raptureboy

That is the chart CF I use, and Iprinted it out. It works realy well and my end points only need to be adjusted a little bit so your resolution stay close to it's upper limits. Electronic adjustment is no substitute for proper mechanicalset up. I rely on my radio settings only as a fine tuning.

VincentJ

Happy 4th of July to all! [8D]

All of the formers are now positioned and I'm currently in the process of cutting out 1/4" balsa stringers that will give the graceful contour to the turtle deck area.

The throttle servo placement has been rectified, you can see where I placed it. It out of the way, up top and a nice straight shot to the throttle arm on the engine. I did remove the carb from my DLE and rotate it 180 degrees to get the throttle arm on the right side of the fuse.

The area on the top turtle deck is capped with lite-ply so I reinforced the area where the servo is placed with some 1/8" birch ply. It is now rock solid! The servo is held in place with 2-56 blind nuts and cap head bolts. I prefer using this method of servo attachment over screws.

VincentJ

Stringers have been fit and trimmed, now it's time for some sheeting...

acerc

Very nice placement of the servo Vincent. I like using that space as well. Most of these airframes don't have enough room and there some sit's hidden, just begging for use.

VincentJ

Thanks Robert!

Sheeted the front of the fuse as shown. Six pieces in total were needed to cover the top using 3/32" sheeting . I elected not to use the templates given in the manual, end result was the same. Will be focusing on framing up the rear turtle deck next...

Cub Flyer Fresno

That looks really clean, VJ!  (as usual )

VincentJ

Thanks David, at least now it doesn't look like I'm building a coffin!

ovationdave

My Feedback: (16)

Nice sheeting job (as expected). Fuse is coming together nicely for a summer build! (that is.....quickly!)

Dave

VincentJ

Thanks Dave. It partly due to the fact that it's so hot and muggy outside and it's sooo cool in my basement. The other reason is that this is a very enjoyable low stress build. I'm having a lot of fun!

In preparation to constructing the rear turtle deck, I placed all of the formers (F7 - F10) on the plans and marked all of the locations of the top stringers to the formers. You can see how I transferred these marks using angle blocks. After this was done it was a matter of gluing each former in their correct position as shown in the plans.

acerc

Man! You one slick Willy!!. Look's great, keep on relaxing....

VincentJ

Don't know if anybody else that has built this plane has run into this but, as I was framing out the rear stringers that make-up the turtle deck, I noticed that the top (center) stringer was a different size from the rest. Having just read the instructions before hand I clearly remember that all of the stringers to be 1/8"x1/4". I double checked the cross sectional drawing on the plans and it does indeed show them all to be the same.

Sometimes accidental offence is a good thing, I laminated two 3/32"X1/4" balsa strips and used it for the center stringer. The extra "beef" will be good for those that use the kung fu death grip when their holding your plane for you when starting!

Cub Flyer Fresno

Hmmm... I'm a bit curious as to how the sheeting goes on the turtle deck.  At the cockpit it goes in between the stringers, but what happens on the aft former's?

WacoNut

David,
No sheeting aft of the cockpits. There are some scalloped balsa pieces that go on the back side of the former behind the aft cockpit then it get covered with fabric.
Later!!
Anthony

Cub Flyer Fresno

Ah, that makes sense now.  Thanks Anthony.

VincentJ

And that's exactly what I'm working on at the moment. Wasn't able to use the supplied pieces because they were hard and inflexible like a corn chip and I didn't like how they fit. Making my own, larger but they are tricky to get to fit right...

ovationdave

My Feedback: (16)

So we finally find a weakness with VJ's modeling prowess ......... corn chips!

LOL

Dave

VincentJ

LOL- Dave, chips are good to eat but not to build with...

All the stringers and scallops on the rear turtle deck have been glued into position. As I said earlier I chose not to use the scallops that were supplied in the kit but opted to make my own. The last photo shows the original size of the "stock" scallop as compared to what I made.

In the 5th photo you can see a small piece of triangle stock that I added to the base of the first former (directly behind the cockpit) to anchor the former well into the structure. This was not called for in the plans but I felt was some cheap insurance for its longevity.

All in all I think it came out ok, I will be adding some epoxy fillets to really hold the rear stringers to the formers.

WacoNut

Looks Good VJ,

Off to work[:@]
Anthony

VincentJ

Thanks Anthony, How's the back been?

hrrcflyer

Hey VJ,

Your Spacewalker is coming along very nicely, but quickly. I thought model building was supposed to be relaxing, but at the rate you build, how do you relax................... Have you picked your color scheme yet? At the rate you're going, you're going to need it before you know it.................

Keep up the great work. Take care,
David

ovationdave

My Feedback: (16)

Looks Great VJ, the scallops came out very nice. I noticed when looking over the plans for this plane the stringers just kind of come to an end out over the rear, and I see yours reflect that as well, just seems a bit odd to me how they hang out there, I will be curious to know what its like to cover that area when the time comes.

Dave

raptureboy

Looking good as always. I find it interesting that they did not notch the other formers for the stringers, it would be much stronger. Any thought on that maiden flight yet? I plan on being up your way in Aug visiting my family perhaps I might even bring a plane. Idumped my Ryan on it 's back when it nosed overlast week landing,and broke the vertical stab I't repairable but I just don't need any more work right now trying to finish 2 other planes.

VincentJ

Cliff give me a shout when you travel this way. You can check out my Ryan and Spacewalker for yourself. That would be great!

David (hrrcflyer), this kit is a lot like reading a good book that you just can't put down. I haven't picked out a color scheme yet, guess I should start thinking about it. I did promise myself that I'm not going to go crazy on this one as this plane is going to get a lot of flying time.

Dave, the tail section is odd as it transitions, I'll be sure to take a lot of pics when the time comes...

acerc

Good call on the scallops Vincent, they look much better and gives the covering a bit more meat.

WacoNut

Hi VJ,
The back is starting to wear me down a bit. I don't do much anymore even when I feel good as I know my back will start hurting. I went to our club meeting Thursday evening and put 5 flights on my Contender while I was there and by the time I got home the pain was unbearable. I have an appointment Friday with a specialist. I am open for whatever they want to do to fix my back at this point. I am now doing a lot of walking with a cane. I have to say this sucks!!!

I will wait until you are ready to start putting fabric on then I will pull my kit out
Later!!
Anthony