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Joined: 1/12/2002 From: Holly Springs,
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OK, got my balsa order and finally in town this weekend so I need to catch up with Nick!! I also was reading Nick's post on what everyone wants in a build thread so I am going to show the techniques I used on the wing build again.
Here are the pictures of the right hand wing panel being laid out. Note this kit uses a 3/32 plywood spar instead of a balsa spar like the original. This poses a little problem because it is not as flexable as the balsa one. I used small finishing nails to jig the spars into place as well as some plywood blocks nailed down.
I also maid up a 90 degree ply scale to insure the ribs and spars are in the correct location. I will add this to the laser parts. Check it out.
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Joined: 1/12/2002 From: Holly Springs,
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After all has dried I cut the 3/32 balsa sub leading edge and add the preshaped trailing edge balsa. The extended tabs insure they are correctly positioned. After the have drier I lightly sand the top to remove any high spots. This I use a Great Planes 22 inch Easy Touch aluminum bar sander. I then temporarily tack down the sheeting drawings to the 1/16 balsa. Cut it out and install them on the wing.
Duane I want to supply these already cut for easy installation but that will be a Dan call. Anyway after the top sheeting is installed I install the cap strips. Now its time for the bottom of the wing.
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Joined: 2/21/2007 From: East Haddam, CT, USA Status: offline
Looking good. My balsa spars snapped at least 4 times total. Ply would be a good alternative, at not too much of a weight penalty. The finished wing is really a "D" tube LE.
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Joined: 1/12/2002 From: Holly Springs,
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Yep Nick, the balsa spar in the original kits was die crushed! Very very weak. the wing appears quite strong now but again I had to jig up the spar because of its stiffness.
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Well installed the plywood dihedral braces on one panel the added bottom sheeting. I cut out 3 wing saddles as per Nicks suggestion. I did not have any wing warping issues but I feel it makes for a sure flat wing and also makes it easy to sheet. Next joined the wing halves together. I then sheeted to other wing bottom. Now to sand the leading edge location and add leading edge and wing tips.
Bob Harris
< Message edited by BobHH -- 12/9/2007 4:57:09 AM >
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Joined: 1/12/2002 From: Holly Springs,
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OK, got the bottom wing sheeted and leading edge and wing tips on. I just used a 1-1/8 square balsa wing tip and sanded it to desired shape. Installed the aileron torque rods and temporarily attached the ailerons for rough sanding. Cut the back of the torque rod blocks to fit the wing saddle. Fit looks good. Now to assembly for a test fit.
< Message edited by BobHH -- 12/9/2007 11:29:15 PM >
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Joined: 1/12/2002 From: Holly Springs,
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Here are some assembly pictures. A truely beautiful bird! Can't wait to get her silked and doped and painted like the original!! Seeing how it's going to take a while to get her finished up I was wondering on a final weight. I decided to try to calculate by weighing the airframe with engine and acessories. I had included 4 servis, 500mA pack, receiver, 2 each 3-3/4 dubro tires and 1 each 2 inch (only ones I had!). 2 complete rolls of monokote (1 is seven footed) Fuel tank (a bit larger than needed but again the only one I had), landing gear, hardwood pushrods, and linkage wire. See pictures. Looks like 4lbs 14 oz. About 1 lb more than I had planned but I may be able to reduce it a bit more with smaller servos and battery pack. Of course some of the wood choices were not the best but I feel pretty good about the weight. I'm not the lightest builder because I do use the wood glues more and CA less. I also have quite a bit of finish sanding to do before the doping process so maybe a few oz will disapear!!
So anyway here she is with the only thing left is adding the dowels for the bolt on wing. The kit is complete for the VRCS approval so I will be sending the cut files and plans to Dan at Wing Mfg/Early RC models next week. Duane, Dan should have some kits ready as soon as he finishes up on the canopy mold and wire bending jigs.
Thanks guys for all the comment and help. I will post some finish pictures sometime. Most likely next spring!!
Bob Harris
< Message edited by BobHH -- 12/9/2007 11:54:57 PM >
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Joined: 2/21/2007 From: East Haddam, CT, USA Status: offline
Nice job, Bob. Makes me itch to finish the fuselage. Nice weight, too. I would love to meet in person and compare the flying qualitie of each. Maybe, just maybe............
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RE: PERIGEE Prototype Kit Build - 
