Firebar

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I haven't posted in a few days but I have been working.

I had to finish making some Avenger cowlings and put the DA-50 back into my SBACH before I could get to work on the Tracker.

I lucked out and got a large piece of glass for my building surface. I got the fuse formers cut out and started dry fitting things together on the crutch. I made a few small corrections and hope to start putting the fuse together tomorrow.

Charlie

lkahn4

Charlie,
Love the craftmanship and layout of the crutch. Can you let me know how you got such precise cuts. Bandsaw or scroll saw?

Larry

Firebar

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Hi Larry
I use both saws. I cut the outside with a band saw, about 1/16 outside the lines, and finished with a belt sander right to the lines. The inside is cut with a scroll saw and cleaned up with sandpaper by hand. I then go back with the scroll saw and cut the notches.

I had a good day on the Tracked today. I fit up all of the fuse formers and ran most of the stringers. I added the servo rails and mounted the nose gear.

Better photos tomorrow.

Charlie

Kinner

Charlie,

I sent you a letter with some drawing concerning the aux rudder linkage.  Not propriatary so use it if you can.

Ray W.

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

Charlie,
The tracker is looking fantastic! I believe we spoke at Warbirds over Delaware about this project after i flew my Horten 229. If you need any assistance in molds for some glass cowls or other parts, feel free to send me a note! I'm a big Iron Works fan (Grumman aircraft) and wouldn't mind helping you out with this project in exchange for some plans or something.

Thomas

Firebar

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Thanks for the offer Thomas. The Horten was really neat in the air. It looked very stable and controllable for a flying wing.

I started working on the plug for the nose of the plane. I want to make a mold of the nose from the front to behind the side windows. There are a lot changes in cross section in this area and I think it would be a lot easier to have them all in a fiberglass part. The part will also include the nose gear doors. I will post some photos in a few days when the plug starts to look like something.

Charlie

invertmast

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thanks Charlie! it is a great flying airplane considering their are no vertical surface and No artificial stabilization systems involved.

Firebar

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Ray
I got your sketch in the mail today. Thanks for sending it to me. Your idea looks really good. I will play with it and see if I can figure out how to implement it in the Tracker. If I can it will save me from needing a second channel for the rudders. This will open up the needed channel for the working tail hook.

I am continuing to work on the plug for the nose section mold. I am up to my elbows in saw dust. I had to stop and clean the dust collector on the belt sander this morning.

Here is a photo of the progress on the fuselage so far.

Charlie

Kinner

Glad you got the gist of it all.  Moving the distances away from the hinge centerlines can increas or decrease the amount of throws.  I'd suspect the lower the rudder/fin the better.  Maybe just above the MAD antenna where the fuse is thickest.

The extra servo you wrote about earlier sounded a solution but that is a lot of wieght to swing about and may have had to resort to some static ballancing needed.

Good luck and hope it works out.

Ray W.

Firebar

My Feedback: (3)

I have been keeping busy on the Tracker. I have been working on the plug for the fuselage nose. It doesn't look like much at this point but it is coming along. I have also been working on the dual rudders. Today I spent some time figuring out how to implement Rays idea for the actuation. I still need to do some more experimenting but it is encouraging.

Charlie

Kinner

Something of interest especially those who grew up and close to the S-2F. 

http://www.s2ftracker.com/

http://aviationtrivia.blogspot.com/2...vators-on.html

http://www.s2tracker.com/Tracker%20page.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_S-2_Tracker

Ray W

Firebar

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Ray, Thanks for posting the links to Tracker information. They provide a lot of interesting reading about the Tracker, I liked the article about the double rudder.

I have been plugging along on the Tracker build. I started sheeting the top of the fuse today. I am continuing to work on the plug for the front fuselage also. I started the plug with 30 feet of pine board and have about a foot left.

Firebar

My Feedback: (3)

I haven't given up on the Tracker yet even though it has been a few weeks since I posted an update. I have been busy flying and maintaining the rest of the fleet. I got the first flight on my Ziroli twin Beechcraft last week. The flight was successful but it left me trying to figure out why I needed full down trim on the elevator. I added .5 degrees of down thrust to both engines and re adjusted the elevator push rods. We have had more bad weather and lots of rain so the second flight is pending.
I have put lots of hours of sanding on the fuse nose plug but it still looks like the last photo that I posted. I expect that I have about two weeks remaining on the nose plug.

Charlie

lkahn4

Charlie,
sorry to hear about the trouble with the Beech, I'm sure you have it worked out.
Hope you're having a great summer despite the weather.
Will post an update on the TBM on the avenger site

larry

Kinner

I'd truely like to start my TBF but I can't seem to get it together on my NE-1 maiden flight. Came real close Saturday but I left the wing hardware home and, besides, no one else showed at the field. Just way toooooo hot and mosquitos insisted on eating my sandwich.

Ray W.

Firebar

My Feedback: (3)

I am glad to report that the nose plug is finally finished. I had several setbacks causing unforeseen delays like a week in the hospital and another week recovering. But it is finally ready to start making the mold.

maser

Charlie,

Hope all is well. Looking good. Let me know when your ready to start selling the plans etc.

Boyd.

Kinner

Plug looks authentic. Hope all is well for you and looking forward to a really enjoyable off season build.

Ray W.

lkahn4

Charlie,
1st hope you're okay and on the mend. Plug looks fantastic, can't wait to see more of the build.
Another successful (almost) flight with the P-38 3 weeks ago, amazing how epoxy dries out after a mere 13 years.... Last 2 weekends have been terrible, if not rain than winds blowing between 20 and 30MPH...
Hoping they will die down for this weekend.
Avenger is ready for another flight a week from Sunday, it's a hassle when you can't get the plane into your car because it's almost as big.
Looking forward to getting it back in the air.
Chic, you have enough to work on unless your buying the Tracker for your Grandson

Larry

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

Looking great Charlie and hope you are feeling better! I to am interested when you start offering plans and parts

Firebar

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Boyd
Please send me an email. I have a few things that I want to discuss with you and the email that I have for you doesn't seem to work.
[email protected]

Thanks
Charlie

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Charlie,
As always, really beautiful craftsmanship. I'm happy to say the Avenger will be on the board by next week. Please make sure I get Plan #3 for the Tracker once you start selling the plan sets. Chic

Firebar

My Feedback: (3)

Chic, I am glad that that you will be back on the Avenger soon.

I have been trying to finish up the mold for the nose of the Tracker. I fiber glassed the second side today and will get to see how it worked out tomorrow when I try to get the plug out of the mold.

Charlie

F86_SABRE

Charlie is the black tooling gelcoat polyester type?

Firebar

My Feedback: (3)

F-86- I use all West Systems epoxy. CST Composite Store sells all of the materials needed plus they have a tutorial on their web site.

http://www.cstsales.com/fiberglass_fuselage_mold.html
http://www.cstsales.com/fiberglass_mold_instr.html

Charlie