The opening act is getting all the sub-assembly's together. I still don't have a ele&stab but I will forgo that until I get the fuse and wing laid out. The first shot shows the basic kit ready to start. As it happens I have two shots, so I will include that one as well. The only gluing I have done so far is the doublers with a CF sandwich in between. I used slow set epoxy for this. The beam was made with a 3/8 balsa core and doubled with light ply in the center. It has doublers and triplers for strength.
The construction on this model will be slightly different that I usually do for a beam wing. Th differences being, The beam is made differently than I normally do, the doublers are different than I normally do for a beam wing airframe and the Leading edge is like the Tom Morris system. I thought I would incorporate modern building techniques all in one old time/modern airframe.
I am quite pleased with the progress. Tonight I glued the motor mounts together and got the spar ready to glue in. I have changed things a little for this plane. I will go out on a limb a little . In my opinion I beam wings are best suited for the smaller classic style planes. There have been some larger one built by others that have worked quite well. I have not ever seen these planes other than finished,so I don't know how they were constructed inside.
The changes I have made on this plane because it will have a 60 wingspan and be using a modern power-plant are as follows. The spar is glued to the motor mounts (seen in the 3rd photo) and the bell crank is attached to the motor mounts as seen in the 4th photo. I think this will give it a positive feel in the air. The other changes will be the landing gear mounts. In the old I beam airplanes the LG wire is attached to the beam. I will run a platform from the beam to the leading edge and use the removable type landing gear that Bob Hunt uses. I think this will give me more flexibility in landing gear lengths.
Topic: I beam build (photo's) More added (Read 1285 times)
