KAOS AND RELATED PLANES AND INFO
#1051
Already have a build thread open https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...0-Bronco-build If you want to take a look. I also started a Bronco years ago with an 80 inch WS, but never finished.
Skyhawk
Skyhawk
#1052
Haven't done much on this build. I've installed ribs in the jig and sanded the top to shape. It didn't take too long. Just have to be careful. I'll flip the ribs over and sand the bottom. After sanding I'll match these ribs to the ribs for the other wing and sand those down. Ribs then go back in the jig and wing build starts. I made this jig as a 2 part system. One is the table and support blocks. The second is the jig itself. I can flip the jig top to bottom or left to right or just remove it from the table. It has 2 positions for 34” and 46” wing builds.
#1056
do335a, for the short span I use 5/16" steel rods 36" long. For the long span 1/4" steel rods 48" long. On the long span I use a support block to support the middle. You can just make out the support block in the picture after the 5th rib. I sand the rods clean then light coat with primer. I waxed the rods so ribs slide on easy. I use PAM cooking oil in the workshop. Good for lots of things. I'm going to try it on the rods. I forgot about PAM and used wax this time.
Skyhawk, two wheels; tail dragger. That is all I have been building.
Skyhawk, two wheels; tail dragger. That is all I have been building.
#1057
Thanks for that info, ETpilot.
I used that sort of jig years ago, with 1/4 diameter music wire rods and found that sagging even at the 36" length was an issue due to the weight of the rods. Several supports in between the ends were necessary.
Your rods and jig seem to work out quite well.
I used that sort of jig years ago, with 1/4 diameter music wire rods and found that sagging even at the 36" length was an issue due to the weight of the rods. Several supports in between the ends were necessary.
Your rods and jig seem to work out quite well.
#1060
The big issue is exactly as you guys describe - stiffness vs. weight. If not stiff and light weight, you get a lot of flex.
The stiff copper tubing is also an interesting idea. However, the 1/2" diameter could be too large for tip ribs, as it would be for my next project.
The stiff copper tubing is also an interesting idea. However, the 1/2" diameter could be too large for tip ribs, as it would be for my next project.
#1063
I don't have a problem with the flexing. I just use a support block for the fix. Since this is a tapered wing I wanted the rods as wide spaced as possible so ¼” rods worked best. For a straight wing you can get by with thicker rods. I did see, at Walmart, some 5/16” x 48” Fiberglass rods. Thought about it but passed for the 1/4" steel rod. Flexing for me is not a big issue. You can use one or two support blocks and problem gone. Take a few measurements to check for straight. Once you start sheeting, flexing will no longer be a problem. .
Today I flipped the ribs over and sanded the bottom side. This side went a lot faster than the top. You just develop a technique for the How-To. I'll match these ribs to the other side then get ready to build the wing.
Today I flipped the ribs over and sanded the bottom side. This side went a lot faster than the top. You just develop a technique for the How-To. I'll match these ribs to the other side then get ready to build the wing.
#1065
The first half wing started. Cut the spars and reassembled ribs on jig. Lots of weight holding spar in the ribs. With the center support block, there was only 2mm deflection on either side. I cut and added 2 blocks to bring the rod to straight. Two mm is not that much deflection.
#1066
Since flipping the wing over is a simple process with my jig, I'm working a little different with this wing. I started with the top spar. Then flipped it and did the bottom spar followed by the leading edge. Here I am having the top sheeting adjust to follow the curve of the ribs. I have trailing edge pieces cut and ready to be glued. Working like this i really have to think things out. Don't want to box me in and then regret it.
#1068
A few weeks ago I was going to the Post Office and saw a baby stroller off the side of the road, country road. Figured I'd check it out on way back if it was still there. It was there turned out to be an expensive stroller. It had a bent axle and rubber tire had come off the plastic rim and rim was bent. Other than that it was in good shape but a bit dirty. May have been there a while. I took it home and had it fixed in 30 minutes. Someone may have abandoned it cause it was damaged. Probably fell off a vehicle.
#1069
When you kit build or scratch build you sometimes have to fix problems. When I drew my wing plan I thought 72” wing would work good with my 36” balsa stock. Perfect!!
WRONG. What I failed to take notice of is that the wing has a LE and TE sweep. My 36” stock was a bit short. Never tried it before but I tested an end to end balsa joint. CA, Titebond and Epoxy. Epoxy won. I scraped the bottom of the epoxy bottles for this fix.
The joint turned out very strong. It's placement will be at the center of the wing and will be covered by fiberglass. Should work good.
WRONG. What I failed to take notice of is that the wing has a LE and TE sweep. My 36” stock was a bit short. Never tried it before but I tested an end to end balsa joint. CA, Titebond and Epoxy. Epoxy won. I scraped the bottom of the epoxy bottles for this fix.
The joint turned out very strong. It's placement will be at the center of the wing and will be covered by fiberglass. Should work good.
#1070
This morning was super cold for this area. Maybe close to record temperature, not sure. Yesterday it snowed, a rare event. So I decided to move the wing jig into the house and work there. I got the TE pieces installed. Just one more thing to do, then sheet top and bottom and wing will be ready to come off the jig. The aileron servo I'll do later. Wing is looking good.
#1071
The top and bottom sheeting glued on and drying. I should be able to remove wing from jig as the next step. Aileron and servo location will come later. I finally was able to get some epoxy glue. It sure did take a while to get that glue. I did a little work on fuselage. I'll join the sides soon. AND I got that balsa storage rack out of my way. Now I need to install it in my garage.
#1072
While the wing was in the jig I went ahead and glued in some cap strips and also also made some cuts to the aileron. Two more cuts and the aileron will be off the wing. The left wing is now off the jig but still more work to be done. Now I get to do it all again for the right wing. Only difference on the right wing is I will cant the root rib to set the dihedral. Hope it builds fast.
#1074
Yes, I double and triple checked that. I've read where mistakes have been made. Ha Ha.
Well, the sad news is I have to put this build on super slow. The last 1 ½ to 2 years I have been plagued by wild hogs. It is a big Texas problem. I've been hit the last 3 days. Yesterday I trapped one. My neighbor's came over at night and got another. They have done extensive pasture damage that I need to restore. The really bad news is they hit my grass runway again. I'm going to weld a drag to help restore the pastures. I have a design in my head. Need to put it together. This will be time consuming.
Hope to devote some time to the build but it may be slow. Here is a picture of the hog I trapped.
Well, the sad news is I have to put this build on super slow. The last 1 ½ to 2 years I have been plagued by wild hogs. It is a big Texas problem. I've been hit the last 3 days. Yesterday I trapped one. My neighbor's came over at night and got another. They have done extensive pasture damage that I need to restore. The really bad news is they hit my grass runway again. I'm going to weld a drag to help restore the pastures. I have a design in my head. Need to put it together. This will be time consuming.
Hope to devote some time to the build but it may be slow. Here is a picture of the hog I trapped.
#1075
This is the damage along the edge of the runway. This is the type of damage that they do. This is a small area of damage. They have done more extensive damage in other areas.