1/7 Scale Blackburn Buccaneer All Composite Scratch Build
02-06-2023, 06:19 PM
#726
Performance wise, the model is around 48lb dry and holds 179floz of fuel, and its performance, powered by 2 Merlin 100XBL motors, could be considered to be over powered. Take off roll is around 400ft and following immediate gear and flap retraction I am throttling back to half power as I turn off of the runway heading. In flight, it cruises at around 100k-110k rpm which on the normal throttle curve is about half stick. Full power is only needed in the vertical and I’m throttling back before the model crests over the top of a loop/ Cuban 8. There is a noticeable increase in drag with the gear down, but there is still plenty of thrust available for a go-round if needed. Landing takes about 400ft from touchdown to full stop using the powerful new Electron ER-50 brakes.
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patf (02-21-2023)
08-02-2023, 04:42 PM
#734
Thanks for continuing to watch this thread. Apologies, but I have been tardy about posting updates.
I now have 39 flights on the Buccaneer and it is now flying really well. I have learned its quirks and I really enjoy flying it.
It is now fully painted and LTMA-1 approved.
The first outing with it fully painted was to the Bomber Field Warbird event in early June. I put on 7 flights over 2 days. Humbled to say that it won the Best of Show award.
I just found this very nice video of one of my flights there - hope you like it. That was one of my better landings.
I've been adding more details to the model - a scale model is never really done. I'll try to get some assembled photos and describe some of the work that I've been doing on it.
The next major project for it will be the cockpit. I've started to lay it out in CAD, but haven't devoted too much time to it yet.
Paul
I now have 39 flights on the Buccaneer and it is now flying really well. I have learned its quirks and I really enjoy flying it.
It is now fully painted and LTMA-1 approved.
The first outing with it fully painted was to the Bomber Field Warbird event in early June. I put on 7 flights over 2 days. Humbled to say that it won the Best of Show award.
I just found this very nice video of one of my flights there - hope you like it. That was one of my better landings.
I've been adding more details to the model - a scale model is never really done. I'll try to get some assembled photos and describe some of the work that I've been doing on it.
The next major project for it will be the cockpit. I've started to lay it out in CAD, but haven't devoted too much time to it yet.
Paul
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08-03-2023, 12:16 PM
#737
Very nice Bucc...Really good to see a Blackburn Buccaneer, unlike my balsa project. The technical data of my Bucc: wingspan 200cm, fuselage length 265cm, weight 13,5Kg, 2 x X60 Xicoy or. 2 x SM110-52 Stumax. The cockpit and S2 Martin-Baker ejection seat should be printed with a HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing process if possible.... powder based polyamide 12 gray as printing material
regards
Frank
regards
Frank
08-03-2023, 12:28 PM
#738
Frank,
Another Buccaneer - it looks great. Please start another build thread on is so that we can watch your version progress into reality and flight. Yours seems to be the same size as mine. If you can attain 30lb (13.5Kg) flying weight it will be a floater.
I will definitely watch with interest and compare a balsa/ wood version with my composite one.
Note that Scale-Print.de has the Mk6 ejection seats available, both front and rear versions.
Regards,
Paul
Another Buccaneer - it looks great. Please start another build thread on is so that we can watch your version progress into reality and flight. Yours seems to be the same size as mine. If you can attain 30lb (13.5Kg) flying weight it will be a floater.
I will definitely watch with interest and compare a balsa/ wood version with my composite one.
Note that Scale-Print.de has the Mk6 ejection seats available, both front and rear versions.
Regards,
Paul
09-10-2023, 09:51 AM
#739
A few more updates. I've been focusing on some of the smaller scale details including the fin mounted antenna, the squadron fox head decal on the intakes and adding some weathering. I also missed posting for the clear canopy.
I 3D printed a canopy plug, glassed it and primer/ sanded/ polished it to a smooth surface and found a local vacuum forming company that was willing to pull a couple of canopies for me as long as I supplied the material. I initially chose .040" acrylic sheet and when it was heated, it turned crystalline white. It turned out I was sent PET. I re-ordered PETG and these came out perfectly. To add depth to the canopy, I 3D resin printed the interior canopy frame, which also contained a brass tube for the canopy retaining piano wires. The last current detail on the canopy was to add the MDC zig-zag pattern to represent the explosive cutting charge that breaks the canopy during an ejection. This was cut from light grey self-adhesive on my vinyl cutter. As the pilot/ observer seats are offset 2" (full scale) left/ right, the MDC pattern is also offset to be centered over the ejection seats.
I 3D printed a canopy plug, glassed it and primer/ sanded/ polished it to a smooth surface and found a local vacuum forming company that was willing to pull a couple of canopies for me as long as I supplied the material. I initially chose .040" acrylic sheet and when it was heated, it turned crystalline white. It turned out I was sent PET. I re-ordered PETG and these came out perfectly. To add depth to the canopy, I 3D resin printed the interior canopy frame, which also contained a brass tube for the canopy retaining piano wires. The last current detail on the canopy was to add the MDC zig-zag pattern to represent the explosive cutting charge that breaks the canopy during an ejection. This was cut from light grey self-adhesive on my vinyl cutter. As the pilot/ observer seats are offset 2" (full scale) left/ right, the MDC pattern is also offset to be centered over the ejection seats.
09-10-2023, 09:56 AM
#740
The prominent aft swept antennas mounted on the fin were next. These were CNC routed from G10 as two pieces (upper and lower), with a stub extension to mount into the fin. A slot was then milled on the mating surfaces to mount the aft facing wire antenna at the tips, before CA'ing the two halves together. A balsa block was inserted in the fin to act as a solid mounting point.
09-10-2023, 10:06 AM
#741
As an experiment (never having tried it before) I made a water-slide decal of the XII Squadron RAF motif, which is a fox's head. Starting with a close up photograph, I cleaned it up in Photoshop and scaled it to size, about 3" tall. I then color laser printed onto clear water-slide decal sheet at the local FedEx office, along with a number of other maintenance markings in various colors. The white background for the fox's head was sprayed on using a vinyl cutter mask and when dry the water-slide decal was trimmed and applied.
Against the white background, this large decal came out perfectly, but other markings applied directly to the darker green/ grey lacked the color depth to show up. I am going to use rub-on decals for all of the other markings, a lot of which are in white lettering. I'm in contact with Flightline Graphics in the UK for these rub-on decals.
Some of the other scale details were painted on using plastic model acrylic paints, prior to weathering it with heavily thinned oil paint and mineral spirits. Panel lines were then emphasized with an airbrush and the oil/ mineral oil paints. Once I have all of the other markings applied, a sealing coat of satin clear will be applied.
Against the white background, this large decal came out perfectly, but other markings applied directly to the darker green/ grey lacked the color depth to show up. I am going to use rub-on decals for all of the other markings, a lot of which are in white lettering. I'm in contact with Flightline Graphics in the UK for these rub-on decals.
Some of the other scale details were painted on using plastic model acrylic paints, prior to weathering it with heavily thinned oil paint and mineral spirits. Panel lines were then emphasized with an airbrush and the oil/ mineral oil paints. Once I have all of the other markings applied, a sealing coat of satin clear will be applied.
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09-10-2023, 11:09 AM
#745
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In all my years spent loving this hobby, I don't think I can say that I've ever seen such a beautiful piece of functioning R/C craftmanship. Considering everything from design, multiple technical fabricating processes along with pure passion and commitment. I am so grateful to have been able to follow along and wish to thank and applaud you.
You are one of a special and most talented kind.
You are one of a special and most talented kind.
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09-11-2023, 01:11 AM
#746
In all my years spent loving this hobby, I don't think I can say that I've ever seen such a beautiful piece of functioning R/C craftmanship. Considering everything from design, multiple technical fabricating processes along with pure passion and commitment. I am so grateful to have been able to follow along and wish to thank and applaud you.
You are one of a special and most talented kind.
You are one of a special and most talented kind.
Even the serial numbers look to be the correct font, and the offset ejection seats show incredible attention to detail.
Lets hope kits or artfs become available !
Again, heartiest congratulations !
David G.
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uncleTom (09-14-2023)
