Author Topic: Southwick Lark progress (Read 4759 times)

SteveMoon · « **on:** February 14, 2007, 07:52:07 AM »

I picked up the parts about 3 weeks ago from Kyle T. for the
Southwick Lark I've decided to build. Great laser cutting by
Kyle really makes the building process a real snap, and really
makes it easy to accomplish the elliptical surfaces on the wing
and tail. The wing weighs in at 9.25 oz. including the controls
and flaps. The fuse is basic construction and power will come
from the always reliable OS 46 LA. Later, Steve

Bill Little · « **Reply #1 on:** February 14, 2007, 07:56:48 AM »

Hi Steve,

That is great looking workmanship! Don't Kyle do great work??

How did you "jig" the wing? Always wonder about that when it comes to ellipitical wings.

Bill <><

SteveMoon · « **Reply #2 on:** February 14, 2007, 09:22:27 AM »

Bill: I had the ribs cut with tabs on the bottom (we do that on all our kits at UHP now).
I block up the leading and trailing edges to the proper height and start gluing in ribs
from the middle. Very simple, and as long as your building table is flat the wing will be
straight. The elliptic part of the wing is accomplished with a separate trailing edge piece
that actually has the shape cut into it. It is glued into slots on the 2 most outer ribs that
are on the reg. trailing edge, the outer 3 ribs, and to the inside of the trailing edge. The
flaps, stab, and elevators all have the elliptic shape laser cut and 1/8 ribs. Just glue in the ribs,
sand, cover and paint.

I'm hoping to come out under 50 oz., which I think is quite realistic. I'll update some more
as it moves along.

Steve

Michael Floerchinger · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2007, 01:13:30 PM »

Great workmanship! I really like the Lark, I had one in kit form, one of the first kits that I had ordered in a long time, I usually scratch built my planes. This was years ago and unfortunately I never got to build the plane and sold all my equipment when I needed some cash. I always like the asymmetrical lines of the plane.

Mike

billbyles · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2007, 02:03:55 PM »

Hi Steve,

Your Southwick Lark looks great; excellent workmanship apparent in the photos. The weight of the wing at this stage of construction is very good. Your target weight of under 50 ounces is also good; Ed Southwick told me that in the early days when he designed the Lark & Skylark his ships usually weighed 50 to 54 oz. When he came back to control line in the late 80's he became much more weight conscious, generally building them to the mid-40 ounce range, with a couple of exceptions. Good to see your progress.

Bill Byles

Randy Powell · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2007, 02:38:55 PM »

Steve,

That's very cool. My buddy Bruce Hunt has one about framed up. May have even started the finish by now. Looking forward to seeing yours completed.

SteveMoon · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2007, 05:05:41 PM »

I've made some more progress on the Lark in the past
couple of weeks. It's in one piece now. I'm really pleased
with the way it looks. My son Jake observed that with
a rounded rudder it would make a nice Spitfire. As shown
the plane weighs 23 oz. I'm pretty confident I can hit
my target weight of 50 oz.

Later, Steve

Jim Rhoades · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2007, 06:22:32 PM »

Steve,

Your projected weight of 50 oz sounds good. I have one of Ed's Larks that I acquired following his death. This model is very pretty as most of ed's ships were. Unfortunately this one weighs in at about 65 oz. So much for light weight! I flew the model a couple times up here in Salt Lake City at 4300 ft and it literaly fell out of the air pulling out of a wingover if you tried anything resembling a clean corner. I mean it rotated and dropped about 6 feet below the expected pullout. Talk about needing to clean out ones shorts. There is evidence that Ed cut into it to change flap to elevator ratios in an attempt to cure the problem but to no avail. This one was set up for a pipe and I used my PA .51 on it.

I decided it was best to just hang it on the wall as a tribute to Ed than to fly it any more. I'm sure this problem would not surface at all with the weight in the 50 oz range. Yours looks great. I hope to get a chance to see it sometime and hope it flys as good as it looks.

Jim Rhoades

Bill Little · « **Reply #8 on:** February 27, 2007, 08:29:10 AM »

Hi Steve,

It's coming along nicely! Very good looking airframe, and with a LA 46 at 50 oz. (or even less!) should be killer!

Bill <><

SteveMoon · « **Reply #9 on:** April 07, 2007, 10:03:21 AM »

Here's the latest progress on the Lark in primer. I put the colors
on yesterday, and plan on spraying the clear today. Steve

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #10 on:** April 07, 2007, 11:48:39 AM »

Looks nice Steve.

Bill Little · « **Reply #11 on:** April 07, 2007, 11:56:51 AM »

Steve, post the pictures when you get the color on it! It is looking great.

Bill <><

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #12 on:** April 07, 2007, 05:39:59 PM »

Love them bones Steve!!!!

Seems like that should have a McCoy in it.

But the blue engines are kewl.

Keep us posted.

Paul

SteveMoon · « **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2007, 04:17:39 PM »

Alright! I'm gettin' close now. I just need to add the engine,
tank, etc. and she'll be ready to go. WoooHoo!! Steve

Leester · « **Reply #14 on:** April 09, 2007, 04:23:04 PM »

Looks Great Steve, Outstanding job.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #15 on:** April 09, 2007, 04:41:26 PM »

Looks very good Steve. I love that color scheme. Very effective.

SteveMoon · « **Reply #16 on:** April 09, 2007, 08:20:01 PM »

It's the same color scheme that Ed proudly displays on the
cover of the Smith's Kits kit of the plane from the early '90s.
It had one more small red chevron on the wing, but I left it off.
I had had enough by then. Steve

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #17 on:** April 09, 2007, 09:22:30 PM »

I gotta like those colors!

Rod Claus · « **Reply #18 on:** April 11, 2007, 09:19:13 AM »

Steve.....
Are you using the automotive base coat/clear coat method for color coats?
Rod Claus

SteveMoon · « **Reply #19 on:** April 11, 2007, 01:01:20 PM »

Rod: Yes, I always use auto paint. I've been using Omni paint
lately, but have used Dupont, PPG, Valspar, etc. They all
work great. I used PPG Deltron for the clearcoat on the Lark.

Thanks everybody, Steve

Rod Claus · « **Reply #20 on:** April 12, 2007, 09:47:22 AM »

Steve.......
I am currently working with my local auto paint store to figure out a good lite weight buildup/finish painting method to replace the traditional dope method.I'm thinking that the Stits poly-brush on polyspan might be a good alternative for open bay areas (wings).
I've used the Stits process on full size aircraft and find it easy to use and not too temperature sensitive unlike dope.I'm not quite sure what to use as a lite weight sandable primer though.I'd like to stay away from any lacquer based primers.
Up here in the NW we have a lot of moisture problems,so epoxy/urethane based products work well.
You're help and idea's are welcome!!
P.S. Looking forward to flight test reports.I love elliptical wing airplanes!!
Thanks
Rod Claus

SteveMoon · « **Reply #21 on:** April 22, 2007, 11:51:43 AM »

Rod: I use Krylon sandable auto primer from a spray can. Great
stuff and cheap, about $3 a can. No need to get all fancy with
primer, most of it's coming off anyway when you sand it. Steve

SteveMoon · « **Reply #22 on:** April 22, 2007, 11:54:14 AM »

WoooHooo!! The Lark is finished. I put it all together a couple of
days ago and it came out at.......51 oz. Dooohhhh!! Just 1 oz.
over the target wieght. That shouldn't be any problem for the
LA 46, though. Now, as soon as the Texas Sring winds calm down
to less than a hundred we'll get it out to the flying field. Steve

Leester · « **Reply #23 on:** April 22, 2007, 02:04:55 PM »

If it fly's as good as it looks, you've got a winner.

Bill Little · « **Reply #24 on:** April 22, 2007, 02:17:05 PM »

Steve, It really turned out sweet!

A great looking plane. 51 oz. w/LA 46 and that wing should do just fine. Good luck with it!

(and yes, Kyle does outstanding laser work.

)

Bill <><

Leester · « **Reply #25 on:** June 30, 2007, 09:17:12 PM »

Steve, In the issue #3 of CLW it is stated that this will be a new UHP kit. When do you plan on releasing the kit ? and how about some details on what the kit will include. Thanks