Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
05-06-2013, 05:25 PM
#376
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
Detailing hardware
My detailing hardware came in today. I found this great place on line. Fastener express, they are reasonable in price, great selection and fast. I ordered on Wednesday and they came today.
This will be used in conjunction with Mirce detailing set. I am so stoked that I am starting to finish this pup, this is my favorite part 
TB
TB
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05-08-2013, 04:46 PM
#380
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
Paint to the wing
Four months into the build and I finally have paint to the wing. I primed the bottom today with a rattle can, used the whole can. It was a little windy so some flew away, but still a whole can for one coat. So I picked up a sprayer I need for a job I am doing and I will try it with the primer. Just need to get the material down, not looking for a finish. I got the last of the glass on the control surfaces and I am getting back to the fuselage, cockpit, canopy, cowl and all that jazz.
TB
05-09-2013, 03:00 PM
#381
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
Cockpit
I started on the cockpit today. I backed all the panels with 3/32” balsa to give them some rigidity and so I can sand and fit them betterand they are not all wobbly and warped. I also glued in some 1/16” balsa on the sides to stiffen up the cockpit box. All is fitting well so fare. I will do final fitting when I get my instrument panel from Chad. Then I will paint it and install it. I think I will glue in the sides of the fuselage to close up the cockpit so I can layup my canopy overlay. I will cut that balsa out once I get all my layups done and I start to install the canopy and cockpit. Did some more spackling, see Edwin once was pink is now white 
I have tried a few spackles now and the pink is the one I like the best. The lightweight is very soft and it is good for small dings and areas that you can basically finish it with your finger. I sand 90% of this stuff off so I’m not worried about the weight, this jug is going to be 30lb anyways
TB
05-10-2013, 01:40 PM
#382
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
Wing prep
I got to sanding the bottom of the wing today. This primer is great, for rattle can this stuff works good. It sands easy and doesn’t gum up or clog the sanding block. I used the foam sanding blocks, 60-80-and 120. I start out by knocking down the big drips by masking the area with blue tape then hitting it with the sanding bar 80 grit. After I got the primer down I leveled with my hard sanding block, 150 did the trick. Then I go over the wing using all my foam blocks, have about a dozen so I can sand away before I have to clean them up. The primer doesn’t clog up in the foam sanding blocks so you can sand away for a while.
I am so glade I did the second coat of glass. I would rather spend a few more hours sanding away then to blow threw the weave. I know most you guys are very stingy with the glass and try to put as little as you can, but I do it a little different. The end result so far is great, this wing is looking so good and it is smoothing out nicely. I do not want show room shine, just don’t want it to look crappy. I really like this glassing thing, never going to go back to plastic covering.
TB
TB
05-10-2013, 01:51 PM
#383
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
Primer
I picked up some primer and some reducer. I could only find it in gallon so I figured I will use it on my Meteor too. It sprays great in the Wagner electric sprayer. At first it went on thick as I dialed it back it was nice and smooth. For primer this sprayer is great. I will play with it on the next round. I will see how fine I can lay it down. I think I may even be able to do the final priming with this gun. I got the top hit with two coats, and the controls surfaces with two coats also. The gear door layup got it too. I will be sanding and working on the gear tomorrow.
TB
05-11-2013, 02:06 AM
#384
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
Gear doors
I spent about an hour or so sanding the bottom of the wing, very zen this glass sanding thing
I got 99% of the primer off so this tells me that I am down to a pretty level surface. I am thinking just one more round of primer and sand that down to see what it looks like.
I started to cut the gear doors out. I am taking my time and going slow, chipping away at the opening. I only get one shot at this before I have to remodel new construction 
I have to adjust the gear as I go and I need to shim the gear to achieve the proper angle and position so the cutting is going to be a slow process. The plan is to cut the opening to allow the gear to inter and exit freely and to then cut the gear doors about an 1/8” bigger all around. Then I will cut just the balsa sheeting and leave the carbon fiber shell so the gear sits onto that.
So far it looks like I am good on the clearance, glade I added that additional 1/8” to the thickness of the wing.
TB
TB
05-11-2013, 01:17 PM
#386
My Feedback: (6)
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
TB
Just be glad you did not put the gear in the scale position, as it rely compounds the problems, plus no one notices it any way.
I realy like how you are doing it, lots of great idea's for the next time.
Cheers Bob T
AMA13377
Just be glad you did not put the gear in the scale position, as it rely compounds the problems, plus no one notices it any way.
I realy like how you are doing it, lots of great idea's for the next time.
Cheers Bob T
AMA13377
05-11-2013, 04:36 PM
#387
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
I thought about it, this kit is not designed for much scale. The gear I am using is not meant or recommended for this kit but I could not resist it. I feel like I just got out of an 8 hr surgery. I got the gear in and all lined up. It was not easy and very stressful because I almost lost her a few time during the surgery. I have another long day fitting the gear doors. Man I need a beer!
TB
05-12-2013, 03:30 AM
#388
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
Main gear
The first thing I did was to layout the gear box. I used my 3 views drawings to give me an idea of the size and location.
Pics are not working again, guess the band-aid fell off again!
Pics will be up on RCG!
TB
05-13-2013, 04:55 PM
#389
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
Main gear
lets try this again!
The first thing I did was to layout the gear box. I used my 3 views drawings to give me an idea of the size and location. Then I bolt down the gear in its correct location. I use a steel 1/4” rod to line the two mains up so they are in line with each other. This gives me near perfect alignment. I can measure to see how fare each gear is from the leading edge and adjust the gear with shims if needed. At first I shimmed the inner rail to push the axle of the gear closer to the LE. But this created problems with the wheel as it lay in the wheel well. So I went back to the original mounting without shims.
Next I made a jig to fit over the axle and this gave me a way to great the circle and to measure the location of the axle in relation to the LE and the center of the wing. The first circle was 5” I always tried to go small and then enlarge as I checked. This helped in over cutting but it did not eliminate that phenomenon
After cutting the first wheel I traced the pattern onto some wax paper and then laid it over the left side. This gave me a good start to getting both as close to the same as I could.
lets try this again!
The first thing I did was to layout the gear box. I used my 3 views drawings to give me an idea of the size and location. Then I bolt down the gear in its correct location. I use a steel 1/4” rod to line the two mains up so they are in line with each other. This gives me near perfect alignment. I can measure to see how fare each gear is from the leading edge and adjust the gear with shims if needed. At first I shimmed the inner rail to push the axle of the gear closer to the LE. But this created problems with the wheel as it lay in the wheel well. So I went back to the original mounting without shims.
Turns out I had it right on when I built the wing
Next I made a jig to fit over the axle and this gave me a way to great the circle and to measure the location of the axle in relation to the LE and the center of the wing. The first circle was 5” I always tried to go small and then enlarge as I checked. This helped in over cutting but it did not eliminate that phenomenon
I started small with the circle but the only way to see how the gear sits is to get the wheel in the wing so I just had to do it and hope all my tinkering would work
After cutting the first wheel I traced the pattern onto some wax paper and then laid it over the left side. This gave me a good start to getting both as close to the same as I could.
Once I got the wheel in the wing I used the axle jig to check the distances from LE and center.
05-13-2013, 05:07 PM
#390
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
More gear!
Next I cut the first opening as close as I could and still allow the gear to inter and exit freely, don’t want it hanging up. The proses was slow and steady, I felt like I was in the operating room doing surgery for 8hr strait. There where a few times were I thought I was not going to be able to get the gear in with the wheels I have, and resort to smaller thinner wheels. But after adjusting and tweaking I got them in to satisfactory. I did have a couple over cuts, but very minor and I think they will disappear with the final cutting. I will clean it up and the gear doors will be about a 1/16” bigger all around, may even be an 1/8”
I cut a temple out of 1/32” birch ply to use for the opening. I will make my gear door the same way with 1/32" ply and then once I know they are good I will trace them onto my carbon fiber layups.
I did have to shim the left gear an 1/8” to bring it equal in height with the right gear. I will check that again when I test the gear. It wont affect the opening, just the height from bottom of the wing.
I picked up some 1/4” pins at Austin bolt to use for my axles. This way I have no bulky bolt, just the pin and I will cut two slots for my set screws.
TB
05-13-2013, 05:36 PM
#391
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
Servo hatches
I am working on the servo hatches now. I started on the left wing first. I have learned that I can not trust myself so I marked each side of the wing with red marker “L” and “R” hopefully I wont screw this up
I am working on the servo hatches now. I started on the left wing first. I have learned that I can not trust myself so I marked each side of the wing with red marker “L” and “R” hopefully I wont screw this up
Once I got the opening cut to the size I wanted I then cut the hatch to fit. I used some wax paper taped to the underside so I could remove the hatch during fabrication.
I am using magnets to hold the hatch in place. The prototype has two at the top and three at the bottom, on the rest I will do three top and three bottom, cant hurt.
I needed to build up the space from my mounting rail and the hatch. So for the magnets I used 1/32” birch ply and drilled the holes. A perfect fit for the magnets.
For the backing I used 1/16” balsa, this gave me a really close fit.
I made two identical strips, one for the hatch and one for the wing, then I glued the first one to the hatch and mated the second one to it. Once both top and bottom have the bar glued to the hatch and the wing side mated to the hatch magnets I set it in the wing with glue. This gave me a perfect placement of the magnets. To get the hatch off I just use my shop vac topop it off. I will only have to get in there for setup and maintenance so no other method is necessary.
TB
TB
05-13-2013, 05:51 PM
#392
My Feedback: (6)
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
TB
It is realy great to watch your build.
If you are intersted go to the warbird & warplanes form and look up T/S G/S P-47 ya another bloody one by pete oz back in the early post he did the mod by adding a third spar, So I said I can do that and as the 47 was my second warbird build I did a mock up from the center out 7 ribs to get the angle's right and it worked. But with secound sight I wish I had just gone with the sierra gear would have been a lot easyer. Any way have alook if you have time
Now I will go back to my dish
and just watchCheers Bob T
05-13-2013, 06:00 PM
#393
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
Thanks Bob,
I have checked out the threads over in warbirds. I want this bird to be an every day flier so the scale gear location was not in the budget 
just like most of my clients say “we are way over building for this area” the same could be said for this kit, but I always tell me clients, if you enjoy what you are doing and you like it, who cares if you are overbuilding.TB
05-13-2013, 06:04 PM
#394
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
I used a combo of 1/64, and 1/32 birch ply shims to get the hatches to flush out with the wing surface. I did not finish sand the hatches because I want to do that with them installed in the wing so I left them just a hair high. Once I was happy with the fit I masked off the wing and sanded the hatches until they where smooth with the wing, still a hair high because of the tape.
Onto the aileron hatch. This hatch was a little more difficult being the servo is at an angle. I wanted to keep the hatch as small as I could but still allowing me to be able to remove the servo with easy. I could have made the flap hatch a bit smaller but it is fine the way it came out.
The configuration of the aileron servo and the fact that I wanted the hatch to be smaller left me with an ode magnet placement, even though it is not as clean and symmetrical as the flap hatch the end result is the same, clean and flush to the surface. I used some screws as height adjusters, I can screw them in or out to adjust the hatch height. I only used magnets at the top and a tab at the bottom, works fine.
TB
Masked it off and sanded it, really turned out as good as I hoped it would. The idea is to have them disappear into the wing so I think I will leave them in and prime the wing, then sand it down and see how that works.
TB
05-14-2013, 02:51 AM
#395
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
Landing light hatch
I was able to get the landing light in at the scale location. I did have to cut the bottom spar but being it is so close to the tip I don’t think it will affect the strength.
I went with 1/4” magnets on this being it will have the light and the servo on it, don’t want it flying off on me.
The left wing is all done so onto the right wing. I will prime the bottom again with the hatches in and sand. I wont install the belly until I get all the sanding done.
TB
05-15-2013, 03:54 PM
#396
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
Servo Hatches revised, Right wing.
I finished thew servo hatches on the right wing today. I did the aileron hatch different then the left wing. I did not like the way it came out so I set out to do better on the right wing. So now I have all magnets holding the hatch instead of a tab. I went ahead and did the left one to. Now they are all clean and I feel much better. I started to work on the gear doors. I am tracing the opening onto wax paper then I will trace that onto 1/16” balsa. I may go threw a few before I get them just right. Then I will trace that onto the layups and go from there.
TB
05-18-2013, 02:27 PM
#397
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
Today I tackled the gear doors in the wing. I am so pleased with the way they came out. I did the dreaded "you only get one shot" at it and I was 100% successful. Both main gear doors are all cut and fitted, they flush out perfectly and after shimming and adjusting the main gear the doors sit right on top with no excess. Adding the 1/8" to the thickness of the wing really paid off, so glad I did that 
So the gear doors are ready to mount, that's next.
TB
I did the dreaded "you only get one shot" at it and I was 100% successful. Both main gear doors are all cut and fitted, they flush out perfectly and after shimming and adjusting the main gear the doors sit right on top with no excess. Adding the 1/8" to the thickness of the wing really paid off, so glad I did that So the gear doors are ready to mount, that's next.
05-19-2013, 03:00 AM
#398
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
Gear doors, “the cutting”
The hard part is over, cutting the gear into the wing is the most risky part, cutting the doors is not to bad simply because you can always layup a new set. So I started with a template I cut using 1/32 birth ply.
The hard part is over, cutting the gear into the wing is the most risky part, cutting the doors is not to bad simply because you can always layup a new set. So I started with a template I cut using 1/32 birth ply.
This template will be both Right and Left doors.
I drilled a 1/4” hole in my template so I could center it over the gear using the axle.
Next I marked the location and made adjustments if necessary, always checking the left wing as I proceeded.
When I laid up my carbon fiber doors I marked the orientation on the sheets so I could place them where they originally were laid up on. So I marked the locations using control line and taped them down. I also transferred the same control lines to the template.
Next came the transfer of the template to the layup.
I cut the doors using my dremel and a thin fiber wheel. I have gotten pretty good cutting this stuff. I finish it of with my sanding bars.
Once I was satisfied with the placement I taped down the gear and traced the outline with a fresh #11 blade scoring the glass.
After scoring the glass I used the dremel to cut the a deeper line close to the score but not on it. Then I used a razor chisel and removed the balsa from the carbon shell. I treated this kind of like doing Mylar covering. I used a fresh blade to trim the cut so I did not pull the balsa. After the cutting was done I used various sanding blocks to sand the fiber and the edge of the cutout.
TB
05-19-2013, 03:31 AM
#399
RE: Top Flite GS P-47 sports scale; diary of a build
The carbon shell provides a great lip for the doors to sit on. I fitted all the parts and made adjustments with the sanding bar so they fit in nice and tight. Once I was happy with the fit I trimmed the shell back to 1/8” all around. Some spots I had over cut the opening when I fit the gear as mentioned in previous posts. But nothing to bad.
Next I used my 3 views to locate the separation of the three pieces. I just eyed it being this is not a scale build
TB