DanIsGo

Hey thanks for the info on the sound module, sorry I haven't been on here a lot lately. I was also considering the mr. rc sound because it uses transducers instead which are much louder, the only drawback is less engine sound choices. I used great planes 1/2oz fiberglass on my texan and it worked well but it is delicate like you mention. On the open structures I used monokote and painted it, on my hellcat which I have just started I plan to use solartex on those areas and 3/4oz glass as ziroli recommends on all non-open structures. At the warbird events I see very few texan's so it will always be nice to see more, let me know if you decide to start a ziroli build at some point and I will post a link to my hellcat build once I get that started if you would like to view it. I will keep that facebook link in mind and I hope to see some pics of your progress soon!

Sir Blue Henry

The 1/5th Ziroli Texan build will logged here
and the 1/6 Texan build here

Sir Blue Henry

Started a couple of trials last night with 2 and 3 layers of glass just to get an idea of the rigidity/flexibility of skins for my builds. Will post pics. At the same time I'm just getting used to how much thinning to do on the resin so that I get a nice even layer.

Sir Blue Henry

Yesterday I went to a RC aircraft display, and found another old 1/7 model up for sale. Bought it just to hang up in the garage. It is incredibly heavy. Im suprised it flew at all. It seems it has its origins in the same kit as the other 1/7 model i bought a few years back that started off this whole project. I will post photos soon. So it has been interesting for weight comparisons and also construction differences. Looking forward to getting my own 1/7 progressing, and there will certainly be a focus (as is commonly the case) on keeping the empennage as absolutely light as possible. This fuselage without engine, fuel, Rx and battery was 1.84kg, and the wing an amazing 1.48kg. All up with engine and fuel and bits, this would be around 4kg or a bit over. No flaps. Im sure I can knock a LOT of weight off!

Sir Blue Henry

Two and a half years have just flown by. I dont know what happened. Anyway - finally got the 1/7 project active again.
So - the point im at is still needing to verify my accuracy of cut on the centreboard - against blueprints, and then start cutting bulkhead templates and glueing on. Sorry - its not exactly a fast project but i will try and keep progress going. The 7th is handy and easy but not exactly impressive - so the intention is still to use the 1/7th as a trial on process to move to 1/5 or 1/4 or 1/3 - not sure

Sir Blue Henry

Printed a large number of blueprints. I have just about everything i need. Most importantly i have dimensions of most things. The wing fillets and wheel covers will be challenging but thats ok - I will get to them later.
Next step is to create full drawings from many where only half drawings were provided - but thats not a big task - and then scaling to 1/7

Sir Blue Henry

I have been sorting blueprints and now have just about all i need. Its quite a huge job sifting through the hundreds of files. Aircorpslibrary was good for any missing blueprints. I will start on 1/7 plug and also 1/4 bulkhead mockup for reference

Sir Blue Henry

After extensive measurement verifications on my first centreboard, i realised it was not good enough. Thats ok - it becomes the mockup board. Im now measuring for a new centreboard, and will probably do the 1/7th and one 6th at the same time. I will cut them this weekend and i will need to make stands to hold each of them - probably do some welding then as well this weekend

Sir Blue Henry

Another week gone by. I have spent a lot of that time getting more and more detail from blueprints, mainly from AirCorpsLibrary.
No I didnt cut the centreboard - mainly becaise some measures were bothering me and as it turns out i had incorrectly read the very rearmost part of the empennage - the very last flange and that the fuselage is therefore and inch longer than i had read. This would translate to 3.6mm in 1/7 and although this can be added during the master plug making - i may decide to redraw some of the lines.
Then also - printing some of the blueprints exactly to scale and laying them over my lines shows some discrepancies. which i can only assume is because of the scanning from microfishe.
Anyway - getting closer to making progress on actual work rather than measurements and analysis.
The rudder fit to fuselage and fin is also now catered for - the rudder is exactly 33" wide at the widest

Sir Blue Henry

Sir Blue Henry

I did a fair bit of work, then discovered one of my bulkheads was wrong - luckily an easy fix
I also started on a floor surface / wing surface (only the part that touches the fuselage) and my fiberglassing was not up to standard - but getting there.
Then lastly as I was working on the foam filling for the fuselage i realised i was approaching production in an unnecessarily awkward manner.
I will now introduce partial fuselage panel creation. slow but better in the long run
Anyway - its coming on at an acceptable pace

Sir Blue Henry

Sir Blue Henry

I have been cutting parts to create partial fuselage sections. these will slowly take shape within the next week.
then i can start creating panels.
I printed the side view of the fuselage side panel but next i need to create a skin template
I have also been getting a good print of the exhaust panel and also an underside view where the 2 forward panels meet the lower intake

Sir Blue Henry

Progress is constant. Some setbacks with balsa warping when glassed.I also realised i had again incorrectly sized a bulkhead template - luckily by a very small margin of error - hardly noticeable but still. I want no errors - so luckily this is still just on the first trial fuselage.
Also discovered that although glass protects the foam - it still needs to be handled with care and can dent in - not really an issue - but the limitations of the glassing need to be noted.
On the other hand my glassing of the foam panels is quite successful - and this is really only to have something substantial to glue the skins onto.
I have started with templates for the side panel skins and hope to make them by the weekend.

Sir Blue Henry

Sir Blue Henry

Its coming along pretty well and im happy with the process. next up are the panels in and around the windscreen area - including the fuselage gun cover. Just looked at blueprints and will try a mockup first to see how best to build this

Sir Blue Henry

Continuing this now after winter. Im busy on the windscreen area, the panel inside the windscreen and the panels forward of the windscreen

Sir Blue Henry

Busy with a 1/7 3D printed engine - both half version and full version, - learning Fusion 360 again. Once i have an acceptable method and process for the 1/7th. I will start on some nice 1/3 scale P&W wasps