Venom Build
 

I am going to start the Venom build tomorrow. I have the fuse sides and bulkheads cut.I also have already attached the light ply doublers to the fuse sides. Here are a couple of pics to get it started.

RE: Venom Build
 

This is great, Doug! A while back there were four build threads going on at once here in the Classic forum. I look forward to watching this one. (did you ever get the CD?)

RE: Venom Build
 

Yes I got it on Tuesday, but I have been working a lot of OT this week, so I haven't had much time to look at it or play with the files.

Thank You.

RE: Venom Build
 

For those that didn't cath the earlier thread on this. The Venom is a modified Mach 1. Most of the moments were left the same as the original. The only real change I made in this area was to move the rudder hinge line to a vetical position to eliminate the slight roll coupleing that the Mach 1 had. I also made changes to the fuse constuction to make for a quicker,lighter and stronger built fuse. I also added the pipe tunnel under the fuse, mainly just because I thought it looked cool.

RE: Venom Build
 

A link to the previous thread.


http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4687204/tm.htm

RE: Venom Build
 

Bulkeads and firewall epoxied into the first fuse. I am tickled everything lined up straight with no tinkering.

RE: Venom Build
 

Looking at your pictures...was your fuselage drawing printed out on a 17" format printer? I have an 11"x 17" format printer that I use for work CAD drawings. I was thinking about using it with banner paper to print out fuselages and large wing ribs.

RE: Venom Build
 

It was actually on a 42" plotter. I cut the sections apart, the other half of the drawing is hanging on the wall.

I have one fuse completely framed.

RE: Venom Build
 

I got the stab sheeted and mounted on the first fuse today. I will be out of town the next 3 days, I will pick up the thread when I get back. So far all the planning I did in CAD beforehand has really paid off, everything has lined up perfectly with no hassles. I still need to mount the engine and build the nose section and the vertical fin. Then it will be on to the wings.

RE: Venom Build
 

You'll have this plane in the air in no time.

RE: Venom Build
 

I am guesing two weeks, because things are crazy at work and I am not going to have much time to work on it in the next week and a half.

RE: Venom Build
 

I got a little more work done on the Venom. I got the vertical fin made and mounted. I also got the firings in place for the fin.

RE: Venom Build
 

I got the engine mount in and the nose built today. I also got the fuse rough sanded, I still have some fine sanding to do on it, but so far I am very happy with how it is turning out.

Those with sharp eyes will see that I have glued the leading edge to the foam cores before I sheet them. I find that I get a much better joint at the leading edge by doing it this way. It also keeps the core in the cradle better while I get everything positioned. I hate getting all the weights on the cores only to find out that something moved and I have to do it all over again.

I also got the elevator push rods installed and I will work on the rudder push rods later tonight.

I have also rethought my canopy arrangement. After having the fuse together it looks to long the way it was. The new canopy will stop even with the back of the wing saddle.

RE: Venom Build
 

Not only is this moving along at an impressive clip, it's already looking great and taking on shape. Did you go with a solid fin instead of the built-up one on your plans? Did you mention how you're going to make the cowl? This would be a great opportunity for an fg part. Sorry for all the questions! Great work, Doug.

RE: Venom Build
 

Thanks Dave. Did you start on your compensator yet ? Did you take a close look at the title block on the plans I sent you ?

I should have put up a pic of the tail, it is built up like the plans and sheeted with 1/16 balsa. I will post a pic when I build the second fin.

I am going to make the belly pan from balsa. or I could carve it from foam and then use that as a mold for fiberglass. But probably balsa. I want to see how she flys before I would put the time and materials into fiberglass parts. Besides I seem to be getting better with balsa as I get older. LOL

RE: Venom Build
 

That's been the story of my week. Not enough exercise, sitting in front of the computer too much!

RE: Venom Build
 

I tried several different canopy shapes, but I came back to the original from the plan, so be it good or bad here it is. I kind of like it. I still have some finish sanding to do to it.

RE: Venom Build
 

Paternguy, I’ve been watching the birth of your Venom and it looks like
it’s going to be a great looking plane. You may have a knife edge king in
the making also. I have to say you and Rainedave have got to be the
fastest scratch builders on the web. Nice work and I hope to read your
flight report real soon.


Ron

RE: Venom Build
 

Thanks Ron.

I have to say that its very easy to build from scratch when you are the one who did the drawings for the bird. Its nice knowing what piece goes where and in what order. I find that when I go from other peoples plans that I spend half my time just trying to figure out what that guy was thinking.

When I decided to scrap the original Mach 1 construction and do my own fuse design, I intentionally went with more modern construction (IE quicker to build). I think that has really paid off for me.

I think that from the pics that I posted before I put the canopy on, that you can still see its a Mach 1. I don't think it would be hard to change my plans to make it look just like a Mach 1 with out the weight of all those balsa blocks.

RE: Venom Build
 

I have done a little here and there over the last few days. The wing are almost done, after that all I need to do is the belly pan and it will be ready to cover.

RE: Venom Build
 

You could write a book "The One Minute Modeler"

RE: Venom Build
 

Well I like to have a plane that looks different than all the others at my field, but I still want to keep up with the ARF crowd as far a time to the flight line. LOL

RE: Venom Build
 

I got the belly pan roughed in tonight. I am kind of luke warm on how it looks. I may end up making a fiberglass version of it, after I see how she handles.

RE: Venom Build
 

Is there any way to make the belly pan narrower than the fuselage, similar to the canopy? I think that would improve the aesthetics quite a bit.

RE: Venom Build
 

Have you thought about just eliminating it?