Scale Soaring UK

... with a two year old girl, Flora, my niece daughter, as a very good assistent, and if she can, why wouldn't we,
the work moved on much faster
The guiding pin, was made and installed so the sheeting could be prepared...
Noël

Just wait until you have twin four year olds 'helping'.

Nice to see you back Noel.

Hi Robbie and thanks,

Yes that would indeed be a challenge!!!
A little too young but, young learned old done, we say...

To put the sheeting on, again the foam guiding blocks were cut to prevent the rudder from twisting while the sheeting goes on.
This was again done by contact glue, and works for me best.
After the sheeting was cut, first a kind of shear web went in. Both sides were sheeted and the leading edge went on too together with the top scrap block as well as the cap strips, cut from scrap .4 ply. The sheeting was also don in 0.4 mm ply.
The first fit on the fuselage was perfect, so I am happy!!

Noël

...when all was grinded to shape, the hinges were the next thing to build in.
Due to the measurements I was able to point out the exact location for the slots to be cut.
This was perfect and spot on so I could fit the bottom hinge first.
This was done by 2.5 mm rivets like I always do. To pull the rivet I had drilled out the back to make sure all would be flush with the ply to fit the fuselage afterwards.

Noël

...with the bottom hinge in place the top one had to be positioned too.
This one was marked and cut out to be glued in with 5 min epoxy mixed with Aerosil and micro balloons. This way it hardens much better out to solid and stays that way for even. Also one can grind it easy after a few more min.
Note that the moving part was also covered with 0.4 mm ply strips and cap strips.

So far so good, now we will see what happens next, with holidays to come...
Noël

Very nice Noël,
Hopefully another model to bring to Middle Wallop in October?

Hi guys,

little progress due to family things...
Anyway the work on the fuselage went a bit forward.
The front bottom part is solved. The doors need hinges now but these are not the top priority.
The turtle back is build on and now the elevator must be lined out and set under the right angle.
Note that the turtle back has a bend in the top line, other than the RF4 back and as the original Milan.
Most of the Milan fuselages are redone this way due to more head clearance.
This means that also a now canopy had to be fitted.
The canopy is the next step on the model.

More soon,

Noël

Hi,
All holidays over, family matters almost sorted...a bit more was fit.
With the formers for the turtle back set up, the elevator was to be installed first.
I did cut two ribs with the right angle of attack of the elevator on, and glued them into place.
After that the cutout was made to allow the tongue to fit into the end former.
Later a piece of ply was cut to support the tongue from the bottom.
A M4 bolt is used to hold it into place.
Now the holding pins can be put in too...
Noël

...work goes on now...
the tail part has been reinforce a bit to install later on the two hooks for the elevator.
The plug for the canopy is also shape and glass fiber reinforced.
Two layers of 20 mm foam are added underneath to allow the Vivak to shape all of the piece we want on the canopy frame.
There is always a rounded edge at the bottom...depending on shape, height and temperature.
The top coat finish must be put on now.
Noël

Ooh, almost ready for this weekend, Noel...right?