ORIGINAL: tigerdude426
My question is #1) The formers: Do I have to cut each one out in its original sheetwood design or can I use sticks to shape the formers? AND #2) What do I use to cut the firewall to shape? I do not have any fancy machinery or tools or scroll-saw or anything like that. I am going to purchase a jigsaw because you can get those relatively cheap now but there is no way I can afford scroll-saws or anything else expensive at this moment. Can a jigsaw be used to cut out the firewall shape?
Yes, but I would recommend you build them outside the fuselage and then glue them in place. You'll need to "X" brace the center somehow to prevent twist. You could also use triangular "webs" in the corners of frames, but that's still sheet wood. I just used a razor saw to cut a firewall. Just requires well braced work piece and frequent checks for squareness . . . and likely some sanding afterwards, so saw just outside the lines. I use relatively cheap hand-held coping saws for my thin plywood curves. ANY balsa I cut by knife. #80 gtit sandpaper on a block cuts most aircraft grade sheet and ply quickly. Saw it ought rough and hand sand it to shape.
I don't remember if the fuselage has a glass/nylon engine mount setup or a ply mount setup, does anyone know? If it calls for a glass/nylon one can a ply mount be used instead?
Anything that holds the engine strongly enough. Don't rely on epoxy alone if adding a ply box mount to a flat firewall. Bolt the mount. Most designs have a few degrees of down thrust and right thrust built in, so transfer those angles carefully.
Question #3) The landing gear: Do I have to use the wire ones or can I use the sheetmetal ones? There is no way I can design the landing gear mounts as they are designed cause I have no way of cutting grooves into hard wood. Also, can the Eaglet 50 be modified into a taildragger?
Any help please.
You may have to bed plywood into the fuselage to support the sheet gear, but it will work. If you're going tail dragger remember the axle has to be a bit ahead of the wing's leading edge. BE SURE TO REBALANCE THE MODEL!