Andrew

Sounds like a good plan. The NORVEL tank mount will match the hole pattern of the standard COX backplate so you can interchange at a later time if you wish. My only complaint with the NORVEL tank mount is that the run times are a little short. I had replaced an aging BW with the NORVEL/TANK combo, but ended keeping the tank as an engine mount and adding an internal tank to extend the run times.

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

A little more progress...

I added a strip of hard balsa cross-grain to the vertical stab to reinforce it, and keep it from flexing so much. I traced around it, then cut the hole the same size ( 1/8" wide) to plug it in and is glued in with thin CA. After that had set, I lightly sanded the area where I installed the strip to get the surface even and started attaching the fin to the fuselage.

I constructed a couple of 90 degree braces from scrap to hold the tail perpendicular to the building board (and fuselage), and pinned them to the building board on either side of the fuselage. I used the vertical stab to position the other brace and the fuselage and pinned those down keeping the stab vertical. Added a thin bead of wood glue to the bottom of the fin and taped it down to dry, making sure the rear corner of the fin is even with the tip of the fuselage.

ptulmer

My Feedback: (5)

What is that, about five bucks worth of blue masking tape?

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

Good stuff! Sticks to just about anything, even dusty balsa(usually).

Finally got around to starting the wing, pinned the left half of the plan down on the building board covered with wax paper, and added the bottom 1/4" spar, lined up per the plans. I adjusted the fit of each notch for a tight fit to the spar or stringer as I pinned the two center ribs and 5 outer ribs over the plan. Used the dihedral gauge to set the angle of the root rib, and pinned it in place. I also used a piece of 3/4" tri-stock to set the tip rib at 90 degrees from the building board.

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

Got all the ribs aligned and pinned down over the plans, note the small scraps of 1/16" balsa under the two center ribs to get the spacing right for the sheeting. I glued all the ribs with thin CA, then added the 1/4" leading edge with pins above and under for a tight fit to the front cutout in the ribs. More thin CA (sparingly) and some drying time.

Last picture:
Look who I found lurking under my workbench!

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

More progress made on the left wing panel...

I added the top spar and 1/8" stringer with thin CA and was thinking about the trailing edge. Instead of using a piece of 1/4" square strip, I'll use 1/16"x3/4" strips of balsa top and bottom, with a little reinforcement between. This method will bring the trailing edge down to 1/8" without having to try to sand an even angle all across the TE, and is easier to get straight. I added just the top trailing edge sheeting for now, will add the bottom when I pull up the wing to work on that side.

I'm a little concerned about the lack of a dihedral brace, and really don't want to add fiberglass of CF (extra weight) if I can avoid it. I'll try it as shown on the plans... we'll see.

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

I added the 1/16" top sheeting aft of the spar across the two center ribs next with wood glue, held down with more blue tape, and added a couple of clamps to weigh it down while it dries. It's important to first remove the pins from inside the rib bay as I found out the hard way - I forgot and had to pull the sheeting back up to get to them. Lucky it wasn't CA!

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

While the glue was drying on the wing, I added the 1/4"x1/8" hardwood servo rails in the fuselage. Once I got them positioned using a couple of servos, I marked the inside of the fuse and the hole locations. I removed the rails and servos, drilled pilot holes for the servo screws, and reinstalled the rails in the fuselage with some medium CA.

ptulmer

My Feedback: (5)

Use some lightweight glass (not too light!) and thin CA to join them. You won't be able to measure the weight. I bought some fiberglass from the auto parts store and cut strips from it. Even as thick as that is, I still can't see it on the scale.

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

Ok, I'll give it a try. I have some good stuff I need to use anyway. [sm=thumbup.gif]

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

More progress on the left wing panel...

I continued adding the 1/16" top sheeting to the center section, same process with the wood glue, blue tape, and weight to hold everything down. The wing is still pinned down to the building board so it doesn't warp while the glue dries.

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

Once the glue had fully dried, I pulled all the pins and flipped the wing over to finish up the bottom. The 1/8" stringer is installed with CA, and I cut 1/8"x3/16" balsa strips for the trailing edge to support the 3/4" TE sheeting. I glued one strip against the trailing ends of the ribs across the wing, pinned down to the underside of the top trailing edge sheeting. (hard to see in the picture - sorry)

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

Once the trailing edge strip had dried for about half an hour, I sanded it to match the angle of the ribs so that the bottom 3/4" TE sheeting joins the top evenly while fitting the notch in the ribs. Glued the sheeting in place with wood glue, and held tight with more tape to dry.

Once that dries for a few hours, I'll add the center sheeting and trim the excess stick and sheet from both ends, and some light sanding. Next up: the right wing panel.

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

Adding center sheeting to the left wing panel... more blue tape and lots of drying time...

While the wing panel sheeting was drying, I pinned down the plan for the other side covered with wax paper and cut the parts for the right wing to length, just slightly long on each end. I also cleaned up the notches in the ribs for a tight fit with the spars, stringers and leading edge.

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

Pinned all the ribs down over the bottom spar, with 1/16" scrap under the two center ribs to establish the right spacing for the bottom sheeting. I pinned the dihedral gauge at the root rib and tri-stock at the tip rib as before to set the correct angles. Also added top spar and stringer, and CA'ed everything in place.

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

I added the 1/4" square leading edge with CA, and installed the 3/4" wide top trailing edge sheeting with wood glue. I had to pin it down this time instead of just tape because it had a slight twist to it, but it should be ok after the glue sets.

While the right wing panel was drying, I cut the excess stick and sheeting from both ends of the other wing, and lightly sanded the faces smooth, being careful not to change the angle of the root or tip ribs.

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

Not much progress over the weekend, had too much other stuff going on, and flew almost all day Sunday.

I cut and sanded the center section sheeting for the right wing panel for a tight fit between the spar and trailing edge sheeting, and I removed all the pins from inside the rib bay before I glued it in place this time.

Like before, I'm using wood glue to add the sheeting, and more blue tape and clamps to hold everything in place. After that had dried for an hour or two, I added the next piece of top center section sheeting, using the same process, and let it dry while I worked on other projects. Later on, I added the third piece of sheeting at the leading edge, and taped it in place. I'll set this aside overnight and continue with the bottom side tomorrow.

Looks like it's going to be a mid to late November maiden, instead of end of Oct. like I had originally planned. [&o]

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

After drying overnight, the wing got flipped over, and I installed the bottom 1/8" spar with CA. I pinned the wing down at the trailing edge and added a thin bead of wood glue to the 1/8" trailing edge reinforcement and pinned that in place to dry for an hour or so. I'll sand that to the shape of the trailing edge of the wing to accept the bottom trailing edge sheeting after it dries.

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

After the glue had dried, all the pins were pulled out and the trailing edge strip was carefully sanded with a sanding block to the shape of the notches at the rear of each wing rib for a tight fit. I added a thin bead of wood glue and taped the bottom trailing edge sheeting in place to dry.

Both wing panels have a rough edge at the trailing edge where the sheeting is glued together that doesn't quite match exactly. I'll sand that straight later on after I join the two sides, just before adding the aileron torque rod/hold down plate.

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

Well, made it back in town safely, and a good time was had by all. [8D]

Made a little more progress today on the right wing... Added the bottom center section sheeting between the spars with wood glue, and some blue tape. After that had dried, I cut the excess from both ends of the wing panel and sanded each end flush with the ribs. I also did a little rough sanding across the top and bottom sheeting to even up the edges and will move down to a finer grit for the final sanding before covering(later).

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

Didn't get much done today.... sorta hit a snag while trying to decide how I want to join the wing halves. I epoxyed the center rib to the right wing panel, and let it dry for a few hours, then sanded the small overlaps where I cut it slightly large to match the airfoil. I was about to join the other wing half, but when looking at it, I think it has a bit much dihedral angle. The inside ribs are tilted exactly at the angle of the gauge shown on the plans, both wing halves. I decided to hold off until I ask questions and think this one over a bit.

Pt - What angle did you intend for the dihedral on the wing? I'm sure it's fine, but just want to check before doing anything "permanent".

Edit: It really doesn't look too bad in the pictures... still seems like a lot though. []

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

Well, I'm back..... Been extremely busy with everything else, and put this build on back-burner for a while. I went ahead and attached the wing panels together with thinned 30-minute epoxy. I think two months is probably sufficient for the glue to cure.

More progress soon, along with much better pictures from my new camera. (8 megapixel!)

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

Update (sort of)....

I set this one aside for a while due to other projects, and ANOTHER trip to the desert. I'll continue and finish it up in June.

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

Dang, this thing just keeps getting lost in the mess in my shop! I finally found the horizontal stab after searching for a while, go figure- it was in plain sight on my workbench.

Anyway, back to working on this longest ever 1/2A build....
I carved and rough sanded the corners of the fuselage bottom, starting with a few swipes of 60-grit and working up to 220. I'll probably finish sand it with 400 grit just before covering.

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

Added blue tape to the tail to keep from sanding through it accidentally, then more carving and sanding, same drill as the fuselage bottom.

Lotsa balsa dust, yummy!