DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

I've browsed all of the on line boards I can find and I have not been able to locate a start-to-finish Vailly Aviation Hurricane build. So, after having the plans for almost 16years and gathering the parts slowly since then, I thought I'll do my own. My hope is that those of you who have built one, are building one, or know of somebody who built one, will chime in with your advice and lessons learned. My progress will be slow, so bear with me. Here are a few pictures of the gear going in:
3W-50i with custom Keleo exhaust
Shindin retracts
Flying and static spinners
Wheels and Tires from Len Gardiner
and finally the plane I think I'm going to model: R 4118

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

From what I have learned from other threads and modellers, this plane builds tail heavy ( I seem to hear that about any WW 2 fighter!) I'll be using a short kit from Jesse at Lazer Lizard, although I do have a full wood kit from PCK. I plan on substituting lighter balsa rear of the mid-section, and will do all I can to lighten it without sacrificing strength. I plan on building the plane to the spinner, and cutting access panels to keep the scale lines intact. If that does not work, I'll use the fiberglass cowl I got from Roy. I want the plane to look good and be light, so other than a cockpit and landing lights and normal panel lines/rivets, I'll probably let it go at that. I'll do a sliding canopy but may make it manually operated.
I'm aware that the full scale gear retracts and rotates 15 degrees, and so I'll wrestle with that when the time comes. I have not decided between Warbird Colors and Warpaint by John Clark. Covering will be .56 oz fiberglass on sheeted areas and solartex on the open structure. I'm not sure yet how I'll handle the joint between the fabric and metal.
Now, time to make my fuselage crutch supports and start building.
Sam

ZERO-322

My Feedback: (2)

I Love the hurricane and your right not many threads on them so i will be sure to be watching from start to finish !

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

I decided to give the PCK kit a try first, and save the Lazer Lizard kit for later. Pix to follow.
Sam

devens

subscribed [sm=tired.gif]

Thunderbolt47

My Feedback: (8)

me too!

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

Got to head off to work. Planning ahead, I opened a hole for cooling behind the cylinder head. Much easier now that later with a dremel tool! Also got the firewall laminated after recutting the slots and holes. The laser did not cut through the 3/8 inch plywood. I also cut the parts for my crutch stand and will start assembling those tomorrow.
Sam

Edwin

My Feedback: (2)

Subscribed. I've had a soft spot for the Hurricane for a long time. Just never got serious enough to put it in the build que. I'm curious, isnt the aft fuse stringer built and fabric covered? I would think that would lighten it up. Not the case?
Edwin

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

You'd think it would be lighter, but apparently not. I'm willing to try sheeting anything behind the cockpit with contest balsa, and maybe alternating the spruce stringers with balsa. I'll probably weigh each and see how much weight that would save. I'd hate to have the tail break off.... I'll definitely use two tires on the tailwheel - one for display and a foam one for flying. The stab looks like it could be lightened somehow too. I plan on putting my servos way up front too. I'll just have to see as I go.
Sam

scalenutz

My Feedback: (6)

Hey Sam, Im in on this too, I have been at mine for 5 years

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

Sweet! I've got some catching up to do. Feel free to post some build pix and contribute. This does not have to be "MY" build it can be a collective build. I KNEW there were Hurribuilders out there somewhere!
Sam

Moggy

My Feedback: (9)

Subscribed. I had a kit cut and had the photo packet but sold it a few years back because I didn't think I would get to it. Good Luck Sam I hope all goes well.

Moggy

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

Hey Pete,
Who could resist a Hurricane after reading the book Peice of Cake?
Glad you're along.
Sam

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

As I was going through the box of wood, I decided that I would try to build Hurricanes from both the PCK and the LL kits. I figure that as long as I have to cut one piece of wood I may as well cut two. We'll see how economy of scale works here.
Sam

t_burley

My Feedback: (59)

very kewl sam. will be watching.

love that exhaust

Rvander

My Feedback: (81)

I have built 2 Vailly Hurricanes over the years... the first was heavy....used a G62...but I learned..........and the second one I am flying now...well its a joy to fly!!!!!!! I replaced using the hardwood stringers all the way around and opted for balsa with every 4th stringer hardwood....and also the tail......planked and glassed but with 1/16 balsa. The trick is to make it light!!!!! Mine weighs in at 22lbs and flies with a standard G38! Yup thats right....G38. And landings....well lots have been said about flaps and elevator...etc..but..I have nearly 75% flap...yup more like air brakes...but it lands like a feather! Painted with latex......and shindin retracts......I love it! Yes, probably not a top gun scale.....but it flies great.

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

Rvander,
That is exactly what I want to hear and see. Can you post some pictures? Have you any concern over the strength of the fuselage? What did you cover it with?
Inquiring minds want to know!
Sam

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

I have been working on the Hurri over the last few days, but progress is slow. I have been trying to get all the cutting done to the firewall before it gets glued into place. Also I had to recut the fuse doublers, due to a false start several years ago. Here are some pix showing the mounting system I've come up with for the 3W-50. That engine is akward to say the least, but with the use of two kinds of spacers I think I've got it. Here they are:

Edit: Just ordered some balsa stringers!

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

Working on the fuse now, and trying to plan ahead for scale details, engine installation, and servo mounting. This is my first build using a crutch, but I understand well enough that straight lines, centers, and symmetry is what it's all about. I had to move the tank box back a full former and then add a rear support for it. I like to use the felt clunks when running gas engines. Another problem is the long carb stack. I am about 1/8" too long and instead of cutting the bottom front of the tank box I decided to trim the plastic trumpet instead. Roy's plans are definitely not engineered for a modern rear carb engine!
I intend to use some long spruce stringers strategically placed to strengthen the tail and the nose, and run balsa stringers to save weight. I bought the balsa at 3/8" so I would not have to cap strip it. I can then sand it down to the height of the formers and spruce stringers where it will be covered with balsa sheeting.

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

Some more progress today. I offered to take the family to Sherlock Holmes but everybody wanted to stay home and play with their toys. So poor me had more time to build! I installed the stringers in the fuselage until I had to take it off the crutch stand to continue. I was going to start the other fuse but ran out of the balsa stringer material - but it should be here next week. I test fitted the engine and was rewarded with a good fit and alignment. At this point I'll figure out my throttle servo, choke linkage, and maybe fuel filler and ignition switch. So far I've been pleasantly surprised at the need for only slight modification to some of the slots to keep it in line. I am using both balsa and spruce stringers. I'm not alternating every fourth or second, but am putting the spruce where I think the strength will pay off. Here are some pictures:

scalenutz

My Feedback: (6)

Sam thats looking great, if you take a look at the plans you will see that Roy offset the vertical stab by 2 degrees to account for engine thrust, there isn't any offset in the motor. I built the 2 degrees in as shown but Im thinking that with a computer radio you could build at zero offset on the tail and mix throttle to rudder on the radio. The 2 degrees isn't that much but it bothers me when I sight down the fuselage.
Couple of other notes, I built an access panel on the left side of the fuselage under the tail, makes it easy to work with the connections back there and the full scale has one, the tail saddles, pay attention and get a good contour. I put my thrust line at 0 and the sanded till I got the right incidence, I have been told that this is critical to making this model a sweet flyer.
Scalenutz

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

Scalenutz,
Thanks for your thoughts on this. I noticed the offset on the vertical fin and was wondering if it was scale or not. The Corsair has some offset so I thought maybe the Hurri did too. I to intend to make an access hatch under the stab on the left side, and to make a removeable hatch on the right side near the cockpit door. Do you have any concerns about weakening the structure near the tail? It will mean cutting through four or five stringers and then boxing them in. do you plan on some reinforcement in that area and if so how will you do it? I'm thinking about CA'ing a hollow square of fliteskin G10 or 1/32 ply to the inside of the formers....
Sam

scalenutz

My Feedback: (6)

Hey sam, I did have some concern so I built in a frame around my hatch using the spruce stringers I cut out, Now its all done and the sheeting applied it is very stiff and I dont see any flex so I think it will be fine. my hatch measures 2 7/8 H by 3 /3/4 wide. Truth be told my flying skills are more of a concern than my hatch!
Keep posting your progress, I am waiting for you to catch up and then I will push my stinson aside and build the Hurri wing which I'm not looking forward to at all.

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

I have run out of balsa stringers but they should be here this week. So I decided to build the other fuselage while I still had the crutch stand set up. Man the second one goes a lot faster than the first - all the problem solving done ahead of time! I'm going to start working out the radio install too. I think I'll put the batteries up in the fuse, one pack on each side of the tank box, as close to the bulkhead as possible. Still thinking ignition and it's battery pack a "stuff fit" down between F2 and F3. I do have a set of Brian Taylor's Hurricane plans (70" wing span) and I"ll be incorporating some of his ideas as I go.
Sam

Moggy

My Feedback: (9)

Sam

Nice work! I especially like the exhaust system. Good to have scalenutz on board too. Good luck the rest of the way to both of you.

Moggy