T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
02-17-2012, 09:39 AM
#27
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
Back to it!
I finally have gotten back to the build this week, been busy on commission builds!
The wing is pretty much done with the exception to the hatches and cutting in the gear. I’m still not sure what I’m going to do with the gear. I will fit the fans and test them next. I haven’t fitted the wing to the fuselage yet, that’s also next.
I have rough sanded the wing and will fine tune, putty and sand some more as I go along.
Wing tip blocks!
Wing tip blocks!
I cut in the slots for the fan and there ready to install!
Exit cones are installed the same is the inlet, 1/64 ply.
I used 3/32 balsa for the planking, I have a bunch from an abandoned project so I’m using it. It is harder to work with and I have no planking experience so here I go. I cut a bunch of the pattern and sanded them down. They go in nicely and I used CA to apply them tacking them to the former and then gluing the joints from inside to minimize the CA bleed.
My planking work was pretty lame at the start but by the time I finished the wing I got it down. The fuselage looks much better. If I were to do it again I would do 1/2 strips on the wing instead of the big pieces. The 3/32 makes it harder to form.
02-17-2012, 10:07 AM
#28
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
The fuselage builds nicely. The jigs come in handy to keep her strait!
I used weights to keep her put!
I tacked the first two jigs to the frame with CA!
For the nose gear the supplied gear mount is too high for the E-flight retracts. I cut a new mount and set it on top of the crutch.
02-17-2012, 10:49 AM
#31
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
Fitting the tail section takes a lot of dry fitting to get it right.
I did the bottom section a little different then the plans. I used a solid piece of ¼ balsa for the lower fin section where it meets the fuselage!
My elevator and ruder servo setup, I’m using a carbon fiber sleeve with a 2/56 push rod, and 2/56 pull-pull.
My bell crank setup, 4-40 threaded rod with nylon crank.
02-17-2012, 11:14 AM
#32
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
Push rod and sleeve for elevator!
There was a lot of flex on the servo tray so I cut a new one and glued it on top of the stock one. This should stiffen it up a bit!
I glued in some ¼ balsa where I will have a joint on the planking. I’m using ½ strips of 3/32 balsa forthe planking!
And the planking begins!
I started on the center line and worked my way up and down the fuselage. The ½ strips worked well, just a little sanding here and there to get them to fit.
02-17-2012, 11:33 AM
#33
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
My final linkage setup before it gets berried in the fuselage never to be seen again!
I can reach post of the interior to apply CA to the inside planking.
Next I needed to figure out how I was going to do the steering servo and connection for the nose gear. At first I thought a pull-pull system, but the e-flight gear comes with a clever lever that attaches to the arm and it works great for a push rod setup. I used the same carbon fiber sleeve as I did on the elevator and I’m putting the servo at the belly where the wing sits in so I have access for adjustment and service.
02-17-2012, 11:50 AM
#34
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
The planking is going well and no foreseeable problems!
I have completed the rough sanding and will be fitting the wing, cutting in the main gear, tweaking, and then I will putty and do final sanding.
I want to do the smaller single seat canopy so I haven’t done anything with the canopy yet!
02-23-2012, 03:09 PM
#35
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
Progress is moving along. As most kits the easy part is framing her up, now comes the real work, gear, gear doors, details, sanding, more sanding, and all the other fun stuff.
I got the noes gear in and I'm working on the doors. I did get the guns in and they turned out really good. I bashed up some gear to get them to work and be somewhat close to the original gear. I'm also doing basic wire gear too just incase. I'm getting my graphics from Bad Brad. I keep toying with doing silk and dope but just can't stomach all the extra sanding and painting. This is my first jet so I'm sure she will get banged up. I have the cockpit almost done and I'm just waiting on my pilots to show up. She is looking really good. I weighed the frame without any gear or fans and she's right around 5lb
Next is the dreaded main gear and gear doors!
TB
I got the noes gear in and I'm working on the doors. I did get the guns in and they turned out really good. I bashed up some gear to get them to work and be somewhat close to the original gear. I'm also doing basic wire gear too just incase. I'm getting my graphics from Bad Brad. I keep toying with doing silk and dope but just can't stomach all the extra sanding and painting. This is my first jet so I'm sure she will get banged up. I have the cockpit almost done and I'm just waiting on my pilots to show up. She is looking really good. I weighed the frame without any gear or fans and she's right around 5lb
Next is the dreaded main gear and gear doors!
TB
02-24-2012, 12:38 PM
#36
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
I got the belly pan all done, not sure it is as it’s supposed to be but it looks good to me.
I got the fan hatch all done. I’m using 4 magnets and I used some sheet metal for the matting side.
I did the hatches separately from the wing. This works out better for me being I don’t have to cut out the hatch. Just take your time and it works out great!
02-24-2012, 12:55 PM
#37
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
I did 2 magnets in the fuse and 2 in the hatch with 2 pegs at the front of the canopy, works good, may not need a latch.
I got two of the four guns installed.They look good to me, might be a little small, hard to tell right now.
02-24-2012, 01:09 PM
#38
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
More on the guns.
For the nose gear doors instead of planking the area and then cutting it out I left it open because it wasn’t planking as nicely around that area as I wanted it. I made a plug out of 3/8 balsa and sanded it to the couture of the fuse, the laid plastic over it and glassed it for my gear doors.
The plug also serves as the backing for the door!
I am going with springs on the doors. The noes door will be held closed by a spring and will open as the gear pushes it open. The two side doors will be sprung too, but will have a micronized link that pulls them shut as the gear comes in.
02-24-2012, 01:28 PM
#39
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
My struts are bashed up from some that I had, I will be doing a set of wire gear as a back-up.
I’m using plastic hinges and they are glued to the doors and held to the fuse with screws for maintenance.
02-24-2012, 01:41 PM
#40
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
At first I wasn’t going to door gear doors, but now I’m glade I am. I will take them off for the maiden and once I got her all settled in I will put them on.
I will use the plug for backing the two side doors, makes them stronger and they look better with some backing on them.
Next onto the main gear. Progress is slower now, more detail and I’m trying to take my time.
TB
03-01-2012, 06:56 AM
#41
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
Tony,
Just saw these pictures and one thing that concerns me is your belly pan. It looks to me like the wing isn't mounted at the correct incidence. You might want to post those pics in Jim's original build thread on the 'other' forum and ask Jim for his thoughts.
Steve
Just saw these pictures and one thing that concerns me is your belly pan. It looks to me like the wing isn't mounted at the correct incidence. You might want to post those pics in Jim's original build thread on the 'other' forum and ask Jim for his thoughts.
Steve
03-01-2012, 09:21 AM
#42
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
ORIGINAL: SteveC68
Tony,
Just saw these pictures and one thing that concerns me is your belly pan. It looks to me like the wing isn't mounted at the correct incidence. You might want to post those pics in Jim's original build thread on the 'other' forum and ask Jim for his thoughts.
Steve
Tony,
Just saw these pictures and one thing that concerns me is your belly pan. It looks to me like the wing isn't mounted at the correct incidence. You might want to post those pics in Jim's original build thread on the 'other' forum and ask Jim for his thoughts.
Steve
Hi Steve thanks for the input. Based on the plans and the way the kit has gone together it looks like it is correct, no other way without changing the designed way the wing seats in the fuse. I did change a few things, mostly cosmetic like the belly pan and the filet at the rear that makes it look like it is sitting higher at the back but the wing sits in perfectly in the saddle and is flush at the back. I just added the filet to smoothen out the transition, and may add more at the top side of the wing too. I can’t see how it would go on any other way without doing some major changing of the designed parts. Jim’s kit is well put together and it all fits together good so unless I missed something really big then my jet will fly pretty badly, but I think not. I will ask Jim and see what he says.
TB
03-01-2012, 09:28 AM
#43
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
Progress
I have been slowly working on the gear doors and in between working on the canopy. Here is what I have so far. I had a couple of old canopies from my previous CG chipmunk builds and found that it was a good fit after cutting it down. I used the front portion of the supplied canopy from the meteor kit and it looks good so far. There are so many deferent styles of canopies for this bird so I think mine falls within that, so far. The front screen will be attached to the fuselage and the back canopy will be attached to the removable hatch. I am toying with making it a sliding canopy, and if I can figure out how to do a light tinting I may do that too. I am using some light carbon fiber strips to frame the canopy. I will paint the frame when she is all done.
TB
03-07-2012, 10:57 AM
#44
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
Been chipping away at the canopy and main gear and gear doors, hers what I got so fare.
So the canopy is all done, just waiting on my pilot to show up before I glue it all together. I attached the canopy slide fin at the back of the hatch, this acts as the tab to grab hold of to remove the canopy. I used magnet to magnet to hold it on and its very strong so you need to be able to give it a good pullto get it off.
Not going to do the sliding canopy, too much work for this type of scale sports plane (lazy)
The gear doors are all laid up and ready. I got one side done. I am still playing with ways to open and close them, sprig open, gizmo to close them!
03-09-2012, 03:06 PM
#46
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
ARTC
My meteor is almost ready to cover. Main gear and gear doors are done just need to paint them. I went with just the door on the outboard side and cut and glued the inboard side in so it is just sports scale doors. I figure if I end up flying without door there won't be a big hole in the wing.
The wheel on my retract system doesn't go all the way in so the inboard door would not work anyways. I'm using a bigger retract then the designed retract so it sits higher. I did not want to lower it because ground clearance is an issue.
The gear door is held shut with a spring and the gear pushes it open as it goes up, simple and no linkage to mess with.
The noes gear is done and I re-did the two side doors and made them wider (like they are designed to be). The main front door is spring shut and is opened by the noes gear. I am going to do a lever for the noes side doors but won't do that till it is covered, only want to do it once.
I re-did the noes guns, did not like them. I made them bigger, looks much better. The fuselage is all sanded and ready to cover. The wing is sanded and I'm doing last little putty here and there.
Next I will map out the panels on the fuse and mark them with a sharpie.
I figure the panels and rivets will take all week to do, one pice at a time!
She looks really good!
TB
03-11-2012, 01:51 PM
#47
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
Wing
Here are the re- done gear doors for the nose gear.
And my re-designed single doors for the mains.
I got the wing all covered, wow what a challenge. Now I see why a model like this is glassed, that being said I like the way it came out. Next is panel lines and rivets.
I like the imperfections that you get with iron on covering, most old war birds if look closely they are all rankled and dented.
Next is the fuselage.
03-11-2012, 06:37 PM
#49
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RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
Looks good. Would have been easier if you had used Solartex or 21St Century covering. Either one goes around curves very easy with low heat and shrinks nice.
03-17-2012, 11:05 AM
#50
RE: T&J Models Gloster Meteor (short kit)(EDF Jet)
I am pretty much done and she is ready to fly. I will do more detailing as I wait to do the maiden but she is done.
My ready to fly weight is 10lb-14oz. not sure why she is so heavy. But it is what it is. I know my retract gear is heavier, and I am using a 6v battery for receiver, pulse my canopy weighed in at around 5 oz so I guess it all ads up. But at 10lb -14oz it is still lighter then my P-47 and it flies great and lands great at 12lb.
So here it is.
My fan mounted. I used 1/64 ply to attach it to the rear tube, taped it in place.
Here is my pilot and removable cockpit, it is a little heavy at 5oz but it works and looks good, still tweaking it.