Scorpion Racing

Well, looks like Lee and I will be working on our new designs about the same time! Thanks to the NMPRA design approval board for their review and initial approval, so we are moving into the construction phase!

I picked the Formula one - race #1 Invictus for my inspiration. The plane is owned by Tim Neubert of Neubert Aero Corp with Thom Richard as the pilot. Tom operates Invictus out of the Kissimmee, Florida airport as well as his company, Warbird Adventures, giving flight experiences in AT 6's. 2009 was Invictus's first year back at Reno, and the first time in it's current configuration. Thom did VERY well, winning the Gold class Formula one event with her! You can find some cool videos on that video site by searching for NAC Invictus videos if you are into that sort of stuff. (the one called "Air Race Final - NAC Formula One Air Racing Team: Winner 2009 National Championship" has some great footage from the cockpit during the race and qualifing! )

Here are a couple of pictures from AutoCAD giving you a sneek peek at her. The actual plane will have wheel pants, but I am still working on the 3D modeling stuff, but this is getting close!

I am constructing the fuselage plugs with multiple cross sections and foam also, and will try to get some pictures up as we progress. I plan to do my testing with a fiberglass fuselage, and make the final molds from this, once I am satisfied with the flight characteristics of the plane.

More to come...

daven

My Feedback: (1)

Looks excellent, should be fun watching you guys go through this.

Nice job!

GSJames

Hey Scott:

Any chance that I can con you out of the files for the landing gear parts and the engine? It would sure make life easier. I can read most standard CAD interchange formats.

Lee wants me to start on another design as soon as we get the AR-6 underway and I can also use them to check clearances on the AR-6.

THANKS in advance for any assistance that you can give.

Gary James

Scorpion Racing

Thanks Dave, I appreciate that!

Gary, you might be able to entice me! send me a PM and I can tell you what I have. The engine isn't 100% completed, but it is about 95% there. I used the CAD file from Ed Smith (Thanks Ed! ) as a starting point. About all it needs is the needle valve assembly and the flat plates around the cylinder. They don't really affect the design work, so I left them out.

diggs_74

Hey Scott, that looks great.. Can't wait to see your progress.. We'll have to figure out some time to line them up and see what happens, maybe the Nats?

As Gary mentioned, we are working on another Q40 design too.. Maybe for next winters project..

Scorpion Racing

Well, cutting foam, gluing blocks to templates, sanding, shaping, filling, etc.... all the fun things ARF fliers never get to experience!! Here are some progress shots on the Fuselage plug parts being constructed...

Scorpion Racing

I actually built the bottom 1/2 of the fuselage plug 2 weeks ago, and began working on the top 3 sections this weekend. If you notice the bottom foam has white filler with red outlines,.... this was NOT on purpose! [:@] I learned that spot putty, which doesn't melt foam right away, will melt the piss out of it overnight! [] I ended up having to fill the real holes from the putty, which was filling very minor nicks in the foam! Oh well, lesson learned and not to be repeated!

I got the top 3 sections blocked out, so now I will start working on rough shaping the foam to the template sections. The top front section will be attached to the bottom and can be finish shaped. I will construct the horizontal tail and set its incidence and location in it before it is attached to the fuselage plug for final shaping. The main wing will also need to be built, so that the main wing incidence can be built into the fuselage plug and the canopy section formed.

So, a little more shaping on the fuselage plugs to go, and then its off to build a perfect set of wings!

sahartman21

That's a good looking Q-40.

Thanks for sharing your design with us.

Are you going to Phoenix to race in February?

Scorpion Racing

Thanks Scott,not this year, but I will make it out there one day. I am sure Mr. Espresso Racer could put up with me for a weekend! My plan for this year is to develop a highly competitive Q40, complete the molds for my 428, and prepare for 2011. I will still host 2 races, as well as try to make my local races, bring in some new guys, work and take care of the family! I want to make sure I am ready before I go out West, but a few of these may be out there come next year...

Thanks for the kind words Scott, I enjoy your build threads a lot.

Scorpion Racing

Well, here is the progress so far today. I have attached the top front and the top turtle deck and done some rough shaping. The top center section has been shaped to fit in between them, and I will now begin to shape the center section cockpit area for the removable hatch, then it will be removed for the main wing to be fitted. The vertical stab (rudder) will be attached once the horizontal stab has been constructed, so that the fillets and incidence can be set correctly prior to being joined permanently. Lots of work ahead, but showing some progress always helps to keep the moral up!

daven

My Feedback: (1)

Lee, where you at? Falling behind already, lol.

GSJames

Yeah, Lee, my "future reputation" as a Q-40 airplane designer is at stake here.... Come on, What's the delay, when is the first test flight... ? :-) (pullin' your chain, obviously)

Scott: Your progress looks awesome! Keep up the great work and THANKS for the CAD files!


PS: Lee, I've got annual training in MSP the last week in Feb, gotta get you, me and Dave N together for some beers!

GSJames

Scott:

I've been trying to figure out what real world Formula One "Invictus" actually is. Is it the former Judy Wagner #2 Shoestring, which was obtained by Phil Fogg, and then sold to George Budde? Raced for awhile as #2 by Bob Drew and various other pilots? I've been a "International Formula One" member for a long time and crewed on several airplanes, but I can't figure out what airplane that it is a rebuild of.

Scorpion Racing

Gary, Invictus used to be known as Zipper. It is now IF1 plane #1 - Invictus flown by Thom Richard. [link=http://www.if1airracing.com/IF1_Planes.php]Planes of IF1[/link] Thom's racing website - [link=http://www.race83.com/Race_1/Race_1.html]Thom Richard Racing #1[/link] 2008 was its first year with the new name & wild paint scheme, but it didn't race. 2009 was the debut, and it won!! I am sure you have seen it, right?

Couple of pics as I finished up tonight...

I will start working on the horizontal stab now, so I can get it fitted to the rudder and get the rudder & stab mounted in place next.

Have fun

diggs_74

Geez you guys, give me a break will ya!!

I have made some progress but I don't want to get too far on the stabs without the rest of fuse roughed out.. I talked with Jan and she's got my formers coming for a very reasonable price.. I will definitely be contacting her in the future with any laser cutting I might need..

Scorpion Racing

I'm not on your case Lee, at least, ... not yet! Glad to hear you got your parts cut, I can't wait to see some shots of yours coming together too!

I got my foam wing templates cut today and did some test core cuts for the horizontal stab. I was trying to use a high density white foam, but the results were not what I was hoping for. I Think I will just use standard white foam for the plugs, and maybe for the initial test plane. Since the final product will be an all composite molded aircraft, my main concern is just dimensional accuracy at this point. As long as everything works in the testing phase, final molds will be made using the same cores used in testing.

Well, I will be back when I have some more to show!

diggs_74

I did get the vertical stab done last night.. turned out prettty well.. I still have to finish up the Hstab and figure out the transition into the Vstab and fuse..

daven

My Feedback: (1)

lol, just having fun Lee, if you dont' get going, I won't have one ready for Muncie

diggs_74

Don't worry Dave, it's going to be the only thing I work on between now and then.. I'll get some out..

Scorpion Racing

Well, wings are under construction now. Got the horizontal foam core blanks and templates done yesterday, cut the cores, edge joined the sheeting, laid up the the foam cores with a few layers of 2oz fiberglass in the middle and put them under 7lbs. of vacuum over night. I took the stab sections out, cleaned them up and they are being joined together right now. I will start final shaping them later today and begin incorporating them into the vertical stabilizer and the fuselage plugs tonight. This first set of horizontal stabs are mainly to set the incidence angle, alignment and blending into the fuselage plugs for the horizontal stab to be mounted to. These will be cut nearly flush with the fuselage plug once all the alignments are completed. The final tail will be made from the second set of cores and the molds pulled from them.

This morning I cut the main wing cores blanks, templates and I am busy joining the sheeting for the main wing. I hope to have the cores cut and sheeting joined tonight, or tomorrow for sure. The main wing will actually be the first flying test wing, so this wing will be built as a Q40 foam cored wing capable of racing. The fuselage plugs will be fitted to this wing, and then the wing, fuselage plug and horizontal tail plugs can all be finished and molded.

Sounds easy, right!!

Scorpion Racing

Some pics over the weekend. Horizontal tail foam cores and sheeting ready to lay up, foam blocks and skins for the main wing and the tail sections out of the bag and joined. The horizontal tail section will be finished to the point of final glassing and then joined to the vertical stab/fuselage plug. Once all the incidence and alignments angles are set, it will be joined to the plug and then chopped down to a nub. [] At that point, final shaping of the tail area can be done.

More to come!

sahartman21

After building a few fiberglass and foam kits it is very interesting to watch you make the plug and molds.

Maybe one of these days!

Are you needing any independent testing?

It looks like a fast model.

Scorpion Racing

Thanks Scott, I appreciate that! It is a lot of fun actually carving out a new aircraft from what you have designed, that is for sure. I think everyone should build at least one design that they can claim as there own at least one time in their modeling career. The personal rewards are incredible when you see it taking shape and eventually flying. I designed my first original RC when I was 16, and I still get a thrill with each new design challenge. I have a couple of sport planes, a couple of byps, a fun fly, my Q-500 (The Scorpion!) and now I am pulling out all the stops for the Q-40. I love the way this plane is coming out, and I think so will everyone else.

Independent testing huh, that might not be a bad idea once we get these things coming off the line... I am sure we can work something out.

diggs_74

Independent testing?? I just figured we'd trade... I'd give the Invictum, I mean Invictus, an honest review

Scorpion Racing

Sounds good Lee, and i will be your caller for the NATS!!