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Building Tips and technical articles. => 1/2 A building. => Topic started by: Juan Valentin on January 21, 2011, 10:25:18 AM
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I have the plan for the Scientific P-38 single engine model and would like to now if it is acceptable to build it with a balsawood canopy. If anybody is selling the canopies for the scientific models please let me know.Also I`m planning on making the cowling out of balsa would it meet Musciano rules? Does it has to be exact shape as plastic?
Help will be appreciated.
Juan
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Juan, first thing I would like to know if that cowl was aluminum. If indeed it was aluminum I would probably have a source for one. One of our club members spins cowls and if memory serves me correctly he made a wood buck for turning those small cowls. A few years ago he made me two cowls for my C-47. They were indeed very cool. These added a nice touch to my plane. When I asked him how he did it, he said he was making some for the guys who were flying Musciano planes. Recently, he chucked the buck up in the lathe and let me son spin a few to teach him some skills on his lathe. After about 3 attempts my son was able to get one pretty good. Ken
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Hello Kenneth
The Scientific P-38 used a plastic cowling made in half`s. Mr. Heman lee gave me the plans and I planning on doing one soon.here is a link to the thread that shows the plan:
http://www.clstunt.com/htdocs/dc/dcboard.php?az=set_linear_mode&forum=103&page=&topic_id=301960&prev_page=show_topic
Juan
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Larry Rice is about to, or has, obtained a vacuum former. If someone will carve the forms (easy!!!), I'll bet he would mold a few sets of parts as a thank-you! (Sorry, Larry if I am making promises on your behalf! But, I assume you get to keep the molds as part of the deal {it is what I would arrange}). Ayway, RSM distribution has a vacuum former and would probably do it for a minimal charge, and there are simple techniques for forming pop-bottles into canopies with a heat-gun. So searches on canopies and learn.
Heck, I used to do professional model making and did vacuuforming in the kitchen with a shop vacuum and my kitchen oven. (my wife hated the smell, but liked the money) It ain't rocket brain surgery, guys.
Believe me, the hardest part is detailing out an accurate, smooth buck over which to do the forming. What you see is REALLY what you get, every dimple, bulge, grain mark will show. For regular production, the pros carve and totally finish a master, make RTV molds and then cast metal filled epoxy duplicates that are flawless. They are the ones that are used in the Vacuum Machine. Raw wood grain will show, some finishes will stick. One thing that works pretty well is to form a very thin plastic over your form, then form the final, heavier plastic over that. (talcum powder on the inner layer prevents sticking)
It really isn't difficult if you understand the basic principles and material reactions. There used to be a book on hame Vaccuforming, check the web!
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Sam's Stuff and Hobbies and Brodak both had an Enterprize 3" canopy for sale that would work very well. Try them first.
Larry
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Thank`s for the advice to both larry`s. I was able to contact Jim Dodson and he has the canopy and cowling for the P-38. I went ahead and ordered and also bought from him the Scientific B-66 Destroyer plan.
Juan
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Thank`s for the advice to both larry`s. I was able to contact Jim Dodson and he has the canopy and cowling for the P-38. I went ahead and ordered and also bought from him the Scientific B-66 Destroyer plan.
Juan
Hi Juan,
Can you PM me the contact information for Mr. Dodson? Or even list it here. I am very interested in the B-66 plans!
Thanks,
Bill
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Hello Bill
I sent you a PM with the contact info for Jim Dodson. He has an extensive list of musciano plans and Canopies/cowlings for some of them. he accepts Paypal.
Juan
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Hello Bill
I sent you a PM with the contact info for Jim Dodson. He has an extensive list of musciano plans and Canopies/cowlings for some of them. he accepts Paypal.
Juan
Hi Juan,
Got the PM, and THANKS!
Bill