Sig Morrisey Bravo Build
03-01-2017, 08:16 AM
#454
Looks like the stage is set! I like your whiteboard, I may have to find a way to put one up in my small space. I have notes and calculations for builds scattered on loose pages and in notebooks, it'd be handy to have them in full view.
03-01-2017, 08:44 AM
#455
Thread Starter
Were you part of that group Tom? Some nice looking Bravos...
Yup getting close. I chose to put up the white board for several reasons Tim, one is as you said jot down ideas and have lists handy for things that I need to buy. Second was the most important though, during all of my builds I have always had the need to look at plans other than what's on the build board. I thought it would be nice to have a magnetic white board large enough for me to view my plans without taking up valuable space in a small workshop. Couple of magnets and voila!
Yup getting close. I chose to put up the white board for several reasons Tim, one is as you said jot down ideas and have lists handy for things that I need to buy. Second was the most important though, during all of my builds I have always had the need to look at plans other than what's on the build board. I thought it would be nice to have a magnetic white board large enough for me to view my plans without taking up valuable space in a small workshop. Couple of magnets and voila!
03-01-2017, 08:59 AM
#456
03-02-2017, 02:33 PM
#459
Thread Starter
LOL, you're right Tom!
I've been off this week (school break) so I've been spending about five hours each day setting up the shop. Today however, was the first day that I didn't have to unpack boxes or put things away because I am pretty much done! Sure I still have things to do that's on my punch list, but I'll get to them all in good time.
Today I made a trip to the lumberyard and picked up a sheet of 5/8" sheet rock for the top of my build table. With that out of the way I got right to the task at hand...my Bravo. I'm afraid I wasn't very productive as I had to spend quite a bit of time getting myself back into what my train of thought was before I put the Bravo away for two years! My main goal was to get the firewall mounted to the fuselage's main frame. (You may want to do what I did by re-reading post #233 on page 10.) So before I got out the epoxy, I decided to spend time going over the measurements that would ensure that the DA-50 would be located in its proper location. Re-checking against the plans paid off, as I found a bit of discrepancy on the top of the firewall, 1/8" to be exact. My error is and I quote; "Since the top of the firewall is in contact with the fiberglass cowl..." I didn't subtract the thickness of the 1/8" balsa sheeting when I made the firewall. So I feel pretty confident that after removing 1/8" at 5 degrees, from the top of the firewall, that everything will be as it should. I didn't take any photos tonight, but I will tomorrow to show what I did.
I've been off this week (school break) so I've been spending about five hours each day setting up the shop. Today however, was the first day that I didn't have to unpack boxes or put things away because I am pretty much done! Sure I still have things to do that's on my punch list, but I'll get to them all in good time.
Today I made a trip to the lumberyard and picked up a sheet of 5/8" sheet rock for the top of my build table. With that out of the way I got right to the task at hand...my Bravo. I'm afraid I wasn't very productive as I had to spend quite a bit of time getting myself back into what my train of thought was before I put the Bravo away for two years! My main goal was to get the firewall mounted to the fuselage's main frame. (You may want to do what I did by re-reading post #233 on page 10.) So before I got out the epoxy, I decided to spend time going over the measurements that would ensure that the DA-50 would be located in its proper location. Re-checking against the plans paid off, as I found a bit of discrepancy on the top of the firewall, 1/8" to be exact. My error is and I quote; "Since the top of the firewall is in contact with the fiberglass cowl..." I didn't subtract the thickness of the 1/8" balsa sheeting when I made the firewall. So I feel pretty confident that after removing 1/8" at 5 degrees, from the top of the firewall, that everything will be as it should. I didn't take any photos tonight, but I will tomorrow to show what I did.
Last edited by VincentJ; 03-03-2017 at 05:57 AM.
03-03-2017, 12:04 PM
#460
Thread Starter
Photo #1 shows the revised location of the firewall highlighted. The pencil points to the firewall going all the way to the cowl.
Photo #2 shows the 1/8" balsa sheeting.
So I don't mean to say that the plans are wrong, because their not, the error lies with how I interpreted them just by looking at one view instead of looking at both views on different sheets of plans. (I think there's a lesson here)
By trimming the top of the firewall the thickness of the sheeting, I was able to easily correct my mistake. Photo #3 Checking the firewall for fit before I mix the epoxy. Note just above the spring clamp, the pencil line on the side of the firewall and main frame are lined up, this is the datum line for the air frame
.
Photos #4&5 show the firewall epoxied and clamped in place. (30 minute epoxy used)
Last edited by VincentJ; 03-03-2017 at 02:11 PM.
03-04-2017, 10:45 AM
#461
Thread Starter
Last edited by VincentJ; 03-05-2017 at 02:42 AM.
03-05-2017, 12:47 PM
#462
Thread Starter
Spend most of the day with my wife, but I was able to get just enough time to epoxy two 1 inch Balsa tri-stock pieces, securing the inside of the firewall to main air frame. I also sized the engine through bolt holes to 3/8" using a hand drill.
I need to start to think about how I'm going to mount my gas tank as well as placement of the throttle servo soon...
Last edited by VincentJ; 03-05-2017 at 12:52 PM.
03-06-2017, 04:02 AM
#464
Thread Starter
Would love to have her in there with me Tom, but there isn't any room for her, let alone a couch or fridge! You have a great set-up in your garage for that...I do bring in my dog and she stays with me, does that count? LOL
03-06-2017, 11:19 AM
#467
Thread Starter
That's so sweet to hear that both you and Tom have wives that would want to share the same space together while you build. Truth be told, if I had the space I'm not sure that my wife would want to stay in the workshop with me. She has "other" interests that would preclude her from being there. I can't complain though, as she does encourage me to spend time on my hobby!
03-06-2017, 02:34 PM
#468
Thread Starter
As soon as I got home from work today I decided to start building the horizontal stabilizer. Because each rib is different in length and has an airfoiled shape, the traditional way of building a stab over plans using flat balsa stock just won't work.
The leading and trailing edges of the stabilizer is framed using 5/16" Balsa square stock, which is glued up directly over the plans. Once the glue has set, the locations of the ribs, front and back, on the inside are marked on the balsa stock. Once completed, the entire frame of the stabilizer is lifted high enough off the plans so you can slide eight or nine pieces of 5/16" scrap stock underneath. It should become apparent now why the rib locations were marked. The ribs can then be fitted to their respective locations without touching the build table. The front of each rib contacts the leading edge of the stabilizer at an angle (13 degrees), each piece is sanded to ensure a nice tight fit. (The second photo shows the ribs dry fitted)
My glue of choice can be seen on the table. A tip that I can share with you to make your end grain joints stronger is to apply glue to each rib end grain piece. Don't be in a rush to set them in place. Give it 30 seconds or so, by doing this the glue will wick into the end grain, you may find that more glue will need to be re-applied before they are installed! Doing this will give you much more secure joints.
Have a great evening!
Last edited by VincentJ; 03-07-2017 at 07:25 AM.
03-06-2017, 06:50 PM
#469
Looking good, I'm surprised that the ribs don't have the little tabs to keep them up off the table like most of the kits I have built. I too am tearing it up in the shop these days. My wife goes away most of the week now to help her brothers take care of their father who has Alzheimer's and their mother who has congestive heart failure. It means I am alone most of the week except for my dog Tally too. right now I am rebuilding my TF P-40 and finishing my P-47 I started about 7 years ago.
. There is also a new P-51 Mustang ARF in the box that needs building. I've glassed both war birds and they look real nice. I will have to share with you my fast and foolproof method of glassing sometime. Only requires 1 coat of epoxy and very lightweight when done. I am getting pumped for Joe Nall this year, going with 4 other club members and we are renting a motor home and staying for 4 days. If you have never gone tthis is a bucket list event. I call it the Woodstock of RC flying. 
7 days of fun, food ,and airplanes. 
. There is also a new P-51 Mustang ARF in the box that needs building. I've glassed both war birds and they look real nice. I will have to share with you my fast and foolproof method of glassing sometime. Only requires 1 coat of epoxy and very lightweight when done. I am getting pumped for Joe Nall this year, going with 4 other club members and we are renting a motor home and staying for 4 days. If you have never gone tthis is a bucket list event. I call it the Woodstock of RC flying. 7 days of fun, food ,and airplanes.
03-07-2017, 04:12 AM
#470
Thread Starter
Sorry to hear of your mother and father-in-law medical problems Cliff. Thankfully they have your wife and their sons to look after them. Your pup is a hoot, love the picture! Glad to hear that you're back in the workshop, post some pics...I will be glassing most of this plane as well, would love to compare notes on how you do yours.
03-10-2017, 02:31 PM
#474
Thread Starter
Happy Friday everyone...thought I'd show you the progress that I've made. Work continues on the horizontal stabilizer, I've added the top and bottom Balsa spars, as well as two small Basswood blocks which will get drilled and tapped to hold the stab on the fuse. (In case you didn't know the stabilizer is removable.)
I also unpackaged my DA and bolted it on the firewall. It was a pleasure to find that all of the mounting holes were in perfect alignment with the engine standoffs. I will determine the best place for the throttle servo, and that may mean that I will have to remove and rotate the carb 180 degrees. I also found out that I will also have to drill the firewall directly in front of the carb for better air intake, as it's a bit too close. More on that later.
With the weekend here I can spend a bit more time in the workshop!