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RE: B-36 build thread and free plans - 3/2/2008 2:01:42 AM   
xb36


 

Posts: 221
Joined: 2/15/2008
From: White Bear Township, MN, USA
Status: offline 		The first photo shows the unsheeted fin and rudder built up. You can also see the top half of the fuse formers hanging from 2 balsa fuse spars. These 2 formers are made to put the stabilizer in it's correct location. Notice the leading edge of the fin is secured to the 2 fuse spars on top. It also secured to the 2 fuse spars on the bottom (can't see them in this photo). I have had a plane with a not so solid fin before, and I was trying to avoid that here. This plane is just too big.

The second phto shows the stabilizer adhered in place to the top half of the fuse formers. I was very pleased with the outcome. In this photo you can see the leading edge of the fin secured to the 2 fuse spars on the bottom.

The artwork in the background is a family portrait that my son did. A dad just has to display the good stuff.

Mike

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       Post #: 26

RE: B-36 build thread and free plans - 3/2/2008 2:17:49 AM   
xb36


 

Posts: 221
Joined: 2/15/2008
From: White Bear Township, MN, USA
Status: offline 		I am not sure why, but there were a couple of extra photos in my previous post. The comments go with the last 2 photos.

Mike

(in reply to xb36)
       Post #: 27

RE: B-36 build thread and free plans - 3/2/2008 2:21:32 AM   
xb36


 

Posts: 221
Joined: 2/15/2008
From: White Bear Township, MN, USA
Status: offline 		The first photo is a side shot showing how the stabilizer fits in the tail section.

The second photo shows the start of sheetig the tail section of the fuse. The tail of this fuse is tapered so it is not possible to sheet with a wide strip of balsa.

Mike



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       Post #: 28

RE: B-36 build thread and free plans - 3/2/2008 2:30:35 AM   
xb36


 

Posts: 221
Joined: 2/15/2008
From: White Bear Township, MN, USA
Status: offline 		The first photo shows how I used balsa strips to create the surface for the radar bulge. Don't be concerned about the rough surface. It sands smooth rather easily.

The second photo shows the sheeting moving along.

Mike



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       Post #: 29

RE: B-36 build thread and free plans - 3/2/2008 2:36:51 AM   
xb36


 

Posts: 221
Joined: 2/15/2008
From: White Bear Township, MN, USA
Status: offline 		These photos show the fin tip being made.

Mike

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       Post #: 30

RE: B-36 build thread and free plans - 3/2/2008 2:42:59 AM   
xb36


 

Posts: 221
Joined: 2/15/2008
From: White Bear Township, MN, USA
Status: offline 		The first phot shows the results of the first round of filling and sanding. It also shows that I have added 2 pieces of balsa for the radar bulge and the rear gun turret.

I added the second photo to give you a feel for the curvature of the bottom of the fuse.

Mike

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       Post #: 31

RE: B-36 build thread and free plans - 3/2/2008 2:50:58 AM   
xb36


 

Posts: 221
Joined: 2/15/2008
From: White Bear Township, MN, USA
Status: offline 		I think this will be my last post for tonight.

I like the first photo because sometimes when I look at the fuse it looks big and heavy. This photo is a reminder of just how hollow this plane is. You can see that although the fin looks massive, it is quite hollow. FYI, the built up fuse weighs in at 3.0 pounds.

The second photo shows the beginnings of the wing saddle. I already have plans to change how I want to do this. I am working on the wing saddle now. I will add photos of the updated version when I finish it.

Mike

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       Post #: 32

RE: B-36 build thread and free plans - 3/2/2008 10:47:20 PM   
xb36


 

Posts: 221
Joined: 2/15/2008
From: White Bear Township, MN, USA
Status: offline 		I was going through my folders of photos and came across a few nice ones.

The first one shows a huge B-29 (left) next to a B-36 (right). I have stood next to a B-29 and it is BIG.

The second and third photo shows the XB-36 which is what my design was trying to capture. I am now going with the more popular B-36 which has 4 wheel main gear and the easily recognized cockpit bubble.

Mike

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       Post #: 33

RE: B-36 build thread and free plans - 3/4/2008 10:06:44 AM   
Boomerang1



Posts: 789
Joined: 6/24/2005
From: Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		I checked the weight of the fuselage of mine tonight, 2 pounds 15 oz according to my kitchen scales.

Keep in mind that is complete, painted, including the tail surfaces. Also in there is the nose retracts, leg & wheels, standard size servos for nose retract, elevator & rudder, reciever & 2 x speed controllers plus some other assorted goodies.

But, like I said, I tried very hard to keep it light.

The Discovery Channel featured the B-36 in one of their aircraft series, have you seen it? - John.

< Message edited by Boomerang1 -- 3/4/2008 10:09:46 AM >

_____________________________

Distributor for: Nothing! So my posts can be unbiased.

(in reply to xb36)
       Post #: 34

RE: B-36 build thread and free plans - 3/4/2008 2:57:56 PM   
xb36


 

Posts: 221
Joined: 2/15/2008
From: White Bear Township, MN, USA
Status: offline 		John,

At 2 pounds 15 oz, including the essentials, I think you did a great job of keeping it light. In fact I am sure that you did better than I did. I used very light balsa almost everywhere. I am not sure where I could have removed more weight, other than the sheeted skin.

There may be a bit of trimming that I could do, but I would be surprised if it removed more than an ounce or so.

Thanks for the info.

Mike

(in reply to Boomerang1)
       Post #: 35

RE: B-36 build thread and free plans - 3/9/2008 7:02:44 PM   
FlyerInOKC


 

Posts: 373
Joined: 11/17/2004
From: Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Status: offline 		Mike what is the location of the fuselage supports? I didn't see them in the plans you have posted sofar and I think it would be a good idea to include them. I have been montoring you posts on the UK site and just now got a moment to get back into RC Universe. Its been a little hectic at work of late, we just found out we are being out sourced to IBM and my department will be rolling over to India.

(in reply to xb36)
       Post #: 36

RE: B-36 build thread and free plans - 3/10/2008 2:09:08 AM   
xb36


 

Posts: 221
Joined: 2/15/2008
From: White Bear Township, MN, USA
Status: offline 		I am sorry to hear about the IBM outsourcing. IBM always makes outsourcing look like a great deal. Lately I have heard that a few of their outsoucing clients have brought it back in-house. They just didn't work out. I have heard the same about the India outsourcing. Unfortunately people lose their jobs while companies learn. I could go on and on about this subject but I suppose I shouldn't do that here.


Back to the B-36.......

The fuselage supports were one of those things that I discovered were needed after I got in to the building phase. The carbon fiber tubing fuse spars run parallel to the fuse skin and your workbench so they can be placed anywhere you like. I believe that I put 3 of them in. They kept the fuse straight while I was building it.

I didn't think of the supports while I was designing the plane in CAD, but when I slid all of the fuse formers on to the carbon fiber tube spars I realize that I couldn't have it just roll around on my workbench. The temporary fuse supports seemed like a good solution, and they worked out well.

There are a few updates that I still need to make to the documentation, and the supports are one of them. The plans that I posted were posted a bit prematurely. I had a couple of the guys at work that urged me to get them posted so they could download them. At least that's what they said. I really think they just wanted me to get me going again on this plane. It has been set aside a couple of times. I am determined to finish it up.

I will also add some design drawings that show the cross section of the wing at specific locations of the wing. These helped me build the trailing edge of the wing. ( I am still not finished with the trailing edge )

I forgot to bring home from work the cable that allows me to transfer photos from my phone camera to my laptop so I won't be able to provide newer photos and comments until tomorrow.

This weekend I have been working on the wing mount and I have taken more photos. When it came time to building the wing mount I didn't like how I had designed it so I have reworked it. The new method seems to be working out fine. I will provide photos and update the design files. I hope to finish up the wing mount in the next few days.

So far I have heard only one flyer say that he will be building this B-36 next fall so I haven't felt rushed to get the design files updated right away.

I haven't heard anyone say that they downloaded the virtual reality viewer and viewed the virtual reality files ( the files with a .wrl file extension). I think these files would be a great way to review the plane before building one.

I would be very pleased to talk to a flyer that uses Unigraphics CAD software. That is what I used to design this plane.

This B-36 seems to have grown now that the wing is on the fuse. My workshop is 106 inche wide and the wing is 108 inches wide without the wing tips installed.

I sent the retracts back to Century Jet Models because I couldn't get them to fit within the wing. They replaced the air cylinders with different ones that have the air fittings moved to the side at no additional charge. The retracts will fit fine after that. Century Jet Models has been great to work with. They really want this plane to be successful. I know it sounds like a bit of a commecial but when you have a good experience with a parts supplier I think posting some positive comments is appropriate. If anyone decides to build this plane, mention that you want retracts for the Roerig 1/24th scale B-36 and you will get retracts that won't need any modifications. I expect my retracts to return tomorrow and then I can finish mounting them.

I hope to get the motor mounts installed later in the week. These will be changed too. I originally planned on using 6 geared speed 480 brushed motors and I have changed to brushless motors. I found some nice motor mounts that were 6 for $10 so that is what I will be using. The motor mounts have printing on the side: EMM 28A GWS. They are very light and will simplify mounting the motors. This will be another update to the design files.

Overall I suspect that I have a few evenings of work to get the design files updated with the recent improvements. FYI, the build file will show photos of the changes.

Mike

(in reply to FlyerInOKC)