RE: "Eliminator 2" molds under way  
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RE: "Eliminator 2" molds under way - 2/9/2005 1:43:08 AM   
Mike James



Posts: 2438
Joined: 1/19/2002
From: Anchorage, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Starting on the prototype fabrication.

I decided to make a new mold for the vertical fin, with two small changes... First, the new one includes etched lines for the rudder position, which helps us in production, and also helps builders keep these uniform. I also added the plate you see at the dorsal fin base on this mold, so that the bottom will be completely open. This keeps us from having to trim the part after molding, to fit the molded airfoil shapes on the fuselage.

The second photo shows the fuselage molds, prepped and sprayed with white primer. I'll be vacuum bagging the first fuselage tomorrow, and whatever else I have time for.

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Mike James
RC Design and Building - www.nextcraft.com

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RE: "Eliminator 2" molds under way - 2/11/2005 1:06:34 AM   
Mike James



Posts: 2438
Joined: 1/19/2002
From: Anchorage, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Hi everybody,

The top fuselage half is done, and the bottom is in the vaccum bag now.

Bonus, from painting in the mold...
i was wondering how I'd align the gear door reinforcements (1/32" balsa) and the paint allowed me to simply make reference marks where they needed to go, then epoxy them in between the two layers of glass. Same procedure for the lite ply spinner ring.

I've also got one of the tailerons done, and some other small parts, such as separate landing gear doors, NACA inlets, etc.. Coming along nicely now, and this is a LOT more fun than sanding the plugs.

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Mike James
RC Design and Building - www.nextcraft.com

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RE: "Eliminator 2" molds under way - 2/11/2005 3:17:46 AM   
jetflyer



Posts: 1007
Joined: 12/26/2001
From: League City, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Very cool! Keep the pictures coming Mike.

JR Gautreaux

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RE: "Eliminator 2" molds under way - 2/11/2005 4:27:41 AM   
Mike James



Posts: 2438
Joined: 1/19/2002
From: Anchorage, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Thank you, JR. There should be updates almost every day now, as I'm making parts.

Hey, I see you're making progress on your "Phoenix". ... Cool.


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Mike James
RC Design and Building - www.nextcraft.com

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RE: "Eliminator 2" molds under way - 2/11/2005 1:41:44 PM   
jetflyer



Posts: 1007
Joined: 12/26/2001
From: League City, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Mike,

I had too many projects going on at the same time. So I had to prioritize them so I could at least get something completed. So first on the list is to get my Super Reaper back flying again. But in order to do that I needed to make a composite fuel tank, which I'm in the process of doing. Weather has been a bit on the cold side and since I build in my garage I am waiting for the temps to get back around 70 before I do more epoxy work.

As for the Phoenix, I have my first full size mock up almost ready. I haven't glued in any formers yet or started getting it flight ready, but as soon as my Reaper is completed it will be full speed ahead on it. We have a jet even coming up at the end of April at Austin Texas and I would like to have the Phoenix ready before then.

JR Gautreaux

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RE: "Eliminator 2" molds under way - 2/16/2005 1:56:11 AM   
Mike James



Posts: 2438
Joined: 1/19/2002
From: Anchorage, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Hi everybody,

Ta da!
Here's the first fuselage, joined and out of the mold Production fuselages will have the formers installed in the mold, and this one didn't, so I dinged it up a little getting it out of the mold. Still, it will be fine for flight testing, and it looks good. The second photo shows the (unpainted) hatches and the canopy test-fit. Everything looks good.

The last image is the prepped wing molds, and the wings are next, starting tonight. Latest updates are at http://www.nextcraft.com/j47_sportjet11.html

Closer all the time...

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Mike James
RC Design and Building - www.nextcraft.com

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RE: "Eliminator 2" molds under way - 2/16/2005 3:13:50 AM   
jetflyer



Posts: 1007
Joined: 12/26/2001
From: League City, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Mike,

Congratulations! Looks very good. I even like your Nextcraft logo embedded in the fuselage. Nice touch. Say, how did the line on the wings not get paint in them when you sprayed the molds?

JR Gautreaux

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RE: "Eliminator 2" molds under way - 2/16/2005 6:12:09 AM   
Mike James



Posts: 2438
Joined: 1/19/2002
From: Anchorage, AK, USA
Status: offline 		I scribed the lines with a special anti-gravity tool, which repels paint, so that the molecules actually...

Ok, back to reality. The molds were entirely white. After the paint cured, I used a Sharpie pen and trace over my etched lines, to use as references for installing the internal parts. (Bonus, from painting in the molds) I just got back from the shop, and the first 2 wing halves are bagged and cooking. I'll do the other wing tomorrow. Been in the shop 15 hours today, and I'm about ready for ZZZZzzzzz land.

Another bonus of painting in the mold is that when you apply the first resin/glass layer, you can be pretty agressive with a brush. The paint is cured, and so you don't have to worry about tearing the more delicate PVA layer, which is on the other side of the paint.


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Mike James
RC Design and Building - www.nextcraft.com

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       Post #: 58

RE: "Eliminator 2" molds under way - 2/22/2005 3:21:18 AM   
Mike James



Posts: 2438
Joined: 1/19/2002
From: Anchorage, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Progress this week...

Fuselage is together, gear doors are installed and functional, and I'm finalizing details to be sure engine access, hatches, etc., are all right. Internal parts are installed in the wing molds, which will be joined tomorrow, and pulled the next day. Latest updates are at http://www.nextcraft.com/j47_sportjet11.html which include some more photos.

Closer every day...

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Mike James
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RE: "Eliminator 2" molds under way - 2/22/2005 4:04:51 AM   
jetflyer



Posts: 1007
Joined: 12/26/2001
From: League City, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Sweet! Mike it is really starting to come along. I bet your anxious to get this one in the air.

JR Gautreaux

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RE: "Eliminator 2" molds under way - 2/22/2005 11:55:58 AM   
Flying Hog



Posts: 409
Joined: 6/1/2002
From: Waterford, CT, USA
Status: offline 		Mike... Looking good. We haven't heard from you in a week, was wondering if progress was taking place. Keep up the good work.

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RE: "Eliminator 2" molds under way - 2/22/2005 5:03:27 PM   
Mike James



Posts: 2438
Joined: 1/19/2002
From: Anchorage, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks, JR and Bob.

Yep. We had an unusually-long internet outage, due to some local area problems.... almost 5 days. That's like 3 months, in internet years! Turned out to be easily solvable, and we're back up to full speed again, net-wise.

Lots of updates coming during final assembly, because those steps don't take as long as the plug/mold steps.


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Mike James
RC Design and Building - www.nextcraft.com

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RE: "Eliminator 2" molds under way - 2/22/2005 9:22:39 PM   
Flying Hog



Posts: 409
Joined: 6/1/2002
From: Waterford, CT, USA
Status: offline 		Cool Mike!!!!! Glad to have you back!!!

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Bob

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RE: "Eliminator 2" molds under way - 2/23/2005 12:11:32 AM