REBUILDING EAGLET 50 FUSELAGE
 

I have an Eaglet 50 trainer (or specifically the fin/rudder,stab/elevator, and wing) but the fuselage was crushed. I only got around to covering the tailfeathers when the fuselage got crushed, so I put the rest aside til later time.

I want to take it out and start doing work on it again. I was already told by fellow members that I can rebuild a new fuselage with basically sticks as long as it stays relatively the original design.

My question is #1) The formers: Do I have to cut each one out in its original sheetwood design or can I use sticks to shape the formers? AND #2) What do I use to cut the firewall to shape? I do not have any fancy machinery or tools or scroll-saw or anything like that. I am going to purchase a jigsaw because you can get those relatively cheap now but there is no way I can afford scroll-saws or anything else expensive at this moment. Can a jigsaw be used to cut out the firewall shape?

I don't remember if the fuselage has a glass/nylon engine mount setup or a ply mount setup, does anyone know? If it calls for a glass/nylon one can a ply mount be used instead?

Any answers would be great. Thank you.

Question #3) The landing gear: Do I have to use the wire ones or can I use the sheetmetal ones? There is no way I can design the landing gear mounts as they are designed cause I have no way of cutting grooves into hard wood. Also, can the Eaglet 50 be modified into a taildragger?

Or maybe; Is it possible the manufacturer or dealer somewhere has a replacement fuselage kit for the Eaglet 50? If so could someone tell me where? That would be much easier, but I still would want the ply engine mount design and the taildragger conversions.

Any help please.

RE: REBUILDING EAGLET 50 FUSELAGE
 

Tigerdude,
You can get all the replacement parts directly from Goldberg. [link]http://www.carlgoldbergproducts.com/eaglet50.htm[/link]

Ken

RE: REBUILDING EAGLET 50 FUSELAGE
 

Yes, but I would recommend you build them outside the fuselage and then glue them in place. You'll need to "X" brace the center somehow to prevent twist. You could also use triangular "webs" in the corners of frames, but that's still sheet wood. I just used a razor saw to cut a firewall. Just requires well braced work piece and frequent checks for squareness . . . and likely some sanding afterwards, so saw just outside the lines. I use relatively cheap hand-held coping saws for my thin plywood curves. ANY balsa I cut by knife. #80 gtit sandpaper on a block cuts most aircraft grade sheet and ply quickly. Saw it ought rough and hand sand it to shape.

Anything that holds the engine strongly enough. Don't rely on epoxy alone if adding a ply box mount to a flat firewall. Bolt the mount. Most designs have a few degrees of down thrust and right thrust built in, so transfer those angles carefully.


You may have to bed plywood into the fuselage to support the sheet gear, but it will work. If you're going tail dragger remember the axle has to be a bit ahead of the wing's leading edge. BE SURE TO REBALANCE THE MODEL!

RE: REBUILDING EAGLET 50 FUSELAGE
 

Thank you ken. Although I am not planning on doing the work anytime very soon, I am cleaning out my cellar and needed to know what to do with the parts I do have. Should I just throw them all away to make room in the cellar or if they were worth keeping to work on at a later time.