Alex48

Thanks Ziv

Alex48

I've been told that there a few issues with the pictures further back in this thread and some of my other build threads. The pictures are still there... its flickr issue their whole site seems to be very slow today.

Cheers

Dozzer

Alex

I do not have the words, it's humbling, keep up great work!

Richard

Alex48

Thanks Richard... I'm really excited to get it on the water for the first time! Perhaps even ride it like a jet ski

rt3232

My Feedback: (6)

Alex48

From what I remember your build is a lot cleaner than the original,
what you are doing is fantastic
cheers Bob T

Ps I am going on vacation to see my bro and family in San Diego and plan on going to the Air and Space museum while there so if you need a picture maybe I can take it

Alex48

Thanks for the offer but the museum took a load of photos for us of the specific areas that we needed so we have all that we need. Glad your enjoying the build and enjoy your holiday.

Cheers, Alex

Alex48

It’s been a while I know… We haven’t been idle though, in fact we have been busier than ever. We have some really cool stuff in the works for 2017 which I can’t wait to share with you all along with our newly built website next year.


The SeaDart is progressing well although the CAD work is taking much longer than anyone anticipated. This is an expensive undertaking so spending the extra time in CAD before we start manufacturing parts is a sensible decision. We have agreed to have this work finished before the Christmas break so we can start manufacturing the main components in January.


The design work on the skis has been completed and we are in the process of having these manufactured. The skis are made in three parts. A bottom skin consisting of a 1mm Carbon/Kevlar layup. All exposed edges have a 100% carbon layup integrated to enable a good finish on the pulled parts. The center of the ski consist of an aluminium sub-frame which is capped off by another carbon skin. The substructure ties the forward and aft ski attachment points together.

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


The patterns for the top and bottom ski skins have been machined from tooling block and are on their way to Fighteraces for detailing. There are thousands of raised riveted to add to these skis.

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Once the patterns are detailed we will make Carbon LTM tooling enabling us to get some amazing parts using pre-preg layups.

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Alex48

To give you an idea of scale these skis are 1.6 meters (63 inches) long.

Alex48

The forward attachment for the ski is as close to 100% as possible. Every part is bespoke (bar the spherical plain bearing) and this requires careful thought so what we design can in fact be manufactured. This is just one small part of hundreds which is one of the reasons we've spent nearly 4 months solid on the design work.

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

rt3232

My Feedback: (6)

Alex48
Looks like you are moving tight along, and looks great.

Cheers Bob T

Alex48

One of the areas causing us the most problems...

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Alex48

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Alex48

These are only screen grabs and much of the detail work is yet to be done. The formers only represent position of the structure, they will be more detailed and will be reduced in weight for the areas that are not watertight. They represent more of a general arrangement of things at present.

rt3232

My Feedback: (6)

Yea Alex48

It is kind of like what was done in the experimental shop, but with the cad systems of to day things would have been much easer.

Still doing great

Cheers Bob T

Alex48

The machined ski patterns are now with Phil at FighterAces. I'm looking forward to seeing his progress on the detailing but don't envy him putting all those rivets in! Sorry Phil or perhaps John

Some pictures of the Ski rivet detail...

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

rt3232

My Feedback: (6)

Alex
From memory those skies were about 90 % stainless and vary heavy and all those rivets were shot by hand..

Things are looking vary good

Cheers Bob T

raron455

My Feedback: (38)

Thanks for all the updates on this build, I know alot of us are following along every post. This has to be the most advanced scale build that has ever been undertaken, and to be honest, I don't think the word AEWSOME is a strong enough word to describe this jet,, I can not wait to see the finished product, absolutely amazing.

Alex48

Thanks Ronnie and Bob. Glad your enjoying following along.

It's about time I showed you all some real parts rather than endless screen grabs of our CAD work... although there are plenty more of those to come!

A render of the instrument panel to remind you all what it looked like then a few shots of the real parts.

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

CAD work was done by the very talented Anton Robertsson from Scale Details in Sweden, with some minor modifications in house here at The Little Jet Company. The parts are all made and finished by us here in the UK.

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

TLJC

We are aware it has been some time since we updated this thread. Thank you to everyone who has been sending emails of encouragement and interest with regard to our SeaDart project. We now have a team working full time on the final manufacture of the components. The testing phases of the project are fast approaching!


A few images showing some progress, the first is a basic photo of the cockpit. This is a prototype only and not representative of the finished parts in terms of quality, also this has the bare minimum of detail included and is being used by a company in the US to design the animatronic pilot.

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


The actual manufactured part for the bottom skin of the ski on the first prototype model.

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


One more shot of the top ski showing some of the detail Fighteraces worked so hard to include on the patterns. The standard size i-phone hopefully gives some scale. The skis are 1.6 meters (5'3") in length and both these components are pre-preg carbon cloth cured in an autoclave.

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


We will start updating the thread in the next couple of months plus there are a number of articles in RCJI over the last four issues that may interest you.


We're looking forward to finishing this thread and will update it with all our progress over the summer.


Many thanks


TLJC

Quandry

Just incredible

raron455

My Feedback: (38)

I have been following this build from the beginning,,,
This thing is just UNBELIEVABLY INCREDIBLE,,,there is nothing in the scale modeling world to compare it by,, Just awesome.

Vettster

YES and if you think about the astounding amount of work that the guys have put into this model..... just think of the amount of work that went into the REAL ONE!! with its million or so rivets LOL

Hats off to your guys!!!!!!

rt3232

My Feedback: (6)

First time I saw the real thing in the build bay at the old San Diego Convair plant I thought it was something from a jewels verne book I thought boy this is sweet


Cheers Bob T

sideshow

My Feedback: (11)

...and there was no CAD anything back then.

bluefin021

I have enjoyed following the project and was curious how it has been going?