Great Planes Easy Sport .40 Kit Build
08-06-2006, 11:52 PM
#1
Great Planes Easy Sport .40 Kit Build
Kit prep:
First, I printed off the manual off the Great Planes website. Availible [[link=http://www.greatplanes.com/manuals/gpma0150-0152-manual.pdf]Here[/link].
I cleaned off my workbench. - Trust me, you should have seen it before the photo.
Then I labled each die cut piece and carefully punched them out. The die cutting quality is very nice.
Here I've sorted all the pieces and done an inventory check.
Here is where I've measured all of the sticks and written the size on one end. This saves a lot of confusion later on.
The instructions have you start on the tail section first. The tail is constructed out of 4 each 5/16x3/4 and 5/16x5/8 and a machined stabilizer center section.
Next I've covered the plans for the tail section with wax paper.
First, I printed off the manual off the Great Planes website. Availible [[link=http://www.greatplanes.com/manuals/gpma0150-0152-manual.pdf]Here[/link].
I cleaned off my workbench. - Trust me, you should have seen it before the photo.
Then I labled each die cut piece and carefully punched them out. The die cutting quality is very nice.
Here I've sorted all the pieces and done an inventory check.
Here is where I've measured all of the sticks and written the size on one end. This saves a lot of confusion later on.
The instructions have you start on the tail section first. The tail is constructed out of 4 each 5/16x3/4 and 5/16x5/8 and a machined stabilizer center section.
Next I've covered the plans for the tail section with wax paper.
08-07-2006, 12:43 AM
#2
RE: Great Planes Easy Sport .40 Kit Build
I built/flew this plane....built like a brick *****house...strong to say the least. Lot of gluing parts together to make the fuse sides, etc.
Overall a VERY GOOD FLYING PLANE!!!! I would build another one anytime....enjoy!
Overall a VERY GOOD FLYING PLANE!!!! I would build another one anytime....enjoy!
08-07-2006, 07:31 AM
#3
RE: Great Planes Easy Sport .40 Kit Build
I've started cutting the 3/4" wide pieces first using a fine tooth razor saw and a miter box.
When making two identical parts like elevator halves, I cut one piece per plan, then pin the piece to some stock and cut the next one with a razor saw. This keeps you from having to measure parts twice and it keeps the pieces the same size.
When making two identical parts like elevator halves, I cut one piece per plan, then pin the piece to some stock and cut the next one with a razor saw. This keeps you from having to measure parts twice and it keeps the pieces the same size.
08-07-2006, 08:17 AM
#4
RE: Great Planes Easy Sport .40 Kit Build
OK, now all the pieces are cut and fitted. It's time to take all the pins out and glue it together. I'm using Sig Bond Alphatic resin (wood glue). It would have been real easy to just go over all the joints with some thin CA. But since this will need some sanding and shaping, I've used the Sig Bond CA does not sand easily and will cause high and low spots on the finished surface. I don't use CA on any piece that will be part of the exterior of the plane. Alphatic resin sands easily and drys fast.
Here I've run small beads of glue along the edges.
08-07-2006, 08:22 AM
#5
RE: Great Planes Easy Sport .40 Kit Build
Here is the tail assembly all glued together. I let it dry for about 30 min before I removed it from the board.
Once dry, I pulled all the T pins and sanded the top side smooth with some 240 grit and a sanding block. Flip it over and do the same to the other side.
I like to make sure the elevator halves are idendtical so I've matched them up and sanded them to be exactly the same.
Once dry, I pulled all the T pins and sanded the top side smooth with some 240 grit and a sanding block. Flip it over and do the same to the other side.
I like to make sure the elevator halves are idendtical so I've matched them up and sanded them to be exactly the same.
08-07-2006, 08:32 AM
#6
RE: Great Planes Easy Sport .40 Kit Build
Next it's time to shape the tips to the plan. I've drawn rough extension of the shape on the plan and used a ruler to rough out the shape on the tips.
I used my razor saw to trim the tips along the lines I drew.
Next is beveling the leading edges of the moving control surfaces and rounding the remaining edges, except for the trailing edge of the stabilizer and fin.
I used my center line tool to scribe center lines on all leading and trailing edges.
80 grit followed by 240 grit makes quick work of beveling and rounding the edges.
Finally its time to cut the slots for the hinges and drill the holes in the elevators for the joiner wire.
I used the Great Planes Slot Machine to cut the hinge slots.
I don't know how I ever cut hinge slots without this tool. A must buy for any kit builder!
After a final sanding of the entire tail assmbly, it's time to move on to the wing.
I used my razor saw to trim the tips along the lines I drew.
Next is beveling the leading edges of the moving control surfaces and rounding the remaining edges, except for the trailing edge of the stabilizer and fin.
I used my center line tool to scribe center lines on all leading and trailing edges.
80 grit followed by 240 grit makes quick work of beveling and rounding the edges.
Finally its time to cut the slots for the hinges and drill the holes in the elevators for the joiner wire.
I used the Great Planes Slot Machine to cut the hinge slots.
I don't know how I ever cut hinge slots without this tool. A must buy for any kit builder!
After a final sanding of the entire tail assmbly, it's time to move on to the wing.
08-07-2006, 08:43 AM
#7
RE: Great Planes Easy Sport .40 Kit Build
Looks like it's coming along nicely.
Here's a tip. Since you have already punched out all of the Die-Cut parts, stick them in a big ZipLock bag and keep it closed when not in use - You'd be amazed how easily those parts can grow legs and walk away!
And I would suggest that in the future, you DON'T punch them all out. They can be much easier to find when they are still in the frames since GP gives you a diagram of what all of the frames look like.
Here's a tip. Since you have already punched out all of the Die-Cut parts, stick them in a big ZipLock bag and keep it closed when not in use - You'd be amazed how easily those parts can grow legs and walk away!
And I would suggest that in the future, you DON'T punch them all out. They can be much easier to find when they are still in the frames since GP gives you a diagram of what all of the frames look like.
08-07-2006, 09:03 AM
#8
RE: Great Planes Easy Sport .40 Kit Build
Thanks for the tips Mike.
I've got quite a few kits under my belt and I always find that I learn something new each time. I guess that's why I started this thread, hoping that people will chime in and offer a tip or trick that I haven't seen.
I prefer to punch out all the die cut (or laser cut) pieces first. When I start construction, I like to have all the pieces ready- not punch, sand then assemble. - Just my preference.
I do have the parts separated in the kit box. I have used the Zip Lock method, in fact come to think about it, I have a Top Flite Bearcat kit that is in progress and the pieces are bagged.
I've got quite a few kits under my belt and I always find that I learn something new each time. I guess that's why I started this thread, hoping that people will chime in and offer a tip or trick that I haven't seen.
I prefer to punch out all the die cut (or laser cut) pieces first. When I start construction, I like to have all the pieces ready- not punch, sand then assemble. - Just my preference.
I do have the parts separated in the kit box. I have used the Zip Lock method, in fact come to think about it, I have a Top Flite Bearcat kit that is in progress and the pieces are bagged.
08-10-2006, 11:26 PM
#13
RE: Great Planes Easy Sport .40 Kit Build
The instructions say the TE sheet should over hang the notched TE but I found the opposite to be true. I don't think this will matter as the whole trailing edge will be sanded flush once the wing is complete. Here you can see that the parts fit is very nice.
08-10-2006, 11:37 PM
#17
RE: Great Planes Easy Sport .40 Kit Build
I also deviated from the instructions when it came to the front spars. The instructions tell you to install the spar and glue with thin CA while upright. I fliped the wing panel over and glued while adding light pressure to the wing panel. I wanted to be sure that the spar was seated before glueing.
08-12-2006, 05:14 PM
#24
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RE: Great Planes Easy Sport .40 Kit Build
Nice job on the build. You're going to like this plane. I built 2 and assembled 1 ARF version. All flew great with the OS-46 2-stroke. The kit is especially durable and will do all the maneuvers. One of these days I will build another.
DaveB
DaveB
08-14-2006, 09:45 AM
#25
RE: Great Planes Easy Sport .40 Kit Build
I used the tape hinge method for glueing the sheets together. I used thin CA since the sheeted portion of the wing will be hiden within the fuse.
I used med CA to attach it to the wing center section. The pre-cut widths of the center sheeting fit perfectly. How did that happen???
Here's the top - sheeted. Needs some sanding yet.
I used med CA to attach it to the wing center section. The pre-cut widths of the center sheeting fit perfectly. How did that happen???
Here's the top - sheeted. Needs some sanding yet.