Sig Morrisey Bravo Build
10-13-2017, 09:47 AM
#1028
Hi Vince, I have been without my computer for a month, it just about drove me nuts, never really realized how much it meant to me.
Your plane is coming along nicely, you must be feeling pretty good about now. Nice bright shop you have now, quality lighting makes a big difference, can't beat the day light quality you can get from them LED's
That canopy glue does not stick well to painted surfaces unless its scuffed up real well. When film covering is used they recommend removing a small strip of it where glue is going to be applied, just a heads up and most assembly manuals will say to do that also, Your screws will make the difference, canopy looks very nice on there.
Will be a beauty when you get the painted wing on it.
Leroy
Your plane is coming along nicely, you must be feeling pretty good about now. Nice bright shop you have now, quality lighting makes a big difference, can't beat the day light quality you can get from them LED's
That canopy glue does not stick well to painted surfaces unless its scuffed up real well. When film covering is used they recommend removing a small strip of it where glue is going to be applied, just a heads up and most assembly manuals will say to do that also, Your screws will make the difference, canopy looks very nice on there.Will be a beauty when you get the painted wing on it.
Leroy
10-13-2017, 12:45 PM
#1029
Thread Starter
Sorry to hear about your computer Leroy, these days we are more dependent of those things more than we know! Glad that your back...
I picked up my cut vinyl graphics today. With some careful measuring they were a snap to apply. Here's a peak at how it turned out. I've included some comparison shots against the full scale version. I think its a pretty good accurate reproduction.
Photo #2- To apply the graphics, I first position the vinyl into position with a small piece of tape (which is shown on the top), then I take a larger piece of tape and apply it to the bottom of the vinyl. Once the bottom piece is applied, the smaller top piece of tape is removed and the tape on the bottom acts as a hinge and you can remove the paper backing from behind and swing it back up and apply pressure to the vinyl.
Sanding continues on the wing...
I picked up my cut vinyl graphics today. With some careful measuring they were a snap to apply. Here's a peak at how it turned out. I've included some comparison shots against the full scale version. I think its a pretty good accurate reproduction.
Photo #2- To apply the graphics, I first position the vinyl into position with a small piece of tape (which is shown on the top), then I take a larger piece of tape and apply it to the bottom of the vinyl. Once the bottom piece is applied, the smaller top piece of tape is removed and the tape on the bottom acts as a hinge and you can remove the paper backing from behind and swing it back up and apply pressure to the vinyl.
Sanding continues on the wing...
Last edited by VincentJ; 10-15-2017 at 02:48 AM.
10-19-2017, 07:27 AM
#1033
Thread Starter
My wing has been sanded, primed and filled several times now, all 86" of it! 
Each time bringing it closer to my level of satisfaction. Because the wing is so large I don't want to look down the surface of this wing after it's painted and see any waviness or imperfections. I probably have a good twenty hours into prepping this wing, but I'm determined that it will look nice once finished. Tomorrow I will start on the few panel lines that this wing has, then off to the rivet factory...
Each time bringing it closer to my level of satisfaction. Because the wing is so large I don't want to look down the surface of this wing after it's painted and see any waviness or imperfections. I probably have a good twenty hours into prepping this wing, but I'm determined that it will look nice once finished. Tomorrow I will start on the few panel lines that this wing has, then off to the rivet factory...
Last edited by VincentJ; 10-19-2017 at 07:30 AM.
10-20-2017, 12:24 PM
#1037
Tom has that right Vince, your whole job reflects a work of art and yes all those small details put it in a class of it's own. Graphics look good from here, nice job on them. With all the time you have in your build, how do you feel about building scale at this point.
Looking forward to seeing the work yet to be done on the wing, sounds like your going all out. I really enjoy watching some one else do the work. This might just be your next hanger queen for awhile. I don't mind looking at my Super Cub but the truth is seeing it in the air is the final reward for all the work but I'm in no hurry, everything has a right time.
Leroy
Looking forward to seeing the work yet to be done on the wing, sounds like your going all out. I really enjoy watching some one else do the work. This might just be your next hanger queen for awhile. I don't mind looking at my Super Cub but the truth is seeing it in the air is the final reward for all the work but I'm in no hurry, everything has a right time.
Leroy
10-20-2017, 01:19 PM
#1038
Thread Starter
Thanks Tom, I'm glad you think so. I've always admired your planes and the threads that you have created...
Thank you Leroy. I really enjoy scale building, it adds another layer to the build that I really enjoy. However in order to build a good scale model you need good documentation, or even better, a full scale model to actually see. Difficulties in documentation for me was compounded by the fact that only one full scale Bravo was ever made,and that it has been disassembled so it can't be seen anymore. Add to that there are very few pictures of this plane! I did what I could with what was available.
I think I remember (it may have been Dave Platt) a good quote that pretty much sums it all up, "You never finish a scale model, you just stop working on it".
Hmm, hangar queen...I think of it more as a museum! LOL
Thank you Leroy. I really enjoy scale building, it adds another layer to the build that I really enjoy. However in order to build a good scale model you need good documentation, or even better, a full scale model to actually see. Difficulties in documentation for me was compounded by the fact that only one full scale Bravo was ever made,and that it has been disassembled so it can't be seen anymore. Add to that there are very few pictures of this plane! I did what I could with what was available.
I think I remember (it may have been Dave Platt) a good quote that pretty much sums it all up, "You never finish a scale model, you just stop working on it".
Hmm, hangar queen...I think of it more as a museum! LOL
Last edited by VincentJ; 10-21-2017 at 02:44 AM.
10-21-2017, 11:33 AM
#1039
Thread Starter
With the sanding of the wing completed, I thought I'd show you how I fabricate overlapped panel lines.
Photo #1 There are many ways that one can simulate panel lines, but they all start off with taping. I use vinyl tape for nice crisp lines. Since the vinyl tape that I'm using is only 1/4" wide I used some painters tape to widen it off a bit.
Photo #2-3 With the tape down, apply glazing/spot putty using a plastic spreader or an old credit card, even playing cards will do. (Make sure you apply the putty to the right side of the tape or you'll have the lapped panel line in the wrong direction!) You can see why the yellow tape was added. It keeps the excess putty off of the wing. I prefer to use putty instead of spray paint as my filler. I'm in no hurry to remove the tape at this point. I'll let the putty fully dry and then use 220 grit sand paper and sand the excess off. The tape will act as a gauge to give me the thickness that I'm looking for. Just sand right down to the top of the tape, then after the tape is removed it will reveal a nice crisp even thickness panel line...well that's the plan anyway!
Photo #1 There are many ways that one can simulate panel lines, but they all start off with taping. I use vinyl tape for nice crisp lines. Since the vinyl tape that I'm using is only 1/4" wide I used some painters tape to widen it off a bit.
Photo #2-3 With the tape down, apply glazing/spot putty using a plastic spreader or an old credit card, even playing cards will do. (Make sure you apply the putty to the right side of the tape or you'll have the lapped panel line in the wrong direction!) You can see why the yellow tape was added. It keeps the excess putty off of the wing. I prefer to use putty instead of spray paint as my filler. I'm in no hurry to remove the tape at this point. I'll let the putty fully dry and then use 220 grit sand paper and sand the excess off. The tape will act as a gauge to give me the thickness that I'm looking for. Just sand right down to the top of the tape, then after the tape is removed it will reveal a nice crisp even thickness panel line...well that's the plan anyway!
Last edited by VincentJ; 10-24-2017 at 09:49 AM.
10-22-2017, 07:18 AM
#1041
Thread Starter
Now watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!
Here's what it looks like after I sanded first with 220 then with 400 grit paper. The tape has done its job, I have the uniform depth that I was looking for. Next, I'll take a rattle can with sandable primer and spray on a light coat, then sand with 400 grit again sanding to the top of the tape. Once completed, the tape can be removed revealing the lapped panel joint...
Here's what it looks like after I sanded first with 220 then with 400 grit paper. The tape has done its job, I have the uniform depth that I was looking for. Next, I'll take a rattle can with sandable primer and spray on a light coat, then sand with 400 grit again sanding to the top of the tape. Once completed, the tape can be removed revealing the lapped panel joint...
Last edited by VincentJ; 10-22-2017 at 11:12 AM.
10-22-2017, 07:55 PM
#1042
Nice work with the panel line Vincent, it does bring up a question, have you balanced it yet, ?. Being a one piece wing it's easy to balance by itself rather than on the plane with a simple wedge cut on a board and the inverted wing sat on it allows for a easy way to balance it with needed weight directly on wing tip as needed. Worked great on my mustangs 84" wing. Actually you can do it by setting bottom of wing down on your table top and rock it back and forth and accomplish the same thing. You can weigh the ailerons or put them on the wing to get it perfect. Any other work isn't going to make any difference to worry about, like gear and paint.
Just ideas that might help others too.
Leroy
Just ideas that might help others too.
Leroy
10-23-2017, 03:21 AM
#1043
Thread Starter
No I haven't balanced the wing laterally yet Leroy, but I will. With fiberglass wing tips, it will be very easy to conceal any weight. I plan on doing it very soon! Thanks for the reminder...I'll be sure to post pics when the time comes. Wait until you see how I balance the plane on its CG (hint new toy) !!!
Last edited by VincentJ; 10-23-2017 at 05:20 AM.
10-23-2017, 08:38 AM
#1044
"Oh yeah" I like new toys, this one I may be able to use seeing that my cub isn't balanced yet and all together it's a big bulky, some what heavy hand full, you have some interest here.
I spent some time looking through the EAA planes and found out your right, there is very little info and pictures of the Bravo. I did find an air shot of it, you probably have it. It does resemble a Cherokee in the fuselage, Bill the builder must have had an aircraft background to build that beauty. You have a very rare plane there, that's cool.
Leroy
I spent some time looking through the EAA planes and found out your right, there is very little info and pictures of the Bravo. I did find an air shot of it, you probably have it. It does resemble a Cherokee in the fuselage, Bill the builder must have had an aircraft background to build that beauty. You have a very rare plane there, that's cool.
Leroy
10-28-2017, 10:13 AM
#1045
Thread Starter
I spent hours this morning pouring over any and all photographs that I have showing any rivet detail of the wing. I don't know why I care so much, but I do. It may not be perfect, but I'm giving it the old college try for it to be a good facsimile of what it should look like.
So the riveting process begins, just shoot me now...
So the riveting process begins, just shoot me now...
Last edited by VincentJ; 10-29-2017 at 12:58 AM.
10-29-2017, 08:10 AM
#1047
Thread Starter
I would love to have had the opportunity to see the full scale Bravo to confirm that this pattern is authentic...I think though I'm pretty close!
Last edited by VincentJ; 10-29-2017 at 10:16 AM.