I have always loved the Beech 18. When I was a kid in Willowdale I would see them flying out of Downsview Air Force Base. I watched with sadness as an ex RCAF plane deteriorated as it languished out in the field of Markham airport until it was finally taken apart. Hopefully it was rescued and someone is restoring it. A few years ago I built a model of a Beech from a short kit from Acme Aircraft Corporation. It flew well but I managed to crash it after what was probably a tip stall. It was very lightly built, kind of like a big Gillows stick model, and even though the crash was not to hard it really broke up. I was trying to find something for a winter build this year. Acme Aircraft is gone now so I could not get another kit, but I did have good plans still. I took and had them enlarged by 25% so as to give make the wingspan 60 inches instead of the orgiinal 48 inches. So I started to scratch build a new one, sheeting it instead of just ultracote over the frame. This will strengthen it and also give it a more scale look. I made the cockpit removable so as to get to the batteries. The rudders will work with 256 golden rods with cables in them. I find this a challenging build as although I have plans, I am building it completely different than the first one. The servos are in as are the control rods and cables. I will soon be starting on the wing. The plans don't allow for flaps, but I will build with them I think, as the Beech's flaps are quite straitforward.
Fantastic job rob! It is def a better size compared to the last one. Very cool! What size retracts are you going to use? Also Oleo?
Thanks Greg. I am using the HK retracts for a plane not over 2.7kg, which should work. I am also using oleos that I have. Here are a couple more pictures. The fuse is almost ready for covering. I have some more work on the cockpit and windshield to do, but had to put the anti glare on before I could proceed, hence only part of it covered. I am using Ultracote Parklite and it is really nice to work with.
Very cool!
I have been quietly building the Beech. Most of the major construction is done, all that remains are the nacelles, which will be built after I get the leading edge the way I want it. I made the wing tips today. One of the most satisfiying things for me is when I start with a hunk of wood and produce a pleasing shape out of it. I made one tip, and that was not bad, but then I had to make a second, mirror image one. Took about 3 hours total. I didn't put flaps in as I had orginally planned. I was concerned about the weight of the model, and also I had a motor, esc, retract all in the area the flap servo would go. This plane has a big fat airfoil and I think it will slow down without flaps (I hope). Anyway, I want to get this project done and so am going to woodshed next week. I have a BUSA Sopwith Pup kid in the garage that keeps calling me. I think I may be able to get the Beech finished by the end of next week, which of course means it will be finished sometime in March.
Rob there is nothing like creating balsa dust. ;D
Frank
ps: your shop is way too clean.
I started what will be the final construction today, the nacelles. They have compound curves, so the only way I know to cover them is using strips and planking. This is a tedious and slow moving proposition. The work you see in the picture is about and hours worth, but I think it is pretty good. I have new respect for model ship builders and their ability to plank an entire ship. Maybe I should just take it over and ask Jim Spence to finish it. Anyway I will get back at it tomorrow.
That is looking really good. I think this will be even nicer than the original with the larger size and power!
Thanks Glenn, I think it will be better too. God I hope it is after all this (enjoyable ) work!
I spent the afternoon finishing planking the nacelle. It is tedious, but at the same time satisfying when cutting the angles of the planks where they meet the wing and sanding and cutting until it is just the way you want it. Dave Kates printed the cowls for the plane and they are a perfect fit, thanks again Davey.
Looks Fantastic!
Thanks Mark. I spent the afternoon finishing planking the starboard nacelle. Almost all of the balsa is done. I need to work out the hatch latching system, contruct the windshield, and then sanding, and sanding, and sanding begins, followed by covering with Parklite. Weight without batteries and prop is 2 pounds 10 ounces, so by the time I get the control rods in, props and adapters on, and batteries in, I think about 4 pounds overall. I was aiming for under 5 so that works pretty well.
All the building is done and most of the sanding. Started covering today.
Looks really nice Rob! Congrats.
Rob,
Nice model!
Put my name on the list for ground crew on maiden day. ;)
Frank
I would love to be there as well - camera in hand!
Thanks Guys. I spent about 6 hours covering the nacelles with Parklite. Because they had compound curves of fairly tight radius I thought it best to cover using thin strips, much like I did with the balsa that I used to sheet them. This added tremenoustly to the time as it meant cutting and fitting each strip of covering material. I probably took about 6 hours to cover them and the bottom of the port one has still to be done, but.......tomorrow, too tired to do any more tonight. I am using regular Ultracote on the wing outside of the nacelles. The Parklite is very stretchy and I find it goes around curves better. The colours of the two match identically, but I find that Ultracote is better at hiding any blemishes that might not be noticed during final sanding. I am hopful of getting the wing covered over the weekend.
Looking Great! :D
After a marathon session of covering , that part is done. I think I probably had about 15 hours total time to finish it. I'll see if it flies before I order the graphics from Callie, which will be RCAF like the smaller one of these I built a few years ago. Next job is the cowls and the radial engines that Dave Kates printed for me. Have to put on control horns and rods and have to make a tail cone (I'll try and make it removable so as to be able to get the the elevator control rod as it is inside the fuse. I am generally happy with the build, but it is definitely not scale contest material. But, as Frank VB always says, at 50 feet at 50 miles and hour it will look fine.
Finished! Whew. A few times I had my doubts it would come to fruition, but it did. A bit heavier than I had hoped at 6 pounds 4 ounces with batteries on board, but I think it will be ok. Going to use a Lemon RX with stabilizer as I have been very pleased with them. I am going to try 4s 5000s on it. They make it balance well, and I would rather have heavy batteries than light ones with lead.
Looks fantastic Rob - congratulatiions on this build!
Gorgeous Rob! Congrats.
She is a beauty!
Thank you for sharing pictures, looking forward to maiden flight videos.
Thanks all for the nice comments. Maiden will be a bit of a knee knocker for sure.
Looks great Rob!