rhsmrt50

....Nice start Chic..........like Murphey said, now is the time to add the cabin door and the cargo door........that is if you have decided to include them.......

rhsmrt50

Chic......in post #293 Murphey mentioned the possibility of converting to a 3-peice wing............thats what Idecided to do from the start, but it requires a lot of redisgn work with the addition of a rear spar......which the Don Smith design does not really have.........but the real T-50 had two massive wood spars that ran the entire length of the wing...........the Don Smith main spar is made up of a pair 1/4 x 3/8 top and bottom type of spruce stringers reinforced buy 1/8" shear webbs out past the engine nacelles.......and then 1/32" on one side only to the tip..........if you box in the main spar with another side of 1/8" ply shear web out and beyond the nacelles and then add a simular box spar in the scale location of the real wing.........then, you will have four reinforced hollow spars to add the SIG ......SIGSH724 Wing Joiner Kit..........but, it has to be designed into the wing at the very start........I have included some photos to better illustrate..............I took these today...... It was overcast and 35 degrees outside........I hate cold .............Rich.

rhsmrt50

Three peice wing.......

rhsmrt50

Murphey........here is the dungon after clean-up.......

jackabel

Geeze, what's it look like before cleanup?

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Rich, what a great looking mancave. With regards to the three piece wing, I certainly had not really thought about it until I read you last couple of posts. I ran to the shop for the wing plans and whooooooo. Adding the additional spar with the wing joiners is a great idea which I will certainly use. Like I said, I am truly going to school reading and viewing the photos from you and Murphy. Planning ahead will certainly cut down on the stupid mistakes that force us to redo many steps many times. The photos are a god-send. May even use a carbon fiber wing tube with anti-rotation pins. Glad I can plan ahead thanks to you fellows. Chic

rhsmrt50

......I dont think you really want to see it when it's in a real mess.........but, I always know where everything is..........as long as the cat stays out.

rhsmrt50

Very true Chic........lot less time and grief......plus material if you decide before the build to incorporate the modification............my wing panels will easly be removed with set screws for transportation............the center section will be bolted in place, but will be removable only when necessary.........and that will be to gain access to the radio gear and batteries which will be located under he rear seat and cargo area.....the batteries will be under the main cabin floor near the CG...............Rich.

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Rich, I am following your lead on this construction for sure. Such as placing my batteries where you suggest. I also don't let my dog or cat in the shop for more than 5 minutes. I give them a treat, pat their heads and head them toward the door. I only let my wife in when she has food. She has to call on the intercom before she enters. She always wants to grab the broom and clean up. As you said Rich, "You know where everything is". Needless to say, she cleaned up once too many (missing pieces and parts). Smile. Chic

huck1199

Is that an Aquila in the ceiling rack? If so what engine did you use?

rhsmrt50

....The blue and white?............not sure...........it was given to me years ago by a friend who has since passed away...........it only says Solo Sport on the nose .........the engine is a Super Tiger 51...............

huck1199

No, white with red stripe, tail# *310MF

rhsmrt50

.....Oh..........well that is the Hobbico Nextstar...........it has the OS 46.

rhsmrt50

Chic..........just a few pics showing all of the batteries and their location below a removable cabin floor........there will also be a an 8 cell 9.6V battery behind the nose cap for all of the lighting.......nav, landing, dash, interior, passing and IFF.........except for the 9V nav lts.....all the rest will be 3V's providedthru a home made regulator consisting of a series of common Diodes........Rich

rhsmrt50

....Thats good Chic........this plane has a short nose and long tail movement..........so keeping the weight of batteries and radio gear etc. at or before Cg will insure a good balance.................Rich.

redtail

My Feedback: (15)

Gentlemen, let it be clearly known. I am faithfully watching this thread in preparation of my build of the BobCat. For each stroke of sandpaper on the Avenger, I am analyzing the steps I see and read that both of you take in stepping through your builds. Excellent positioning of the batteries (CG), however, are you cutting a hatch through the bottom of the wing for access to the cabin floor and the batteries or simply accessing the batteries through the cabin door? You guys are really providing great ideas for the build. Keep up the excellent work and effort. Chic

rhsmrt50

Hi Chic..........there will be no hatches on the bottom of the wing accept for scale access panels and blisters to cover the four oroginal wing mounting bolts.......the center section of this wing has been completely redesigned to incorporate two spars and four stainless steel recessed mounting screws covered with scale alum teardrop blisters..........the wing is now a three peice with the outer panels held in place with 4 socket head set screws per panel and are removable for storage and transportation..........the entire center section will incorporate the scale interior and , all of the radio gear and batteries under the rear seat and floor board ............accept for batteries, all else will only be accesable with removable of the center section.......so, the center section will stay in place at all times .......exceptto gain access to the radio gear etc.......the batteries can be removed thru the cabin door........bylifting the cabin floorwhich will be carpet covered and held in place withVelcro........Rich.

Murphey

My Feedback: (11)

Chic:
On mine, which is not near the level of scale as Rich's, incorporates the mounting method shown on the drawings... dowels in the front and 2 bolts in the rear. And similar to Rich's, the dual receiver batteries, receiver and gear controller are in the center section and will have a cover. Sadly, I don't have a 3 piece wing so the fuse will be removed for transport...The only connections between the fuse and the wing will be the elevator and rudder servo's and a remote 2.4G receiver mounted in the aft of the fuse. These are all connected with a single 9 pin connector.

Rich: I've been reworking the cabin door and even making a bit of progress!
M

rhsmrt50

......Murphey!!!!......good to hear from you..........thought you were on vacation?...............or did you just get back?...............Rich.

rhsmrt50

.......good, send pic's of the progress...........

Murphey

My Feedback: (11)

Not on vacation just yet...leaving in the morning.

So the 2 photos show the door retrofit so far...had to carefully cut the headliner already in place and fit the upper cabin door. It's not glued trimmed yet and I don't have the bracing in...progress yes...just not much!
M

rhsmrt50

.......now, that looks great murphey!!!................and love the interior shot of the front and back seats........I kow that you decided not to use the interior kit seats........and used the foam instead...........I agree.......looks a great deal better...........did you do the upholstery?........it fits like a glove.........very nice....................Rich.

rhsmrt50

....Your work is beautiful............enjoy your vacation............think about the model when you get back..........just have fun.........Rich.

Murphey

My Feedback: (11)

Rich: Yes I made my own seats basically from the profile on the DS drawing. I found some stretchy fabric and with the help of a little water based contact cement...
I don't know what kind of Cessna T-50 the seats in the interior kit was from...but not anything close to scale...
Thanks again Rich for all your help...much appreciated!
M

rhsmrt50

I totally agree........I also purchased this interior kit.........just to see how close it really was to the original...........as you have also discovered as I..........the front and rear seats fit well.........and are a very nice addition to the interior and can add that extra nice touch of a simi-scale interior......nothing wrong with that..........but, a bit off......... I will say that the instrument panel is 99% right on........with the exception of the random location of toggle switches and warning lights........and the incorrect size of the fuze box lid and a few instruments on the right side of the panel.......like the single volt meter and duel amp meters...........also.......another plus is the three chicken head fuel valves...........which is positionedbetween the two front cockpit seats..........they arejust perfect.......in fact, I have decided to make a mold and re-cast them for my selector valves...........as mentioned earlier in this thread..........I have decided to go with a military configuration........such as the AT-17or UC-78..........I have alot of documentation..........becides,there is just something special about modeling after some ole AAF warbird............evenif it was just a trainer.