Posts: 182
Joined: 2/2/2005 From: , MO, USA Status: offline
I've had a few issues with the stabs and wings, and have gotten bogged down with my building. Hope to be back on track soon and post some building updates.
Posts: 130
Joined: 3/9/2004 From: Forest,
VA, USA Status: offline
Well, I had completed the stabs only to find that the socket for the phenolic tube was off by 1/4 inch (see pic). I didn't find this out until the stabs had been set up for servos, sheeted, and capped. A bunch of wasted time. I contacted John about it, and he sent me a new set of stabs, tubes, and all the wood necessary to complete the stabs again.
The other problem I had was that when I had ordered another set of wing cores (I messed up my first set), I received the wrong ones. Of course, I didn't realize this either until after I had glued in the phenolic tube, set up the wing for three servos, and sanded the core for sheeting. When I placed my wing skins (which I had cut to fit the first set of wing cores) on the new panel, they were 1.5" too long and 1.25" too wide. John is now sending me another set of cores.
I think it's advisable to check your parts carefully against the plans before you go investing time in working on them. Might save you time and a bunch of frustration.
Posts: 130
Joined: 3/9/2004 From: Forest,
VA, USA Status: offline
On my first set of stabs, I cut the sheeting flush with the foam, and did not overlap the stab ply root plate at all. I was going to add wood to it afterward, or clean it up somehow. The ply root cap isn't exactly the same size as the foam, it's a little larger. So on this second set, I decided to sand the cap flush with the foam, and then overlap the sheeting to cover the cap. This required notching the foam on the underside of the stabs. The end result is a nice clean end cap.
Posts: 130
Joined: 3/9/2004 From: Forest,
VA, USA Status: offline
I also wanted to round the corners on the stabs, for a more scale appearance. So I cut off the corner and glued in some balsa. Then I shaped it for a round corner.
Posts: 130
Joined: 3/9/2004 From: Forest,
VA, USA Status: offline
Then I set about mounting the stabs to the fuse. First make sure the fuse is level; if you place it upside down on the table it's pretty easy to level it up. Then set the stab to a zero incidence; I double check the meter on the fuse against the stab. Drill the mounting holes, and glue the 1/4" plywood plates inside the fuse. It's easier to glue 4-40 blind nuts into the ply plates before gluing the plates to the fuse. Another final check to make sure the stab is at zero.
Posts: 130
Joined: 3/9/2004 From: Forest,
VA, USA Status: offline
Although the right stab mounted up flush; the left stab was off quite a bit. I had glued the plywood cap onto the stab without checking this first; definitely not a good idea. With a bit of sanding, I should be able to get the stab to come flush.
Posts: 130
Joined: 3/9/2004 From: Forest,
VA, USA Status: offline
I cut out the elevators and rudder by drawing out the parts, then placing the stab and fin back in their cores. I used a band saw to cut out the control surfaces. The rudder is tough because it's so big; it won't fit in my saw. I ended up using a hacksaw blade to cut what wouldn't go through. Then capped the edges of everything - make sure you have a lot of tape on hand!! The plans call for 1/4" trailing edge capping, but there wasn't any in my kit. Instead, there was 1/8 by 1/4. I substituted this out for 1/4 square sticks. Also, the plans call for 3/4" capping on the LE of the rudder, but again no wood for it. I took some 1/4 stock I had and laminated it to 1/2 stock supplied in the kit. I used Probond for all of the capping.
Posts: 130
Joined: 3/9/2004 From: Forest,
VA, USA Status: offline
After the parts are dry, I used a razor plane to cut the capping down to size and then sanded to shape with 150. I used wax paper to trace the curves on the plans for the rudder and copy them to the part. Then cut and capped, and shaped to fit.
< Message edited by pcastine -- 2/14/2006 4:14:49 AM >
Posts: 42
Joined: 1/30/2004 From: Sandston, VA, Status: offline
Hey Pete, Nice job on the build . . . I'll be very interested to hear / get your overall impressions after a couple of flights. I'm thinking this might be a good match for a 210. On another note, I hear rumblings that you'll be joining us in VA in the near future . . . any truth to that? If so where do expect to be? The northern contingent of the SE region needs some reinforcement :-) Hopefully you'll be close enough to meet and do fuel burning. Keep up the good work on the build. ty
Posts: 130
Joined: 3/9/2004 From: Forest,
VA, USA Status: offline
Hi Ty,
Yes, it's true, I will be moving to southern VA in June. I've taken a job with a company there, and will be relocating after my kids are done with school for the year. Right at the top of my list: find a flying site and set up an IMAC contest!
I know the Yak won't be done in time for the JR Challenge, I'll be flying my 3m for that. We're shooting for end of April (29-30) for a contest at Mike's in Centreville, I hope to have the Yak there.
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RE: Yet Another Yak! - 
