[TBrum]

Next, before gluing on the balsa hinge material, I mark the centerline (will also be used as the point of the bevelling) and trace out the box locations using the template. I just take my time to get the boxes placed in the right location so the balsa stock fits around both boxes in the foam and butts up against the root cut-out in the wing.

[TBrum]

And if all goes well, the hinge material should fit nice and tight around the boxes and all is centered and the centerline is in place for the bevelling.

When I glue the stock onto the wing, I remove the boxes once everything is lined up.

The last picture shows the 3/8" stock on the ailerons aswell. Tomorrow I'll trim the rough stock to the wings/ailerons and start to bevel the hinge line.

[Tyler P]

Originally Posted by TBrum

Hey Tyler... I hope I'm not scaring you though with the details!! The Durant System really isn't that hard to install, particularily on a new build and I'm sure once you do a couple boxes, you'll figure out some other tricks for us all to use in the future (like sheeting the recess in the flying surfaces as per Jack Marcotte's suggestion!)

I am really excited to see you start your build. Your workshop looks awesome and looks like you are getting the equipment in place for a great start!

I'm with you - jump in with both FEET like a monkey!!

Cheers

Trev

Nope, not scared! Just glad that I'll have some stuff good info to refer to when it comes time to build. On a new skill set, I always need the reassurance that I'm not screwing something up. Your threads are definitely helpful for that.

I was looking over Dave's Dalton thread and saw the boo-boo he made on one of his stabs! Good to see even really experienced builders can do something silly, just like something I would likely do.

[TBrum]

Originally Posted by Tyler P

Nope, not scared! Just glad that I'll have some stuff good info to refer to when it comes time to build. On a new skill set, I always need the reassurance that I'm not screwing something up. Your threads are definitely helpful for that.

I was looking over Dave's Dalton thread and saw the boo-boo he made on one of his stabs! Good to see even really experienced builders can do something silly, just like something I would likely do.

Boo-boos happen all the time!! That's just part of the fun and it's the incentive to do another kit!! I would love someday to do a build with zero mistakes, but I think that's impossible!

I've come to learn that it's just wood and foam and every mistake is fixable!
Cheers

Trev

[Jack Marcotte]

Originally Posted by TBrum

Boo-boos happen all the time!! That's just part of the fun and it's the incentive to do another kit!! I would love someday to do a build with zero mistakes, but I think that's impossible!

I've come to learn that it's just wood and foam and every mistake is fixable!
Cheers

Trev

Oh Trev, your next build will be perfect. Lol.

[TBrum]

Originally Posted by Jack Marcotte

Oh Trev, your next build will be perfect. Lol.

LOL!!

[wingburner]

Looking great Trevor and I must say mistake free

[TBrum]

Thanks Jack!!!

I ended up making a bit more progress tonight on the ailerons. A few pages ago, we were discussing how people bevel their hinge line. I looked into table saws and a table saw seems like just too big a tool for me

So, I'm gonna keep using the bevelling process that I was taught at the beginning, since I could do this in my sleep now, even though it may take a bit longer than the table saw method!!

4 steps before I start bevelling....

1) Sand the ends of the stock flush with the end sheeting.

2) Apply some masking tape on the balsa sheeting, adjacent to the balsa stock and use the razor plane to take off most (I keep the razor plane against my finger and slide my finger along the sheeting to keep the correct angle)

3) Sand with a 24" bar and 150 grit until all the bar sands is the tape (protects the balsa)

4) Take off the tape and sand the stock flush to the sheeting so you can't feel the joint

[TBrum]

There! - ailerons are now ready for bevelling.

To do the 4 steps in the previous post on both ailerons took me about an hour. Bevelling these ailerons (tomorrow night) will take me another hour and then I have to do the same to the TE of the wings.

Therefore bevelling the hinge line for both wings my old-fashioned way takes me about 4 hours total.

[TBrum]

Left wing is bevelled and ready for hinging. I cut a steep bevel and squeaked out 44 degrees of throw, so Jack will be ready for 3D !!

One thing that becomes very apparent on the 43%ers is the thickness of the trailing edge of the wing / ailerons compared to a 40% (much thicker!). This 43%er will be a much higher drag plane in the air than a 40% and I can now see why a DA170 on pipes or a DA200 is an asset to pull this around in the air!



Tomorrow night, I'll hinge this wing and bevel the right one!

LOOK AT THAT WOOD! Beautifully white!!!