Toronto Electric Model Aviation Club Forum

Toronto Electric Model Aviation Club (TEMAC) => Building / Construction => Topic started by: octagon on February 15, 2018, 07:49:58 PM

Title: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: octagon on February 15, 2018, 07:49:58 PM
I grew up in Willowdale in the 50s and our house was reasonably close to Downsview AFB. At the time they had a squadron of Beech 18s. I think it was a reserve squadron, but nonetheless I would see them all the time. I have always loved the plane, 2 big radial engines, twin tails, tail dragger, just a cool plane for me. I was excited when I found a short kit of the plane by Acme Aircraft Company, and ordered it. I got it last week, and decided I had to see the thing fly this summer, so I put my Chipmunk on ice and started it. It is small at only 48 inches but there is a lot of building. I would like to do retracts if I can figure something out. The die cutting is perhaps the best I have ever seen. The kit includes 2 plastic cowls, so I will not have to fuss with that. I am trying a new glue, Super Phatic. I hope it works as advertised, as the fumes from CA with all the stingers make my eyes water. Anyway, glued up the left fuse tonight and hopefully will get to the right side before we leave for FLA for a week. The nose is complete too. I think I will finish it in the RCAF colours I remember as a kid.
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: octagon on February 16, 2018, 09:01:34 PM
Headed for Florida (Going to fly in Sarasota with Roger Mason) but the Beech is beginning to look a bit like a plane. Probably will not get much more done before I go. I am enjoying building this little guy.
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: octagon on February 18, 2018, 06:25:53 PM
So we are off to Florida for a week tomorrow. In between the car show this morning and packing this afternoon, I had a chance to work on the Beech a little more. I truly am impressed with the quality of the die cutting in this short kit. I cut the stringers 1/8 X 1/16 from a sheet with a stripping tool, which works but which is kind of a pain, and I think is a learned skill. Anyway, the next order of business is the horizontal stabilizer an rudders. I hope to have my magnetic building board ready to build these as they are made by laminating 1/32 X 1/8 strips, and then braced with ribs. Should be fun and give me something to mull over the best way to do while south.
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: Frank v B on February 19, 2018, 10:45:41 AM
Rob,

Just keep it in bones.  It would be ashamed to cover the beautiful structure.

I love your safety equipment, ear protection ("I can't hear you!") and a bottle of Jamieson's (back right).  Are you trying to improve on Wingnutz's requirement of having a beer bottle in all build photos?

Consider using clear Monokote to do all the flat windows.  I will show you how and will donate the material.  The benefit is that the material sits on the outside. Acetate windows are glued to the inside.
My .46 size Norseman was done this way when Jack H. encouraged me to try it and it was waaayyyy easier and cleaner.  In fact, my windshield was done with clear Monokote.  No fingerprints on the acetate, permanent adhesion, and cheap to re-do when CA fumes cloud the issue.  :)

Frank
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: Michael on February 19, 2018, 09:57:21 PM
Beautiful!
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: Wingnutz on February 25, 2018, 11:34:00 PM
Rob,
Fuse framing looks great!
Happy retract cobbling...at first glance, it looks easier than Glenn's Mosquito cobbling, but that scissoring mechanism looks like a challenge.
I know you're considering RCAF livery, but how about a Matt Younkin colour scheme? If you haven't seen him fly his Beech 18 at an airshow,
http://youtu.be/C46lMbaMBqM
Are you in Sarasota? If so, enjoy the weather! I'm in St Pete Beach area.
I would post a photo with a beer bottle in it to keep Frank happy but right now I would have to use an American bottle and my commitment to Canadian content would be in question, eh?
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: Frank v B on February 26, 2018, 09:22:14 AM
Bill,

Great to read your post.

re:"I would post a photo with a beer bottle in it to keep Frank happy"

Patriotic!

Keep well and safe home.

Frank
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: Frank v B on February 27, 2018, 02:58:44 PM
Rob,

Dug into the 1000 plan collection and found Cyril Carr's plans and write-up for his Beech 18 project in RCM&E June 2012 issue.  I will bring to the build class tomorrow.  It may give some ideas on linkages , CG and stuff as a double check.

Photos of his foam model 44" span http://www.modelflying.co.uk/albums/member_album.asp?a=20504

Frank
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: octagon on March 04, 2018, 07:01:24 PM
As I keep saying I am enjoying building this little plane. I had been struggling with how to make the battery accessible. The instructions  call for removing the wing and slipping the battery in that way, but with 2 motors ailerons and retracts it seemed like a big hassle before every flight, and sure to cause more hangar rash than necessary.I was inspired by Michaels DC3 which has the whole cockpit removable to get at the battery. I found a build log from a few years ago and they guy made the nose cone removable, and cut out the bulkhead so so the battery would fit that way. Problem was that you cannot get your hands inside to connect the battery, so I made a removable tray out of thin plywood and will simply connect the battery outside the plane and then insert it inside. Magnetic nose cone on and ready to fly. The rudders are made by laminating 4 stips of 1/32 by 1/8 balsa. The short kit includes templates to do this. The hardest part was stripping 1/32 inch sheet into 1/8 wide strips, but it went pretty well and the laminations are drying as I write this. Next step is to finish the rudders and vertical stabilizers, and after that, the wing. I think I am going to sheet the wings with 1/32 sheet and am on the fence about trying to do the same to the fuse. The real plane was all metal and I do no want the thing to look like a starving horse, so I will see how it goes. I was able to get quite a bunch of 1/32 by 36 by 3 Bud Nosen contest balsa, so I will add very little in weight if I do sheet the whole thing. I think perhaps the most challenging part with be the motor nacelles. Lot of compound curves there. Maybe I will give it to Frank VB to do those, he has lots of experience with sheeting compound curves after that Corsair he build!
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: Andy Hoffer on March 04, 2018, 09:32:44 PM
Elegant solution Rob!  Way to go!

Andy
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: octagon on March 06, 2018, 08:10:24 AM
Bit more work on the vertical stabilizers and rudders. Lots of little pieces of 1/8 square. Have to figure out how to hinge the rudders, I don't think 1/8 balsa is thick enough to cut the slots needed for fibre/ca type. Open to suggestions.
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: octagon on March 06, 2018, 09:01:03 PM
I decided to sheet the vertical stabilizers and rudders. they were built up out of 1/8 inch stock and seemed rather weak, I was afraid they might warp when I shrunk the covering. I use 1/32 contest balsa for the sheeting and it seemed to work well. I built the centre section and fitted it to the fuse. Needed a bit of nursing to get a good fuse to wing joint (which I did after I took these pictures) but I am happy with the way it is coming along. I laminated 1/16 by 3/16 balsa soaked in hot water and ammonia to form wingtips. Next step for tomorrow night will be to continue the wing. That should be straitforward, but the nacelles are looming in the future, and they scare me a bit. 
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: octagon on March 08, 2018, 09:19:41 PM
Got to working on the wing. I have kind of been fearing the nacelles as I have never built one before, and this thing calls for two. But, it looks like it will not be so bad after all, and the kit includes cowls. I put it all together to get an idea of how it fits, and it is pretty good. Happy with the way it is coming along. Next step is sheeting the wings. It only calls for sheeting of the leading edge to the main spar, but I think I will sheet the entire wing. 
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: bweaver on March 09, 2018, 10:01:20 AM
I an always amazed at the speed with which you can put together a plane. 

Not only that, the results are beautiful too! 
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: octagon on March 09, 2018, 02:30:20 PM
Thanks Bruce. This kit in particular is a joy to build. The die cutting is so precise, and the plans very informative. I need to figure out motors, I have never heard of what they suggest.
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: Andy Hoffer on March 09, 2018, 05:25:25 PM
THAT is a REALLY nice weather vane!!

http://temac.ca/smf/index.php/topic,6500.msg42626.html#msg42626

Andy
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: octagon on April 04, 2018, 07:17:24 PM
So I have not had much of a chance to work on the Beech lately. Been busy with grandaughter and Easter and all. But I got back to building and covering. I am using parklite silver to cover it after using 1/32 sheet on the top and bottom of the fuse. Parklite is really nice to work with but even with that, silver and compound curves, yikes. I did the sunscreen on the nose, but it is awful and I will redo it or maybe just paint it, it should be flat black anyway. retracts should be in this week so I can get going on finishing the wing. BTW, the control surfaces are not glued yet, hence the gaps. all the servos and linkages are in. Used goldenrod with cable .
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: Frank v B on April 04, 2018, 08:29:11 PM
Go Rob!  I love the bones of a nice stick plane.

Frank
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: octagon on April 09, 2018, 06:54:20 PM
Well, got to work covering today. I don't like covering much really, and this little number is a mass of compound curves. Also notice that they decided to paint the thing white on top of the fuse, but instead of stopping the white above or below the windows, they brought it 1/2 way down the windows. That may have been easy to paint but it is a bugger to do with Monocote, at least for me. The wing is built, but not sheeted or motors installed so that will be the next order of business. This little guy is proving to be a real challenge. I should have the retracts soon, which will allow me to finish the nacelles and then cover the wing. Oh no, the nacelles, more compound curves both to sheet and then to cover, yikes.
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: Andy Hoffer on April 09, 2018, 08:52:25 PM
@octagon

It looks really good Rob!!

Maybe your buddies at CKYZ tower might let you use 33 for the maiden flight!!   8)

Andy
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: octagon on April 09, 2018, 11:06:24 PM
I just need them to look at it with binoculars so they think it is full scale. Otherwise I doubt I will get clearance.
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: Crazyflyer on April 10, 2018, 09:24:14 AM
Don't forget to leave some wiring for an FPV system! Imagine the view from a camera on top of the fuse  :D
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: piker on April 10, 2018, 10:11:25 AM
Awesome Rob!!!
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: Gregor77 on April 14, 2018, 04:46:28 PM
Great work Rob!
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: octagon on December 14, 2019, 12:19:17 PM
So I stopped working on the Beech 18 because I was waiting for retracts for it and the only set I could find that I thought would fit were on back order for over a year. I put it aside and got interested in other projects, but have started back at it again. I sheeted the parts of the wing that need to be sheeted with 1/32 balsa, and then built and framed the nacelles. The speed controls are installed and I have motors ready to go in. Next is to decide seperate aileron servos or just use a central one with bell cranks, and the fabrication of a windshield. After all my waiting I have decided to install fixed gear.
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: sihinch on December 14, 2019, 04:45:25 PM
Looks great Rob.
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: Frank v B on December 15, 2019, 04:49:10 PM
Rob,

Great to see you get back at it.

I would encourage you to use separate servos.  Soooo much easier.  They are so cheap now that I glue them in the corner of a rib and a spar and then use a cover plate out of balsa with a cut-out for the top of the servo.  This cover plate is important so the covering can be sealed around it.

The real benefit is that the full servo arm is exposed and can be adjusted any time.

If the servo connection is not long enough, I attach a "Y" connector to it and bury it in the wing.  see the photo of the Tiger Moth.

Frank

Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: electroflyer on December 18, 2019, 05:17:04 PM
 Hi Rob,
  That looks amazing! Happy to see that you are back at it.

  Glenn
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: octagon on January 17, 2020, 06:56:31 PM
So I  decided that instead of working a bit on 3 different models at a time I would finish 2 of them and then resume the major build of the FW 190 short kit. The Expeditor is coming along well. I have to paint and properly mount the cowls, make gear legs and do a bit more work like making and extension for the escs to reach the battery, which goes in the nose, and control rods for the ailerons but it is pretty much finished. I made the black nosecone removable and the battery will slide in there and so I just have to figure out how big of one I can get in.
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: davidk on January 17, 2020, 08:26:57 PM
Personally, I like the gear legs in image 1304  ;)

That's a beautiful build Rob.
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: Frank v B on January 17, 2020, 09:15:23 PM
David,

I agree about 1304.  It looks like a mid-air collision between a Beech 18 and a 3 legged Flamingo. ;) ;)

Frank
Title: Re: Rob's Beech 18 Expeditor Build
Post by: octagon on January 18, 2020, 08:39:24 AM
Hi Dave. I like those gear to but am afraid of parasite drag if I use them. Big snowstorm coming today.