For a few years now, I've had the urge to get into giant scale. I've also loved the way biplanes look, but I've never owned one. I also like 3D, but I've never owned a 3D plane...I've always thought profiles were fun...but once again I've never owned one... It seemed only logical that I should build something to fill these gaps in the hanger

I wanted something unique, so I decided to design my own. Now, I'm very new to CAD, in fact, this is the first set of plans I've ever drawn on it, so any tips or suggestions would be great. Since I'm new to it it’s hard to put my ideas onto CAD with any degree of accuracy, so use you're imagination to fill in the gaps

The engine I'll be using is a 52cc [link=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7063498753981003477]Chainsaw[/link] [link=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1899399485091143431]Conversion[/link]. It was tached at 9000rpm+ with an old 20x10 Dynathrust prop. For servos I'll be using "Tower Pro MG995" (Ya, I had never heard of them either). They're digital and @ 6v they produce 208oz/in of torque and a speed of .13sec/60degrees. Not bad for a $15 servo. I'll be using 9 of them. 2 on the elevators, 2 on the rudder, 1 for the throttle, and one on each aileron (total of 4).

There’s a number of things on the plane that will be different than what you see on the plans. For instance, the thickness and number of ribs has also been changed since I drew the plans and I don’t really feel like taking the time to change them.

I've ordered the wood and other materials for this plane and they should be in late this week or early next.

If anyone is interested in seeing this plane come together, please let me know. I'll try to make updates as often as I can. Above all, feel free to offer suggestions and ask questions, I'm quite sure there’s a ton of info I left out.

I'm interested. Why are your top and bottom wing so close together? Since it's going to be a "3D" plane, you might want to look at some other bipe designs, like the Boxxer and Ultimate from OMP. Mr.Bigg even modeled his Ultimate after the Sig Ultimate Fun Fly. Just giving my 2 cents, but I'm definitely interested.

Why are they so close? I'm actually not that sure..... I intend to build them 18" apart... In the drawing their only 14" apart. Guess I forgot the check that in CAD...oh well...

As I was posting this.. UPS knocked on the door with a large box from BALSA USA...

Looks like I'll get to start on the fueselage tomorrow...

Well you certainly are not spamming. We love custom scratch build projects here and you'll get plenty of help. Keep the pictures and info coming and long live the scratch builders!

Ok, first day of building on the bipe. Man was it hard to find a good piece of balsa in that box, just about every piece was warped pretty bad. First off I laminated 1/2"x1" balsa together to make a couple of long 1" sticks. Glued them with "Titebond 2". This is the first time I've used wood glue on a model, but I've been hearing some nice things about it on the forums. I like the results, those things are STIFF....this plane should'nt flex much.

I then cut the pieces which connect the two main beams. I used epoxy this time. Here's a pic of what little I've got goin so far.


Should get a lot more done tomorrow. Today I spent most of my building time on a friends plane. Its an old U-Control model. Some of you might recognise it. Its the Veco Tomahawk. Here's a couple pics of it. Sice the pics were taken I've added the landing gear.

Try Lonestar balsa next time. Ask for lite balsa and they pick out good stuff for you.. I ordered from balsausa ONE time. I learned my lesson. Warped, heavy, and broken balsa. Never again.

Heavy is right...See that hammer in the picture? I actually had to hammer the T-pins into some the balsa. Some pieces were fine but the other were more like pine than balsa.

I just realized that I just made the biggest building error of my life. I guess that what I get for trying to work at 2 in the morning...

Anyway, I'll let you all have some fun laughing at me... For some crazy reason I built the tail moment 10" to short. [&:] I still can't believe I made such a huge mistake. I guess it could have been worse... fortunatly its a fairly easy fix. I promise I'm not always this dumb...

I've got alzheimer's already...And I'm not even 18 yet! Wish me luck [:@]

Will this fly in the gym? I will be watching the build as you go. Maybe that 10" will let it fly at the Boys & Girls Club

I think it might be a tad large... Believe it or not, I was coming back from building to e-mail you the link for this thread. Looks like I wont have to.

Anyway, I've already got the fues extended and the glue drying again. I'll post some more pictures when its dry. It's actually starting to look like a fueselage.

I just got a box a wood from LoneStar and it's good stuff. Nothing appears to be hard enough to have to drive pins in it with a hammer! Gonna start on my own bipe design soon.

Just don't make mine look too bad

Don't worry....it won't. I've actually got too much on the fire right now, so it'll be a little while before I start it....unless I push everything off of the desk and start it!

Since Wessco manages to build two or three planes every month, I dont think it takes too long to see the Bipe.
Great project, I'm suscribed.
Saludos.

Well....I've been thinking about bumping everything. I've got to finish up a Chinn-Yakk for a guy and then I can start.

I'm a little more impatient...I'm finishing up my friends tomahawk as I work on this one.


Ok, after fixing my mistakes I made some more progress. Hopefully it will look a little less like a giant rectangle after I get the rest of the pieces glued on. I didnt reinforce the fues nearly as much as the plans show, after feeling how strong it was already I decided I'd just keep it light. As the fueselage sits now, it weighs about 3 pounds. In anycase, theres little left for me to do until I get some more parts. I need to get the wingtubes and some lite-ply before I can build the part where the wings attach. Also need to buy some carbon tape and the fuel tank.

I was suprised how easily I was able to extend the fueselage. Once its covered you'd never see it unless you knew where to look.

More pics. And yes, in the second pic the bottom beam does looks warped...But trust me its not I checked it with a strait-edge. Mabey due to the wide angle lens?





Hmm, I just noticed I'm wearing a mismatched pair of socks.... oh well....

I bet you got another pair just like'm in yer sock drawer........LMAO

I bet they're not exactly the same. You've probably got a different left one and right one.

Look's like a good start. Where do you plan to put the carbon fiber cloth on the fuselage?

Man, that is going to be one big bipe! Can't wait to see how it turns out. [8D]

Ok guys I'm back....If you're wondering why I havent been on... If you watched the news any at all recently you've most likely seen the massive ice storm in Oklahoma. Well I was right in the big middle of it. We just got our electricity back yesterday. The entire town had no power, some people are still out. In fact, it will be a month before a few of my friends get their power back. The tree damage here is amazing, there isnt a single tree in our neighborhood that wasnt severly damaged.

Here's a panoramic I put together in photoshop. I took it right out in my front yard.


Anyway, back on topic, I was incorrect when I posted the fueselages weight at 3lbs (I should really quit guessing.... ) It's actually only 26oz. As for the location of the carbon fiber, it will go over the weak open area around the fuel tank and over the area where the wingtubes go through the fueselage.

Edit: oops forgot the pic

We had an ice storm like that at Christmas a few years ago, so I sympathize with you! Hang in there, it'll get better soon! Looking forward to you getting back to your build.

Alrighty, my servos came in today... Its never a good thing when the first the the mailman says to you is "This is the condition the package was in when I got it, I didnt do it." [:@]

The picture doesnt tell half the story, the box is litteraly in pieces.


Here's the box by itself. The second I took off the twine it just fell apart. Great packing job guys....


Anyway the servos themselves are ok. I plugged a couple into another plane and they worked just fine.


Think I've got enough?


I got a great deal on them. It was a wholesale lot of 20. Obviously I dont need that many, so I'll probably be selling 8 of them here in the RCU clasifieds if anyone is interested.

The last of the wood came in today along with a fuel tank, heat gun, and the wingtubes. Be looking for some building updates in the next couple days. If all goes well I may have enough of a plane to show it at the club meeting this saturday.

Off topic here... but my Dad and I just finished up his Zagi Tazz and made the maiden flight last night. This is his first plane. He's flown my old Zagi 400 and glider every now and then, but this is the first one hes had to himself. That little wing is FAST....[X(]

That's awesome, can't wait until you get this thing done. I've just swapped out the engines on my OMP Ultimate....got bipe fever all over again!