Six month ago I start to made my first jet model. After reading many articles on Internet and here on RCU I decided to buy and build Ziroli Panter.
For me in Serbia, transport and border tax for some plastic model airplane is very expensive so, kit is good choice because boxes with parts are much smaller...
Thank's for Frank Tiano kindness I receive first box with Panther short kit parts.
After two months, model start take the form...
I make some changes, first on spar, because I can't find spar 12x6 mm I made it from 15x9 mm. More rigid can't hurt...
I also, add glass on some fuselage ribs, around landing gears and wing tube...
Wing tube, in wings set trough first three ribs (on plan it is set trought two)...
Summer was soooo hot, and I use all tricks for making my model...
At that time I change top of the fuselage, and instead of one big make two smaller cover. One for servos, receiver, tanks... and another over turbine...
I think that configuration like that is more rigid...
For easy open and close that two covers I made sistem with carbon tubes. On the left and right side of the fuselage and rear cover I fix carbon tube which is apsolutly in line. Trough that tubes passes another carbon tube. So, when I want to open rear cover, I just pull carbon tube forvard as long as is rear cover...
When I want to close rear cover, I put cover in place and push carbon tube trough tube which is glue inside of cover. Tube is little longer, and when it come trough rear cover, it sting in rib behind cover...
Very easy and don't need any equipment for opening...
In July I get new box from Frank Tiano (thank's Frank) with stuff which I need for further building my Panther...
Retracts was coming from Robart and when I want to put front retract in fuselage I discovered that it can't get inside. That is not a problem, and it is easy to fix...
At that time I start to planking wings and fuselage. For that I use 2,5 mm balsa.
Fuselage must planking with 20 mm width strips. I soak every strip in the water to get right shape.
Summer was still hot and one weekend after good lunch, my friend was coming to check construction progress...
Many nights I spend in my work shop...
Little by little, Panther was cover with balsa. In front I made gutter for plastic nose...
At that point I change Ziroli plan, and made flaps hinges like on my Top Flite Thunderbolt, because I want to get flow when flaps going down. I change that latter...
Wing tanks was added and everything was ready for filler. I use acrylic wood filler which is very light and easy for sanding down...
For plastic parts I use filler with fiber parts, but that filler I use just for wing tanks...
On laser cut I made rings for rear part of fuselage...
Inside of fuselage, in the gear openings, I add wood for gear door hinges...
Before glassing, I glue horizontal tail...
After that fix other parts on tail...
Than made final touch on rear part of model...
Before glassing I measured parts...
Every wing with eleron, flap and covers for servos is 620 gr.
Fuselage is 2250 gr (I forget to take out one tank - 100 gr) ang covers for servos and engines 110 and 80 gr...
After that I start glassing a model. Use R&G resin and 33 gr glass...
End of part one...
Best regards
Mirce