New Balsa USA Smoothie XL Build
 

Hello all,
I have been building Warbirds for over 50 years. I decide I needed a break from Heavy Metal with retracts. The new rendition of Balsa USA's Smoothie caught my eye and I was hooked. Bought the kit from a fellow RCU member and then bought all the accessories. It will be powered by a Syssa 30 cc gas engine. has 5 in Dave Brown P 51 spinner. This plane is large and should be a nice flyer. 88 3/4 in. span , two piece wing.
Stay tuned and feel free to add suggestions and comments.
Thanks,
Fred Menna Check6http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188092http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188093http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188094http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188094http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188095http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188095

There seems to be quite a bit of "BUZZ" on this plane.
Looking forward to seeing your build.
Will you be using cloth to cover it?

Yes, I will be covering it with solartex fabric. I'm pretty much doing a stock build.
Thanks,
Fred

With a 32oz tank you'll be able to fuel it at home, take it to the field, and fly all day. Haha...

There are a lot of sub assemblies that have to be laminated before construction begins. Wing joiner is made of 4 separate pieces of plywood. all the main spars are made of two pieces of hardwood laminated together. Sohttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188365me structural ribs are laminated. It makes for some strong light pieces

Spars are pinned to the plans and ribs are being installedhttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188371

Install all the ribs, they are all identical and have allignment tabs on the bottom. You then install top spar, leading and trailing edge sheeting shear webbing, wing tip, and cap strips for the wing. You are then able to remove the wing and finish the bottom. Wing is very light and strong.http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188372http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188373http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188374http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188375

Hang in there guys. I'm taking a slight break from the Smoothie build to finish fiberglassing my 1/5 th scale Corsair. 86 in. span. I need the workbench to lay out the cloth. Will be back soon.
Thanks,
Fredhttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188382http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188382http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188383http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188384http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188384

OK guys, I have the Corsair all glassed, just need a second fill coat and prime and paint. This will be done in the spring when the weather is better.
Back to the Smoothie!!http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188645http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188646http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188647http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188647

Right panel has been framed up exactly like the left one. The leading and trailing edge sheeting as well as the cap strips need to be installed on the bottom of the winghttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188785

The left wing is complete except for servo trays and hinging of the flaps and ailerons. It's a good size wing and fits together nicely with the wing joiner.http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188786http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188787http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188788http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188789http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188790http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188790

Got any pictures of the wing joiner set up?
I had heard it builds as a two piece wing.
But from what I have seen in your pictures it looks as if it finishes out as a one piece wing?

Here you go. Two piece wing. I suppose if you wanted to you could glue it together.http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188813http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188814http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188815http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188816http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188817http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188818

Nice work! I'm a little confused though, what holds the two wing halves together and stops them from separating in flight?

Each wing half has a 1/4" tab. Once the two halves are joined together with a 1/4" ply joiner (temporarily or permanently) they key into a 1/2" wide slot in a fuselage bulkhead, you can see all this in the images above but it's a different way to do things and I was initially confused until I got the kit (I'm at the same point in the build). Two conventional wing bolts at the trailing edge then hold the assembly together for flight. This isn't a 3D plane so this seems to be a perfectly reasonable and innovative wing attachment scheme.

Thanks, The tabs at the leading edge fit into a slot on the fuse bulkhead at the leading edge and then two wing bolts in the back lock everything in. Exactly like having a one piece wing with dowels in the front and hold down bolts in the back. Hope this helps.

Hi Pappy 35. I didn't see your reply, before I answered. I guess great minds think alike. LOL.
Thanks,
Fred

Thanks for the explanation Pappy and Check6, yes it makes sense to me now. Not having seen the plans before I was wondering how this was accomplished.

Thanks for doing the construction thread. Years ago I build at least 3 Smoothies with K&B 40 engines, they were great flying planes. I built one the look like a P-51 and another a P-40. I'll be following your build. Maybe you should join the Balsa USA Brotherhood on this site.

Fair Winds & Happy Happy Flyin'
Rich

Hi Rich, sounds good sign me up.
Thanks,
Fred

I'll sign you up Fred, just go over to the Balsa USA Brotherhood thread and check it out.

Fair Winds & Happy Flyin'
Rich

OK guys, I have the left wing panel construction complete. Servo rails are installed and servos temp mounted. flaps and ailerons are dry hinged. Starting on the right panel Servos are mounted on the bottom of the wing out in the openhttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188901http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188902http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188903http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188903http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188904

Hi, I'm signed in and watching. Have been interested in this plane but haven't pulled the trigger yet.
Thanks for presenting the build.
Art

Hi Art,
Go for it. This is a great kit you will enjoy it. I just finished both wing panels. Servos installed and ail and flaps hinged. Starting on the stab,elevators and fin and rudder. I have to laminate thhttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188912http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188913http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2188914e leading and trailing edges of all the tail surfaces. Stay tuned.
Thanks,
Fred

Fred,
She is looking good. Are the flaps optional so that you could have a long aileron? I don't need the flaps.