RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Fin servos fitted, but not a very interesting picture subject.

Managed to get the stabs built up, so attached are some pictures of this as it stands, waiting for some more aeropoxy to apply where needed before the sheeting goes on.

Spars and webbing slightly modified, no weight penalty and a strong set up. I have also added some cf to the wheel area round the wing tube and will apply some cf/kevlar cloth to the inside of the top skin once this is applied.

Still waiting for the landing gear [&:] BVM must have all the attention set on the jet meet!

Sourced the splitter reflector, which should be here very soon as well as some tiny lights for the wheel legs, these are literally 1mm square, and a real pain to solder two wires to. I will post some pics over the weekend.

To all those lucky flyers going to the FL jet meet, have a great time!

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Finally the hardware is here, kevlar tanks, plumbing, scale retracts etc.....

Fitted the front wheel and former, fairly tight fit through front hatches, and a little more play in the leg assembly than I would have hoped, but looks fine although I will check out the play with BVM before the kit is handed over.

Does anyone have any views on servo placement for the front wheel, the instructions say up front but do also say you can mount it behind the former where there is loads of room?

These built up wing are a real time consuming job, just when you think its time to sheet something else needs to be fitted!!!

Added the strut mounting plates and checked the location of bolts etc, needs aeropoxy and job done - just before adding the mounting plates I added some lite ply in between the spars below and applied a layer of carbon/kevlar cloth. This area is not accessable once the mounting plates are fitted so this will help add strength in this vital area.

As the gear doors will be run by the 'modified' in wing air piston, I had to fabricate an Ez Air carrier plate to cater for the 5 connections required, made from cf sheet this new carrier has the capacity for 6 connectors.

Thats it for now, some shots of the main legs as well (just for the workmanship - nice one BVM).

Marc.

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Got to LOVE BVM kits. Great job!

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Marc,

How did you make the mounting sheets for the EZAirs? I need to do the same thing on my Mig and I'm worried that I won't get them as neat as your's - and then they'll leak! :D

Bob

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Bob,

Made mine from some 1mm glass sheet, cut a series of holes on a grid then cut into squares, matched and filed so all were the same (4 pieces - 2 for each wing)

I will post a pic if you need a closer look.

Question for you:

How are the tanks fitted? I seem to have no instructions as to how to secure them in, only a how to assemble sheet and positioning layout!

Marc.

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Latest:

Stabs sheeted on one side, not worthy of any pics yet.

The front light reflector arrived so have now made a mounting plate ready to fix to the front upper ducting, I will fit once the ducting is in as the space is very tight (have tested this!)

Worked out where to fit the micro switch for the landing lights, managed to fabricate a brass plate which is slung under the gyro plate (gf sheet), the actuating arm rests nicely above the front retract moment arm. When the leg moves into the fuselage the moment arm moves up creating the break required in the circuit (see pics below) The micro switch lever can just be seen extending out over the moment arm on the RHS of the retract mechanism

Mounted the steering servo behind the front bulkhead, rather than infront, this area is busy and the manual suggested it was possible to fit behind. Inverted the servo, and mounted it on two ply plates aero-poxied to the bass rails that run along the fuselage bottom, an addition support gantry was made to help keep the servo well supported. Checked the throws, smooth and plenty of throw (if needed).

Started the air brake cylinder installation tonight, and designing a small circuit board to cater for the light switches, resistors and charging connections.

Kevlar tanks all finished, will check for leaks tomorrow after the aeropoxy has fully hardened.

Later

Marc

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Here' the latest update.

Have been working on the fuselage internal of late, with the fittment of the nose gear door cylinders, which i have to say were a real pain in the but, over 8 hours from start to finish to get them in!

The problem was that in the position indicated on the drawings, did not clear the wheel as it retracts into the nose section, I checked the position on the nose gear former, that was fine, checked the door cutouts, fine, ducting if truth be known could have gone another 2-3mm further forward, but then the lip would not have registered with the front moulding. The cylinders are all the same construction, so the air-in-air-out fittings are in the same place, this also caused an problem as the black air line which cannot be bent to tight kept getting in the way - a left and right cylinder would be better!

Finally, after hours of trial fitting, I modified the mounting plate into two and found a suitable position on the ducting to position the cylinders so everthing was clear - position is immediately above the doors so the stroke is not compromised, I hope now that with a test the system works - fingers crossed.

Skinned the fins, which need final finishing, completed the rudders (fixed and moving) and elevators.

Mounted the lower equipment tray, and started working on the tank plumbing. The Kelvar tanks needed patching as there were around 10 holes in total, cyno fixed these.

Reading threads it has been suggested that the tanks are plumbed so that the main tanks drains first, this helps give C of G balance in the middle and landing stages of the flight, so this will require a modified plumb which now the tanks are air tight will be bench tested.

With the front duct in place, planning the turbine fitment is underway.

Marc.

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

i miss building. good job marc

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

It seems a while since the last post, and it seems like I have made little progress, but on reflection there have been loads of 'bitty' jobs done.

Firstly insulated the air brake plumbing to help keep the heat off the air lines, then assembled the wing tanks and get them ready for primer and final sanding.

With the help of a friend we designed a small circuit board to mount all the landing/nav lights wiring, the board was then etched and wired. The board allows the navigation lights and the landing lights to be switched on/off independently, and the landing lights are switched on/off when armed by the front leg mounted micro switch. Each circuit has a plug in fixing so the unit is removable and repairable should the need arise.

Hinged and fitted the rudder, and the elevators, drilled and fitted the tail securing hardware. The tail section horizontal surfaces require glassing and final finishing prior to primer.

Tanks are waiting for the fittings, and when here will be tested and fitted, the main bukhead can only be fitted once the main tank is in.

Scale landing door kit is here now, so can start to build the second wing and then close both up, I have left the first wing open as I wanted to make sure the same modifications were done to both wings (there were a few!)

Marc.

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Slowly, slowly.....

Been working on the fiddly bits - sorted out the two deck front equipment tray, plan on using the space below the cockpit for the ecu, possibly the battery and jetronics valves and the rear cockpit tray for the rest (air valves, fill valves, guages etc.....).

Fitted the rear fin connector for servos and rear nav light connection, connects when the fin slides into place.

Routed the air pipes from the front gear and doors to the 'air section' at the rear of the cockpit area, also secured the air pipes and servo leads from the rear section forward, these are covered in a heat resistant sleeving.

The front gear doors had to have the cylinder positions moved from those indicated on the plan (see earlier images), and when air testing the doors recently they flexed slightly, causing interference with the poly ply corner stop, in the image you can see a small diameter length of carbon rod fitted along the lower edge of the doors, this has cured the flex and the doors shut with ease.

Have recently started to cut out the lower wing skin for the scale gear doors, and will update on this over the next few days.

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Marc,
You are building a beautiful Mig. The attention to detail is top notch. You should be very proud!

This is of the Caliber that a Industrail Designer would build a protoype to.

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

...... Superb!

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Fantastic looks like ive lost a job!. Great install.
Mark H
Hammer driver.

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Appreciate the comments, I have always had the p-ss taken out of me at the local club for too much attention to detail!

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

There is never too much attn 2 detail. never.
MH.

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Can anyone post a picture of the servo mount for the nose gear steering? I damaged mine and made the mistake of not replicating it before I removed it from my MiG.

Many thanks,
Mark West
Salt Lake City, Utah
NIFA Captain W.C.

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

marc, here are the pics you emailed me about. mine is the newer kit. you are moving right along on your build job. barry

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Cheers Barry for the gear door pics, think I have it, will play around once the strut and wheel is in to see how much clearance is available at the root former.

Mark, regards servo mounting, I mounted mine behind the landing gear former so my set up will not be much help, I just found it easier to position the servo upside down on a flat surface, rather than in the very busy forward gear section.

Marc.

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Time flies............

It seems I've been idle, certainly when the results of my time have not really produced much in the way of progress, well visually anyway.

Covered one side of the LHS wing, and cut out skin for scale cf doors, need to remove a small amount of metal from the base of the strut arms as they rub against the added ply panel fitted in between the main and aux spar (BVM mod) once this is done will check that all connections are installed and long enough!

Have built the RHS wing, now need to complete the wiring connector and the EZ air panel, cover the bottom and follow the same process as the LHS wing.

Most of my time has been taken up reading manuals, asking questions on this forum to make sure I don't make any obvious mistakes!

I have also been working on the fiddly bits, working out how to cram all the equipment into the front section, now that the P160 is here and its going to use the Kero-start system a larger 3300-3700 capacity pack was needed, fine you say, problem is where to shoe-horn it in! In the end I have found a spot which is just aft of the first former so reasonably close to the front, it will sit in the gun fairing which extends rearward providing a natural cradle which needs a little modifying to provide a secure fixing.

Opposite this on the other side of the steering servo (I placed mine aft of former 1) I have modified the 'smooth stop' mounting so this fits under the duct and again just aft of the first former.

I have made a new equipment tray that will sit below the cockpit tray, this currently carries the ECU, pump, two fuel solenoids, UAT and space for a few other accessories - possibly the gear failsafe - this in itself has taken well over a week to fabricate, mount and plan, as there is not much room under the cockpit tray and the centre line of the ducting.

The photos below show the wing, new battery mounting cradle and mid-duct equipment tray.

Work now will focus on finishing the wings, although the weather in the UK has been rather good so out flying much more now :)

Marc.

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Marc,
I noticed your servo connection in the wing root. I bet that really keeps thing simple during assembly at the field. I'll incorporate that in my new jet too.

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

That sir, is why you are the man!

Best Regards, Bill

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Great install Marc, lots of good ideas there.

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

You're going to put a P-160 in it? Man, that's a lot of motor for that airplane. I know you can turn them down, or not use the throttle, but the fact that I may have to put one of my P-120's in mine was bugging me bacuse the plane doesn't need about 7 lbs of its thrust and it seems a shame to stuff that in there when it could be powering a bigger plane. The 160 (Titan?) is going to have about 12 lbs more thrust than that airplane needs...

Bob

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Bob,

The P160 is a big turbine (thrust wise) but the owner as a very skilled pilot and he I am sure will make the end result fly beautifully.

From what I can gather the P80 is a little long in the tooth and the P160 is the newer more up to date turbine with no weight or size disadvantages......... I just build them :)

Marc.

RE: BVM Mig 15 build
 

Oh, it can be flown well with a P-160, but its like putting a blown V8 in an MG - a lot more horse power than necessary...

:D

Bob