Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
Starting to get ready to finally build the TF GS P-47. The kit is ordered, I'm assembling all my gear and components, building supplies and getting my workspace set-up. Yes there are a few ongoing P-47 builds here on RCU, mine is more of a chronicle of my build, a way for me to look back at my building methods. This will be my biggest build to date and I have learned a lot in the past three years I have been building. I am going for sports scale, I want a great looking and functioning plane for every day flying. So I am planning on covering with ultracote, doing panel lines and rivets, all scale hing lines, concealed control links, and some other fun details.
My gear will be Sierra, with Robart tank and valve. DLE55 with Pitts and it is set up for smoke so I may install my sky writer in it. All Hitec servos, HS-7945SH on elevator, I'm going for one servo with the scale linkage so I hope 333oz is going to be ok! HS-5645MG on all other surfaces, Futaba S3050 on throttle, and a HS-425BB for the choke. HS-22MG for the air valve, I'm going to go with 123life bats for Rx and ignition. Not sure if I will use a Rcexl optical kill or not, limited channels on my radio. Anyways this has been on my have to build list since I started building, all the inspiration from the great build threads are so helpful.
Here is a pic of my 60 sized P-47 to show what Im going for. I havent picked a scheme yet, I will be throwing some idieas out there, and taking some too. Still haven't decided if I will do the razorback or the bubble!
Here are some schemes!
TB
There is another GS P47 build going on in this section with about 39 pages.......you might want to look that up.
here is a pic of my Giant chipmunk, all glassed and painted.
Here is a link to the hinge system Im thinkinh of doing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=yEq9JgXvYiA
TB
P47 setup
Jason
TB
TB
TB
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_10...m.htm#10900847
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_10...m.htm#10922321
I am getting a start on the tail so I found the di-cut parts for the tail, marked them and poped them out. the wood looks good. they poped out pretty eisaly and I sanded them lightly with a used foam sanding block. Tomorrow I start glueing and getting my hinges made. I have it all figured out in my head so now its time to put the glue to the wood.
TB
TB
Can't wait to see your G-10 hinges!
Jason
I may find that I can't go further until I get the fuselage built because the linkages are all closly alined and I have to make sure wthey dont clash with eachother or the tail gear. Here are some pics of my 60 size P-47 with my first attempt at a scale tail. The hing locations are off but the basic idea is still good.
TB
Today was a good day, slow going but a good day. I got the stab done, sheeted and hinged. I have the elevator sheathed and started the hinge line. I made the hing blocks for the stab out of G-10 and balsa. After fabricating them and putting them on the scale to so how heavy they where. ¼ oz each so a total of 1 oz. So I made up a hinge block out of 3/32 5 ply birch I had and weighed it. 1/8 oz so I decided to make them out of ply, saves ½ oz and on the tail that’s a lot up front. I will have some additional weight beyond the standard build anyways so I’m trying to be very strict on the weight.
I started to lay the tube for the hinge pin on the elevator. I decided to use carbon fiber instead of plastic. I have a carbon fiber rod also, but I may do a steel rod. I haven’t worked out how I;m going to secure the pin yet. I have a few ideas and I will get to that when the time comes. I did fit a dowel into the carbon fiber torque tube that will join the two elevator. I drilled a hole on each end for the the hinge pin to go in, I’m thinking of threading the pin into that, just need to figure the end at the elevator tip. The torque rod will have a horn on it. I’m thinking of making the horn out of G-10. I will do a dummy setup and test the strength. If I cant break it, then its good to go.
My torque rod is a 3/8 carbon tube with a ½ carbon tube as a sleeve. The sleeve will be in the center section and secured to the stabilizer on either side of the torque rod. Being its ½ I'm going to use Robart gear door brackets to secure the sleeve. This sleeve will also act as the third hing. It will be attached to a G-10 plate that will be bolted to the stab for installation and removal.
I put in some 1” hinge blocks, should be big enough!
For the hing tube I first centered the LE of the elevator, then pined the tube in. I surrounded the tube with balsa and glued it in.
I removed the LE on the stab and after sheeting the bottom and sanded the LE and glued in a 1” x3/8 LE, much better. Now all I have to do is trim and sand.
I cut two slots for the hinge blocks, just need to make some adjustments once I attach the elevator.
So that s where I stand. Tomorrow I will work on finishing the elevator.
I tried to get the location of the hinges as close as I could with the information I have, may not be scale but close enough (sport scale).
Got the balsa blocks glued in before I called it quits.