Scale Soaring UK

Attention has now turned to fixing the pilot figure (kindly supplied by Wilson) onto the seat using shoulder & lap straps as on the full size.

The full size has attachment points for the shoulder straps on/on the rear of the main mast roughly level with the top of the seat, whilst the lap straps attach via wire strops to points near the aileron cable attachment bar mounted on the top of the fuselage box, just behind the mast base.

I decided to make up two simple brackets, attached to the rear of the main mast & on the top of the fuselage box as shown below. M2 clevises and C/L adjusters allow easy removal and minor tension adjustment, with small piano wire loops (easily made with a K&S small wire bender) linking the harness straps to the C/L adapters.

The photos below show the general arrangement with the initial C/L wire loop strops, and then with the replacement piano wire ring (like a key ring loop) links.

A rigging day today, with 10 out of the 14 wires now made up (lower wing mid & rear).
Meanwhile, the control stick has received its handgrip and Cliff''s 3D printed top stopper has been fitted (photo when paint touch up has dried).
Seat back cushion has received its covering of material & is attached using Velcro.
Nearly ready for balancing & final weighing

And the completed joystick with cord grip

Beautifully done Peter, great attention to detail!

I'm guessing that your heart may be fluttering a little on the maiden ..........

Cliff Evans wrote: ↑30 Apr 2019, 17:17 Peters will not be but mine might be!!!

I am always available to help.

AEB

An initial balance indicated that I needed to put around 1.5Kg up front to a achieve the recommended CoG position (151mm from wing LE).
As the internal ballast box will only take 500g, the rest is located in 4 cylinders mounted on additional brackets in a manner very similar to that used on the full size.
The photo below shows the arrangement mock-up.
The rear brackets are bolted to each other through the fuselage, whilst the front brackets have since been silver soldered to the nose bracket and will also have a bolt through the fuselage in addition to 4 of the original 6 servo screws.
The bracketry & weights are currently in the paint shop.

External ballast bars painted & fitted with just a couple of spots of paint on the fixings now required.
About ready for what is hopefully the final assembly & balance check before handing over to Cliff for addition of the minimal registration lettering and then the maiden flight

Nice work Peter and a good solution to your CG problem

Just about done

Although it's not my type of model Peter, I have enjoyed your build. Best of luck with the maiden and I look forward to the pictures.
Brian.