Great Thread! This will be my first pattern build. I ordered the foam cores from Eureka Aircraft (looking forward to seeing them, Don!).

This is a "learning" project for me, so I'll be building this one on-the-cheap with HobbyKing motors, ESC, servos, etc... I've had great success with these on other e-conversions.

I haven't come across a "materials list" for this. Can anyone suggest the amount and different types of wood required to complete?

Thanks

John

Thanks All!!!!!

Ireally had a great time building. Imade so many dumb mistakes that forced me to get my stuff back together, building wise. The plane is all covered in 000 silkspan and dope. All paint. I used AutoAir waterbase apints for the Red and White. The gold and green on the canopy are Tamiya rattle cans. ChromaClear over everything. I had a very busy, involved scheme on the plane originally. Had a ton of tape lifting the paint issues so Isanded the paint down and did a quick two color scheme. Oh well.

The wings are Dave Snow's Dynamic wings and the stabs are Dynamic as well. Man, they really are the stuff!!

The A60 7S has been stellar. Really. I fly with Darin and Andrew every week. They both have very nice, very expensive motors. Although the A60 doesnt quite have the authority of their motors, it will still perform the FAI sequences just fine. THe same motor is in Andrews 2M O

Shoot! I forgot to answer the questions about ESC and balt,, et al ..

In this case, this weekend,, Ihad no ESC yet so Andrew let me borrow an ICE 120. Giant ESC. I will replace it ASAP. The batteries were inexpensive Skyking 30C packs. I think Ihave 110.00 bucks in each 10Spack!! Darin tried them in his Spark. He said they felt about the same as his expensive cells.

Note: My intention with this plane was to get back into competitive pattern flying with the most reasonable cost. I really wasnt ready to blow the bank until I made sure it was right. I LOVE to build. Jeff plane fit the bill perfectly. I used and inexpensive motor, radio, servos and battery. I am not disappointed in the result in any way. The results show me its completely possible to compete this way. That being said,, I'm a sucker for all the "Cool" stuff. Its a struggle every day not to buy 100.00 props, Secraft this-and-thats, 600.00 motors, yada, yada..

Iwill be buying that stuff eventually, I imagine!!

Guy

hello
such
how are you
your post very good
I really liked the model
could you us send me the plans to build a
thank you very much

thanks for the plane
receives the copy and I started with cutting the fuselage frames
regards

more photos

Hi

I learned many techniques in this thread ... thank you
My Project/build:
http://rcpattern.blogspot.pt/p/f3a-biplano.html
http://rcpattern.blogspot.pt/p/f3a-b...onstrucao.html

nice biplane
http://rcpattern.blogspot.pt/p/f3a-biplano.html

Hello Vsilva

Awesome job.
May be open a new thread of your biplane with the name ?
Claude

I need to build a 2M fuselage as a result of destroying mine. I have good wings stab and rudder that come very close to matching your design as well as the same motor and esc. I would be grateful if you could send me your plans for the lightning fuselage. A short kit may not be correct for my wing and stab.
Thanks.

http://www.eurekaaircraft.com/plan_kits/lightning.htm

ViperDriver, et. al.,

I'd like to build one of the Lightnings sometime this Summer or Fall.I sent an email to Don Turnock, asking if he could provide a material list of the wood necessary to complete the airplane, starting with one of his short kits for the builtup fuse, wings, and tail. He responded by saying he didn't have such a list, and recommended that I ask you and others that have built one. So, does anyone have a material list they would share? Jeff, thanks for such a wonderful design, and for working with Don to help all the rest of us be able to build one as well.

Larry Fitch
West Richland, WA 99353

Attached is the list of wood required. This is list represents the minimum to complete the airplane, but I would order extra to ensure you have the lightest wood available.

The repairs to my Lightning are nearing the end. The fuselage is painted and the wings are ready for covering.

Good luck with your builds!

Jeff

Thanks for the list! I've already ordered, but will check against your list to see if there is anything significant missing.

Jeff, thanks for the list. I will work on adding what part of the list is included in short kit. so not needed if building from the short kit..

Don@ EAC

Jeff,

Thanks for the speedy response. I think I have much of the needed material in my "rainy day" stack. I notice that you sheet the wings with 1/16" balsa. I take it this is with the foam cored wings. I'd guess 3/32 is used with the built-up version? I think that is what I read on Don's wing build thread-or did I get that wrong?

Larry Fitch

I got my foam cores from Eureka... am wondering. The plans call for a grid of squares to be removed from the wing core. Did you do this manually?
Did you use hot wire or knife?

To cut the squares out of the wing, I use my fish fillet knife. I make templates for both sides of the core out of poster board to help guide the knife.

For a built up wing, I think 3/32 sheeting is the way to go.

Jeff

Jeff,

Thanks for the response.

Larry Fitch<br type="_moz" />

Jeff (or anyone else on this thread) - can you point me towards more detail on the wing adjusters. I understand they are Gator adjusters, I am just having a little trouble visualizing the configuration. Is there a thread on the topic?

thanks

JP

Here is the general set-up for the wing hold down:

The wing root contains the adjuster socket along with two 1/4-20 nylon bolts.
The fuselage has the adjuster mechanism mounted inside, with the pin protruding from the fuselage side. There are also oversized holes for the nylon bolts to slide into the fuselage.

The adjuster pin slides into the socket in the wing root, locking the incidence in place. 1/4-20 wing nuts are threaded on the studs that protrude into the fuselage to hold the wing to the fuselage.

I don't have very good pictures of this set-up, but I have attached what I do have.

Jeff

Hello,
I am to the point of glassing the fuselage. I have fuse built, wings, stabs, and alignment done, now to the part I have never done before. (glassing the fuselage). Do you have any suggestions, articles, or products to use, I have some .7 oz cloth from CST comp, which should be fine. I think your forum is great, and my plane is coming along well. Thank you, Terry

I'm not at that point, (just setting up the fuse jig) - but would really like to read about this as well. I expect weight would be a huge concern.
Along with this topic, can someone discuss their approach for hinging control surfaces? For a typical monokote-style build, you could use monokote in seal the hinge. How do you do so when covering with fiberglass?

Again, thanks for sharing your experience in this space!

John Asa "Ace" Price

Terry,

I used .75 oz glass cloth and Aerospace Composites resin. After the cloth was layed down and wetted out, if let it start to cure for about a half hour, I then rubbed micro-ballons into the resin. This made sanding easier and reduced the depth of the weave. Some people thin the resin with acetone, but I tried it and didn't like the results.

Jeff

Jeff,

Do you pre-spray the surfaces with hair spray as was discussed for attaching wing skins to the core?
I suspect that this might reduce the penetration of the resin into the wood and reduce wieght a little. However, this might reduce strength where you need it...

John Asa