Posts: 565
Joined: 6/26/2005 From: Central,
IN, USA Status: offline
There's always a time in a build where you have what I call "that boneheaded mistake". If you're like me, you have several of those moments over the course of a build . Well here's my first one.
The next step is to add the cap strips - no problem. Like an assembly line, I cut a cap strip for every rib, like I did on the top wing... that's right, every rib. Now, for those of you who already figured out my mistake; good for you, you're quicker than me. I figured out my mistake when I added the cap strip to the first W-1T rib on the bottom (remember the top's been done for days). Then it dawns on me - "Hey Bonehead, how are you going to sheet the middle section of the wing with those caps strips in the way!"
"Oh fudge", as Ralphie would say ...
Too late to do much now. I add the cap strips on the bottom where they should go while trying to figure out my strategy for sheeting the middle portion of the top and bottom.
Take a look at picture1. This is the top wing after all the cap strips were applied. Looking back at my earlier post about the sheeting and possibly adding scrap to come down to the main spar should have been a clue to me ... hey you're gonna sheet that later anyway. It never hit me till now. Argh!
So, here my solution. I added little braces under the cap stripped W-1T ribs so I could insert sheeting between the cap strips (picture2). Yeah, this is going to add some weight, but not much - and this was easier than removing the cap strips and sanding down CA. Next I cut the sheeting to fit the gaps. I took my time measuring and sanding to get as close to an exact fit as I could. I CA'd the sheeting down onto the tabs and used Titebond for the edges (since I am going to be sanding). I think this will end up being okay ...
Picture1 - Caps Strips on Top Wing - DO NOT Cap Strip the W-1T Ribs Picture2 - Added braces for sheeting Pciture3 - Sheeting added to top ... waiting for titebond to cure. A little sanding and this just might workout.
_____________________________
The 1st step is admitting you have a problem ... okay, I admit it, RC is my obsession!
Posts: 365
Joined: 9/5/2006 From: Mayking,
KY, USA Status: online
Way to work through that error! I would have started sanding them off without even thinking about it . A bit of finish sanding later and you'll never see it!
Posts: 18
Joined: 12/25/2007 From: No Place, PUERTO RICO (USA) Status: offline
MasterAlex, Great work, nice and neat.
I have been without internet for a little while and have not been able to follow this build as it was happening, now that I'm caught up I will enjoy the rest of the ride hopefully without further mishap.
I have received my Hog Bipe and I will start it as soon as I get a few more things done in my shop.
Thanks for putting up such a nice build, it will be a lot of help to me when I start to build my Hog.
Miguel
_____________________________
My friends call me Aero Junkie. I don't know if it's because I like planes so much or because I've junked so many!
Posts: 11
Joined: 8/7/2002 From: Galesburg, IL, Status: offline
I have just finished the construction of a Hog Bipe and am in the process of covering it now. Before your build got too far along, I wanted to alert you to a small problem I encountered in the construction of the fuselage. On page 12 (10a-b), the instructions call for gluing formers F-2 and F-4 to the forward deck and attaching the stringers. Before gluing in the stringers, I happened to lay a straightedge from former F-1A (on the firewall) back to former F-5. In my kit, F-2, and especially F-4, were out of alignment. The middle stringer notch on F-4 was nearly 1/8" too low. The notches on either side were also too deep. If the stringers had been glued in, there would have been a definite sag in the three uppermost stringers in the span from F-1A to F-5. (Note that there are no stringers extending from F-4 to F-5.)
I mentioned this to another flyer in the club and he said that he didn't notice this when he built his and consequently when he attached his sheeting (page 13, 11a-b), it wasn't making contact with the uppermost stringers over former F-4. I simply laid in my stringers using the straightedge, adding filler to the bottom of the notches as needed. It seems to me that since a large portion of the sheeting will be cut out for the cockpit in this area, it's especially important that the sheeting is well supported by the stringers all the way around.
Posts: 565
Joined: 6/26/2005 From: Central,
IN, USA Status: offline
Thanks Wuness for the tip on the Fuse. I built a fuselage Jig (found here) before starting this thread, not sure if this jig would have prevented me from making that mistake, but now that I know, I'll be sure to look out for it.
-MA
_____________________________
The 1st step is admitting you have a problem ... okay, I admit it, RC is my obsession!
Posts: 107
Joined: 9/13/2004 From: Buffalo,
MN, USA Status: offline
MA,
I, like many others here, am reading your build thread but not posting any comments as I have nothing to add. As long as I'm not adding anything I'll just say nice job! I'm watching your build closely as this same kit is in line for my next build
Posts: 953
Joined: 1/1/2002 From: Rowlett,
TX, USA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: MasterAlex ... just curious, outside of a few people, there doesn't seem to be much interest in this thread - maybe there's just too many winter builds going. Guys, let me know - do you want to see this thread continue? -MA
Hi MasterAlex, Don't be alarmed that a lot of people are not making comments about your build. I am sure there are many others like myself (Hog Bipe builders) that are following your progress. You have done excellent work so far and it has been virtually mistake free. Over the last two years there were a lot of Hog Bipes built and discussed here on RCU (that is when mine was born). I will not just sit on the sideline during your build any more, doing a build thread doubles the amount of work that it takes to complete the kit and while you may not need encouragement to keep building the plane it is hard to justify the work required to post your progress if you think no one is there to appreciate it. I appreciate your efforts very much. I still don't have a lot of flights on my plane but it is one that I immediately liked a lot. Most of the time I have to grow to appreciate a plane over time, but the Hog Bipe grabbed me on the trim flight, it is just a sweet flying model plane. Here are a few pictures of mine when it was bolted togeter after I painted it.
Posts: 565
Joined: 6/26/2005 From: Central,
IN, USA Status: offline
Thanks for all the kind words guys! I will most certainly keep this going. With that in mind, I am going to be out of town starting this afternoon until next Saturday. This thread will go "dark" from my perspective. Don't worry, I'll be back. Probably just the kind of forced break you need when doing a bipe - right after you finish the first wing and look to start the second ... hehe.
Talk to you guys in a week!
BTW, Charlie - love the Extreme Pilot in your Hog, he's a natural!
-MA
_____________________________
The 1st step is admitting you have a problem ... okay, I admit it, RC is my obsession!
Posts: 26
Joined: 8/28/2006 From: Marysville, MI, USA Status: offline
I am watching your thread too. I am in the process of covering my hog bipe, and am looking forward to maiden in the spring. this is my first biplane to fly. One thing that I ran into was the dihedral on the lower wing. After setting the brace, let the glue dry, when I put together the plane the struts were too short. Should have measured twice !! had to make new struts 1/4" each side. I am also using metal pushrods inside of the supplied tubing instead of supplied nylon pushrods because the nylon rods length change from temperature extremes that they need to be readjusted all the time.
Posts: 181
Joined: 1/5/2007 From: , NY, USA Status: offline
Alex
Keep up the good work and continue the thread. This will be a build for me in the future. Meanwhile I am seeing a lot of good techniques. Thanks for your effort. Huck
Posts: 6
Joined: 12/4/2002 From: Davenport,
IA, USA Status: offline
Alex,
The timing of your Hog Bipe build thread is perfect for my grandson and I as we began work on ours during Christmas vacation. Please continue. From your thread we have learned several tips to avoid problems already. We started with the bottom wing and have that nearly completed. Top wing next. Several minor changes in the construction of the bottom wing were found to improve the construction. We are using our experience from building the Sig Something Extra and Four Star 60 to construct the aileron servo mounts and and provide for the leads to the fuse. We also reshaped the leading edge of the ailerons from the rounded shape to a more typical vee shape to provide for installing the nylon hinges. All of the advice and help on this forum just makes the construction all the more enjoyable. Thanks for taking the time to make it possible for everyone to join in.
Posts: 173
Joined: 12/5/2004 From: Monroe,
NC, USA Status: offline
and besides this one hookedonrc also did a kind of long thread on the bipe too. It helped me building mine last year. I hope to start another soon. Thanks for doing this one Alex! It's good and can't wait for the next steps.
Printable Version
All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Kit Building >> RE: Sig Hog Bipe 
RE: Sig Hog Bipe - 
. Well here's my first one. 
Now, for those of you who already figured out my mistake; good for you, you're quicker than me. I figured out my mistake when I added the cap strip to the first W-1T rib on the bottom (remember the top's been done for days). Then it dawns on me - "Hey Bonehead, how are you going to sheet the middle section of the wing with those caps strips in the way!" 
