Top Flite DC3 82.5" wingspan

[Ededge2002]

It might have been a bit more work than you expected but it looks fabulous!

Take your time you've got all winter...

[bfeist]

Elevator construction done. That was quite a bit more work than I expected.

The fin is next, and it is a bit more complicated.

I was going to joke that you were "almost done", but then I saw how complex that stab and elevator is in the photo. She'll be a beaut when you're done!

[sihinch]

It's gorgeous.

Will you be offering rides in it?

[Michael]

No rides, Simon.

*****************

I've started work on the fin, which seems more complicated than the elevator/stabilizer.

There are two versions of fin/rudder construction in this kit; one simpler version and a scale version. I'm going with the scale version.

This small amount of balsa shown here already involves more than 2 hours of measuring, cutting, sanding, drilling and gluing; I could have assembled several Bind-N-Flys in that time. 

[sihinch]

There was an almost complete kit at the London swap meet, I think Greg C may have bought it!

[Michael]

Fin and rudder construction well under way.

This was several hours work, but it looks pretty good.

The hinge line is the brass tube that extends top and bottom.

[piker]

It's coming along nicely, Michael.  It'll be fantastic when it's done.

[Tom M.]

Yup- she's going to be a beaut Michael. Any thoughts of a parachute drop feature, either people or cargo? Sure would be cool!
  Tom

[Michael]

With the amount of effort and cost going into this project, the main 3 features I want are:

1. Smooth takeoff.
2. Smooth, stable flight.
3. Smooth landing.

[sihinch]

So, you want it all then Michael?! Lol

[Michael]

Fin/rudder main construction finished.

(The little Robert Pike in my head keeps telling me to sand it even more.  )

Anyway, the fuselage is next, and I've got to clean up the mess I've made from the tail 'feathers'.

[Papa]

Looks great and moving right along. The model in London had some form of balsa blocker on it. I was reading somewhere that film glues much better to balsa block than to raw wood. I'm going to experiment with some water based acrylic and see how it works with film.

Jack.

[Michael]

Fuselage started. I'll have to pay attention and start thinking about a battery hatch about now.

[Papa]

That's a big model.

Would there be room in the wings/nacelles for the batteries as in the deuces wild?

Jack.

[Michael]

The nacelles also hold the retracted landing gear and the servos. I don't know if there's room.