Fast Freddy

[8D]Nice work gentlemen! Have you tried contacting the kit mfgr. as to the poor quality of ply and balsa wood? Sometimes direct feedback from customers can make a difference. And don't worry about the poor wood quality since once the fuselage is glassed it won't matter anyway. Anyone know where I can purchase individual RCM&E issues for the Sunderland in the USA? Can't seem to find anything except a year's subscription.

Keep up the great work!

siddus74

Freddy,

Thanks for support, I emailed Slec and a Tony but nothing has come from it - to be honest I agree that once it it boxed up I'm sure it will all be ok but it's just disspointing that they dont quality control the wood packs etc before making them available for sale. I feel responsible to a degree as it was only due to lack of real dedication from the onset that I opted for 'quick' option and purchased what I felt at the time was an overpriced wood CNC wood pack . . . We all know that lite ply can be difficult to work with, 1/8 balsa would have been adequate, lighter and easier to build using just cyano.

Still, I'm quite happy with the outcome so far but know that sheeting lite ply will take addtional time and care as the overall adhesion to it with balsa using cyano is not as good as 'balsa to balsa'.

siddus74

Wanted to get the wings on the fuselage as soon as possible now as I am anxious to know how out of square things have turned out, to make this happen the center section of the underside of the wings needs to be sheeted as that is the final surface that sits on the wing seat.

The wings are true enough now, maybe a fraction of incidence change from tip to tip but nothing really to be concerned about I feel.

3 hours see's 2 x servo lead tubes from tracing paper and some sheeting . . .

I'm still making it up as I'm going along really, the plans give a good idea on what it should end up like but are a little sparse in detail in some area's, also i'm not going to sheet the entire wing to try and save some weight and stock.

siddus74

You would believe it took 3 hours of to cut 2 bits of 6mm ply, drill and press 3 blind nuts, square it all up with the wings and glue with epoxy . . .

Not sure theres enough room for standard radio, I may have to use micro

sir crashallot

looking good so far keep it up

Fast Freddy

[8D]Bravo Gentlemen! It's really starting to look like an airplane now. Yes, I can believe it took 6 hours to cut a few ply parts and so on. Keep up the fine work!

Fast Freddy

[8D] Oopps forgot something. Just a suggestion. You might want to consider waterproofing the inside of the fuselage with sanding sealer or water based polyurethane before things get closed up with sheeting. If and when the plane flips over upside down, water will find a way in no matter how tight everything is. Just a suggestion.

siddus74

Freddy,

The rear stringers are not glued in as yet for this very reason, however I am not sure what to use as I dont want ot risk the warping that coms with water based stuff, thing is as well I think it may be best to leave it until the radio tray is glued in then I can go right up to the wing seat.

Also the reaon why I havent done any more is that the rear stab is shown with a tapered profile both across and outwards, the profile of the ribs dont have stand off's to keep the ribs in center line . . . so all in all I am leaning towards a standard 1/4 thick truss built equivalent - undecided . . .

Will it detract to much from the look? Looking around the hanger all the rest of my planes are just 1/4 thick rounded LE etc?

Fast Freddy

Siddus,
Sanding sealer is not water based, but a solvent based product. I've used it before with good results and it will not warp the wood.

siddus74

After a weeks thought I decided to give the stabaliser a go as per plan . . . all I can say is what a 4 hour sentence it turned out to be . . . 3 cheers for the permagrits tools!

Fast Freddy

[8D] Sid, In case you haven't seen this build thread, same Sunderland, only further along. It may have some information you need.

http://www.modelflying.co.uk/forum/f...N/4758/V/6/SP/

Stab looks great!

siddus74

Freddy - Yes I have seen this thread, if mine turns out only half as good as his I shall be well pleased! Thing is that when your working with electric your scope for paint and finish is so much wider, when using IC I feel I am limited with what I can use due to longivity issues caused by the nitro. IE 2 part wing skinning epoxy with ultralight 25oz cloth and enamel paint for the hull and hull sides (upto wing seat level), then solartex for the upper sections and wings . . . . that is wha I have done in he past and seems to be a survivor.

Thanks for the correspondence.

Siddus74

Fast Freddy

[8D]Hi Sid,
Did you purchase your kit, SETRC2052 Sunderland Set from www.myhobbystore.com ?

Also, I assume the kit included plans, laser cut formers, ribs and plastic and / or fiberglass parts. Wood for stringers and sheeting I assume needs to be provided by the builder. Is this correct? I sent them an e-mail on international shipping costs. Have to figure out if it's worth it for me to buy the plans only or the kit.

siddus74

Freddy,

That is the correct plan yes, although I purchased my my plan and wood pack and CNC pack from one of the shows we have here in the UK.

If you were to purchase the wood pack and CNC pack you should have all the wood you need. I did and although I have not finished mine I know I will have loads and loads left over . . .

If I were doing it again I would only buy the plan and possibly the plastics. From my experience the CNC pack that is lite ply was warped and my strong felling is that carefully selected 1/8 balsa would be a much better substitute.

It also works out a very expensive way to do it. If you need an export man let me know, as you can return the favour! (I want a hobbico twin star)

chinehamgeorge

Hi Fast Freddy

If you visit http://www.tonynijhuisdesigns.co.uk/ and drop Tony an email via the website, I'm sure he can help you. Have you flown your's yet?

Cheers n beers
George

siddus74

The plan suggest 9mm sheet for the fin and rudder then sanded but in the next breath the articel suggest's keeping the backend light?

I decided to try and compliment the built up stab with built up fin and rudder, then I was able to extend the LE of the rudder fin to the base of fus for some added strength, also the grain in the structures will ensure ample strength and will be less likely to warp.

Although hard to see the LE and TE are tapered about to about 3mm then from about 1.5 inches back,so the assy still looks rounded.


After much thought this is what I came up with . . .

Fast Freddy

[8D]Hi George, I haven't purchased anything yet. I live in the US and am trying to figure out whether or not it's worth it for me to purchase the plans only and/or plans, kit and fiberglass/plastic parts. In the meantime I'm really enjoying watching and reading Sid's build log.

Way to go Sid, looking good!

siddus74

Done a little more, been well tired this week to much VBA . . .

Still found the plane I am going to model mine on.

Fast Freddy

[8D] Hi Sid, Looking good! Are you planning to convert the military Sunderland to civilian Antilles Air Boats version? Either way it's going to be great!

siddus74

Freddy,

I plan (at the mo) to base the finish on the civilian 'southern cross' pictured previously as the couor scheme lends it's self to good visability, but you never know do you . . . I've not done any more to it this week as I have been glassing the hull of my Canadair after the weekends Titanic experience.

Also ive have had a rethink and am going to build the additional nacels now and go straight for the 4 engines. I have just taken delivery of 2 x OS10la's with 2 once slant tanks (the same ones as I used in the Cat) and also just sourced to new OS15fp's as well . . . (they will have 4 once SLEC blues)

Very excited now, my thought was have 3 twins, not now - im ready for the next step 4 engines.

Wish me luck!

siddus74

managed to do some more tonight;

shaped the stab tips, finished fitting the elevator joiner - packing out top and bottom then 32 ply to ensure the 12 guage doesnt pop through in flight.

Built the rear section of the keel - could see no way to carve it symentrically so I choose the built up option, just to finish the night off a quick glue and carve for the bottom nose assy . . .

siddus74

My mate Simon helped with the rudder and elevator radio and linkage installation as I was undecided on the correct way to go at it, used so high viscosity finishing epoxy to seal the inner hull as it is inevitable that water gets in. Started the planking as well . . .

siddus74

Planking, planking and more planking . . . Fuselage nearly done. The plans calls for 3/32, I used 1/16th to save some weight and to make the job easier . . .

I little concerned at the moment about the weight of 4 IC engines, the article suggests the AUW is 8lb's (electric), im sure even with 4 IC engines I can beat that but still 8lb over 72" with tapered wings will not be fun . . . but it wont be the same with 2 I think?

siddus74

Nose and tail sorted - all planked - need to save the weight for the engines . . .

chinehamgeorge

Hi Scotty

Wouldn't worry too much about the weight, my P-47 weighs 9.5lbs and a wingspan of 65" and it lands like a fun fly, very slowly.
Have you thought of fitting flaps? this would really slow it down for landing.

Cheers
George