wardie

My Feedback: (4)

I just finished the Challenger, ZDZ 210, 46 lbs RTF less fuel. [8D]

PHIL NUZA

My Feedback: (19)

Well guess I should have looked at the date first!

tobba

Hey Phil

Still alive - just haven't updated images lately. The Pilot came from Axel's Pilots. You'll get him at: [email protected]

I will post some new imagery over the next few days. All the best with the build. Lots of work but a great kit.

T

fokker fan

I'd forgotten about this build and just re-discovered the thread, I'm subscribed now so I don't miss out anymore. You're doing a great job of it, keep up the good work.

I really must get a move on with own Pitts build - a 35% S1-11B from the Hostetler plans. The problem is too many other distractions

tobba

So, back into it.

Been doing much work on the rudder servo tray. I'm keen to have this floating mid model to keep the geometry correct using a SWB Pull Pull system.

Started on the engine box. IMO I think this part of the model is under engineered. I cant see a 3mm lite ply engine box supporting a 200cc engine for long, no matter how much glass is thrown at it. Anyway for me I have rebuilt these parts to suit my engine and add a little more strength. Picking up on the second former for a bit more strength. Using 1/4 marine grade ply for the engine box and supports, and will glass pretty heavily.

See a few shots. Keen to get this sorted and push on with the rest of the build...!

tobba

Tip from a mate that has worked well for me. Use 5mm foamboard/gator foam to template parts before making them in ply. Easy to cut and cheap. Nice.

tobba

Pushing on... man there's some wood in here. I hope this ply comes from a substinable forest otherwise there could be issues with world supply!

Coming together. Most of the time spent using foamboard making templates to get the centerlines and thrust angles correct. Damn good tip though as I have cut all the ply pieces only once, not the two of 3 times in the past. Seems to have come out right! About to start gluing it up, but questioning on what order at the moment. Got one side panel glued in...

Feels like a bit of an overkill now comparing it to the 3mm lite ply option, but hey it will last.

tobba

Now for some excitement... well for me anyways!

Engine test mounted and looking good. Now to make some serious headway upfront. Fit the cans, finish a the engine bay strengthening and start some heavy glassing work.

One things leads to another.

tobba

A bit more action...

Cowl line ups perfectly. A bit more 1/4 lite ply around the engine bay.

tobba

A little more work...

Working on a hatch for the top of the engine box to access the ignition components. Made a lite ply tray that will have some lightening holes. Good base tray for mounting gear. Also time to drill holes in the firewall to accept the cannister mufflers.

tobba

Bored the holes in the firewall to accept the cans and done a test fit which came up OK. Now to start looking at the mounting system for the cans. I planned to use K&S mounts and have brought the a while ago... now I realised I have the wrong size... pain.

The cannister exhaust tubes don't line up at all well with the moulded cowl bottom scoop exit at all. Might look at a radius bend on can pipes and extends them rewards with rubber tubing.

Any smart ideas here or concerns re the tuning...?

tobba

Added some filler pine blocks to the firewall with marine grade epoxy. Also pinned them with 8mm dowels set in with hysol. Working on the top hatch also.

Bottom going on tonight then ready to glass the whole front end before test mounting all the hardware.

Both the Throttle and choke servos will be mounted to the inside of the engine box floor.

tobba

Finished sanded the dowels and finished the top hatch, complete with handle... looking at mounting the hardware now. Waiting on some nice servo mounts for the throttle and choke before closing in the bottom of the engine box and glassing.

john josey

Very, very impressive.

tobba

Thanks John. Much work still to go, but I'm enjoying the build a lot.

Craig.

john josey

I have to say craig, the quality of your woodworking is stunning, very very neat and tidy.

I built the 1/3 scale toni clark one a few years ago and i thought that was a lot of work. but this is in a different league altogether. An absolute pleasure to watch. A big thanks for taking the time to document it.

tobba

Thanks John for your comments. I do love the wood work, maybe a little to much. I need to spend more time flying!

I would love to see some shots of the Toni Clark 1/3 scale Pitts if you still have the model and have time. I am building a Toni Clark 1/3 scale Pup at the moment. I can comfortably say this is the best quality kit I have ever built and I have built most. I am about 1/2 way through it and just spent a week on the undercarriage - big job.

The biggest task for me with the Toni Clark kits is having to become an expert Silver solderer overnight!

Thanks again.

Cheers Craig.

john josey

Ah, the silver soldering, yeah i remember it like it was yesterday, and they say you forget pain ! To be fair though the pitts 'legs' were done for you in the kit.

As for pictures craig, i dont have any personally but i`m fairly sure a clubmate has some, i`ll speak to him before the weekend and seeif i can sort something out.

I still have the model although it hasn`t seen the light of day for a couple of years. It looks to be shaping up fora good summer over here this year so i have every intention of getting it flying again.

I have to agreewith you, the toni clark kits are the best i`ve ever worked with. I`m glad i built the pitts, but if i rollit into a little ball i wontbuild another, just too much work for me.

cheers fornow
john

tobba

Hi John,

Sounds good. Yep the Toni Clark kits are great. Does the Pits well? Are you running one of their engine setups?

I see England qualified this morning for the next round in the WC. A few sighs of relief over there I'm sure. Love to see a few shots of the Pitts if you get a chance.

Cheers.

tobba

Small job done tonight.

Mounted the 2x ignition modules and made up throttle and choke pushrods. Silver soldered (Thanks Toni Clark) new arms to the chokes. Should have the flash servos mounts today/tomorrow so I can mount servos and close out the bottom of the engine bay. From there glassing the front end, and work on the custom cannister soft mounts.

john josey

Hi chris,

I`m running the G62 with their stainless exhaust but no hydro mount, i just felt it was too quiet and it 'sits' at some strange angles when it`s not running. For me a pitts has to have a bit of a growl or bark for an engine note, so for those reasons i decided just to go with the standard mount.

As for the flying, this has got to be the best flying pitts i`ve ever flown and that includes the 'PILOT' kits, phil ramsey, mike smart and the byron one. There is nothing nasty at all, even the stall is predictable and gentle, just a slight wing wag when you get close.

Hereare a few pics as promised.








I would be keen to see any build pictures of your cub.

cheers
john

tobba

Hey John - looks amazing!

Looks great and the flight characteristics sounds amazing. I hope the Exclusiv Modellbau version is as well behaved! I like the open canopy... wondering is this could be a go for me.

I'm building the Toni Clark Sopwith Pup, not the Cub. Let me know if you are interested in the Pup and I'll post some images.

Cheers for the Pics.

Craig.

john josey

Hi craig,

Sorry, my typing error, i meant to say pup.

My wife pestered the life out of me to help her build a cub a few years ago and i think the mental scars are still very much with me.

I did go to the bother of doing the sliding canopy but the propwash just blows it off on take-off, i need to find someway of 'tucking' it under the front part if i want to fly it in the closed position. I`ll post a picture with it fitted to see what you think.

Yes please post some pictures of your pup ! I seriously thought about the tiger moth with the g38 and the 2:1 reduction gear swinging that huge 32" prop but the thought of another 'monster' build kind of put me off.

                                                                             cheers
                                                                                     john

tobba

Hey John.

Will do. Love the Tiger moth. I hear what your saying on the build time, but take a look at that Pitts of yours... its awesome. Nothing compares to that as an easy build or an ARF! Nothing flash achieved without some hard work I reckon.

A thought that could help me re the Pitts canopy... are there any details of the sliding canopy for the Toni Clark Pitts?? Trying to custom design this at the moment and reference would be good. I brought two canopys when I odered my kit and I'm keen to give this a go. Wondering if you still have the plans for the Toni Clark version??

Will do on the Pup - its an awesome model and coming up real nice. Quite proud of my undercarriage so far!

Cheers

john josey

Thanks for the kind words craig, i appreciate it, i really do.

You will probably find this hard to believe but the plans give very little information on the sliding canopy. if you think it will help i can take and post some close up pictures of how it works to give you some ideas to throw around.

I think the idea is good but it`s not substantial enough, i doesn`t help that the fusalage tapers quite abruptly.


For anybody reading this thats not familliar with the toni clark kits, the plans are packed with information so it`s suprising that their is very little on the sliding canopy, just a section through it.