Scale Soaring UK

Moving on to the canopy: (I have decided to make the canopy in one piece with magnet retention for extra operational convenience, as with the smaller version of the Flamingo)) The side rails are laminated from 2 lengths of 3 x 6mm spruce, and clamped to the fuselage sides to take up most of the shape. (To finalise, strips of balsa are added to the outer edges of the side rails and shaped up to the fuselage after construction) The joints are reinforced by forcing thin gauge piano wire into them... There are also reinforced with gussets of 6mm ply at the corners.

Hello Chris, I really enjoy reading the build thread and I am keen to build one for myself. I have been looking at the 1:5 scale Petrel, but I prefer the look of the Flamingo, although similar, I know. I have seen both in 1:5 scale at Whitesheet. Are the plans available for the 1:5 Flamingo available, please? and how does is vary in construction technique to the Petrel. Is there a laser cut set of parts for it also? Thanks

David, the 5th scale Flamingo plan is due to be published in the December issue of RCM&E, I assume as a free plan, like the Petrel. I also assume there will be a laser kit from the mag, as well as a canopy. (This will be the same canopy as the 3.5 scale version, which fits all three)
You can get the full build log pics direct from me FOC...

With the 10mm magnets fitted, the canopy trimming can commence...

Paint frame, make up console, final fit of the canopy...

Sailplane looks very good, excellent work. Learned a new bit with making the nose out of polyester filler. Going to need the weight and much stronger than wood or thin fiberglass/resin.
I have a suspicion that you have done something like this at least once before.

Time now to make a start on the wings...The preliminary jigs take care of the gull bend; later, an entirely different set of jigs will set the wing up without any unwanted twists. The main spars are 5mm sq spruce, with some of the tension steamed out at the gull change...

Top spar added, followed by web plates...then it's time to start the other wing, prior to a dihedral check...

Time for aforementioned dihedral check...

With the dihedral check safely passed, the brass boxes (one 13mm, one 15mm) can be epoxied in and closed off. Then it's time to fit the sub spars in front of the web plates...