An online friend and fellow RCU member, wzak29, and myself are going to do a dual Great Planes [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJ575&P=0]Super Sportster MKII[/link] build and we would love to share the experience with you. We are going to do the tricycle gear option and are going to stick to the build per plans, the only modification will be dual aileron servos instead of the single servo.

I will be using a [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&W=001058804&I=LXBUX6&P=K]Magnum XLS-46[/link] Ball Bearing ABC FSR for power with a [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEFJ4**&P=7]Futaba 4YF[/link] radio system.

Please jump in any time to share your advice, suggestions, recommendations or what-have-you. If anyone has ever flown this plane you can also share your experiences and opinions on it.

Edited 6/22/09: I am having second thoughts on using Coverite fabric, gotta save money and get the cheaper film covering. Not sure what color theme and graphics I want.

Looks like a fun project. The 60 size was my first kit build. Lots of wood to sand away to achieve that sleek nose.

I have the Great Planes 48” building board everything will be built on this board except the final covering.
My build will be following shd3920 build step by step and posting any photos or questions I have trouble with.

I know I'll be watching this thread.....

I have one of these kits.. I bought the plans from RCM to turn it into a twin.. But I figure to still learn a lot...

Here is my build thread for the Great Planes Super Sportster 40

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6677900/tm.htm

Might give you a few ideas.

Good, i'll be watching this build.

Best of luck

Forward and aft ¼” stabilizer joined with G.P. Pro wood glue (aliphatic resin) the manual says to use CA but I will be using this glue anywhere that requires sanding it sands much better, The elevators will be joined next using a joiner wire.

jrcaster
read your thread very nicely done I was thinking of using a 3 line fuel system do you have any problems using a 2 line system because of the cowl

After marking the center line with the center line marking tool I use a ball point pen to highlight the line giving me a clear line to drill into. Also after covering and removing a piece for the hinge I have a clear line to cut the hinge slot.

Hey wzak29 is there a way you can make your photos a bit bigger?

I will be starting mine later this morning or early afternoon. Don't get too far ahead of me

I can easily double the size of the photos I am just doing the tail will not start the wing until you do, going out will not be back until late afternoon.

Remember NOT to attach the tailwheel assembly. Skip that step.

will do!

The elevator joiner wire before and after installation

Photo 1: Marking the centerline of the rudder
Photo 2: Using a pen to make the line more visible
Photo 3: Measuring the hinge marks on the rudder
Photo 4: Measuring the elevator joiner
Photo 5: Joiner marked and ready for drilling
Photo 6: Using a pointed chisel to start the joiner hole
Photo 7: Drilling the joiner hole with 1/8” bit
Photo 8: Measuring the depth of the hole with piece of rod
Photo 9: 1 1/4” deep
Photo 10: Increasing hole size with 9/64” bit

Photo 1: Making the 1/8” groove for joiner with grooving tool
Photo 2: Perfect groove
Photo 3: Test fitting the joiner
Photo 4: Cut-to mark for the elevator L.E
Photo 5: Shaping the V for elevator L.E
Photo 6: Elevator L.E
Photo 7: Gluing the elevator joiner with medium CA. First sanded the joiner to hold the glue better.
Photo 8: Two elevator halves joined
Photo 9: Pinning the elevator to dry straight
Photo 10: Rudder L.E
Photo 11: Hinging the rudder with Slot Machine. Used a fingernail file to make the hinge slots wide enough for the hinges I am using.
Photo 12: Test fitting hinges in rudder. Using nylon hinges with cotter pin.

I am using Elmer's Glue-All for the majority of the build, but am also using medium and thin CA where necessary. Instead of spending extra for different speed epoxies I will be using 30-minute where required.

Finished hinging the rudder. I realized I purchased large hinges for 1/4 scale by mistake. I am going to use them anyway. Alot of work with the slotting and digging to get the slots big enough but I think its going to work.

The digging and slotting is a real pain in the a** to fit these 1/4 scale hinges. You may want to reconsider getting them wzak29, and get standard size hinges - which I thought these were.

Take a look at the last photo to see how big you have to cut the slots.

Hinging complete on the elevator

shd3920, it is a little late now but you should have waited on joining the elevator halves. It would have been easier to cover without the wire there.
Also you may want to rethink marking in pen, ink is difficult to sand down and may show through the covering. It may be good for illustrating a build, but mostly unnecessary for personnal use.

Thank you for the advice. I find it just as easy to cover with the joiner in place, and less chance of getting glue on the finish by doing it after covering.

Since I am not very skilled with covering planes I will do as jrcaster
Suggested and join the elevator after covering, will be using Standard Nylon Hinges http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...D941&P=ML#tech since I need to order these and new blades for my slot cutter I will move on to the wing construction and do the hinges later.

Used 30min epoxy to glue the rib doublers and are held in place with close pins. Bottom spar with ribs, the manual says to ca the LE and TE at this point but don’t! you need to Test fit the forward and aft die-cut 1/8" ply wing dowel supports in the notches in W-2. Because you will need to clean out any epoxy that oozed out from when you glued the doublers.

Please do not go too far ahead wzak29, I need to see where we are putting the paper tubes for the servo wires and the aileron hardwood servo mounts. Nice job so far.

Do not forget when it comes to cutting out the landing gear notches cut out the one in the CENTER of the ribs for tricycle gear.