Finally got back to building. Finished seats and basic cockpit. I want to paint cockpit before I cover fuse. a few pics.

A few more pics, seat W/ upholstery

Cool! Glad to see you back working on the plane. I plan on doing one of these soon so this thread is a great source of inspiration.

Shawn

thanks, Shawn. It's good to be back at it. be sure to stay in touch and post pictures when you get started on yours. Steve

FINALLY GOT THE COCKPIT PAINTED, AND THE TAIL COVERED. WILL WEATHER AND FINISH DETAILS AFTER THE FUSE IS COVERED AND PAINTED. HEY BASSBUG HOW'S YOUR'S COMING ALONG HAVEN'T HEARD FRON YOU IN A WHILE..... STEVE

Does anyone know does the Fleet use rib stitching or just the rib tape? And is there any specific way it was applied to the Fleets? I haven't been able to find any good pics. of the wing or tail surfaces. I'm almost done covering the wings and tail and am ready to start the taping any help would be appreciated. thanks, Steve

This restored Fleet has rib tapes and stitching.

Jim

Thanks Jim, that helps, trying to see in the picture if the 1/4 ribs have tape also, they don't appear to have stitching that I can see.

Copy or trace the parts onto the plan before you build the Fleet. The designer of the Fleet had an interesting demonstration about the 'toughness' and strength of the Fleet wing involving an elephant! I knew I shoulda bought one of those! I might like to see how much it would be for you to make copies for me. I have a Combat Scale Pfalz DIII and it seems to be a very high quality kit. I think they were a Scottish company. I remember the SPAD kit but didn't get it. They had another kit but I don't remember what it was.

I don't have any better pictures; the one above is cropped from a larger view. I'd agree the short ribs do not appear to have stitching. I do have some shots of another Fleet with white wings, but the detail on those pictures is not as good as what I posted. The white wings do show the stitching to be pretty prominent just as the red wings. It is just barely possible to see the tapes on the white wings in my original photos.

My Concept Fleet has been sitting framed up for quite some time. I thought I would get back on it this winter, but it hasn't happened yet.

Jim

How do tou guys do the sthching on the ribs? I've never done stiching, tapeing yes, stiching no.

I hope this pictures can help

Ah, you have visited the Cradle of Aviation Museum.
Mitchell Field was practically in my back yard when I was growing up.
Thanks for the photos.

ACOBRA, I was just going to use white glue with a syringe to replicate the stitching then tape over it. unless someone else has a better idea!....... Steve

JJSCOTT. hope you can get a chance to start back on your fleet. sounds like you have the hard part done. now the fun can begin! post some pics. would love to see yours also....... Steve

Hi fleet guys, there's a guy Ken Kosmenko in BC Canada that sells Rib Stitching tape! great stuff easy to use... E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail:[email protected]
http://www.personainternet.com/scaleribstitch/ Alex

This thread and others on RCU have lots of good information on the Concept Fleet that I used when building mine.

I tried to strengthen the spar boxes and prevent them from ever splitting open. The ends were first wrapped with Kevlar thread then wrapped over the top with carbon tow. Finally I wrapped back the length of the joiners with unwaxed dental floss. This mod shows up in the pics of the fuse and the top wing center section. Of course, a crash will probably wreck them but I hope to give the spar boxes a little longer life. After I had built the top wing I decided to add ailerons. It wasn't too much of a job, and I hope to get a better roll rate with 4 ailerons.

I will be using a G38 and have the firewall set up for it. My kit (bought here on RCU) came with a glass cowl. I felt the cowl looked a little long compared to the scale drawings, so it was shortened to where I though it looked right. The short cowl then required a new mounting structure in front of the firewall. I'm using litho plate for the cockpit area and plan to construct a new forward upper cowling of fiberglass. I hope to make it a little more scale looking by angling it down on the sides. (Yeah, I know, more scale on the nose and four ailerons??) The fuse has an access hatch planned for under the rear cockpit.

That diagonal line in the top ply piece on the fuse is a cut to correct a warp. There are opposing diagonal cuts on either side, part way through. The piece is epoxied well and sandwiched between weights so it cures straight. Too cheap to buy a new piece. The rest of the plane pretty much follows the kit.

Jim

Hey Jim, I wrapped my spar boxes with fiberglass cloth strips coated with epoxy. your way looks a little easier to to and also looks neater. I thought about going with 4 ailerons also, seems like a lot of wing area for just 2. I guess it's not too late, I only have 1 top wing covered. Here I thought I was almost done . Now you've got me think'n again!

Hi Guys:
Back working on my Fleet, OOPS make that an IAR F-10G. Does anyone know where I can get some Romanian air force WWII national markings? I would really hate to have to paint them.
Frank

Frank,

I make those markings, I do model airplane graphicxs. Vinyl or mask, so you won't have to paint them on.

Let me know when you're ready.

See if this photo works?

Well, the photo worked, but you can't see the white outline because of the white background. The white outline may or may not have appeared on all aircraft? That I do not know.

Charles

www.cfcgraphics.com

Hey guys, finally got my ailerons done on the top wing. I also made wing supports for when the wings are off so that the struts and wings can be left assembled for transport. The supports can be slid in place with the wings still on the plane, just slid out a bit, then a small bungee from the support to the strut should keep it in place. Should make setup and transport a whole lot faster and easier. Nice job on the rib tapes Bassbug! ............ Steve

Sorry guys ,not sure why the pictures came out so large. I did everything the same as before .

Hi Folks

Stumbled across this thread and, Ihave an 84" Fleet in the box For Sale. Iam thinning down the pile a little.

All complete, nothing missing, Iwill never build it.

Before Iput it on eBay I thought one of you might like it.

Offer a fair price and you will get a great kit.

Jon ...

Woodbury Mn

(651) 233-6565

Iwas asked to upload some pix of the Fleet 1/4 Scale. Iwill try ...

Thanks

Jon ...

Hi Jon, what do you need to get for the kit....$$ Let me know.... Alex [email protected]