Author Topic: Build threads look fun (Read 80431 times)

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #400 on:** December 27, 2013, 08:29:16 PM »

Quote from: MarcusCordeiro on December 27, 2013, 07:50:24 PM

Dave

It looks like to me you got some serious sanding and carving ahead....
Do you ever leave the shop??

Marcus

Only when duty calls.

MarcusCordeiro · « **Reply #401 on:** December 28, 2013, 04:09:30 AM »

Quote from: wwwarbird on December 27, 2013, 08:18:15 PM

Heh-heh, think that's a lot of work? Just wait 'til prep and finish time comes around on THREE airplanes at the same time. Whew!

That's what I'm doing... Finishing 3 planes...

Yours look great! A clean build. Congrats!

Marcus

john e. holliday · « **Reply #402 on:** December 28, 2013, 09:13:18 AM »

Well, I see you must have gotten the epoxy to stay where it was supposed to stay. I love it when I can see how things are done.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #403 on:** December 29, 2013, 06:11:08 PM »

I wanted to say that as I've been in the shop some this weekend my thoughts have been about our departed friend Allen. I met him poolside at the stunt motel at the Lincoln Nats, I think 1979. It's been a pleasure to know him since. My last actual conversation with him was during Nats week this year. After the qualifying rounds he set out for another contest many miles away he had committed to. He knew I was pretty disappointed in my performance in not qualifying. As I sat in my motel room that evening my phone rang and it was Allen still driving on the road but calling back to inquire about my well being. Nobody but Allen would be so interested. That's who he was. Will miss him greatly.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #404 on:** December 29, 2013, 06:12:26 PM »

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #405 on:** December 29, 2013, 06:13:26 PM »

I'm sure he would expect the work to go on.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #406 on:** December 29, 2013, 06:14:00 PM »

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #407 on:** December 29, 2013, 06:14:36 PM »

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #408 on:** December 29, 2013, 06:15:09 PM »

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #409 on:** December 29, 2013, 07:39:39 PM »

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #410 on:** December 29, 2013, 07:40:09 PM »

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #411 on:** December 29, 2013, 07:56:33 PM »

wwwarbird · « **Reply #412 on:** December 29, 2013, 09:12:37 PM »

What's up with the wire Dave?

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #413 on:** December 30, 2013, 06:23:58 AM »

Wayne I might tell you I'm creating a low voltage force field around the Venturi to aid fuel flow during the hourglass. By spring every glow ship at the field would have it and four articles would be written about it with graphs to prove it. But alas, the snips of 1/2 a lead out wire or .012 flying line epoxied into grooves are to stiffen the thin front section to the nose ring cowling retainer. Wouldn't take long to crack that off without reinforcement.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #414 on:** December 30, 2013, 09:34:21 AM »

And I thought it was carbon fiber tow. Looking great so far.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #415 on:** December 30, 2013, 08:34:39 PM »

Great diversion story Dave but don't worry, I won't tell anyone the real story about your venturi force field secret.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #416 on:** December 30, 2013, 09:18:29 PM »

(thanks Wayne)

MarcusCordeiro · « **Reply #417 on:** December 31, 2013, 07:20:55 AM »

Quote from: wwwarbird on December 30, 2013, 08:34:39 PM

Great diversion story Dave but don't worry, I won't tell anyone the real story about your venturi force field secret.

I think it has to do with the Dark Side of the Force...

Marcus

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #418 on:** December 31, 2013, 10:31:44 AM »

This one is getting fun.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #419 on:** December 31, 2013, 11:11:28 AM »

Off a couple days so trying to make up some ground. Got to have all these dope-ready by around the 12-13th. I will have the place to myself for around six weeks starting then and will need to completely finish all three during that time. The rear portion of this canopy needs doin' so I take a piece of card stock and form it over the area.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #420 on:** December 31, 2013, 11:13:21 AM »

Then a piece of .030 acetate is layed on and worked down with the Monocote heat gun until it follows the fuselage shape.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #421 on:** December 31, 2013, 02:18:51 PM »

Now the piece is fitted and marked for trimming.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #422 on:** December 31, 2013, 02:19:43 PM »

Ready to go.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #423 on:** December 31, 2013, 03:58:23 PM »

Rudders on the 105s.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #424 on:** December 31, 2013, 08:14:38 PM »

Shaped and painted headrests.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #425 on:** December 31, 2013, 08:16:51 PM »

And prep cockpits.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #426 on:** December 31, 2013, 08:25:16 PM »

Gramps and the Duke have a bad night.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #427 on:** December 31, 2013, 09:12:57 PM »

It's New Years Eve so the boys are getting plugged. Balsa plugs epoxied in will be cut flush and used for glueing solidly to the cockpit floor. Hopefully they'll stay put.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #428 on:** January 01, 2014, 09:36:27 AM »

I like the pilots. Well I also like the planes.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #429 on:** January 01, 2014, 12:36:32 PM »

The cockpit complete and pilot mounted. Now the canopies are glued on with cement. This is where you hope you got the dust out. Shore get mad when you didn't!

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #430 on:** January 01, 2014, 01:52:12 PM »

Looks good from here Pilgram.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #431 on:** January 01, 2014, 03:22:50 PM »

This canopy on, one more to go.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #432 on:** January 01, 2014, 03:25:57 PM »

I have sure beat the thunder out of this nose block on the table. I'll wet it and let it swell back out. Pretty soon I'll be doing all the work with a pad on the table.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #433 on:** January 01, 2014, 04:17:27 PM »

"Just get on with it ya x!$o,@!!!"

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #434 on:** January 01, 2014, 06:16:34 PM »

Last frame this evening. Here is Captain Eddie with electrical tape used the mask the canopy for the finish. I usually change this once, right after the color is applied just before final clear coats. That's a good time to fix any problems.
I think I'll be ending this build thread in the next few days after I show my fillet technic and final prep for finish. I won't be taking it the finishing section. I'm going to have to cut some corners on the finishes and there are surely others here who have more skill and patience for the finish than I. I will post photos here of the completed airplanes when I get there. Tomorrow we'll be doing some stuff with carbon.

RknRusty · « **Reply #435 on:** January 01, 2014, 08:11:33 PM »

Great, I'm glad you're going to show us the fillets, because I'm about to try making some nice ones soon too.
I hope Cap'n Eddie doesn't get too freaky about being sealed up in the dark and punch out.

Rusty

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #436 on:** January 01, 2014, 08:52:31 PM »

Quote from: RknRusty on January 01, 2014, 08:11:33 PM

Great, I'm glad you're going to show us the fillets, because I'm about to try making some nice ones soon too.
I hope Cap'n Eddie doesn't get too freaky about being sealed up in the dark and punch out.

Rusty

I'm sure it's dark in there. I've given a new name to Capt. Eddie's ride. It will be the 'Asteroid'. I just hope it's not a dumb space rock. The Captain deserves better.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #437 on:** January 02, 2014, 07:22:58 AM »

I caught another wind and did a little more last night. I dressed the cowl lines some. Here you can see I applied clear plastic mailing tape to one side of the fuselage cowling juncture.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #438 on:** January 02, 2014, 07:24:52 AM »

Here I apply a little feather weight spackle along the edge of the other piece.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #439 on:** January 02, 2014, 07:29:29 AM »

Now the cowling is carefully put in position and screwed down snug. The excess is squeezed out and I push a bit more back into bad spots with an old plastic gift card. (Or those blasted AARP cards I get in the mail about once a month).

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #440 on:** January 02, 2014, 07:30:09 AM »

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #441 on:** January 02, 2014, 09:06:59 AM »

The final result of the cowl line work.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #442 on:** January 02, 2014, 09:33:15 AM »

The Patch n Paint filler is pretty soft with no real strength. Once sanded to my liking it is coated with Gorilla Cya which soaks in and holds it together.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #443 on:** January 02, 2014, 09:46:54 AM »

I got the scale out to get some idea where I am with weight on these.
Asteroid ready for dope is 30.6 ounces.
Both the Desperado 105s are 31.5 ounces.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #444 on:** January 02, 2014, 10:05:41 AM »

I was going to ask you about that Patch-n-Paint stuff. I have used the other junk and put CA on it.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #445 on:** January 02, 2014, 10:24:08 AM »

John it works OK for small stuff as long as you know it has no strength and if you try to use it in concave fillets dope will lift right off and give you a blister. It weighs nothing though and sands super easy so it works once you understand it's shortcomings.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #446 on:** January 02, 2014, 10:38:18 AM »

I'm liking this stuff for where I have a larger gap and need strength-a lot of strength. Cut off a slice, knead it a minute and apply. Rock hard in 15 minutes and I mean hard! Grind or file hard. You need to get it smoothed out pretty close before it sets.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #447 on:** January 02, 2014, 10:45:20 AM »

Here's where I used a smidge to fill in behind a nose ring.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #448 on:** January 02, 2014, 02:46:56 PM »

Now I'm getting prepared to carbon the fillets. What fillets, you say? Exactly. Large radius fillets are aerodynamically not great but really no big issue on our scale. But I no longer make them because of all the fits I've had over the years trying to keep dope stuck down to them and not blister up with shrinkage. The best luck I had with that was carved balsa fillets with silkspan Cya'd down on them. This provided a little 'fingernail' for dope to grip. All forms of resin based filler give nothing to grip on to. Epoxy is the worst. A few light dope coats will stay better than a top notch finish because there simply isn't enough total shrink to hurt too much.
When carbon tissue came along it was my answer. I can shove it into the joint for great strength without much weight. Then it sure wicks up dope and won't turn loose. Finally, once the fluid medium is cured in the carbon it won't change shape. In order to lift and blister it would have to change shape. I haven't had a single issue with fillet lift since I started doing this.
The first shot shows the tools including clear dope, .5 carbon cut into strips about 3/4" wide and an old plastic gift or credit card used to ram the stuff in.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #449 on:** January 02, 2014, 02:52:15 PM »

This is exactly why, if you'll remember, I epoxied the wing/ fuselage joint on the inside and tried to keep epoxy off the outside surface.