[1kenda]

Got this sailplane from a friend in NY state last fall.
Plan is to redo the entire airframe with structural updates and a new colour scheme.

K8 from Phoenix Models
6m wingspan, just shy of 20 feet!
Weighs 35 lbs.

For aerotowing and maybe a trip to Lawrencetown next summer for some sloping fun!

Blake

[mogman]

Are you going to do the spar update and tail incidence as outlined on RCG?

I'm on the edge of ordering one..should be a lot of fun.

[1kenda]

Dave

Incidence was adjusted by the previous owner and I am working with a structural engineer on the new spar design. Carbon rods will be used along with more shearwebs.
The spar mod that is posted on RCG won't get you near the required strength that is needed for a model of this size.
With the new Carbon spar installed, it is good for close to 8Gs ultimate, with no safety factor.

I will be posting my progress as I work on it.
Right now the covering has been removed from the entire aircraft and I have installed a tailwheel.
Working on the forward fuselage right now.

Blake

[Max]

What a beautiful machine, Blake.

Looking forward to seeing the rebuild and the new colour scheme

[1kenda]

Here are a few detail shots of the fuselage.

I have redone the tow release from the stock configuration. Makes it a lot easier to install the tow loop without removing the canopy every time.

I am also sheeting the entire forward part of the fuselage to help when picking up the airplane. It weighs around 35 lbs and with the non sheeted fuselage it was hard to find hardpoints to grab it. I will cover the sheeting with light fibreglass cloth, then paint.

You can see the tailwheel that I installed. All I did was cut off the tip of the plastic skid to expose the wood underneath. Then I removed enough wood so that the wheel would fit. Then glassed the remaining hole and mounted the wheel.

More to come....

Blake

[1kenda]

Continuing on with the rebuild, I moved onto the cockpit.
Stock cockpit is rather odd looking as far as I'm concerned and I wanted a more retro look to the airplane so I researched open cockpits for the K8 and found several different versions.

Picking the one that I liked, I then started taking the original cockpit apart and setting aside the actual canopy for later on in the rebuild.

I added an additional former in the new covered area that will act as an attachment point for the new instrument panel.

Sheeting the area was started and should be completed this evening.

Stay tuned!

[1kenda]

I had some time to work on the big K8 again, so here are some photos of the spar mod that I'm doing to make the wing a wee bit stronger!

Quite simple really, adding carbon rod spar caps top and bottom on both the front and rear spars, and additional shear webs as well.

[1kenda]

Moved onto the main spar and added the 1/4"dia carbon rods top and bottom to the spar.

Will be adding 1/4" Liteply shear webs as well.

[1kenda]

Got some more work done on the wing.
Plywood shearwebs installed on main spar.
I wanted to install additional lower spoilers so I had to fabricate a box and frame for the wing.
Added caps and shearwebs to the tip panel as well.
This wing is now ready for sanding and recovering.
With all of the additional material added the weight increased by 0.800kgs or 1.76 lbs. Not bad really.

More to come

[1kenda]

Ok,

So both wings have now been updated with the new spar system so it was time to start working on the fuselage.
I have to rework the wing root/canopy junction to more of a scale look which means removing the top fuselage skin just aft of the rear canopy bow.
Work continues...