Istvan:
I like how you rotated the engine such that the muffler was at the bottom of the fuselage. Are there any alignment challenges to that (or did you set the engine at zero off-set?)
I believe you had posted information on your construction method previously. Did you cover the foam with carbon veil or carbon fiber (woven) for strength?
Thanks
Scott
Dear Scott,
That alignment required to make new, special muffler: not the usual cw-rotating, but ccw rotating tangential (looking from the front), to put the muffler right under the engine. Fortunately, this -20° sloped engine position gives the MOST symmetrical behaviour of a side-outlet engine. (everybody knows and hates that anomalia in the round eights going towards and coming backwards around the inflection point.)
Because of vibration aspects I avoid to use the conventional inverted engine alignment, for at least 35 years. (And balsa constructions, too. ) My engines are turned outwards 2.5 or 3°, for safety reasons, nothing else. (This nuance saved the life of each models, at least 1-2 times in their life.
Basically my bluefoam models are covered with 1 coat of light, 18 - 25 grams / sqm glass, the main spar is double unidirectional carbon, the horizontal stab is covered with 1 coat of that. The front 1/3 of centroplane is reinforced by 9 g / sqm carbon tissue. The fuselage in front of wing is double covered with glass, and the tank chamber too. Only the engine section contains some maple, just between the ribs.
Istvan