redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Hey Ranger1, all is well with Shirley and I. Passed on to the lady the special words from the girls. Having a bit of an issue getting the flaps and the top sheeting trailing edge to square up. Seems the 3"s or so from the root out toward the tip is not sitting well. From about 3" out to the tip, the flap trailing edge and the top sheet trailing edge are lining up fairly realistic. Finishing up the underside of the top sheeting trailing edge of where the flaps sit when fully up. Will shoot a picture of what I'm saying, much easier for you to see then for me to explain. Ha, smile. Chic

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Looking at the pictures left to right: Both wing panels are upside down. The 1st, is the right wing panel. The G10 trailing edge of the flap is straight, need to either trim down or build up the wing trailing edge sheeting then sand the top of the wing sheeting flat. The middle two pictures are just showing the detail I am constructing on the flap and the underside of the wing sheeting where the flap would retract up into. The last picture shows the port wing panel which has just about the same condition near the root as the starboard wing panel. Trying to talk that Navy talk. Hell, what is wrong with left or right. What do you Army strong people call it? Smile. My ears are open. Thanks for any suggestions. Chic

Ranger1-00

CHIC, we call it your right and your other right....ha. I'm not sure how to fix your flap issue, let me think about it. I'll call you with some ideas....

WARBIRDRCER

My Feedback: (22)

yep, and your military right

Chic, this is going to be one scale bird. If you need any others photos just ask.

lkahn4

Chic,
Glad all is well and that you are still in build mode.
You can always do what we did, I rebuilt the inboard flaps twice to get it just right. But from the pix the build looks awesome... part of the problem is that the thin basswood tends to warp a bit and makes it tough to get flat.
Ours is not perfect but they worked fine on the maiden.

Larry

peter w h

Chic:

I think the easiest way to correct the misalignment / warp is to,

1-Slide a razor saw between the wing ribs and free-up the trailing edge skin.
2-Clamp a straight edge to the top of the wing skin trailing edge and also set the angle to match the flap at this time.
3-Fill the gap between the repositioned skin and the ribs with a gap filling C/A or better yet Hysol.

Peter

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Boy, you guys are good. Great eyes on catching the use of basswood. Peter, will do as you suggest, will let you know the results. Thanks guys. Chic

lkahn4

Chic,
I only know it's Basswood since I rebuilt the flaps twice to get them right. And the slightest bit of moisture warps the wood, not to mention they were already warped when we took them out of the box.
I have the utmost faith and confidence in you to get it perfect so that when I finally see it I can get sick about ours.

Larry

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Peter, Larry, Ranger1-00, WARBIRDRCER, I wish you could see the cheese eating grin on my face. I feel like a mouse who woke up to find himself lost in a cheese factory. I did exactly what you guys said, splitting the top sheeting from the flap area ribs. I did not have to go further up into the wing ribs just the overhang portion covering the flap. I have not glued anything as of yet but I clamped everything together and I can't believe how easy this is going. A bit more sanding, WOW, it looks sooooooo good. Thanks guys, I feel soooooo much better. Onward. Chic

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Ranger1-00

CHIC, outstanding! Very excited it's not a major overhaul! Now hurry up and get it glued and then glassed

butlern

My Feedback: (15)

Well done, Chic!

I'm still watching! (in between working out on the treadmill thanks to your comments!!! Hahahah Just kidding!)

Keep up the fine work, my friend.

WARBIRDRCER

My Feedback: (22)

Looking Good Chic, If any more photos are needed just ask. That will give Noah, Ray, Boyd, and myself a reason to meet at the airport.

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Noah, please move over from time to time, I too need time on that treadmill. Shirley has me signed up at a boxing gym, not to box but to get back into shape. Smile. I enjoy your great sense of humor. Thanks for still watching, I'll always count on you and the guys, I'm so d#@$ slow. Hey guys, all of you please chime in if you can help. With the fuse build coming up, who knows what help I will need. Chic

lkahn4

Chic,
Whatever you need

Larry

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

OK, guys, need your advice, just finished up the flaps. Look at Post #1952 at the top of the page, look at the 2nd and 3rd pictures. Should I coat the bare wood of both the flaps and the underside of the wing where the flap rests upon being retracted with thinned out epoxy then primer or leave the wood bare and simply primer and paint those pieces?????????? Near everyone's input so I can make a decision.

Ranger1-00

Chic, I would just primer these areas. The epoxy is unnecessary weight in this location in my opinion.

peter w h

Two coats of clear thinned out dope to seal up the wood, a lite sand to remove the fuzz and then primer.

lkahn4

we just primed, sanded, primed, sanded and painted. We felt that anything else would add too much thickness though Peters Idea hadn't occurred to me.

peter w h

Another note: Whatever you end up doing to the inside of the flap it's self, make sure to do the same treatment to the outside at the same time.

Just treating the inside and waiting until the plane is ready to receive the outside finish will warp the flap.

jdeluyck

My Feedback: (6)

Hello Avenger fans,

I finally saved enough pennies to begin my TBM!

I have been going through the plans and comparing them to 3-views, trying to lay out where to place servos, hinges, etc… I ran into a big problem already

Charlie’s instruction sheet and plans are based on a wingspan of 52 feet 2 inches. Every piece of documentation that I can find lists the wingspan as 54 feet 2 inches…
I am not sure what I am going to do, as the only two options I can think of are;

1. change the plans to match the 3-view
2. build the wing per the plans and take a hit on the scale outline

I am interested to hear feedback from you all.

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Alright guys, Just ordered some nitrate dope. Ranger1-00 your suggestion is good but the guys are suggesting a means of protection. After talking with Rick at his shop today, he agrees with Peter to nitrate dope the wood to seal the wood to protect it (gas, oil, etc.) and also to fill the wood to prep for a better surface to primer/paint. Peter, is there any additional advice you have on how to keep the flap from wrapping when I brush on the dope to both sides of the flap and the underside of the wing surface? Jerry, I don't see where the discrepancy you found would actually show itself during judging unless you told the judges. Charlie designed the airframe as a sport scale outline. I have made several adjustments to bring the airframe I intend to compete with more in line with the scale outline such as the wing mailbox ports on the leading edge, the wing nav lights based on the TBF versus the TBM, etc. Good luck on your build, hopefully you won't finish before me like the rest of this wonderful group of guys. Chic

WARBIRDRCER

My Feedback: (22)

Chic, do you know what type paint you will be finishing the plane with. If so, it is advisable to test the compatibility of all the paint products. Some paints do not play well together because the thinners and/or reducers can attack the finish they are being sprayed on.

Also, would it be possible to spray the dope on in order to reduce the amount of wetting of the wood structure. A few thin sprayed coats over time could remove the risk of warping.

Just a thought.

lkahn4

Hey Jerry,
Remember that if you change the plans to match the actual size you will also NEED to recut all the ribs and increase the size of the fuse plan to match the enlarged center section.
We used Charlies' layout for the servo positions and it has flown great, alas that we have not personally flown it yet.
I am hoping to get stick time this summer but a friend of mine who did the maiden said it flew superbly.

Let me know if you need any other info.
BTW, be careful when you cut the bomb bay as we cut it in the wrong spot and had to re build the doors


Larry