Author Topic: So it begins - Avenger 35 (Read 36030 times)

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #50 on:** October 10, 2011, 12:57:32 PM »

Yes the stab supports actually go through the top block, and rest upon the top of the bottom block. Kinda ties it all together in a way. and yeah the pushrod is FUN stuff. Mine is even adjustable with a hatch,, but it aint easy I can promise you.
BUT ,, its OH so COOL when its done,,

Randy Powell · « **Reply #51 on:** October 11, 2011, 09:27:47 AM »

Mark,

Post a picture of your hatch. I'd like to see how you did it. I have an idea of my own, but...

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #52 on:** October 12, 2011, 10:49:00 AM »

Randy,
remind me later LOL, I am back at work today, had to take a day and a half off for the sickies,,

I think there is a detail on the plans,, or maybe not,, hmm
I know I had Pat cut me a second batch of parts for the strake to incorporate the hatch,, I will look tonight, or take a pict of the hatch,, it involves 1/63 ply,, doublers on the strake,,

Randy Powell · « **Reply #53 on:** October 15, 2011, 07:32:58 PM »

Ok, the blocks are formed and popped off, the cowl is mostly formed. The spar is almost done and the jig is set up with fuse incorporated. Just need to cut the LE and build the TE, finish the spar and put it all together. Also got the stab and elevator laid out. Wish it was going faster, but the thing has a lot of pieces parts. Take some pics tomorrow maybe.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #54 on:** October 18, 2011, 09:15:58 PM »

Thanks for the update Randy. We need Sparky to add a salivating emoticon.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #55 on:** October 21, 2011, 05:34:47 PM »

Randy,
how did you treat the spar? and what did you think of my "engineering" for the layers.
I was pretty happy with the way it captured the bellcrank and served the structural purpose too, but then thats me
I always like feedback on stuff like that since I dont have 30 years of experience LOL

Randy Powell · « **Reply #56 on:** October 21, 2011, 08:10:51 PM »

I had to modify it a bit, but that was mostly because I'm using a much thicker bellcrank than you engineered for. So I'm using a brace on the inside of the fuse because I had to thin out the top and bottom of the hole pretty much. But it works. I like the doublers.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #57 on:** October 25, 2011, 09:37:30 PM »

I haven't abandoned the thread. Moving my son last weekend, work till 7pm most of the week and will be gone this weekend. Sigh... Life gets in the way of toy planes.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #58 on:** October 26, 2011, 04:17:28 PM »

Randy, I totally feel your pain,, as I walk by the Electrajet,, still sitting there no the bench,, waiting,, waiting,, soon I tell it, very soon,,

wwwarbird · « **Reply #59 on:** October 26, 2011, 08:08:11 PM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on October 25, 2011, 09:37:30 PM

I haven't abandoned the thread. Moving my son last weekend, work till 7pm most of the week and will be gone this weekend. Sigh... Life gets in the way of toy planes.

Thanks for the update Randy, staying tuned!

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #60 on:** October 27, 2011, 02:06:41 PM »

WAYNE are you getting old and senile,, or have you just given up on poking me about the 109,heck I left you a perfect oppurtunity too,,
I must state I am somewhat dissapointed,, sigh,,

wwwarbird · « **Reply #61 on:** October 27, 2011, 09:55:56 PM »

Quote from: Mark Scarborough on October 27, 2011, 02:06:41 PM

WAYNE are you getting old and senile,, or have you just given up on poking me about the 109,heck I left you a perfect oppurtunity too,,
I must state I am somewhat dissapointed,, sigh,,

Oh I caught it Mark, I just tried the silent treatment as "Plan B", and it worked!

NOW GET TO WORK ON THAT THING!

Randy Powell · « **Reply #62 on:** November 06, 2011, 09:18:52 PM »

OK, made some progress again. Man, Mark, that spar is fun. I punched a bunch of holes in it to lighten it up and am about done with it. As soon as I cut the LE and TE, I'll start getting the wing together. I'm using a built up stab but I have some light 3/8" I'm going to use for the elevators. Haven't really decided on the flaps, yet. The plan (Donnie's original) calls for 1/4" sheet, but I'm working on another idea.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #63 on:** November 07, 2011, 09:35:37 AM »

dont make it to darn light, remember its the foundation for the whole wing,, I dont want to see a repeat of the USA 1,,
oh wait,, maybe it would be kinda cool, since I missed that one,,
uh, no,, bad Mark,, Bad Bad Mark,,,
oh and remember the heavy silkspan this time ok?

By the way I forgot to mention the rib spacing tool I made,, wanna borrow it?

Randy Powell · « **Reply #64 on:** November 07, 2011, 12:46:20 PM »

It won't be "too" light. But it was about 2oz when I finished it. Then I punched all the holes in and hogged out on the holes in the doublers and it's about 1.25oz now. Should be acceptable.

I made a tool of my own, but thanks for the offer.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #65 on:** November 08, 2011, 08:13:50 AM »

You mean this is not ready for one of your super simple finishes yet???

Randy Powell · « **Reply #66 on:** November 08, 2011, 10:06:46 AM »

Hey Doc! Well, if anyone is expecting a complicated finish for this, they will be disappointed. I hope to make it interesting, but not too involved. I want to keep it light and I won't have all that much time to get it finish before VSC.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #67 on:** November 08, 2011, 01:49:14 PM »

Need some fishnets Randy?

Randy Powell · « **Reply #68 on:** November 09, 2011, 12:33:51 PM »

I know you're wearing them so they probably won't work for me.

And I said this was going to be a SIMPLE paint scheme.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #69 on:** November 09, 2011, 01:35:36 PM »

Oh my,, Randy gets in a dig! lol,,

well, no actually not,, the red pearl sparklies just dont work for me,, sigh,, and really, its a simple technique anyway

Randy Powell · « **Reply #70 on:** November 09, 2011, 03:38:45 PM »

Simple by heavy. I want one coat of base color and marginal trim. I want a sub-6oz finish on the thing. I won't tear it up at appearance judging, but it will fly.

I managed to get out last night and cut the leading edge. I am using a router bit to hog out the center of it (facing the aft). That's about done. Trailing edge next then I can put the wing together. Pictures this weekend.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #71 on:** November 13, 2011, 08:01:36 PM »

OK, so my wife finally brought the camera back from the stable and I took some pics today. The wing is just framed up in the pictures, but not glued together. The ribs are loose and not aligned. I'm still making a tool for that. Trust me, putting it together this far was not for the faint of heart. You sort of have to assemble the thing and put the jig together simultaneously. Took awhile to figure that out. the pieces are the tail pieces, the blocks (un-hollowed) and some various parts. I have the wood assembled for the tail surfaces and flaps. I decided to frame then rather than cut them from sheet stock (as the original was done). The stab will be built up and sheeted, the elevators framed up with ribs and the flaps framed and sheeted.

One detail, I was started to put the wing together and realized that the jig pieces didn't go low enough to use to support the leading and trailing edges and have the fuse against the jig base. So it was either prop the fuse up or re-machine the jig pieces. I decided that for alignment reasons, it was better to have the fuse against the jig base so I spent most of yesterday afternoon cutting the jig slots about a half inch deeper. All of them (16). That was fun.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #72 on:** November 13, 2011, 09:48:47 PM »

Looks like enough ribs for four airplanes!

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #73 on:** November 14, 2011, 10:21:00 AM »

Wayne, Trust me there IS enough ribs there for a couple planes!

Randy, did Pat cut the 1/64 ply rib doublers and other parts for the landing gear plates? It really makes it nice for the landing gear!

Its looking pretty good so far,, and yeah I can imagine jigging it this way took some time, but it should yield a pretty straight piece when your done..

Lets see, you have what, three months now?
maybe I should go to VSC too, then we can have two of them there!

John Miller · « **Reply #74 on:** November 14, 2011, 10:36:20 AM »

Randy, your jigging is impressive, but I wonder if using the same method used on Gierke's All American Eagle, and Novi3, I-beam style tip plates, wouldn't have works a well?

I built the AAE using a tip plate, and a mid span plate in the same way as an I-beamer, and it worked a treat.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #75 on:** November 14, 2011, 10:49:27 AM »

John,

I wanted to jig yup the fuse and wing together and this worked pretty well. Just a pain to get all the ribs slide down the I-Beam then fit the jig pieces. Not a big deal, just took a bit.

Mark,

No. Pat didn't cut any of the landing gear pieces. Just the fill blocks for the for and aft. I have a plan, though.

Wayne,

Maybe all those ribs will work as turbulators.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #76 on:** November 14, 2011, 11:25:33 AM »

Randy, I can send you the drawings of the parts. It worked out really well on mine. I was pretty sure I sent him the cut files for those parts, I wonder if they just got missed?

Randy Powell · « **Reply #77 on:** November 14, 2011, 12:49:05 PM »

I don't know. He sent the ribs and some pieces that appear to be fore and aft fillers around the gear. Not a bit deal. I can machine gear blocks. And I was going to use some 1/64" ply to reinforce the ribs around the blocks. Been nice to have pre-cut doublers but hey, you can't have everything.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #78 on:** November 14, 2011, 01:40:37 PM »

I may have a spare set of them. I was so proud of my engineering I had two sets cut as I recall. I figured they would be easy to adapt to any design. I will look today. I had to come home early,, seams that Avista didnt want me working today, we lost all power at work and considering 95% of what I do is on the computer,, well, it was going to be a long boring day,,

Randy Powell · « **Reply #79 on:** November 14, 2011, 04:43:00 PM »

Tragically, a lot of what I do is on the computer, too. Shouldn't be for what I do, but there it is.

Take a look. I won't get to that for a bit anyway.

Shultzie · « **Reply #80 on:** November 14, 2011, 05:16:32 PM »

TOTALLEEEEEEEEEEEE' BLEW MY SNEAKERS OFF, RANDY!!! BBBBBBBBBEEEEEEUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTTFUL' ARTISTCAL' CRAFTSMANSHIP AT ITS FINEST!.....

Randy Powell · « **Reply #81 on:** November 14, 2011, 08:04:25 PM »

Uh, Don, I don't think I can put that picture on the plane.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #82 on:** November 21, 2011, 11:05:39 PM »

Anything new Randy?

I'm guilty, I haven't touched a thing in the shop for better than two weeks. Building season is here, I've gotta get back in the groove.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #83 on:** November 22, 2011, 02:40:52 PM »

Just about finished planking the underside. The controls are in and the gear blocks mostly done (though I have to do some grinding on the those. Then I can flip it over, do the planking on the top then move on. Still figuring out how I'm going to do the rear pushrod, but I'll get to that.

I have 4 days to work on it this week (we had an early Thanksgiving with the family). WooHoo!!!

Randy Powell · « **Reply #84 on:** November 24, 2011, 07:20:50 PM »

OK, the wing is done. Now I just have to figure out how to do the controls in the rear. I'm cogitating on it.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #85 on:** November 25, 2011, 08:49:50 PM »

Man, the tail end of this thing is a pain in my backside. I think I finally figured out a way to do it according to the plans (more or less) and still be able to adjust the pushrod. But it is a royal pain, that's certain. Some pics tomorrow.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #86 on:** November 25, 2011, 10:04:51 PM »

How did Mark do his?

Randy Powell · « **Reply #87 on:** November 25, 2011, 11:57:44 PM »

Mark re-engineered his fuse. I'm trying to build mind like Donnie did. It will be OK in the end (sorry, bad pun). Don didn't have adjustable controls.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #88 on:** November 26, 2011, 05:26:05 PM »

OK, so I'm about ready to put the tail box in. Finally got the thing built so the controls clear and are adjustable. Still have some futzing around to do, but it's pretty much there. Alignment will be the trick now. I figuring out a jig to hold the tail together while I set up the tail box and get it glued in. Top block is all hollowed out. I decided to go with blocks rather than molded wood since I found 2 -3lb stock 1" blocks at a craft store. Still have to finish the stab, elevators and flaps, but it's coming along.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #89 on:** November 26, 2011, 05:35:26 PM »

Randy,
its looking pretty good there,, yeah the tail is VERY tight, especially when you want more than a L bend in the pushrod.
was I supposed to be taking apicture of something for you,, I cant recall,,
If I was, it will have to wait for awhile,, its time to watch some FOOTBALL,,
GO COUGS

Randy Powell · « **Reply #90 on:** November 26, 2011, 08:35:03 PM »

Mark,

I fudged the width slightly to get room along with a hatch panel on the outside and a lot of fiddling with the inside of the tail box to allow the horn to swing freely.

Sorry about the Cougs.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #91 on:** November 27, 2011, 01:08:41 PM »

Randy,
no comment on the Cougs,, its hard to be a fan in Washington state,, Cougs, Seahawks, Mariners,, you just have to grow thick skin,,

as to the Avenger,, I to fudged the thickness on the tail, it seemed the only way to make it work. Did you use a ball link? or other means of attachment...

You only have like three months, better get busy dude,, now that football is over,, ( aside from YOUR bowl game) you should be able to crank on this now.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #92 on:** November 27, 2011, 01:16:49 PM »

I'm working on it. Should be done in time, though I may be painting it in February. Hope not.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #93 on:** November 27, 2011, 07:37:39 PM »

OK, a couple more pics. The tail piece is a bit wide but I've already figured out how to deal with that. I'll need to get the bottom block on first. The stab in the picture is a core. It will be sheeted.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #94 on:** November 27, 2011, 09:37:18 PM »

Man, I never realized the back half of this plane was so complicated. Looks like it's getting close though, thanks for the pics.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #95 on:** November 28, 2011, 10:29:51 AM »

@ Wayne,
yeah its pretty intense but oh so very worth it,, its a really cool look

not only that but there is about 5 miles worth of fillets to do as well,, all along the top strake and vertical,, the bottom strake and then of course the wing root as well,,,

wwwarbird · « **Reply #96 on:** November 28, 2011, 11:07:06 AM »

Yeah, I've always thought it was a very cool looking airplane. I'm starting to wonder what kind of paint scheme Randy is going to come up with.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #97 on:** November 28, 2011, 12:37:46 PM »

I plan to copy Don's original. Basically a white plane with red and blue stripes. Sorry, not funny stuff this time.

Shultzie · « **Reply #98 on:** November 28, 2011, 06:23:09 PM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on November 28, 2011, 12:37:46 PM

I plan to copy Don's original. Basically a white plane with red and blue stripes. Sorry, not funny stuff this time.

WOW! RANDY AND MARK!U-2 Gifted builders and flyers!!!
Mark, your beautiful Avenger is truly awesome...and RANDY!! WHAT DANDY and ARTISTICAL' WORKMANSHIP you have been sharing with us on your build up in those amazing photos.

(by the way....The trim on my Avenger Series 35 was actually metallic Maroon & Metallic Navy Blue in order to match the dark Maroonie red dyed canopy...which by the time this photo was taken....had already began to fade away into a pale shade of Pinkish Red! RITT DYE SUCKED IN THOSE DAZE DAYS...and always faded badly in bright sunlight.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #99 on:** November 28, 2011, 10:12:33 PM »

Yep, that's the one. And pretty much the paint scheme I'm planning right down to the red dyed canopy.

Well, maybe not the red canopy....