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Re: 1/3 scale Japanese vintage glider Mita type 3

Posted: 02 Dec 2019, 13:27
by norm
Landing Gear Cover
To prevent air comes in fuselage through the gap around the landing gear, there are two kinds of covers. One is a wheel cover made of plastics and the other is a seal made of fabric. For my model I made the wheel cover with plywood and balsa and the seal with fabric.

Re: 1/3 scale Japanese vintage glider Mita type 3

Posted: 04 Dec 2019, 11:11
by norm
Miscellaneous Equipments
In addition to the pilot seats and the wheel cover, I added some miscellaneous equippments, such as the shoulder harness, AFT pilot's leg cover, control sticks, tow release knob, spoiler & blake lever, elevator trim lever, cockpit floor and the fuselage access cover.

Although, in actual Mita, the AFT pilot's leg cover,the FWD cockpit floor and the fuselage access cover are all made of aluminum plate, they are made of plywood or hard paper in my model to avoid the radio interference.

Re: 1/3 scale Japanese vintage glider Mita type 3

Posted: 05 Dec 2019, 18:05
by StephenB
Excellent detailing Norm, how did you make the harness and buckles?

Re: 1/3 scale Japanese vintage glider Mita type 3

Posted: 06 Dec 2019, 09:39
by norm
StephenB, the harness is a wooven belt and the buckles are plastic buckle I bought both at a handicraft shop.

Re: 1/3 scale Japanese vintage glider Mita type 3

Posted: 06 Dec 2019, 10:17
by norm
Making the Nose Cowl Wooden Form
The Mita has a nose cowl made from GFRP. In my model I simulated it with glass cloth and epoxy resin. The process to make a FRP part is, 1st: draw a 3D plan, 2nd: make a wooden form, 3rd: make a plaster mold and finally lay up cloth and resin. Attached photos show the 1st and 2nd process I took. The wooden form is made of balsa.

Re: 1/3 scale Japanese vintage glider Mita type 3

Posted: 08 Dec 2019, 12:18
by norm
Making the nose cowl
A plaster mold was made with the wooden form posted above. It was painted with the mold release agent, then glass cloth was layed up with epoxy resin and cured. One day after the nose FRP cowl appeard. After trimming it was tested to fit with the fuselage structure and the result was perfect.

Re: 1/3 scale Japanese vintage glider Mita type 3

Posted: 09 Dec 2019, 18:38
by SedB
norm wrote: 08 Dec 2019, 12:18 Making the nose cowl
Thank you for this masterclass, looks great so far!

Daniel

Re: 1/3 scale Japanese vintage glider Mita type 3

Posted: 10 Dec 2019, 05:25
by norm
Cliff, I checked the magazine 航空ファン(Aviation Fun) Jan/2020 edition but I could not find any page dealing with Japanese gliders. Could you please provide me the information source? Norm

Re: 1/3 scale Japanese vintage glider Mita type 3

Posted: 10 Dec 2019, 05:38
by norm
SedB, Thank you for your comment. I hope you are enjoying my thread.

Re: 1/3 scale Japanese vintage glider Mita type 3

Posted: 10 Dec 2019, 05:46
by norm
Making the Wing-Body Fairing
Taking same process with the nose cowl, I made the wing-body FRP fairing. This is much easier than the cowl because of its simple shape.