PIPER TOMAHAWK -Messer Plans
03-06-2011, 12:08 PM
#1
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (25)
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: HEBER CITY,
UT
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PIPER TOMAHAWK -Messer Plans
I have decided to start a blog on the plan build of my Piper Tomahawk. Plans were drawn by the late great Jim Messer. Plans and cowl were supplied by Dave Reid of Reid's Quality Model Products. I also purchased a out of production book based on Messer's kit of this plane back when he produced a kit. The book is titled: "Building and Flying Giant Scale Radio Control Aircraft" by Bob Beckman. I start out making hard templates of all the fuse formers, wing ribs, gussets, etc. I use a product called SEE TEMP. Available thru Dynamic Balsa and Hobby Supply. www.dbalsa.com. Ths product is a transparent red plastic that is easily scored with a knife and thne you bend it one and it snaps free leaving you with a hard template to trace parts.
03-06-2011, 12:31 PM
#2
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (25)
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: HEBER CITY,
UT
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: PIPER TOMAHAWK -Messer Plans
I am a little behind on the posts so I will try to get caught up to the building point I am at today. I put together a complete materials list which was all oredered through www.balsausa.com I finished cutting all my hard templates and have started cutting fuse formers. The fuse construction starts with a jig that is shown on the plan and in the book. The jig makes the fuse very straight and true.
03-06-2011, 02:14 PM
#6
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (25)
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: HEBER CITY,
UT
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: PIPER TOMAHAWK -Messer Plans
huck199 , I ran a screw thru the central plank into my 6" upright blocks. The blocks are a piece of 3"x3" drop off from a handrail post I had leftover from work.
03-06-2011, 02:51 PM
#7
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (25)
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: HEBER CITY,
UT
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: PIPER TOMAHAWK -Messer Plans
I was able to make some progress this weekend on the vertical stab/rudder and the horizontal stab/elevator. The vertical stab and rudder are based on a piece of 1/8" plywood that all the ribs are glued to. I opted for some lightning holes in the ply to try and cut down some weight. The main wing is 100" and is one piece. I think that is a big wing to have to haul around so i plan on making it 3 pieces . I will consist of a center section with tubes that stays bolted to the plane and two outer wings that will remove just past the main landing gear. I think leaving the center section with the plane and having the main landing gear still attached to the plane will make for safer and easier transportation of the fuse. I have ordered some wing tube sockets from TNT landing gear and the aluminum tubes from Aircraft Spruce and Specialties, there tubing is cheaper and can be bought in any length you want. As soon as the pieces arrive I will start on the wing.
03-08-2011, 08:31 PM
#14
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (25)
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: HEBER CITY,
UT
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: PIPER TOMAHAWK -Messer Plans
Today I was able to sand, shape, and sheet the horizontal/elevator. I was also able to sand and shape the wing tip blocks. On the real Tomahawk, the tips of the horizontal are attached to the elevator, but Messer's drawings show them fixed to the horizontal stabilizer. I felt that the dynamic balance provided by the moving tips is as useful on the model as on the full scale aircraft, so I made some modifications so that mine are scale. I cut my stab parts to the elevator lengths shown on the plan, and I cut the elevator parts to the stab lengths shown on the plan, a pretty easy fix. The tip blocks were glued to the elevator.
03-09-2011, 03:56 PM
#16
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (25)
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: HEBER CITY,
UT
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: PIPER TOMAHAWK -Messer Plans
Tony, I do plan to mass balance . I am in the process of working out the details for mounting the servo in the tail with a short linkage. The plan shows the servo in the front of the plane with cables and bellcranks to get to the top of the tail, to much work and to much to go wrong. I will post some pictures of how I did it when I have it completed.
03-10-2011, 03:21 AM
#17
RE: PIPER TOMAHAWK -Messer Plans
His is a glass fuselage, made the rudder post removable for servo access. When he bought the plane, push rods and bell cranks were installed, way too much slop.
03-18-2011, 07:09 AM
#19
My Feedback: (60)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Heber,
UT
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: PIPER TOMAHAWK -Messer Plans
It looks good Jake. Should be done for this summer, right? I look forward to your maiden. What are you planning as a powerplant? Makes me want to build another big one.
04-12-2011, 08:47 PM
#20
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (25)
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: HEBER CITY,
UT
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: PIPER TOMAHAWK -Messer Plans
Has been a little while since I have posted. A few pictures of the wing building. "The main wing is 100" and is one piece. I think that is a big wing to have to haul around so I made it in 3 pieces . It consisst of a center section with tubes that stays bolted to the plane and two outer wings that will remove just past the main landing gear. I think leaving the center section with the plane and having the main landing gear still attached to the plane will make for safer and easier transportation of the fuse. I ordered wing tube sockets from TNT landing gear and the luminum tubes from Aircraft Spruce and Specialties, there tubing is cheaper and can be bought in any length you want". I also made servo mounts in the wing at each aileron. The plan shows a single servo in the center section with rods and bellcranks .
