Right Guys

For the two of you who have expressed an interest here we go!

Firstly If any of you are lusting after a composite bandit but don't have $2,000 lying around for an unpainted airframe this ,

I think, is avery attractive alternative.

You will have to get your hands dirty and use your brains / buy some wood & hardware, but I am sure you will be able to produce a finished airframe ready for gear install for about $650 / $700 or £350.

It is a semi - kit with a moulded fuselage / inner wing, moulded booms, obechi sheeted wings / tailplane, canopy and canopy frame. You also get three A4 sheets of dimensioned sketches and former profiles.

The first task is to design your landing gear mounts, draw them up and cut them out, I have used a combination of 6mm 7 ply and 6mm liteply.
(photo 1) Then make your cut outs in the underside of the fuz at the gear positions, glue in the gear mounts with aeropoxy / hysol or equal and leave to dry overnight.( photo 2 )

Next cut out the ailerons / elevator ( Most of this is done for you ) and face them up with 6mm / 3mm balsa. The leading edge / trailing edges are glued on and shaped for you, there is a layer of glass cloth at the TE to stiffen it.

Next cut the rudders out of the tail booms, you will have to use your own judgement to determine sizes and face up the cut edges with hard 6mm balsa let into the openings in the hollow fin / rudder. Glue a piece of 3mm balsa to the face of the rudders and bevel for hinging.

That is where I am after 1 1/2 days work. All the woodwork is done apart from gear mounting trays / tank mount etc.

Landing gear install tomorrow and start designing radio / turbine installation.

John