Steve
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
I guess this thread could wind up lasting quite a while because I tend to build slowly and get distracted
Now I'm heading off to begin adding the stringers to the fuselage.
I don't really have much progress to report, and no pictures at the moment, but what has happened is that I've discovered some problems and lack of forsight on my part. After hooking up the throttle cable and routing the linkage to the servo, all working smoothly, I discovered that I would have interference with the aileron servo when the wing is installed. So, frustrated, I've left it alone for a few months. Today, though, I just spent the afternoon modifying the location of the throttle cable so that I can turn the throttle servo over in the tray. Unfortunately, the cable now binds and won't work. So I have to pull it all out and start over. After that is working OK, I still hope to get to the fuselage stringers!
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
Progress! The bones are done, and I'm ready to start covering. Yay!! Covering and painting is my favorite part of the build.
Right now, I'll post the pictures to get the thread caught up. These are of the finish (almost) work on the cowl ... making room to clear the engine.
Right now, I'll post the pictures to get the thread caught up. These are of the finish (almost) work on the cowl ... making room to clear the engine.
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
On the previous post, you see the results of poor planning as to where on the motor mount to put the engine. I put it too far rearward, and thus needed to make clearance for the muffler in the firewall. Came out OK anyhow.
A few more pics. Throttle linkage in (although I later had to move it to turn over the servo for clearance). Stringers are added:
A few more pics. Throttle linkage in (although I later had to move it to turn over the servo for clearance). Stringers are added:
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
After installing the stringers, I scalloped away the formers with a sanding drum on my Dremel. Then I cut away the bottom keel and former where the wing mounts, and checked the wing fit and servo clearance. Whew, good to go.
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RE: Guillow's Spitfire Build
I epoxied a couple of aluminum pins into the leading edge (there's a piece of hardwood glued to the back of the leading edge for extra strength). I epoxied a couple of hardwood blocks, with holes to fit over the aluminum pins, to the front of the former just in front of the wing. I secure the trailing edge of the wing to a drilled and tapped hardwood block glued to a former at the rear.