There's still time for another winter project. This will be a scratch-built Heath Parasol; an early 20th century American homebuilt airplane.
I'm planning on building this 1/5 scale (60" wingspan), out of depron-type styrofoam, with a projected weight of 2 pounds, and it will be for land and water.
Building starts soon .....
Ooooo. I'm glad you've decided to build this.
That size and style will look good flying beside my American Eaglet, which is a very similar style and size. I just have to get mine finished too! :o
Would you build the floats like in the picture?
I haven't decided.
Either I will, or I'll make separate floats and landing gear simply screw on at the same hard-points.
If I do, then I will have to use non-metal (plastic, rubber, carbon-fiber) for the wheels and parts.
My 'plans', and the beginning of construction.
Michael - you are an impressive and compulsive builder! You're very inspiring.
If I wanted to do a depron build, where do you get the depron from?
Oh, when I asked the question I didn't even clue into the fact that there were wheels attached to the floats. I assume they are just for beaching. I doubt the floats would work with the wheels attached.
What I was referring to was the rather short aft end of the floats. They are very antic looking, which is cool, but I'm not sure how good they would be at keeping the tail of the aircraft up and dry.
However, now that you got me thinking more about the floats and those cool beaching wheels, it might be cool to be able to keep the floats attached all the time, and just add the beaching gear for flying from land. Not how the real one worked, I'm sure, but might be cool for the model. You, or I if I steal the idea for my plane, would need to have some sort of tail wheel on the floats, or probably better, move the mains back and add a nose wheel between the floats or one on each float. That would be best to prevent the plane from nosing over when powering up.
Quote from: sihinch on March 05, 2017, 04:42:56 PM
If I wanted to do a depron build, where do you get the depron from?
Pinnacle Hobby usually has stock.
I'm progressing slowly on the wing.
Before every step, I have to be aware of how I'm going to build the ailerons, where I'm going to mount the servos, where the wing struts will attach, the dihedral joint, the attachment structure to the fuselage, and so on.
The leading edge is glued on the bottom skin, the lower carbon fiber wing spars and ribs are glued on.
Wing webbing, for a very light but very strong structure.
Dihedral joint: plywood, strong wire bent to the correct angle epoxied into carbon fiber tubes, and more depron.
Aileron construction is slow, but still enjoyable.
I've been busy with work and family stuff.
(Really! I've been working a lot, and I just had my fourth grandson! Adam visited from Chicago, and lots of stuff has been going on.)
Anyway, I started on the fuselage. 2 formers have inset aluminum tubes to support a structure that will hold the wing in place.
*******
Can't buy me love? Well, I just did!
I've been looking for a nice example for my collection for more than 20 years, and I just bought it! Capital Records 1964 Can't Buy Me Love (Beatles) 45 rpm single with original sleeve.
Boy, am I happy! (Cost me more than most model airplanes!)
When did you get it, Yesterday? Or was that another Hard Days Night? Finally you and the single have Come Together!
Stop it, Simon, it's just another day.
;D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JodPHplACCE
More work on the fuselage: more formers, and bottom rear sheeting.
Wing support structure made out of brass and aluminum tubes, carefully measured, bent and fit for the right wing angle-of-attack; light and strong.
This fits right into the aluminum tubes in the main formers.
great work
Plywood supports/anchors in the wings for wing struts; flush with outer lower surface.
The detail of the construction and reinforcing techniques you are using are great for those who will wish to take on a similar building challenge. Step-by-step photos like this are fantastic.... I know the information will be helpful for me.
Thanks, 8)
I research this plane as I build, and I see that since the original was a home-built, there are so many variables.
I have a lot of creative license in the design of the wing struts, landing gear, engine and cowl design, cockpit, etc.
I've designed the landing gear as typical scale. A wire fits inside an airfoil-shaped aluminum tube, and is then flattened, bent and drilled as necessary. Thinner wire is braced in front and behind, hooked into the aluminum tube near the axles, which are partially covered by a smaller round aluminum tube. The whole unit is held down by screws onto plywood strips, which will also serve as hard-points to which wing struts and a floats-structure will attach.
It was fun to figure out and build this landing gear.
looks good.
Landing gear wire supports redone with aluminum outer tube for better visual effect.
Firewall. Slight downthrust built in.
I mentioned that this was a 60" span model. It's not. It's 50".
**********
Parts cut out for the tail. This will be a push-pull system on the elevator and rudder.
A carbon-fiber flat strip is inserted into the stabilizer for strength. Control horns are made out of plywood. Micro pin hinges are used.
Tail glued in place.
A few hours work yielded a functioning pull-pull system.
Brass tube glued to the center bottom wing, and pinned to the tube structure, and wing struts bent, drilled and installed.
A tail wheel is also visible here.
Fantastic. What size motor are you using and what do you think it will weigh when finished?
It's a Neodyme 300 1200kv motor (whatever that means). It's a small motor.
Weight so far is about 12½ ounces, with motor, as shown.
A couple of formers and a (very carefully sized and cut out) upper skin, and voila!
Upper front fuselage.
A few formers, a support beam, and very carefully cut surface-skins.
I think I like this finish better.
That is going to be amazing if you replicate that finish.
Dummy engine cylinders.
Serious comment......they look very realistic. Well done.
TEMAC comment.....looks like 4 hot dogs!
Back to the wing.
Preparing servos, hinging, etc, before top skins.
Top of wing is 'covered' or 'skinned'. No special technique is used; just very careful cutting and gluing.
Ailerons installed.
Motor compartment painted black, motor installed, and bottom front fuselage covered.
Major construction finished; total weight approx. 17 ounces.
Still to do: paint, scale details, carve a pilot, windshield, finish battery compartment.
Painting started. This is much more difficult and time consuming than I thought.
The fuselages sides are first painted a very light baby-blue-tinted white, and then dark blue on top.
Looking great. I see the sponge brushes. Are you sponge brushing and not spray painting?
Hand painting.
A bit more painting.
looks great. love the engine.
I was showing my wife the last picture of what you have done and explained the construction and painting techniques.
Her comment... "I will never complain about your workbench again Bruce."
Thanks for the update Michael. Once again, very helpful. ;D
Detail work: Wheel covers and control panel.
More detail-work pending.
Just a hint... a prop would really make a difference. Looking great without one anyways. Can't wait to see it fly.
Details:
Construction of a pilot from very light styrofoam. (Don't judge until it's finished. ;D)
Fake top aileron linkages for show only.
Real aileron linkages, with offset servo arm to avoid adverse yaw. (Adverse Yaw is when too much down aileron slows and stalls an aircraft. The angled position limits down aileron.)
Windshield and dashboard installed.
(Stupid weather! >:( I'd rather be flying!)
Anyway .... I've tried 4 different types of pilot figures and construction techniques, but I've given up trying to get the perfect pilot, at almost no weight.
What I did instead, is I found an image through google, colourized it with Photoshop, printed a left and right version, and glued it to a sheet of depron, which was carefully cut out.
Until I find something better, this is my pilot figure.
It might be difficult to find something better than that! Wow, looks awesome!!!!
Finished! 23 ounces (about 650 grams), with battery.
Now I wait for calm weather.
I am always impressed with the quality of what you build. I can't wait now to see it fly.
The detailing is great, particularly the dash! Is it scale or were the dashes in Heath Parasols all different?
Do you have your pilot's phone number? She looks pretty hot! Amelia Earhart maybe?
Great work again Michael!
Heath Parasol airplanes were home-builts, and I don't think any two were exactly the same.
Yeah, I built one too, and mine looks different!
Quote from: sihinch on May 01, 2017, 11:27:47 AM
Yeah, I built one too, and mine looks different!
:P Bruce! (Bite your tongue imoji)
Looks awesome Michael!