Building a Bonanza
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Building a Bonanza
Thought I'd share some pics of the 'ol winter project during its construction. A TF Bonanza. Wanted to take my time this winter and have a fully decked out V-tail come spring.
So far, I think its a well engineered kit. Die cutting is pretty good overall. I know it will be on the heaver side - just look at all that wood in the kit! Will have scale retracts and lights, etc, etc. Power is yet undecided - perhaps a 120 size 4-stroke or my YS 91?
Anyway, enjoy. Depending on response I can post more/less pics as needed.
No surprises in the construction so far.
So far, I think its a well engineered kit. Die cutting is pretty good overall. I know it will be on the heaver side - just look at all that wood in the kit! Will have scale retracts and lights, etc, etc. Power is yet undecided - perhaps a 120 size 4-stroke or my YS 91?
Anyway, enjoy. Depending on response I can post more/less pics as needed.
No surprises in the construction so far.
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Building a Bonanza
the birth of the right wing... I-beam construction. recommend sanding the tops and bottoms of the spar web so it sits flush on the spars. use a single edge razor blade to trim the aft spar to the correct angle.
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Building a Bonanza
top sheeting almost done! time to buy the retracts and work on the underside... taking donations for retracts, now!
notice the holes 'drilled' for the wingtip lights and retract air lines. used a sharpened brass tube in a drill. works great!
notice the holes 'drilled' for the wingtip lights and retract air lines. used a sharpened brass tube in a drill. works great!
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Good Looking Project
swill, I know what you mean about taking up donations for retracts. I just received a Top-Flite T-34 by Fed-Ex yesterday. The retracts are needed fairly soon after you start building so they can be fitted. How much scale detailing are you going to do on your Bonanza? I hope to cover mine with Flite-Metal. I wanted to build this plane first as practice for my Don Smith B-17 which is already started. Thanks for sharing the pictures and good luck with your project.
Jerry
Jerry
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Bonanza V-tail ?
A year ago, I was the test pilot for the TF V-tail Bonanza. My friend, the builder, was the most unconcerned person ever about weight, appearance, finish, power, etc....so we were eventually faced with a terrible dilemma : where to collect proper information about this particular plane. Found a person in these forums whose name is INJUNEAR who had posted info re his own TF Bonanza, which was a true Museum Quality model.
After innumerable back and forth exchanges of info, and advise, the day for the first flight arrived : ["this story is meant to make you feel better about the model itself"]...........
With a weight of 19 1/2 Lbs ( !!!) the OS .91FS gave us a fast fast run - on concrete - but to my experience, not enough to get airborne.
Next time out, with the OS 1.20FS, and now probably closer to 20LBS all up weight..... got the plane to lift off, fly around for trimming, cycle the retracts several times, practice stalls and make a most perfect landing.
The model was Full House, that is, retracts (home made electrics and heavy) full lighting system, plus the 1.20FS, flaps which were tried but showed no noticeable effect probably due to the heaviness of the whole thing and painted.
After that one and only flight, the plane hangs untouched from the ceiling of my friend's workshop and my friend ,no longer participates in the daily world, he is so ill.
I write this to give you a confident feeling that this is a plane with which you can hardly do anything wrong. Even under all those horrible conditions, it flew so well, and so smoothly, I can still experience the pleasure of that one and only flight. In fact, there is still a VHS tape of that one flight.
Go ahead, enjoy the building, be ASSURED you have a great project in front you.
ENJOY
RICK
After innumerable back and forth exchanges of info, and advise, the day for the first flight arrived : ["this story is meant to make you feel better about the model itself"]...........
With a weight of 19 1/2 Lbs ( !!!) the OS .91FS gave us a fast fast run - on concrete - but to my experience, not enough to get airborne.
Next time out, with the OS 1.20FS, and now probably closer to 20LBS all up weight..... got the plane to lift off, fly around for trimming, cycle the retracts several times, practice stalls and make a most perfect landing.
The model was Full House, that is, retracts (home made electrics and heavy) full lighting system, plus the 1.20FS, flaps which were tried but showed no noticeable effect probably due to the heaviness of the whole thing and painted.
After that one and only flight, the plane hangs untouched from the ceiling of my friend's workshop and my friend ,no longer participates in the daily world, he is so ill.
I write this to give you a confident feeling that this is a plane with which you can hardly do anything wrong. Even under all those horrible conditions, it flew so well, and so smoothly, I can still experience the pleasure of that one and only flight. In fact, there is still a VHS tape of that one flight.
Go ahead, enjoy the building, be ASSURED you have a great project in front you.
ENJOY
RICK
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Building a Bonanza
Jerry -
the retracts are on the way from Tower as we speak! I even paid the extra money to get them here by the weekend so I can continue with the wing.
I've gone crazy (with the checkbook)- I'm going **all out** on this model. Ordered the full-light set from RAM as well. So it was a pretty hefty order from Tower, once you throw in the accesories for the retracts (pump, air tank, quick connects, etc). I hope to work on it some this weekend - I wanted to build it as a true winter project (i.e. take my time, not rush, etc.) So Saturday I will fit the retracts and then frame up the left wing.
I haven't done anything super scale before, but I'll try. The one thing I thought about so far is the TF kit does not have the 'tabs' on the v-tail as the full size does. Debating whether I should leave as is or build a new 'elevator' with the tabs.
Barrick-
I've seen pictures your friends Bonanza. Truly a work of art. Sorry to hear of hs condition. I have a pic of his beautiful Bonanza on my computer for inspiration.
I'm undecided on power right now. I have a YS 91 that might do the trick - but it's mounted on my pattern plane right now. Maybe Saito 100/120 or OS 120?
Thanks for the replies!
- Scott
the retracts are on the way from Tower as we speak! I even paid the extra money to get them here by the weekend so I can continue with the wing.
I've gone crazy (with the checkbook)- I'm going **all out** on this model. Ordered the full-light set from RAM as well. So it was a pretty hefty order from Tower, once you throw in the accesories for the retracts (pump, air tank, quick connects, etc). I hope to work on it some this weekend - I wanted to build it as a true winter project (i.e. take my time, not rush, etc.) So Saturday I will fit the retracts and then frame up the left wing.
I haven't done anything super scale before, but I'll try. The one thing I thought about so far is the TF kit does not have the 'tabs' on the v-tail as the full size does. Debating whether I should leave as is or build a new 'elevator' with the tabs.
Barrick-
I've seen pictures your friends Bonanza. Truly a work of art. Sorry to hear of hs condition. I have a pic of his beautiful Bonanza on my computer for inspiration.
I'm undecided on power right now. I have a YS 91 that might do the trick - but it's mounted on my pattern plane right now. Maybe Saito 100/120 or OS 120?
Thanks for the replies!
- Scott
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Building a Bonanza
This INJUNEAR's model, right? She's gorgeous.
I'm searching the 'Net right now for schemes I like. Maybe I'll run down to PDK (Peachtree DeKalb Airport) this weekend to see if I spot any 35's.
Check out http://www.schemedesigners.com for some ideas on trim schemes, too. Click on Sample Projects.
I also have a Byron A-36 kit to build sometime, too!
I'm searching the 'Net right now for schemes I like. Maybe I'll run down to PDK (Peachtree DeKalb Airport) this weekend to see if I spot any 35's.
Check out http://www.schemedesigners.com for some ideas on trim schemes, too. Click on Sample Projects.
I also have a Byron A-36 kit to build sometime, too!
#13
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Building a Bonanza
Left wing is now as complete as the right wing. The next major section to be framed up is the wing center section, shown here before sheeting. Note, make sure you glue the leading edge (W21 & W21A per the instructions. W21A is the most forward part).
And I found out that spare change makes a nice weight, esp for sheeting. TF instructions call for lead shot or BB's in plastic bags. Not wanting to make the trek to Bass Pro shops, I found out spare change works just as well!
And I found out that spare change makes a nice weight, esp for sheeting. TF instructions call for lead shot or BB's in plastic bags. Not wanting to make the trek to Bass Pro shops, I found out spare change works just as well!
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VICARIOUS BUILDING !
Been there, done that !
dear SWILL....can't help but tell you that I am following your building saga, day by day, with the same interest we used to devote to the Saturday afternoon movie cliff-hangers.
Having witnessed my friend's building sequence, also daily, find it hard to describe how DIFFERENT your building is from his.
I am truly AMAZED by your perfect building, and actually ENVY the whole thing.
You will arrive at a true Museum Quality piece, no doubt.
Will it be a nothch higher than even INJUN-EAR's ????
Can't wait to see !
Keep going, please, this is better than Cable TV.
and thanks
RICK
:sunsmiley
dear SWILL....can't help but tell you that I am following your building saga, day by day, with the same interest we used to devote to the Saturday afternoon movie cliff-hangers.
Having witnessed my friend's building sequence, also daily, find it hard to describe how DIFFERENT your building is from his.
I am truly AMAZED by your perfect building, and actually ENVY the whole thing.
You will arrive at a true Museum Quality piece, no doubt.
Will it be a nothch higher than even INJUN-EAR's ????
Can't wait to see !
Keep going, please, this is better than Cable TV.
and thanks
RICK
:sunsmiley
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Looks good, Wulf!
The past week afforded me opportunity to accomplish more. I decided to join the wing halves earlier than what's shown in the manual. This allowed me to get the best possible joint between ribs W1 & W2, as well as set the dihedral exactly (which turned out to be slightly less than in the manual, I should have double checked).
Here's a shot of setting the wing joiners before attaching the center section.
The past week afforded me opportunity to accomplish more. I decided to join the wing halves earlier than what's shown in the manual. This allowed me to get the best possible joint between ribs W1 & W2, as well as set the dihedral exactly (which turned out to be slightly less than in the manual, I should have double checked).
Here's a shot of setting the wing joiners before attaching the center section.
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Building a Bonanza
After the wings were joined, I used sanding sealer in the wheel well areas - in preparation for primer and paint. While the sanding sealer dries (it says 3 days?! and then another 3 days for the Lustrekote Primer! then paint!), I decided to frame the fuse today (Sun, 11/17/02).
Here's the formers laid out...
Note how well the metal mitre box from X-Acto holds the 1/8 ply firewall gauge so well! No helper needed.
Here's the formers laid out...
Note how well the metal mitre box from X-Acto holds the 1/8 ply firewall gauge so well! No helper needed.
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Without further adeiu, the framed-up fuse! Light and strong.
My only complaint is 2 of the 48" long balsa sheets that make up the fuse sides were/are cracked vertically. I positioned most of the cracks over the ply fuse doublers. My LHS doesn't stock 48" sheet balsa, so I had to make do.
My only complaint is 2 of the 48" long balsa sheets that make up the fuse sides were/are cracked vertically. I positioned most of the cracks over the ply fuse doublers. My LHS doesn't stock 48" sheet balsa, so I had to make do.
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swill, looks familiar. The servo set up for the ruddervators sure does make it inconvenient if you ever need to swap out the servos! Also. If you attach the cabin top with blocks at the plan location, good luck getting a ball driver in to tighten the screws up without drilling holes to accomodate. You might also lay out the throttle, nosewheel and retract servo set up before any cutting of parts or gluing takes place. I installed the throttle servo on the right side, nosewheel upside down in center per plans, and the retract servo on the top left side opposite the throttle servo, it's the only way I could figure out to get the valve in without it hitting something. If I remember the plans showed the opposite, and due to offset of the nosewheel servo, it wasn't going to work for me.
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Wulf,
Thanks for the heads up! Definately will take that info into consideration- if you have pics of the interior of your Bonanza, would you mind posting them or emailing them to me? What engine have you used and how was the CG?
Yeah, I was scratching my head on the ruddervator servo. thought about drilling tiny access holes for a ball driver.
Did you add gear door covers?
Again, thanks for all the help!
- Scott
Thanks for the heads up! Definately will take that info into consideration- if you have pics of the interior of your Bonanza, would you mind posting them or emailing them to me? What engine have you used and how was the CG?
Yeah, I was scratching my head on the ruddervator servo. thought about drilling tiny access holes for a ball driver.
Did you add gear door covers?
Again, thanks for all the help!
- Scott
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Scott, I will take some pics and post for reference on the servo set up up front. I did not use gear doors, nor have I attached the strut covers for the struts yet. I do plan on adding the strut covers, just haven't given any thought yet as to how they might be best attached, and with what material, to make them fit flush with the wing. The doors would be another matter altogether. The inner doors, like on the full scale, would be difficult to duplicate due to the set up of the wing. It could definitely be done. But, I figured this would be the point of diminishing returns in the building process, so I held off. Now, I am kind of glad, as the finished plane turns out way heavier than they recommend....about 18.5 for this one. I am using a new Saito 1.5 GK. I had to put a couple more degrees of bend in the standard pipe in order to gain clearance for muffler routing as I didn't feel like getting killed for the sixty bucks the flex pipe costs. If I had to do it again, I would get the flex pipe and route the muffler out the bottom. But, even with the stock setup, I was able to achieve a nice look up front. I have had some radio glitches acting up during range testing and need to clean this up before the plane goes up. I do anticipate power to be about right though, judging from the motor's strength on the ground. I just drilled a couple of holes in the bottom behind the servos to access the cabintop screws. It is difficult to access them, so take a look at where you mount the blocks. I didn't do anything different than the stock setup for the ruddervator servos, though, like I said, I didn't like not having any access to them. One thing you'll figure out after the cockpit and all the stuff goes in it, there is a TON of wiring and hoses that are routed all over under the cockpit floor. It makes getting the plane together at the field kind of time consuming, a small problem though.
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Building a Bonanza
Wulf190,
Although it is also $60+ like the flex tube, would the twister muffler from Performance Specialties work in your application?
http://www.pspec.com/4strokemufflers.html
Just wondering. I have a Bonanza (still in the box and far down the "to-build" list) and was curious if that would help in your situation and therefore in mine whenever I start.
Don
Although it is also $60+ like the flex tube, would the twister muffler from Performance Specialties work in your application?
http://www.pspec.com/4strokemufflers.html
Just wondering. I have a Bonanza (still in the box and far down the "to-build" list) and was curious if that would help in your situation and therefore in mine whenever I start.
Don