Recent posts

#41
Building / Construction / Re: Bi-Plane Build
Last post by msatin - March 17, 2025, 01:27:24 PM
Pick 13 is a paper cutout I used to figure out the cockpit. After a bunch of tries (I'm terrible at visualizing "stuff), I finally got the shape I wanted and then transferred the paper to the balsa sheet.
Pic 14 is the motor box being mounted to the firewall.
Pic 16 shows the top view of the motor box and the cowl being formed
2 things about the motor box:
-Another of Frank's suggestion is to wrap the box in dental floss, and cover this in epoxy. This increases the strength of the box substantially.
-I added some basswood around the box, more for my own piece of mind
#42
Building / Construction / Re: Bi-Plane Build
Last post by msatin - March 17, 2025, 01:18:22 PM
Pic 11, shows the measuring of each side of the wing to ensure they're aligned to the fuse.
Once I have that correct, I can drill the holes for the wing bolts, and install the blind nuts.
Pic 12, is a top view of the assembly of the battery hatch cover.
Wax paper between the assembly and fuse, and inserts (circled) to align the holes where the magnets will be glued.
Everything aligned properly including the the magnets.
#43
Building / Construction / Re: Bi-Plane Build
Last post by msatin - March 17, 2025, 01:10:51 PM
The completed frame of the fuselage.
Pic 8 shows the tabs that stick out and will attach to the cabanes
Pic 9 is again using weights to keep things straight.
Those are sanding blocks Frank suggested. The sandpaper on the blocks last an incredibly long time.
I used them here simply as supports so the tabs from pic 8 aren't damaged
#44
Building / Construction / Re: Bi-Plane Build
Last post by msatin - March 17, 2025, 01:05:17 PM
I've started using heavy tiles as weights rather than clamps wherever possible.
I often had a problem that when laminating pieces together they would end up warping, even when using clamps. The tiles prevent this.
I also found, that after applying the epoxy and aligning the pieces, a couple of crops of CA (which I only use when necessary) at the ends, tacked them in place, so that when I put the tiles on, the pieces did not slide out of alignment.
All of the pieces are LP, and had the same warping issue to greater or lesser degrees.
The clamps kept the fuselage sides together while the epoxy cured, and the weight of the tiles made sure that it was all kept in line.
#45
Building / Construction / Re: Bi-Plane Build
Last post by msatin - March 17, 2025, 12:53:18 PM
Here you can see the example of a warped LP piece - a wing tip.
A spritz with Windex, and weighted down overnight resulted in a fairly straight tip. Not 100% but...pretty good.
There will be several more examples of this in the next steps
#46
Building / Construction / Re: Bi-Plane Build
Last post by msatin - March 17, 2025, 12:46:39 PM
Wing sections.
The circled areas show the straps that will be the supports for the Cabane and Struts
#47
Building / Construction / Bi-Plane Build
Last post by msatin - March 17, 2025, 12:43:29 PM
This is an Old School Model Works kit called a Bristol SpadPort.
https://www.oldschoolmodels.com/sfb.htm
I have built several kits from this company, and this one was also excellent (for my skill level)
Their laser cutting is perfect. The manual is very detailed, and they also post hi-res pics of many of the steps.
I did run into 1 problem, which was warped sheets of light ply. Although this is not unusual, the degree of warp was. I'll show some examples.

As David K. once said, there is a level of satisfaction watching a pile of "stuff", decrease, and the parts of an airplane increase.
#48
Trading Post / Re: Top Flite Cessna 182 PNP ...
Last post by ppalumbo - March 17, 2025, 11:06:54 AM
SOLD
#49
General Discussion / TEMAC Field Report - Sunday Ma...
Last post by Andy Hoffer - March 16, 2025, 07:28:51 PM
Conditions at 1:00 pm

Wind: lots, from the south
Temp: 13 degrees C
Sky: overcast. Nasty low cumulus.
Road: ponding
Parking area: ponding
Pits: ponding
Chairs: all on their backs doing yoga, except for Dave's spot
Visitors: one 🐦�⬛

Summary:  Flyable, with scuba gear!!😂

Gotta love this place...........

Andy 😎
#50
General Discussion / Spikes on the Runway
Last post by davidk - March 16, 2025, 07:05:04 PM
Frost has pushed up the spikes on the runway, down the middle and the sides... so be cautious when taking off and landing.  The ground is still frozen so they can't yet be pushed down.