VincentJ

Thanks for the link Cliff I will be sure to check it out.

I sanded the 3-1/2 degrees on the front of the aft fuselage sections, then checked for fit to the front fuselage section. Happy with the outcome, I mixed some 30 minute epoxy and clamped them in place. I chose not to taper the ends of the aft fuselage main frames where they join at the rear at this time. I will sand the angle later once the epoxy has cured.

Note: The joints where the aft section are mated to the front section will be further reinforced with a strip of fiberglass tape later.

acerc

Mighty fine workmanship going on in this thread. Real nice.

ovationdave

My Feedback: (16)

Looks good Vincent. Looking forward to mine. Except, my build will probably not even go this fast!

Dave

VincentJ

Thanks Robert and Dave. I have found this to be a very relaxing plane to build so far (compared to my Ryan). There are a few views/drawings on the plans that are a bit confusing but all in all you should enjoy the build experience. Dave is your kit the 1/4 or 1/3 scale?

Just getting ready to glue in all of the ply gussets that I made earlier. Will post some photos later on.

TomCrump

Joining the front and rear fuselage sections, was, for me, the least enjoyable part of the build. You have done an excelent job on yours.

I reinforced the joints with 1/32" ply sheet, approximately 6" long. It saved the fuselage, in an unfortunate "arrival."

The pic is my 1/3 scale, but I did something similar on the 1/4.

ovationdave

My Feedback: (16)

I have the 1/4 Scale. I got it at a good price, but if I were buying new, I may have went for the 1/3. Should be a nice relaxing flyer too, along with the Big Bingo that I have coming in a couple of days. I just got a good deal on another kit too, a VK models Niewport 17, nice kit that will be an interesting build for sure. (I just need to stop hoarding kits and start building!)

Keep up the good work on this one!

Dave

VincentJ

Tom like you I will also reinforce the same areas. I plan on using some fiberglass tape with epoxy for this.

All of the gussets have been added to the aft fuse, this should provide a little extra insurance for durability. Speaking of added insurance, I added a small piece of 3/32" lite ply to the underside of the longerons where the horizontal stabilizer will eventually go. I wanted to stiffen up this area a bit.

Propworn

My Feedback: (3)

Warner altered the Spacewalker slightly into the Sportster. With bubble canopy and engine shrouds, rounded with tips etc. It wouldn't take much to alter the kit and you would have something really different.

http://www.warnerair.com/sun.html

Warners new web site enclosed 2 place as well.

http://www.warnerair.com/

VincentJ

Propworn, I have seen the Warner aircrafts before and I do like them, however what attracted me to this build was the look of the Spacewalker, so for this build I'll stay close to original.

I glued the lite-ply sheet to the top of the fuselage, this will be the base for which the formers will rest upon. Looks more like I'm building a small coffin instead of a plane at this point! After the glue set I made sure that I re-checked for square.

I also cut out some 1 inch wide fiberglass strips and placed them over the joints that butts the front and aft fuselage together with some resin.

acerc

MAN!!!!! You need to stop posting until can start my next one.

ovationdave

My Feedback: (16)

All that gusset work should pay off for a super strong coffin...opps.......I mean fuse. Great work though. I know every time I have built a stick-built structure like that I always feel its worth the effort to gusset the structure too. At least it makes me feel a bit better when its in the air. Too bad I can't just gusset my thumbs!

Dave

VincentJ

Thanks Dave, the gussets are a piece of mind and they don't weight much...

Robert, these photos will get your juices flowing so you can get to work on you new Pitts!

Propworn

My Feedback: (3)

I like the look of the Spacewalker as well. I have had 2 and both flew like champs. The last one flew so well it was my loaner. When someone came to visit without an airplane I would check them out on the Spacewalker and buddy box. Then I would tell them it was theirs to use there is the fuel and start equipment enjoy yourself. One of the all time greats. After the death of the last one I purchased an arf Hanger Nine Pawnee and that’s the new loaner. It doesn’t fly quite as well but still good enough.

acerc

Oh my juices are flowing. And peeking in on your thread is no help. But the little Pitts is on my work table, I really don't want to take it apart. Next week, on the day my wife is off, I will take a little trip and pick me up a trailer. The Pitts will get stored in the trailer along with the Waco. Those are my two planes that are a pain to disassemble.

WacoNut

Haaahhhhh,
My planes are so big you still have to take them apart to get in the trailer. Wait til you get the big one done. It won't fit in there in one piece.

VJ the SW is looking really good. I may pick me up some glue in a couple of weeks and start mine on a rainy day. First I have to assemble a Super Decathalon ARF for a buddy in the club. Seems he doesn't have time to put an ARF together

Later!!
Anthony

acerc

Anthony the "BIG ONE" won't be an everyday flier like my others. I fly twice a week, that's a lot of putting together and taking apart. Tends to wear thing's out.

ovationdave

My Feedback: (16)

Just an FYI, but I bought a plane from someone on RCU (an ACE R/C Big Bingo!!), and they were in California. It took 12 days to get here. The tracking number was only updated after 10 days of no activity at all. I think the USPS is going down hill fast if your using them for shipping.

Just an FYI.

Dave.

P.S. It did arrive undamaged, which is good, but updating their tracking site is obviously not a priority.

out2pasture

Vincent I just love those little gussets! They help align the cross members too! I wish I had some on my Seniorita. After I built the fuselage I hung it on a little hook to keep it “Safe�. Well, the cross member it was hooked to gave way. So down came the fuselage and clink, clink, clink, the hook took several more cross members off on the way down.

VincentJ

Oh, that's a horrible story Mike! Talk about bad getting worse...

Glued-up the firewall and cut it to fit...except my measurements were off so I had to go buy more ply and start over.[:@] LOL While buying the Birch ply for the firewall I found some nice looking balsa to laminate for the wingtips. Looks like I'll be carving them and not using the ABS supplied in the kit.

[email protected]

My Feedback: (1)

how much for the wing tips allen

ovationdave

My Feedback: (16)

Mike that story brought a tear to my eye! I hate it when stuff like that happens......

Vincent, its nice to know that even you can make a mistake sometimes, I was beginning to think I should put away my X-acto knives and send you my kits! (LOL) Na, I guess I can make some more balsa dust, even if they aren't all masterpieces when I'm done..

Dave

ovationdave

My Feedback: (16)

Vincent, you did a bang-up job using all of the supplied ABS on RYAN, so whats the deal with these wingtips? I am just wondering if they are so bad they are unusable, or if its just a creative choice?

thanks,

dave

VincentJ

Little of both Dave, but since you asked:

1. eliminate the seam between tip and wing.
2. want the covering to go over the wing tip.
3. a tip that will stand up to a bit more abuse.

The ABS tips fit fine provided you build your wing as shown on the plans (mine does). I didn't like the hollow gap that you have at the rear part of the tip where it meets the aileron. I suppose one could fill that with some scrap balsa but...

Aside from the above, I asked myself this question. If the kit came with two sets of wing tips, one being made from ABS and a second set made from balsa. which would you use?

VincentJ

double post sorry.

acerc

I'm with you on the wing tips Vincent. ABS is good for some thing's but wing tips it is not. One bump in the wrong way and then there is a crack instead of a crease. And the covering can be tightened so the crease can't be seen. Superb build as usual.