90% Carl Goldberg Valkyrie build
 

Hi guys, I actually started this build at the beginning of the year (the thread is on Avcom). I'm not a computer geek so am not sure how to transfer that thread to this forum (my customer for whom I'm building the Hostetler Bonanza knows how to do that, that's why that thread is already on RCU).
I won't bore you all with the nitty gritty details so far, but I finally finished build the 48 built up ribs for this baby, basically 3 1/2 months to do 29 hours of work (ave 1/2 hour per rib).
I have built a Valkyrie before, a 48" electric version. I had the plans scaled to that size for a park 370, that one took just over a year to build.
My late father was a VERY BIG Valkyrie fan and always said he would build one when his workshop was finished, but alas that did not happen as he passed away on the 28th January 2013. I leaned 99% of what I know in this hobby from him and decided to build the Valkyrie in his honour...now the bug has bitten me and I just HAVE TO build another one, this time the 90% one which will be powered by an either Ohlson & Rice 60 sparky or Ohlson & Rice 60 glow. It needs to be complete and ready to maiden on the 28th January 2018, 5th anniversary of my dads passing.
There are some pics of the 48" Valkyrie, it's uncovered wing and size comparison to the 90% one...the only reason it is 90% is that our printers at work don't use the over sized paper and 90% was the biggest I could go.

Beautiful work. I design giant true scale RC models and use a program called "CompuFoil 3D", It is amazing, put in the all the info, shape, foils, washout, where and what the spars are, you desired lightening info, material sizes; and even a very complicated wing is done in less the half a day. Just need to separate the areas that are control surfaces and adjust the ribs accordingly! The attached is the wing of my1:4 scale Beechcraft 350i King air, it has +4.8° of washout. There is no provisions for me to attach the photo from my computer, but if you email me I'll send you some sample of what this program can do!!

I have always loved the Valkyrie it is my favorite Old Timer and a true builder's design. You airplane came out fantastic, a lot of bragging rights comes with this type of project.

Thanks Fly.
This is also why I said in the Bonanza build that after building one of these and then doing another one, I think I should know how to build... and that's NOT bragging, it is just a knowing accomplishment that not very many in the hobby have. I don't think it's because they "can't", I think it's more a case of "stage fright" when they see the plans and the amount of work involved.
There is a friend here in SA building a Hostetler 421 and he's been having the same issues as I have had on the Bonanza.

I don't supose you have an electronic copy of you 90% plans? I think the scale is perfect! The Bonanza will be a breeze after building two of these, just beautiful!

Unfortunately I only have the 118" plan in soft copy Fly, 90% is 2.7m as apposed to 3m. I can try scan them at our drawing office when I get a chance, you'll have to PM me your email address and I'll send them once they done. Building the Bonnie is STILL a headache but more so from the kit cutters side, although I still don't particularly like Hostetler's plans as they are not cross referenced to each other (wing to fuselage etc.)

Hosteler definitely has his little quirks but in his defense I haven't seen a prefect plan yet including my own. In many ways the designers like Wendel are victims of their own success, they get to the point the use the same techniques on every design. A given technique work on the previous plans so why deviate, don't fix what isn't broken. You see that a lot in the wing spars, if a design has a big success with a "D" box system on his wing every design will have a "D" box. If his big success uses a shaped plywood spar with a slot system for the ribs each design following will have the same.

Hey Fly

Yeah, I also have yet to find the perfect plan, in my opinion there is ALWAYS room for improvement. I think with Wendel's designs comes the problem that non are "tested" before going to "market" and the kit cutters. There also doesn't seem to be any follow up with kit cutters in order to resolve issues between their cutting and plan. One probably finds his builds would be better if there were "review" models of ALL his designs. Tomb said I should look at some of the other Hostetler builds, I did and it does NOT help with the issues around the Bonnie build. By the way, does Wendel build himself or does he just design???

I suspect he just designs or someone else does under his name. I noticed on his new design for this year they list the man who actually built the prototype and the a different guy for paint. Wendell himself would have to be at least in his mid to late 80s.The plans website have an indication of being a family run cottage industry.

Well, little sister took top honour's at the annual Buddy Wright memorial yesterday, lets hope big sister will do the same at future events in the calendar.

Congratulations! A well deserved honor!

Thanks Fly, I'm hoping big sister will be able to do the same next year;)

If it comes out looking like Little Sis it's a shoe in!

Should finally be getting my 3mm sq hard wood strips this weekend guys, then I can carry on with this baby;) In the mean time I've been busy with my Ben Buckle Super 60 and my Mini Super, both to maiden this weekend. Will post pics tomorrow;)

That is good news Brendon!

Yip, out of the five build threads I've got going here in SA, the Valkyrie is the one that the guys are all watching in great anticipation;)

Here's what's been keeping me busy in the meantime though...

You missed the Bonanza.

[QUOTE=FlyerInOKC;12352931]You missed the Bonanza.[/QUO

Well yes Mike, I've been busy on the Bonnie, the Valkyrie, the Cub/L4 conversion build, the three Mini Super's (one mine and two customer's) and the big Super + a vintage control line FAI speed job called The Pink Lady...I think that was all:confused::confused::rolleyes:...

Well as long as you have enough to keep you out of trouble and off the streets and out of the bars! ;)

Out of trouble, yes;)...off the streets, not so much as I regularly go off to my local hobby shop:p...out of bars, NO...I have a bar at home right next to my workshop:p:cool:

Yes, but you don't have to worry about the class of patron at that bar!

Oops, she did it again...Little sister took the "best scratch built" out of 111+ aircraft at the annual Old Timer Memorial yesterday:p;):cool:...I was asked to leave her at home next meeting:rolleyes:...

The two Super's didn't fly as neither of the diesels would run:confused:...gave them to a mate to sort out as he's a big diesel boffin.

Well I'm back on this build. Got home after work and cleaned up the workshop after the four Super builds, did some rearranging of aeries in the pigeon holes to fit everything in and cleared up the work benches.

My hardwood strips are finally here so I can start on the fuselage and also start assembling the wing as soon as I've cut all the sheet ribs and leading edges.
I did start cutting the templates for the sheet ribs and leading edges only to find there is a small problem...when I placed the 1st rib template over the number 5 rib (my first four ribs are sheet whereas the plan shows first three ribs) and again number 5 rib over the 1st template, there is no allowance for the 1/16 top and bottom centre sheeting...so before I cut the ribs I'll just cut off 1/16 top and bottom of the templates...the tip I'll worry about when I get there, but before starting to assemble the tip area.

Well again I did a bit of prioritising on a quiet day at work yesterday...I cut the spar holes in the templates.
Then I got home and started messing around with the plans and discovered that I have the wrong set of them:confused:...one wing bigger than the other and the ribs that I've built are also bigger than the bigger wing plan:confused::confused::confused:...don't ask, I DON'T know...end of the day I will now have a full size Valkyrie instead of a 90% one as my ribs come out to 1mm bigger than 100% (that's sanding allowance) and that's a GOOD thing:p:cool:
Mike, if you reading this then take note, make sure you print the plans correctly, only thing I can think of is that the rib template sheet was not printed to the correct size as I know I checked two wing halves together to get an idea of size so I could easily have mixed my plans up and have the correct 90% ones with all my other plans, I didn't however check the template sheet against the plans to make sure of rib sizes.
The difference in size is about 50mm on overall cord and around 200mm on half span.

Got any idea how that happened?