vupilot

Over the last couple of days I've completed the wing LE and TE sheeting. Took a while to do. I basically glue a section, clamp it and come back a couple hours later and do another section. I dragged the process out over several days.... glue/clamp, glue/clamp, rinse and repeat etc, etc.

A while back I bought a bunch of clamps at Harbor Freight for about 2$ a piece. You cant go wrong with these since similar clamps sell for 15-20$ Just wish I had bought more.

Next step is to install the tip tank mounting structure within the last rib bay then sheet the last bay at the tip

vupilot

Spent the evening installing the tip tank mounts and sheeting over them. I sheeted the top then the bottom before I realized that there is also a bottom mount so I had to carefully remove the bottom tip sheeting to install it. The instructions dont say to install the bottom until 3 steps later...dummy, always read sevral steps ahead of the one you are working on. I should know better.

Also installed the main landing gear mouning blocks and reinforcement. Drilled the hole required for fixed gear legs and test fit.

vupilot

More sheeting. Sheeted the wing center sections today. Also, made and installed the wing rib cap strips.

hawkpilot

My Feedback: (7)

Chris, I am at about the same point you are, I noticed that the #1 wing ribs are upside down in your post above, dont know if you know this or not, just thought I would point it out. I have my fin and stab built and ready to sand, first wing section almost complete (cant sheet the bottom until the end of this month, not allowed to have my retracts intil dec 29~my b-day [sm=tongue_smile.gif] ) I have pics, but it has been years since I put pics on here so I will have to re-learn.

vupilot

Good eye on the number one rib. I noticed this a day or two ago also. Not sure if its worth flipping over, would require lots of careful cutting with the exacto knife. It may be easier to modify the servo cutout. The rib is symetrical as far as I can tell so I dont think it will have any negative effects on flying if left the way it is. Once I join the wing no one would ever know but me....well...until now....didnt think anyone would notice.

vupilot

OK i looked at that nuber one rib again. May not be as symetrical as I thought, I think I should cut it out and flip it over. I'll put a sharp blade in my exacto knife and do some surgery tomorrow. This is exactly why I dont think I could ever build a full-scale kitplane.

hawkpilot

My Feedback: (7)

glad I could help. you could do what I have been toying with, add two hs 5125 aileron servos. Or you could use some scrap balsa and thin ca to fill in the tray slot and then relocate it to the top, which you may have to alter the angle of the whole deal.

vupilot

Im not concerned with the aileron servo mounting, just the airfoil shape. I just cut out and flipped one of the ribs that I installed wrong, its a pain in the neck.

hawkpilot

My Feedback: (7)

I didnt get back here quick enough with my other idea. Do you still have the punchouts from the ribs? If so you could use it as a pattern to mark the new opening, and use it to fill in the original, then re-cut it right on the marks from the pattern. I looked at my airfoil shape and didnt see any difference. I looked in the manual to see if they specified a proper orientation for the ribs and the only one they specify is the #1 due to the servo openings. Hope this helps.

vupilot

I thought of using it for a pattern as well. I was able to get them out and flipped without breaking them. I wish I had just left them alone which was my original plan when i noticed them installed wrong. Since you noticed it though I thought I would fix it right but the wing is symetrical so it wouldnt have made any difference in really.

I am installing the torque tubes, ailerons etc right now, still going to use a single aileron servo and the torque tubes simply to keep the look of the wing more scale. Since I am going with fixed gear I may even make fixed gear doors so it looks more scale when parked on the ground. That will come after I have had several flights on it.

hawkpilot

My Feedback: (7)

Glad to see it worked out. You didnt have to change it on account of me though, I would have looked the other way I am working on the second wing section tonight. I ran into a very poor grade piece of leading edge sheeting, had to do a little fighting with it, so now I have to wait for the water to dry out of it before I take it off the board.

vupilot

Ailerons, torque tubes and rest of trailing edge installed. Need to sand a little more clearance between the inboard edge of the aileron and the TE. Going to drill and install the aileron on the other half before going to bed tonight

hawkpilot

My Feedback: (7)

Here is my progress. Hopefully I will have time today to get a little done in between writing 3 proposals, and family pictures. [sm=disappointed.gif]

hawkpilot

My Feedback: (7)

more

hawkpilot

My Feedback: (7)

well that didnt work, let me try it again

hawkpilot

My Feedback: (7)

more

hawkpilot

My Feedback: (7)

more

hawkpilot

My Feedback: (7)

this is a pic of the power, an o.s. 55ax, it should spice things up a bit. Also a pic of an unwanted guest that stopped by to check on the progress of the build, the unwanted inspector now resides in file 13 after an unfortunate encounter with a razor saw, guess he was not properly trained on jobsite safety.

vupilot

Great seeing another GP Learjet coming together. Thanks for posting the pictures. Looks like we are about at equal points in the build. Have you started the fuse at all?

Did you cut out the orginal plans or did you make a copy then cut the copies? Ever find the correct spinner?

hawkpilot

My Feedback: (7)

Your welcome, I am having a good time participating in this thread, almost like the old days when I was a teen a friend and I built models together. On some parts I make copies, but I usually just cut out the plan and cover it with plan protector. Due to it being oop I had thought of taking the plans and having copies made, but I have 2 kits so I may copy the other plans one day. I have had no luck with the spinner, so I gave up and just went with a regular black 2.25" spinner. I have not started the fuse yet, hopefully in the next few days I will.

Props4ever

Looking good guys keep building them up!

You guys have brought back memories form way back then, wow already 13 years have passed from the time when i started on to build my first one, it took me 2 years to complete is but am sure you guys will faster then my time...

So we have another LJ builder here who came on this world on 29th of the month..hehe

Props4ever

Ok here we go with pictures of my baby LJ....

Now these are from almost 4 years by the end of this month, i will try to find one from the actual build and model competitions when it was just brand new!...

Enjoy these for now.

vupilot

Thanks for posting the pictures. You went all out with flaps, spoilers, a stall fence and everything.

hawkpilot

My Feedback: (7)

Props, That LJ is nice, that is what I want to do with my second one, and also figure out a dual DF setup. Do you have any drawings of the flaps and spoilers? Also, are you a 12/29 LJ builder??

Props4ever

Thanks guys, yep it's my sweetheart model and keeper for sure. I have a lot of emotional attachments to this model.

No i don't have any drawings what so ever for LJ, what i did there was from all the pictures i took of real one at Pearson Airport and from a LJ book i may still have some where. But like i said i would not do another one of these like i went all out on first one due to weight restrictions unless i extend the fuselage 4" behind the cockpit and then do it just to get proper scale down version of LJ 35A/B.

There are few other improvements that i could do now better then from that time due to more advanced skills and material now available but again it wont be DF or EDF by any means if stock nacelles are to be used!

If you guys want to use same pictures that i used, le me know and i'll find them again, i know i still have those somewhere.