rcgyuk

I started to build from this (in)famous set of plans about 8 years ago. I got the internal fuselage, main undercarriage and rudder / tailplane done, then lost interest.

About 6 months ago, Ihad a surge of enthusiasm, and picked up where Ileft off. All wings are about 95% complete (just got to wrap that plywood leading edge) and Iam back on the fuselage again.

Iam really hoping to have this flying before the end of the summer.

Am hoping to be able to post progress reports, pictures, and rely on people who have been there before me for the bits Iget stuck on.

I still keep having eureka moments over something that has puzzled me for days, then the penny drops and Isuddenly realise what Iwas missing.

Wish Ihad found this website ages ago.

rcgyuk

Below is a quick photo of where Iam up to, this is the first time Ilaid all the bits out together and realised just how big this thing is

rcgyuk

Here is what Ihope the finished plane will look like, Ihave a fair way to go yet !!!

rcgyuk

This is back to the early stage of the fuselage, where I have only just spotted the first mistake Imade, which has now come back to haunt me.

The instruction said " Countersink the front flying wire rear anchor ". I didn't quite understand that, so I ignored it.

Inow realise that this shares one of the bolts that holds the undercarriage to the bulkhead, so am in the middle of removing the undercarriage so Ican retro fit this tiny piece of metal.

rcgyuk

Meanwhile, Iam now working on the plywood leading edge, which involves a huge amount of steam to get the plywood to wrap over and round the 1/4" dowel

rcgyuk

Here is an end view of the process:

rcgyuk

At this point it isn't glued, apart from the top edge. Ijust wanted to steam the shape, then let it dry out, at which point I will glue it and pull it tight to the curves.

rcgyuk

This is my attempt at the all singing and dancing tail wheel assembly. It took me 6 attempts to bend the heavy wire into a shape I was satisfied with.

warbirdmustang

My Feedback: (21)

How are you doing the landin gear on this plane? I have one that I bought built, but needs a ton of work. I had stalled out on repairing it also, but I got a cockpit kit and dummy radial for it for Christmas, and have kind of been itching to work on it again. I believe I have a complete set of plans, would you be willing to copy or email the instructions for me? I'd gladly cover your cost.
Thanks!
Bryan

rcgyuk

Iscanned my copy of the instructions so Icould print them out on A4, and have the satisfaction of crossing out each line of text as Icompleted it, without defacing the originals. Iwill gladly email these to anyone who wants a copy. (All the scanned images are inserted into an excel document, for my ease of printing).

On my first pass through through the instructions, so to speak, Icompleted all the big stuff, which is why Inow have something that looks like an airframe, at least at a distance. Ihave now gone back to the begining of the instructions again, and am making a second pass through, completing all the fiddley small jobs I bypassed the first time round, such as cutting out all the tiny pieces of metal associated with the flying and landing wires.

This is hours of work, and you dont appear have anything to show for it.

Iam doing the landing gear exactly as per the instructions, it's not so bad once you get into it.

Regards

Robert

rcgyuk

After Isteamed the second wing leading edge around, and it had dried out, Itook the clamps off and left it. Over the course of last week, the ply slowly straightened out, so tonight Ihad to re-steam it, and this time Iglued it as well.

rcgyuk

Back to " Countersink the front flying wire rear anchor ".

This would have been easier done before I assembled this bit. This is what happens if you drill holes in two parts independantly, and expect them to line up

rcgyuk

At least Ihad only cut one of those metal bits out, tomorrow Iwill throw that one away and make another one and try and do a better job.

In the meantime, my long awaited engine has arrived, and this is my first chance to put the engine up against the firewall.

I think that for a fully enclosed cowl, its going to be a tight fit.

If Imake the cowl slightly larger, this will allow for the cooling air to exit at the real of the cowl, and give a couple of mil clearance on the plug leads.

How much clearance should Iaim for between the plug leads and the cowling?

TomCrump

This is what I came up with on a similar engine. I have just enough room so that nothing is in contact with the cowl.

rcgyuk

Many thanks for that. Inote you also have the ignition unit on the engine side of the firewall, how about the battery for the ignition?

I was planning to use a 2 cell LiPo with a 3amp 6V UBEC, would this be OK ?

Is there a preferred way up to mount the engine? i.e. carb on top or underneath ?

Many thanks

Robert

TomCrump

I have no room in the cockpit for anything but the gas tank. The batteries are firewall mounted, also.

I'm still using nicads,. I can't be much help with your ignition battery choice.

My engine is mounted with the carb underneath.

gordon_mcln

My Feedback: (2)

Who sells these plans? Are they still available?

From what I've been able to tell its quarter scale......You say "infamous"...has there been problems or inaccuracies with the drawings?

I'd be interested in obtaining a set if you could point me in the right direction.

Regards,

Gordon

rcgyuk

Hi,

As far as Iam aware the plans are out of print, and originals can no longer be obtained. There are still second hand copies circulating which is how Igot mine.

Regarding accuracy, the problem is quite the opposite, the sheer mass of scale construction on the plans.

rcgyuk

Can anyone make any reccomendations for the servos I should use in a plane of this size, would hate to find out the hard way Ishould have had a higher torque servo on the ailerons or elevator for example

warbirdmustang

My Feedback: (21)

I believe Hitec 645mg servos will work fine, and are reasonable, especially if you run them on 6 volts.

rcgyuk

Finally managed to get to spend some time in the workshop, and finished inserting the wire anchors. I can't believe how long it took to cut and drill 4 small pieces of metal !!!

Tomorrow Ican start replacing all the undercarriage bolts Ihad to take out to fit these anchors.

rcgyuk

Now attaching the firewall. Have read on several forums where people have used threaded steel rod to attach this part. I don't think I can bend the 4 longerons in and glue them, and end up with the firewall in the right pace, so I am going with the metal bolts.

That way, I can lock the firewall into place, and glue the longerons after. Plus, it will give me structure to mount the fuel tank in the space behind the firewall.

rcgyuk

Now the firewall is bolted on place, Ican bend in and glue the longerons. Good job Ihave plenty of clamps.

rcgyuk

Before and after the clamps come off

rcgyuk

Next stage is the stringers underneath from firewall back to former 4.

After this, Ihave to cut out all the remaining bottom and side formers, and attach.