jofunk

Because of the way the flaps are hinged some of the material on the top needed to be removed to clear the flap cover. As the flap swings down some of it moves above the top of the wing. I removed what was needed plus an extra 1/8" to cap it. I will then check the fit and sand or add material as needed. I also pulled the caps off the end of the flaps. I jumped the gun in capping them because they wound up being too tight against the fuse without enough material to sand for my liking.

N419BH

I'm wondering if the bottom of the flap is flat or if there is a notch in it as well and the entire flap has an airfoil shape. I can't seem to find any images of the Panther's flaps up close but if you have technical drawings of the real jet there might be some insight there.

While searching I came across this build that you guys might be interested in:

http://www.people.vcu.edu/~rhklenke/rc/panther.html

jroth

My Feedback: (60)

Here is an update for three of the projects:

Mr Fun's fuselage has been at Joe's house for about a year and John has some glass on his fuselage.

Joe's fuselage is on the floor and it is entirely glassed.

My Fuselage is on the table, it has been filled and sanded and filled again, I have to finish sheeting the top of the winglets and box in the bottom around the landing gear mechanism and then I will be ready to start glassing the fuselage.

rhklenke

My Feedback: (24)

Ha, that's my old page. I haven't updated it in something like 9 years, but the Panther still exists, has been glassed, and will be in primer in another 2 or 3 weeks. Then its on to gearing up and test flying. It *will* be on the flight circuit this coming season - albeit in primer, and fully detailed and painted the winter after that... Ten years from box of balsa to flying jet... Hope these 1/4 scale ones don't take as long! [X(]

Bob

jroth

My Feedback: (60)

Hi Bob,

It is good to get an update from you!

At least three of us are going to try to get our Panthers ready for a 2012 debut. Stay tuned.

John

rhklenke

My Feedback: (24)

John,

Sounds good, I'm looking forward to it!

Bob

Roger Shipley

My Feedback: (35)

YEA JOHN GET EM DONE AND BRING TO THE JWM QUALIFIER & ROUTE 66 JETS IN SEPTEMBER.......
YOU MAY WANT TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER PILOT FOR YOUR PANTHER AS YOU WILL BE PERFORMING IJMC JUDGING DUTIES !!!

jofunk

I goofed around with the tip tanks a little bit. I needed to draw some circles on the front and back halves of the tanks where a bulkhead will go. A few paint cans fishing line spools and pop cans got the marker in the right spot. The places are limited where the bulkheads can go to stiffen the tanks and connect into the wing. A lot of the tank is in front of the leading edge or behind the aileron hinge line. I also removed the flaps and capped the tops. the pix shows a good shot of the flap hinge coming out of the wing.

N419BH

Saw another scale detail on these things...is anyone planning on adding the fuselage flaps?

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...ing_CV-21.jpeg

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...Korean_War.jpg

rhklenke

My Feedback: (24)

I have them on my smaller one. I still need to cut out the blowin doors...

Bob

jroth

My Feedback: (60)

Joe and Mr Fun came over last night, we worked from 7pm until about 1am.

I was able to medium sand the entire fuselage and sheet the bottom of the winglet where the gear is installed.

Then I was able to lay my first strip of glass cloth down the center of the bottom of the fuselage. I will have to sand the fuselage again before I continue glassing.

Joe worked on his tip tanks and then he worked on my tip tanks.

I included a photo from our club meeting a year ago, there was alot of no building going on during flying season of 2011.

jofunk

Here are a few pix of Mr. Roth gluing in his landing gear plates and finishing the sheeting on the bottom of his fuse. I threw in a shot of John Abrahamian working on his stabs for his MiG 31. Like John said I went over there and worked on bulkheads for the tip tanks. They will get glued in on the lines I drew. I will then cut a slot in the tank just next to the bulkhead and a 1/8" aircraft ply stick will get glued to the bulkhead turning it into a "ping pong paddle". The handle of paddle will get glued into a slot in the wing. The holes in the bulkheads are just finger holes to get them in and out of the tanks as I was fitting them.

jroth

My Feedback: (60)

I had some time today to work on Fiberglassing. I am using 4 ounce cloth with West Systems 105 Resin and 205 Hardener. This set of epoxy is over five years ols and the hardener has turned dark red. I have also used some Z-Poxy Finishing Resin on smaller parts and the bottom of the Horizontal Stab.

I started with the tail, then I glassed one winglet to the opposite wheel well, then the other winglet to the opposite wheel well and finally I glassed the front section of the bottom of the fuselage.

Then I glassed the bottom of the horizontal stab.

jofunk

I recapped the ends of the flaps with some more 1/8" balsa. I also cut the ailerons off. The cut was made 1/8" inside the hinge line so the wing can be capped with 1/8" lite ply. The link point for the flap I made out of aluminum flat stock. I drilled some holes in it and it is getting sandwiched between two pieces of lite ply. It will get glued into a slot in the flap in line with the flap servo pocket. I would not use this technique on a vibrating gas engine for fear of it cracking off. The turbine on the other hand will be very low vibration. We'll see how it works soon enough.

jroth

My Feedback: (60)

Mr. Fun and Dennis came over Monday night and Mr. Fun and Joe came over Wednesday night, we worked both nights until after midnight.

I glassed the elevators and the ailerons, I have to wait to glass the flaps until I hinge them.

I glassed the "firewall".

We cut the hatch from the fuselage and then decided to glue it back together and recut it.

We ran light plywood on the bottom of the hatch and the inside of the mating fuselage for the hatch to rest on.

I made a front and rear hatch former to box in the hatch.

jofunk

Just a few things. I worked on putting the handles on my ping pong paddle tip tank mounts. The backs I could slip in and out. but the fronts had to be glued on inside the tanks. I also capped my aileron hinge line with some lite ply. The balsa triangles were added to give the Robart hinge something to grab besides foam. Triangle shaped balsa is what I had handy. Vladimir gave us a demo. of the tack welder he made to build some thrust tubes. It worked great. Mr Fun and Dennis glassed the bottom of Mr. Funs fuse. Now for the bad news Our commercial canopy guy crushed our canopy plug. It was mostly foam with a bondo shell. I guess it didn't hold up well to high heat and almost perfect vacuum conditions. Mr. Funs earlier gag post of the plug being cracked was a prophetic understatement. I took one of the canopies we pulled and sprayed mold release in it and started laying up resin and glass in it to get a plug back out of it before I trimmed it down. It will eventually be filled in solid before the next attempt.

jofunk

I was able to pull the start of another canopy plug out of the canopy I had. After the first coat of resin and a few layers of glass I laid in a layer of wood. After that the wood got smeared with a layer of resin mixed with (band saw) saw dust to fill in the voids. Finally over that was placed a few more layers of glass cloth. The wood between the layers of cloth built up the structure nicely and it is very rigid. I would be very surprised if this collapsed if used as is. These is one spot where I peeled away the PVA mold release when I brushed in the initial coat of resin. It left an area that needs a little filler. I will give this to Vladimir and he can finish it to his liking.

jofunk

Mr. Fun came over Saturday and got a bunch done on his fuse. He block sanded his first layer of glass. He decided to go with the two hatch method so he cut a front and back hatch leaving the fuse in tact where the wing load is greatest. I hope he doesn't know something we don't. He then finished glassing his whole fuse. and vertical stab. He Was also able to get a second coat of glass on the rear hatch. I glued my bulk heads in my tip tanks and glued the halves together. I also hinged my ailerons. Bob Klaviter also stopped by to do some work on and ask some questions about his Ziroli stuka. John and I were able to keep him going in the right direction since we both built two of them.

jofunk

Here are some pix.

Instructor

My Feedback: (16)

I think Mr. Fun might know a little more than you about the hatch area. I have a standard size Ziroli Panther that is powered by a JC P-80. I sent you a PM showing you how the Panther looks with the CG that I have. If you look at that photo, you'll see me holding the Panther at the # 9 former. It is a peice of 1/4 plywood glued across the # 9 former. The reason it is there it to keep the fuse from folding in on it's self during flight. Cutting out that large hatch weekens the fuse. Good luck with these.........

Larry

jofunk

I sunk the servo linkage attachment points into the tops of the flaps. I then installed some balsa blocks next to where the clevis attaches. I can now grind out an area without exposing the foam core to spread and attach the clevis. I also glued in the flap servo tray and installed a back plate where the push rod exits the bay. The rest of the bay will be lined with balsa to finish it off. Soon I will be able to work on the hinge covers, and then start glassing the wings.

jofunk

I sanded down the blocks on my flap linkages so they can now be glassed. I also back filled the flap servo area with some scrap foam and balsa. I was too cheap to use all balsa wood. Mr fun came over super bowl Sunday and instead of watching the geriatric half time show went in the basement and started working on his plane. he was able to trim and sand the first layer of glass and get another layer of glass down.

jofunk

I Aligned and put caps on the ends of all the wing control surfaces. They seem to fit pretty good. The one thing I needed to do is install a hard point for the aileron control arm. I did it the same way I did the elevators by sinking an oak dowel into the surface. Before I glued it in I drilled pilot hole through it so I knew I had it centered.

AndyAndrews

Great thread. Looking good guys!

jroth

My Feedback: (60)

Last night Mr Fun and I glued the top of the verticle fin on my Panther, then I attached the pink foam block under the fin and reinforced the inside of the hatch.

Tonight I am headed to Joe's house to reconstruct my Rudder and start the work on my wingtip tanks.

I needed the measurements at Joe's for the rudder, so I put them there as a quick reference.