PT 19 build- Pilot kit- 25 size balsa

[Frank v B]

Have not built anything in some time......hours!

Bought this kit via Mark from a seller in Guelph.  It was assembled, sanding started but all the pieces were built (wing, fuse, tail feathers).  Nothing was covered.  Some damage like two broken wing ribs and two broken fuse stringers.  Overall the build to this stage was a 9 out of 10.
Total price was $75.00.  A deal.  The plane was built as a gasser (beam engine mount, gas tank installed) so have to convert it to electric.

Step 1- find Bruce Weaver's build post from 2020 to see what power package he used for the same kit (Power 25).  His post https://temac.ca/smf/index.php?topic=6455.0
Step 2- find a motor- found an E-flite 32 equivalent from my collection of spares. "Always overpower an airplane because you can always throttle back if you have to".
Step 3- Find the location of the new firewall.  Made a balsa template (photo 64).  Will transfer it to plywood.

Big next step- figure out how to retrofit a battery hatch.

Frank

[piker]

Cool, Frank,

I always liked the Pilot kits, even though I don't think I ever built one.  My dream kit was the Pilot Lake Renegade.  Never got one... would love to find one for sale now, if not crazy expensive.

[Frank v B]

Fuse finished.

Had to figure out the blue colour first and Googled photos on the internet.  I have seen them in robin egg blue all the way to dark blue like the Great Planes version that Paul Gray flies. Elected the medium blue. 

Also saw some photos with the black anti glare top forward of the aft cockpit and elected to add it.

Added a battery hatch under the forward pilot.  The hatch is held down with two magnets.

Painted the cowl top with flat black...because I had it. Then went to Home Depot and had them match a tester to the blue Monokote and painted it..as Michael taught us.  The photo shows the cowl with two coats of black and blue(flat).  Once cured, I will cover it with clear water based semi gloss urethane.

Repair the wing- It had 4 broken ribs when I bought it.  It was declared on the RcCanada post before I bought it.  Sistered rectangular pieces of balsa to the broken ribs and am letting it cure overnight.  Then will shape each rib on the double tapered wing.

Frank

[electroflyer]

  Nice Frank! The PT19 was always a cool subject. I remember having the Cox PT19 control line model when I was a kid. I am just finishing up a Midwest PT17 Stearman now.

[piker]

That looks very nice, Frank.

Hey Glenn.  I also had the Cox PT19 CL when I was a kid.  I spent so much time trying to get that .049 running reliably.  Stuggling with those small motors back then is one of the main reasons I turned to electric when I discover an Electra kit at Keiths Hobbies in about 1987!

[davidk]

That looks very nice, Frank.

Hey Glenn.  I also had the Cox PT19 CL when I was a kid.  I spent so much time trying to get that .049 running reliably.  Stuggling with those small motors back then is one of the main reasons I turned to electric when I discover an Electra kit at Keiths Hobbies in about 1987!

Sorry... off topic.  I used to ride my bike from Steeles and Bayview to my piano lessons at the Royal Conservatory of Music at Yonge and McKee.  When I was done, it was a couple of blocks to Keith's Hobby Shop.  I'd spend so much time there just walking around looking at everything... it was paradise.  Never bought an airplane...way too much money... but Estes Rockets and a working Steam Engine.  I was 2 months recovering after 3 weeks in the hospital for appendix peritonitis, playing with the steam engine, and set fire to my parent's house... actually their bedroom... knocked the burning fuel cell over... on a varnished floor.  Boy did it spread fast.  My mom wanted everyone out of the house... but my dad ran into the bathroom, soaked towels in the bathtub and spread them over the fire.  The fire engines got there fast, in a snow storm, but the fire was out.  My mom invited them all in for cake and coffee.  A kitchen full of firemen.  They said if my dad hadn't used the towels the house would most likely have been lost.  One of them walked over to the stove and saw a cold pot of oil and explained how fumes can roll over the pot and down onto the burner and ignite.  That was it for french fries indoors.  What a night.  Keith's was the best.

[piker]

Wow!  That was a hell of a story!!!

[Frank v B]

David and Piker. 
I restarted* my hobby career in 1989 at Keith's Hobbies buying that used .049 that David couldn't afford.  Used it to power a Scientific control line Stuka that I bought at a flea market for $2.00.  Taught 3 of my kids to fly and used it to let 30-40 cubs every year see control line flying. (I was a cub leader for 5 years).

Back to the PT 19

- shaped the broken semi-symetrical ribs.  Used a thin piece of hard wood to continue the curve over the blank rib and pencilled in the contour.
Used an #11 blade to cut them to the pencil line.  It left them larger by the thickness of the wood.  Then used a flat sander to match them to the other ribs.

Landing gear- I never use individual landing gear blocks in each wing. The strongest design is to cut a slot for the full width and drop in a continuous hardwood landing gear block. This serves as a dihedral brace as well.
The photo shows cutting the slot with an X-Acto blade.

Once cured, I will backfill with balsa, sand it flat and will fibreglass the leading edge for the width of the landing gear.  It will curve around the D tube** from the top main spar to the bottom main spar.

Frank

* re-started because I got my first CL model when I was in grade 3 and first RC plane when I was in grade 7...but never successfully flew RC.
** A "D-tube" wing is one that has a fully sheeted leading edge from the main top spar to the bottom main spar. .  When looking at a side view on the plan it looks like a "D".

[Frank v B]

Backfilling the landing gear reinforcement.
Instead of adding balsa I found some perfect thickness hardwood.  Trimmed two pieces to fit.
Decided to add some strips of carbon fibre before adding the hardwood strips. This adds strength to the landing gear blocks and the dihedral brace since the area has already been covered in balsa.
My X-Ray vision is not working well these days.

Belt and suspenders.

Frank

[Frank v B]

Ready to assemble.  Covering finished.

Note the rudder: it is supposed to be red and white horizontal stripes.  Could not find a small piece of white covering without opening up a new roll.  Made the whole rudder red and will buy white electrical tape to make the white stripes. Simple and easy.

Frank

[davidk]

Looks great, Frank.  And... electrical tape to the rescue.  I wanted to cover the servos on the Learjet, but not with covers.  I walked down to my local Home Hardware here in Sunderland... and old time hardware store with a basement and tons of stock.  2 people asked me what I was looking for but I said I needed to find it on my own... got to get to know the store... and they laughed and said whatever it was... they'd probably move it in a week  .  I found my yellow electrical tape right where it should have been... love that store.

[piker]

Hey Frank!

I have lots of open, white covering if you can wait until we see each other again.  I have Monokote.

Robert

[Frank v B]

Pilots dressed (painted) and strapped in.

Frick and Frack will do their best during the maiden flight.  

Frank

Piker, thanks for the offer.  I found the white tape today.  Will try this first.

[Frank v B]

Fully assembled.

Taped the tail with white stripes.  For those eagle eyed nit-pickers.... the red and white tripes are equal width.  The real airplane had 6 white stripes. This one has 10.  Deal with it!  If you can count them at 50' and 50 km/h I will change them.

Frank

[davidk]

She's a stunner.