Ali

My Feedback: (5)

My build threads are like buses. None for ages, and then they all come at once
Never being one to turn down a challenge. When a customer asked if I could supply a turnkey Futura 1.9m I of course said yes... When he asked if I could deliver it at Florida Jets ( Flying) I have to admit that I had to think twice. Basically it leaves me with about a week to get it built ( Factoring in the time to get it flown, get it decorated, and then box it up and have it shipped in time) So to say time is tight, would be a bit of an understatement.
The build thread will be short and basic, and it maybe that I dont update it for a few days at a time, but I will try my best.

BaldEagel

The build and taking the pics do not waste a great deal of time, its uploading the pics to the PC or iMac and then posting them on a thread that is a waste of valuble building time, wait until you have it finished and then if you have spare time upload the whole lot at once.

Mike

Ali

My Feedback: (5)

I dont find that part too bad.. its the writing text that slows me down.. I wish I could just say 1) I did this 2) I glued that etc etc. But to me a build thread that doesn't cover the bad as well as the good points is pretty useless.
I would love to do it all at the end, but the customer wants to see his model going together.
Now some photos of some of the parts of the airframe and gear. Hopefully these will show the superb quality of the components..

Ali

My Feedback: (5)

Wings. Almost flawless gel coat is a common feature with the Tomahawk models. One of the main reasons why we choose to decorate them with vinyl using the gel coat as the white base. Lots of carbon in the right areas, and as you would expect really good glue joints all round.

Paul0088

The sky really is falling down!

Ali

My Feedback: (5)

Indeed. Dont believe all you are told!

Ali

My Feedback: (5)

I am going to start with the wings and tails. The customer has asked for a painted internals, so I figured I could do the wings whilst the primer is drying. Personally, I would be tempted to leave the internal finish as standard, as the quality of lay up work is really good, and doesn't need painting, but I guess it will look better when done.
The servo mounts are attached ( glued and screwed ) to the composite hatch cover. All the parts are accurately pre cut and everything just fits. It may seem like more work ( having to assemble the mounts) but the fact that it's all such a good fit means that you as the builder dont need to mess around. Just assemble it and move on.
I put masking tape onto the wing so i could mark push rod positions and position of the slots for the control surface horns. All the control horns on the Futura are a double composite affair ( apart from the flaps that are singles) and they all slot into the foamlike spars that run laterally in the front edge of the control surfaces. Providing a good solid base for the control horns to be bonded to.

Ali

My Feedback: (5)

A spot of primer, and Halfords appliance white and the servo aileron boxes are done.... The rudder servo is exactly the same set up.

Ali

My Feedback: (5)

Normally, I brush paint the internals of my models with Primer. This time, I decided that the area was big enough to rattle can it. Hoping that would be faster. First I masked all of the outside of the fuselage, making sure all of the exits were fully masked. You will be amazed how over spray finds its way everywhere. If I were having this model painted then I wouldn't be as cautious with the masking.
Not sure if there was any need to, but decided I may as well mask and paint the inside of the top decking ( affectionally known as the canoe)

Alex48

lol.......your a man on a mission atm

I hate masking to spray the internals as it takes ages. The one advantage with a model in gelcoat is that you only have to mask the edges as the over spray can be wiped clean in seconds just after you spray the innards with primer. I rag and a little solvent does the trick, saves loads of time.

Looks good quality...

Carsten Groen

Thanks Al for taking the time with this
Is the 2.5m and 1.9m equal with regards to servo mounting (and "anything else") etc. ?

DominicM

Great stuff Ali. Obviously watching with interest...

Ali

My Feedback: (5)

Hi Carsten.
No problem sharing. I do quite enjoy a build thread, plus it's nice to confirm to some of my "friends" that I can, and do spend a hell of allot of time in the workshop.
The 1.9 is pretty much the same as the large Futura in the servo mount set up. Other than that is varies somewhat.
The Small Futura comes as standard with all of the woodwork already applied ( This is a build stage option in the larger model) The fin is permanently attached to the 1.9. Its removable on the larger model, and requires the blended fillet bonding on and fairing in.
Basically the smaller 1.9 is a considerably quicker build than the larger Futura for having the woodwork and fin taken care of. Not that the larger kit is a long process, as you will soon be finding out
Dom... Yes i figured you might have an interest in this. Sorry if it all gets a bit boring soon, when I start talking about fuel tanks, hopper tanks and turbines
Alex. Yep.. It's a busy old time right now. I like it this way, and as long as I stay on track and can still spend some time with my family ( and not have to be in the workshop every night) then I can manage. I guess you are right, and that there was no need for masking up the entire fuselage. A wipe with a rag would have worked just as well, but masking is one of those things I find really difficult to stop once I have started!

schroedm

My Feedback: (1)

Good going mate, looks like you're building it in Lilliput after looking at mine

I see the buggers do pretty much everything for you except the canopy fitting [:@] - that would have been the real icing on the cake!

Carsten Groen

Thanks for the clarification Al
So no "Building Elves" on this plane
(hmm, maybe a scaled down version of the BMW scheme for this one [8D])

Ali

My Feedback: (5)

yeah... the elves are so small, that they are out of shot.
Carsten.. A matching pair would look good!
Mark. Canopy fixing is tonight, and I am not looking forward to it either.

Sonicwings

Hi Ali,

Nice work, and thanks for the sharing... Do you have a pic of the wing servo mounted in its cradle you could share plsssss...

Cheers Jeremy.

Sonicwings

Hi all...

With all that carbon in the fuz nose area, whats the likelyhood of problems with the 2.4 reception, Futaba MZ14, 14 HS RX ???

Cheers Jeremy.

Ali

My Feedback: (5)

not sure I do have those Photos Jeremy. I will try to remove a cover tonight and snap for you.
I have had an issue with a big Futura and a Futaba set up ( Free flight) I changed that plane to Spektrum that day and it flew without issue.
Regards Al

Sonicwings

Hi Ali,

I recall your comment on that free flight event, but you never told us what happend... You didnt loose the aircraft though...
Thanks for the efforts here... Jeremy.

C.Brunnlechner

Hi Jeremy,


that is the reason, I placed my reciever nearby the fueltank.
I had 8 flights, so far no problems just a lot of fun

A short video from the maiden flight - sorry for quality!

http://www.rcmovie.de/video/30234749...2cd/Futura-19m

tahfiet

Hi!

Looks like they were not unhappy with my servo-installation on the Viperjet prototype So here is your picture with a servo installed:

Ali

My Feedback: (5)

Thanks for the photo David, and the great and simple servo attachments.
We supplied a turnkey large Futura for a customer, and he wanted the complete test fly and set up service. As he flew a Futaba 14 MZ I did the set up and was planning to send the model with an SD card so he could just install and fly.
On flight number 3, I felt like I had a momentary lock out,but was not sure... Flight number 4 and 5 both had far more serious lock outs, and at one point saw the model flying away from me whilst out of control ( Turbine shutdown and luckily as it arced toward the floor it came back under control and I got it down) I changed the RX to Spektrum 12 ch and had 4 satellites positioned around the fuselage ( away from the large carbon areas.. of which the bigger Futura has lots of) and never had a problem there after.
Regards Al

DominicM

You mean you can't do a mid-air restart with a turbine?! Yet another good reason to go electric I say

Ali

My Feedback: (5)

Hi Dom.
Dont let me start on the reasons why its good to go Turbine over dustbuster
A few pics of the superbly made Futura undercarriage. Just take a look at the size of those cylinders! No wonder they operate so smoothly, and at not high pressures. If only all gears could be this good. It's incredibly light as well. When I first saw it I remember thinking " Damn, thats going to be heavy". Yet. As soon as I picked up that massive nose unit, I was amazed how light it was.... sorry I forgot to weigh it [:@]