I just got my hands on a NIB Dynaflite Chipmunk 89" wingspan. When I purchased it from a very nice lady who was selling her late husbands RC stuff I had no idea what I was getting into!

I had no idea is was so big, nor am I now sure I have the building skills to pull this thing off, I know I am not up to flying it, and I am not sure I can afford everything I need to build it and get it into the air!

But on we go!

I have taken a look at a bunch of threads on this site about this kit, and many talked about glassing the model, I have built about 6 kits, but never have I glasses one. Can someone out there tell me how one fiberglasses a model? What is involved?

Also, if anyone has built this kit before please share any knowledge you have as I move forward on this monster.

When I start the actual build (I have to cover a trainer, finish a .20 AT6 Texan and repair a small electric the lady also gave me first) I will start a thread and document the build. Can you tell I am exticed about my winter project!

cheers!

manks

Got any pictures?

No photos yet, it is just a big box of wood at this point, but when I build it I will be putting all the photos in a thread here.

It is a major project for me, who has only built 20 - 40 size projects to date.

I am going to empty out my workshop tomorrow night and make space for this monster!

Can't wait to get going on it.

manks

i am trying to finish building this plane now. its a big sucker. the wing is akward to move about the house i am building this plane for someone else. there are some rather annoying things about how its built with the core box and the way the fuse is sheeted. wing went together fine but joining it was a bit problematic.

I had to clean out my shop yesterday to just start thinking about this build, it looks like it is crazy big!

I had no idea what I was buying when I called this very nice lady who was selling her late husbands stuff, now when I look at it, I am thinking WOW! It is going to be hanging for 2 - 3 years before I am really ready to try to fly it.

A couple of questions for you:

- What servos are you putting into it?
- Are you building the flaps?
- What engine should go into this thing?
- Do you have any tips and tricks you can share?
- Are you fiberglassing it?
- What kind of landing gear are you using? If I choose to get the Robart Scale gear later do you think it is a large retrofit?


I am going to get some industrial CAs for this build, I have a supplier who has great gells and other CAs that will be much tougher than the hobby stuff we use, I figured for Giant Scale you need to have something that will really keep it together.

Thanks for your help!

manks

1. on servos since i am building for someone else i dont know about the servos. i would recommend higher torque servos.

2. the owner didnt want flaps so i glued them to the plane.

3. the owner is putting a webra 120. though i would recommend a pitts muffler because the width of the fuse causes problems for conventional mufflers. i thought if i had one i would put a 25cc gas engine in it. it would fly it scale like.

4. for areas that have large sheeting wet the wood set it over the area to be sheeted and let it dry into shape then glue it in. make sure if there is a warp in the pices that make up the core box get those out before doing anything. have a large workspace available.

5. i do not plan to fiberglass i have seen some done that way but the owner just wants it covered.

6. landing gear i have modified an aluminum set inside the fuse. doesnt look right but thats what the owner wanted. since its gear are in the wing if you have the funds to get robart gear i would go for it. im not sure how the robart gear work so i dont know it may be as simple as changing them out but you would have to pose that question to someone who knows better.

on the CA thing really i have used wood glue and some CA but since its a shaped up balsa surrounding a core you dont need higher strength CA. i would say to get CA hinges for giant scale or go with some robart hinges. regular CA hinges probably wont last.

For models the size of the Chipmunk, you may as well just use carpenters' glue. It will give you about the best bond strength, and no fumes....and it's a LOT less expensive than CA adhesives and without the fume. Just make sure you have everything pinned/clamped in place while the glue dries. Use 30-minute or longer epoxy for the high-stress joints, such as firewall, stabilizer, landing gear, and wing joiners and supports. You will not likely see much variance in build time between the use of the faster adhesive and carpenters' glue, unless you're going to try to build the model in the absolute shortest time possible.

that is pretty much what i used for the whole process. elmers wood glue us what i used but alot of people build with titebond. i did use epoxy on firewall and other such places where it said to on the intructions.

Thanks for the help on this, I think I will use the yellow glue for this based on what I have read. I am not in a hurry to build this since I just costed out what it will take to complete the plane with electronics, hardware and engine I need time to hide that money from my wife.

Based on your title, can you provide some insight on the kind of servos to use for this thing.

Thanks!