Well, i'm taking the plunge (pun intended). My next project is an 80" Grumman Widgeon. I just received the plans and will begin printing out the parts on wood. I don't have many other details than that right now. I just want to get cutting.
Another flying boat! ;D
I have had such a blast with my flyzone Beaver this past year. I have to take it to the next level.
I don't know what to say. I'm so happy... a tear has come to my eye! :'(
Construction is started. The hull will be skinned with 3/32 balsa on the sides and top and the bottom will be skinned with 1/32 ply.
Andre - your workbench looks too tidy!
There is another one you can't see in the pic. :o
Beautiful, Andre!
Looks Good Andre, Which plan is this?
This is an RC Modeller Plan by Erwin Ohlsson. I downloaded it from www.aerofred.com and then took it to a printer to get full size plans printed.
That looks like fast but really good construction.
Progress is being made. The next parts to be built are the elevators and rudder. Then it will be on to the wings.
Here is a shot of the full scale version I am replicating.
Very nice work, Andre. And the reference aircraft is a fine looking flying boat!
Looks good, Andre. I love that flying boat!
A little more work is complete. I'm going to have to make a run to the hobby shop to get some items that have to be built into the wing before getting much more sheeting done. It is getting big fast!!!
Here's an update: The wings are nearing covering. I still have to build the tip floats and determine the best way to mount them so they are removable. The nose of the plane will be a foam block. Then the fuse is ready for fibreglassing. The engine cowls are going to be made from fibreglass as well. It won't be ready for Kingston, but I see there is an attempt for a float fly at some other venues.
Beautiful!
Terrific work!
That's looks great, Andre.
We have plenty of float fly's scheduled for the summer. I hope to see you at some... even before the Widgeon is ready. :)
Work on the widgeon looks to have slowed but that is not the case. The fuselage has been fiberglassed the finishing layer of resin must be applied and then begins the sanding process. The other significant job has been the production of the fiberglass cowls. These were made using a plug with a condom pulled over it. The glass cloth and resin are applied in layers and then a second condom is pulled over all the cloth and resin. With a roller, the bubbles are eliminated. The first attempt left many imperfections because i did not have the rolling process at that point. But the second two cowls turned our nearly flawless. They may not be Fiberglass Specialties quality but most real aircraft surfaces have "waves" and ripples in them too. I'm pretty please with the outcome.
The plane is coming along great and the cowls appear to be fantastic. I am very interested in the technique used to make them.
If you get a chance to go into further detail on how the cowls were made, I would find it very helpful. I got lost at the second condom. Is the second condom applied over a coat of wet resin and then rolled out? After that you apply resin and cloth on top of the second condom?
???
I pulled a condom over the foam mold. Then i added the glass cloth and saturated it with the resin. I happened to have 4 oz cloth, so i applied 3 layers to create a cowl with sufficient thickness to retain the shape well. With all the cloth added, then another condom was pulled over it all. This creates a smooth finish but it is imperative to squeeze out the air bubbles by rolling the whole set up.
When the resin has curred (I leave it to cure for 12-18 hours. The condoms simply peel away, from both the outside and the inside. A lubricated condom seems to have enough lubricant to act as a release agent from the cured fiberglass. It takes a little effort to release the finished product from the mold.
There is excess cloth that hangs over the bottom edge of the form that must be cut away before the cowl can be pulled off. I expect that the finished product should come up fairly well with a series of coats of primer and sanding to smooth out any minor imperfections. And voila!
Thank you for the further explanation. (It is funny how I misunderstood the time line of the process 'duh'.) This technique is a keeper. I look forward to using it in the future.
Nice work Andre!
I tried that technique on similar size cowls, but it just didn't work well.
I think my condoms were too big.
Quote from: Michael on June 16, 2016, 10:10:53 PM
I tried that technique on similar size cowls, but it just didn't work well.
I think my condoms were too big.
It's the quality of the condom that matters, not the size!!! ;D
I'm getting close to a test flight.
looking good!!
Wow!
Who needs ARFs when you're a master builder !!!!
Just don't look too close.
I was hoping to get down to Mussleman's lake for the float fly on the 27th, but have since been "notified" that my daughter is going to be at a figure skating workshop with Brian Orser.
Hopefully there will be something in September.
That's beautiful, Andre!
We do have a couple of float flys scheduled in September (we have one booked for the 10th and 24th, but I'm in Montreal over the weekend of the 10th), so hopefully we can see you in the neighbourhood. But if you can't wait, let me know. We can always have a get together on Lake Scugog for some float flying. This location is pretty awesome:
https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/44.2013049,-78.875723/44.215881,-78.8670134/@44.2078186,-78.8813598,14.48z
I can provide the retrieval boat...
A great test flight tonight.
I have a video of the flight but can't seem to get it to attach.
The video is uploaded to my facebook page
Fantastic, Andre! Congratulations!
Yea, great Andre. Watched the video, she's a beaut and flies great. Can't beat good build and good pilot.
Thanks everyone. I hope this inspires others as others have inspired me. Now all i need are some "glass-like" water conditions to get out and enjoy it.