Hughes H1 Build
02-10-2017, 06:15 AM
#101
Hi All!
Yes, Mike I have to agree, Robart gear is not cheap!, I just ordered my struts today, they had to be the extra long ones for the H1. They are very nice, quality parts though. Well today, after snowblowing a foot of snow off the driveway, I was going to go for the fin install but decided that maybe it would be better to take care of the wing bolts, and the saddle first... it would be easier to keep it inverted without the fin on. I was shocked at how well the wing fit to the fuse on the first attempt. Nice and tight on the saddle, and perfect width between the fore and aft bulkheads. I decided to add an 1/8" piece of ply to the inside of the fuse, where the bolt blocks are, then I ran two pieces of carbon fiber rod through the blocks, the balsa fuse side, then the ply. That will make it much stronger for that big wing. Also installed the front dowels into the wing.
Have a Great night Everyone!
Bob
Yes, Mike I have to agree, Robart gear is not cheap!, I just ordered my struts today, they had to be the extra long ones for the H1. They are very nice, quality parts though. Well today, after snowblowing a foot of snow off the driveway, I was going to go for the fin install but decided that maybe it would be better to take care of the wing bolts, and the saddle first... it would be easier to keep it inverted without the fin on. I was shocked at how well the wing fit to the fuse on the first attempt. Nice and tight on the saddle, and perfect width between the fore and aft bulkheads. I decided to add an 1/8" piece of ply to the inside of the fuse, where the bolt blocks are, then I ran two pieces of carbon fiber rod through the blocks, the balsa fuse side, then the ply. That will make it much stronger for that big wing. Also installed the front dowels into the wing.
Have a Great night Everyone!
Bob
Are you lucky enough to have a local hobby shop to order your Robart struts? I generally order everything I can thru my LHS, he tries real hard to match mail order prices and it is my way of helping him keep the doors open. I would rather spend a few pennies more to keep him around when I need help and it keeps some of my money local.
02-10-2017, 05:28 PM
#102
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Absolutely Mike, my local Hobbytown is owned by one of the nicest guys I know. I always order anything that I can through him, if I don't find it first on his shelves. The Robart order was a little tough, we looked up the extra long struts last week and he couldn't find them through his suppliers. I went directly to Robart and they didn't even have them in stock, I guess they may have had to make them. I had a small order come from Tower this week, it was just easier to use them on this one, which included some Tygon tubing. Well I ordered the 1/8" stuff, which was too small for the fuel system on the Saito, so I called him up to ask if he had the larger size up. "I've got all three sizes, which one do you need?" he said." I ordered the 1/8" from Tower and it's too small", I responded. "I have the 5/32!" Great!, I said. Can you deliver it today?, I asked, He says,"Normally I would!, but you went to Tower first, so the hell with you!!" It was one of those real funny moments. I told him I'd see him tomorrow! Great people, great family that run that store. Anyway... today I spent time building the test stand that I'll fire up the fg60 on tomorrow. I can't wait to hear it! Have a nice night, Everyone
Bob
Bob
02-11-2017, 05:26 PM
#104
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Yes he is. Well today I was able to start the fg60 and run 3 tanks through it. The first two were sloppy rich, with a 15:1 oil/gas mix. After that, the third tank I was alternately running rich to peak power. It ran beautifully. Sounds kinda like a Harley!. It's going to be perfect for this plane. I also was able to cut out the saddles and get those fit to the fuse. I spliced the front 6" of them with the grain in the other direction, to make it easier to bend the front curve. I drilled and tapped the wing blocks, and installed the wing onto the dry fit saddles. It all came out very nicely. I also cut the first two pieces of balsa block for the fillet so that when I'm ready to epoxy the saddles in, I can use these two blocks to hold down the saddle tightly to the wing, at its widest width. Ok! well that's about all for now! Hope Everyone is having a great weekend! Bob
02-12-2017, 05:26 PM
#106
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Hi Everyone!
So today I decided to do some more work on the bottom of the fuse, while the fin is still off. I started to fabricate the belly pan, and that also requires the detail if extending the wheel wells through the pan as well. The plan shows four bulkheads with the foam between, like the rest of the fuse, but I decided to frame it up with balsa stringers. I ran them through where the wells are, then i'll glue some small legs from the stringers down to the sheeting to keep its height while I cut them out. I'll also brace them, somehow, so the can't move sideways either. I'll then use the 1/64 ply extended down into the finished well. I was thinking about some inner half doors that would close as the main gear comes down, but that's starting to get complicated.I wish I could figure out how HH fabricated those little doors that were part of the main gear and its door
I also left a 1/4" space between the forward most bulkheads because the first time I glued it in I made it tight, but then discovered that you'd have much trouble getting the wing off! I'll cover the gap with a small strip of 1/64" ply. That's all for now! Bob.
So today I decided to do some more work on the bottom of the fuse, while the fin is still off. I started to fabricate the belly pan, and that also requires the detail if extending the wheel wells through the pan as well. The plan shows four bulkheads with the foam between, like the rest of the fuse, but I decided to frame it up with balsa stringers. I ran them through where the wells are, then i'll glue some small legs from the stringers down to the sheeting to keep its height while I cut them out. I'll also brace them, somehow, so the can't move sideways either. I'll then use the 1/64 ply extended down into the finished well. I was thinking about some inner half doors that would close as the main gear comes down, but that's starting to get complicated.I wish I could figure out how HH fabricated those little doors that were part of the main gear and its door
I also left a 1/4" space between the forward most bulkheads because the first time I glued it in I made it tight, but then discovered that you'd have much trouble getting the wing off! I'll cover the gap with a small strip of 1/64" ply. That's all for now! Bob.
02-13-2017, 05:33 PM
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Hi Everyone,
I agree, Tim the wing fillets do add that detail that just says "Golden Era". My Gee Bee also has a very prominent one. They are some work to do nicely, but in the end, they're beautiful. OK, so today I worked on the belly pan more, getting the upper walls of the wheel wells installed, then working the trailing edge to fuse extensions fared in. A lot of work, but again, in the end these are the details that will make it look good. Still trying to picture how the main door will of the gear will sit in its opening, and how to make some kinda inner door, so that the bottom of the plane will be completely closed when it is airborne.I have some Ideas that are not true to scale, but sometimes it's what you have to do adapt it to rc use. Well, I'll talk to everyone tomorrow! Bob
I agree, Tim the wing fillets do add that detail that just says "Golden Era". My Gee Bee also has a very prominent one. They are some work to do nicely, but in the end, they're beautiful. OK, so today I worked on the belly pan more, getting the upper walls of the wheel wells installed, then working the trailing edge to fuse extensions fared in. A lot of work, but again, in the end these are the details that will make it look good. Still trying to picture how the main door will of the gear will sit in its opening, and how to make some kinda inner door, so that the bottom of the plane will be completely closed when it is airborne.I have some Ideas that are not true to scale, but sometimes it's what you have to do adapt it to rc use. Well, I'll talk to everyone tomorrow! Bob
02-14-2017, 05:24 PM
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Hey!
Thanks Mike! Yes it came out pretty nice, today's picture shows it sheeted, and with the 1/64"x9/16" ply that covers the gap needed to get the wing off. I'll fare the front edge of that piece into the foam before I cover it. I almost had to do it twice, because the patterns for the 2 middle formers were too big height wise, when I first started gluing in the stringers, something just didn't look right. I put an eyeball on it from the back, and saw that it was too high. I put a strip of formica laminate from the front to the back, and that formed its natural curve. The new formers were about 3/8" less in height. The little notches were made with the scroll saw. Anyway with that being done, i'm onto the top fillet! Thanks for watching, Everyone! Bob
Thanks Mike! Yes it came out pretty nice, today's picture shows it sheeted, and with the 1/64"x9/16" ply that covers the gap needed to get the wing off. I'll fare the front edge of that piece into the foam before I cover it. I almost had to do it twice, because the patterns for the 2 middle formers were too big height wise, when I first started gluing in the stringers, something just didn't look right. I put an eyeball on it from the back, and saw that it was too high. I put a strip of formica laminate from the front to the back, and that formed its natural curve. The new formers were about 3/8" less in height. The little notches were made with the scroll saw. Anyway with that being done, i'm onto the top fillet! Thanks for watching, Everyone! Bob
02-15-2017, 05:25 PM
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Hello Everyone,
Thanks for the nice comment, Mike.I can't wait to start on the gear doors, now that all this is done! I've got to finish with the fillets, first, though. I worked on one of the top sides, today, cutting block balsa between the pattern lines, provided. A lot of compound curves, a lot of sanding, a lot of re-dos. I put a new piece of 36 grit paper on my 1 1/2" metal closet pole, which seems to work pretty well for the rough shaping of that curve. After it's shaped, close to finish, i'll fare the top to the fuse with some lightweight filler. This is the method I used on my Gee Bee, and it worked out very well. OK! that's all for now... Bob
Thanks for the nice comment, Mike.I can't wait to start on the gear doors, now that all this is done! I've got to finish with the fillets, first, though. I worked on one of the top sides, today, cutting block balsa between the pattern lines, provided. A lot of compound curves, a lot of sanding, a lot of re-dos. I put a new piece of 36 grit paper on my 1 1/2" metal closet pole, which seems to work pretty well for the rough shaping of that curve. After it's shaped, close to finish, i'll fare the top to the fuse with some lightweight filler. This is the method I used on my Gee Bee, and it worked out very well. OK! that's all for now... Bob
02-16-2017, 05:27 PM
#113
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Hi Everyone,
Well I finished one side of the top fillet, and I'm now onto the other. I put up two pictures tonight one showing the rough sanded finish side, and the other is a picture of just how strange some of the cuttings get in the individual blocks! It's a slow process, but it will really make this plane look nice. I like to use the Hobbico lightweight filler for the faring, if you dampen the area where you are going to use it, it smooths on very nicely. OK... I guess that's about all for today!
Bob
Well I finished one side of the top fillet, and I'm now onto the other. I put up two pictures tonight one showing the rough sanded finish side, and the other is a picture of just how strange some of the cuttings get in the individual blocks! It's a slow process, but it will really make this plane look nice. I like to use the Hobbico lightweight filler for the faring, if you dampen the area where you are going to use it, it smooths on very nicely. OK... I guess that's about all for today!
Bob
02-17-2017, 05:31 PM
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Thanks, Guys!
Yeah, they are a lot of elbow grease, but that 36 grit gets it there in a hurry! You really have to be careful using it, it just eats balsa! Well not too much to show today, it was a late day at work, then had to pick up my son, an hour away. I did manage to convince my wife to let me bring the horizontal belt sander up to my work space from the garage, provided I hookup the Festool dust extractor to it. That'll really speed this fillet up, I don't have to go outside, walk up and down the stairs to the garage, every time I need to sand a little more off of a block.( She is a very understanding and tolerant wife to this avid rc enthusiast!!). Also a picture of the Flitemetal and Rosie the riveter rivet kit that showed up today. The Robart struts and stuff got here yesterday. I ordered the coverite fabric covering in middle blue from Tower today along with some flat dove gray monokote for the rudder and elevators. Thanks, Everyone!... Bob
Yeah, they are a lot of elbow grease, but that 36 grit gets it there in a hurry! You really have to be careful using it, it just eats balsa! Well not too much to show today, it was a late day at work, then had to pick up my son, an hour away. I did manage to convince my wife to let me bring the horizontal belt sander up to my work space from the garage, provided I hookup the Festool dust extractor to it. That'll really speed this fillet up, I don't have to go outside, walk up and down the stairs to the garage, every time I need to sand a little more off of a block.( She is a very understanding and tolerant wife to this avid rc enthusiast!!). Also a picture of the Flitemetal and Rosie the riveter rivet kit that showed up today. The Robart struts and stuff got here yesterday. I ordered the coverite fabric covering in middle blue from Tower today along with some flat dove gray monokote for the rudder and elevators. Thanks, Everyone!... Bob
02-18-2017, 01:50 AM
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Hi Mike,
it's the Saito fg60 r3... great engine, it comes with the Ray English mods right outta the box too!
Hi Evan! Great pictures of the original gear detail. That's the one in the Smithsonian, yes?
Bob
it's the Saito fg60 r3... great engine, it comes with the Ray English mods right outta the box too!
Hi Evan! Great pictures of the original gear detail. That's the one in the Smithsonian, yes?
Bob
02-18-2017, 05:13 PM
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Hi again Everyone!
Well not much work on the H1 today, long day at work, and not very good sleep last night. I did manage to finish the other fillet, and it looks pretty good. It appears and feels symmetrical to the other side. I also had to think about how to bring the fillet around the leading edge and stop it before the wheel well. It's a tricky spot and when I tried to attach some balsa there, It just didn't work. I decided to mix up some epoxy and microballoons and fare it in that way, It looks a little messy in the picture, but there's wax paper under, that will be cut off even with the curve of the wing.Ok! well that's all for now! Thanks for looking!
Bob
Well not much work on the H1 today, long day at work, and not very good sleep last night. I did manage to finish the other fillet, and it looks pretty good. It appears and feels symmetrical to the other side. I also had to think about how to bring the fillet around the leading edge and stop it before the wheel well. It's a tricky spot and when I tried to attach some balsa there, It just didn't work. I decided to mix up some epoxy and microballoons and fare it in that way, It looks a little messy in the picture, but there's wax paper under, that will be cut off even with the curve of the wing.Ok! well that's all for now! Thanks for looking!
Bob
02-19-2017, 05:29 PM
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Hi everyone!
Well it was an absolutely beautiful day here in Ct.! If there wasn't all the leftover snow still on the ground, it would have been a fly day for sure! I did get out to my driveway and started one of my turbines that has been sitting since fall though. Worked on the H1 some, and was able to make that front fillet that goes around the LE look pretty good. It still needs some work, but the basic shape is there. The west system microballoon/fillet powder mixed with BSI 30 min epoxy works very well. I let it set up for about 10 min, then with a finger wetted with denatured alcohol, you can really shape it out to its basic shape. I also started to install the bottom fillet, and put in an order to BVM for some .007" carbon fiber to stiffen up the spots that sanded out to nothing. I will use the CF on the underside of the flaps also to make them more rigid. Hope everyone had a good weekend! Bob
Well it was an absolutely beautiful day here in Ct.! If there wasn't all the leftover snow still on the ground, it would have been a fly day for sure! I did get out to my driveway and started one of my turbines that has been sitting since fall though. Worked on the H1 some, and was able to make that front fillet that goes around the LE look pretty good. It still needs some work, but the basic shape is there. The west system microballoon/fillet powder mixed with BSI 30 min epoxy works very well. I let it set up for about 10 min, then with a finger wetted with denatured alcohol, you can really shape it out to its basic shape. I also started to install the bottom fillet, and put in an order to BVM for some .007" carbon fiber to stiffen up the spots that sanded out to nothing. I will use the CF on the underside of the flaps also to make them more rigid. Hope everyone had a good weekend! Bob