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Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS**

Posted: 18 May 2021, 19:07
by TonyL
Hello everybody, this is my first build thread, but not my first build.
I took some pictures and will post them here, together with my remarks.
Cliff C's plan is very clear, but I might have misread some parts, and some
details like the CoG are missing, so I hope I can get some input from you.
The short kit is very well cut from top notch balsa and ply, but I had to recut
some parts (several times as I made plenty mistakes)

If I would build the wing a second time I would have built the spar classically.

Cliff Evans cut the jig and added it, and I donot think one can build the fuzz without the jig!

Some dimensions of the wood (balsa and spruce) were modified as these sizes
were not available in France

Instead of 4.5 mm square hard balsa sticks I used 4 mm Samba (Obeche) and the
6x4.5 mm spruce keel was made from two 5x3 mm spruce sticks glued together

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 18 May 2021, 19:14
by TonyL
The jig supplied by Cliff Evans, I had to modify some parts to
account for the skid, which explains the "amateur" Iook, and
added the tail post as it helps positioning the keel, I downsized
the pictures 4 times to keep the file-size down,

please let me know if you prefer larger pictures
f1s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 18 May 2021, 19:16
by TonyL
the four main stringers (4 mm obeche) steamed (roughly) to shape
f2s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 18 May 2021, 19:18
by TonyL
Formers 1-7 on the jig and the main stringers glued in place
fb3s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 18 May 2021, 19:21
by TonyL
wing saddle built (not 100% sure it is as CC planned)
fb4s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 18 May 2021, 19:26
by TonyL
built the top of the rear fuzz flat on the plan and positioned it in 3d using the jig
then added the braces (all 4 mm obeche)
fb5s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 18 May 2021, 19:28
by TonyL
rear fuzz and formers 6 & 7
fb6s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 18 May 2021, 21:39
by Cliff Evans
Hi Ton. CG is as in the picture.
CG.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 24 May 2021, 17:27
by TonyL
Hi Cliff,

thanks very much for the CoG location, I made some more progress

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 24 May 2021, 17:30
by TonyL
cockpit floor below seat, 4 mm obeche
fb7s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 24 May 2021, 17:31
by TonyL
cockpit floor below feet
fb8s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 24 May 2021, 17:32
by TonyL
some more progress on the tail
fb9s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 24 May 2021, 17:34
by TonyL
view of rear lifting eye
fb10s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 24 May 2021, 17:41
by TonyL
fittings were hand "crafted" using 1.5 and 1 mm dural, will try to see if
I can replace them with a set of higher precision!

former 4 with 1.5 mm dural fittings,
former thickened with 1mm ply front and aft for top fitting
thickened with 1 mm ply front for bottom fitting,
top: space between fittings is now 5 mm (1+3+1) and the wing-spar-fitting fits inside
bottom: space is 4 mm for the copper fitting on strut (see later)
fb11s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 24 May 2021, 17:43
by TonyL
former 6 with 1mm dural fitting for v-tail
fb12s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 31 May 2021, 08:35
by TonyL
putting the fuzz aside and starting on the wings, as I stated before, if I'd build them again
I would go the classical way: notch the ribs, insert the spruce spars, add balsa shear webbing
(reinforced with ply where the fittings are located) I had serious problems aligning the
trailing edges as the ply part of the main spar has mainy holes.

Anyway, gluiing the 3x5 mm spruce sticks to the ply part using white wood glue
w1s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 31 May 2021, 08:37
by TonyL
second stick glued to spar (this way the spars are straight though!)
w2s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 31 May 2021, 08:39
by TonyL
Strut fitting front and rear of spa, used 3 mm ply as filler, the fittings are 4.5 mm apart
w3s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 31 May 2021, 08:43
by TonyL
Fuzz fittings directly onto the 1.5 mm ply, no reinforcements necessary as
the struts take up much of the load. the outside of the fittings is 4.5 mm apart
therefor the fittings on former 4 had 1 mm ply backings front and aft
(3 mm ply + 1+1 mm =5mm)
w4s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 31 May 2021, 08:45
by TonyL
a very simple rig for cutting the ribs, as most are the same
w5s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 31 May 2021, 08:46
by TonyL
front half of ribs fitted, spacers used to clear fittings
w6s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 31 May 2021, 08:48
by TonyL
glued false leading edge, spacers used to clear fittings (from the building board)
w7s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 31 May 2021, 08:50
by TonyL
plywood root rib on 3 mm balsa part (to compensate for angle), root rib sanded down a little
w8s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 31 May 2021, 08:51
by TonyL
skinned one side (white glue ironed on)
w9s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 31 May 2021, 08:53
by TonyL
second skin ironed on, ruler is used for alignment and spacer
w10s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 06 Jun 2021, 15:49
by TonyL
0.4 mm skins sanded down to the false leading edge
wb11s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 06 Jun 2021, 15:53
by TonyL
6 mm balsa leading edge glued on, rear rib-halves aligned and glued on, 0.8 mm plywood
trailing edge and balsa thickeners glued on
wb12.s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 06 Jun 2021, 15:54
by TonyL
rear half of root rib glued on and reinforced
wb13s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 06 Jun 2021, 15:55
by TonyL
aileron spar and subspar
wb14s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 06 Jun 2021, 15:57
by TonyL
doubled rib (cardboard spacer) and reinforcements
wb14as.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 06 Jun 2021, 15:58
by TonyL
aileron cut out and cleaned up
wb16s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 06 Jun 2021, 16:00
by TonyL
aileron subspar simplified (shortened) and installed
wb17s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 06 Jun 2021, 16:23
by Cliff Evans
That is coming on well Tony.

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 12 Jun 2021, 18:50
by TonyL
Thanks Cliff,

thanks,

hope this Ka3 will fly this summer!

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 12 Jun 2021, 18:56
by TonyL
fitting installed on subspar shear webbing (only top spruce glued)
wb18s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 12 Jun 2021, 18:58
by TonyL
fitting (detail)
wb19s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 12 Jun 2021, 18:58
by TonyL
subspar glued
wb20s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 12 Jun 2021, 19:00
by TonyL
aileron hinge (2mm steel wire+1mm dural) let into 2 mm balsa false leading edge
wb21s.jpg
wb21s.jpg (19.93 KiB) Viewed 1098 times

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 12 Jun 2021, 19:01
by TonyL
back of hinge
wb22s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 12 Jun 2021, 19:02
by TonyL
balsa semi-rounds, rhs: balsa semi-rounds covered in 0.4 plywood
wb23s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 12 Jun 2021, 19:03
by TonyL
plywood covered side faces hinges
wb24s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 12 Jun 2021, 19:04
by TonyL
pre-shaped 0.4 mm plywood covers the aileron leading edge
wb25s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 20 Jun 2021, 19:48
by TonyL
2mm piano wire epoxied into 2mm balsa false leading edge
wb26s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 20 Jun 2021, 19:50
by TonyL
2mm trangular ribs for the airbrake, 0.4 mm plywood ironed on, reinforcement for the drive arm
wb27s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 20 Jun 2021, 19:51
by TonyL
1.5 mm dural drive arm epoxied into place at roughly 45 degrees
wb28s.jpg
wb28s.jpg (16.23 KiB) Viewed 1053 times

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 20 Jun 2021, 19:52
by TonyL
4 mm leading edge sanded round
wb29s.jpg
wb29s.jpg (6.47 KiB) Viewed 1053 times

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 20 Jun 2021, 19:53
by TonyL
finished airbrakes light and stiff! 8 grams/piece
wb30s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 20 Jun 2021, 20:00
by TonyL
1.5 mm plyrib reinforcement to take micro-servo
wb31s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 20 Jun 2021, 20:01
by TonyL
rib reinforcement with servo
wb32s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 20 Jun 2021, 20:02
by TonyL
air brake installed, servo installed (top view)
wb33s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 20 Jun 2021, 20:04
by TonyL
air brake installed, servo installed (bottom view)
wb34s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 20 Jun 2021, 20:05
by TonyL
airbrake finished
wb35s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 27 Jun 2021, 12:40
by TonyL
simple cap strips on aileron
wb36s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 27 Jun 2021, 12:42
by TonyL
1.5 mm dural horn
wb37s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 27 Jun 2021, 12:43
by TonyL
ailerons covered in DIACOV
wb38s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 27 Jun 2021, 12:44
by TonyL
ailerons painted
wb39s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 27 Jun 2021, 12:45
by TonyL
aileron shrouds and simple capstrips
wb40s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 27 Jun 2021, 12:46
by TonyL
airbrake servo hatch ready to close
wb41s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 27 Jun 2021, 12:47
by TonyL
aileron servo on hatch
wb42s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 27 Jun 2021, 12:48
by TonyL
wing root with 6 pole Multiplex connector
wb43s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 27 Jun 2021, 12:49
by TonyL
wing with simple capstrips
wb44s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 27 Jun 2021, 12:51
by TonyL
right wing covered in DIACOV
wb45s.jpg
wb46s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 28 Jun 2021, 11:22
by Robcrad
Hi Tony,
what paint are you using on the Diacov? I am thinking of using Diacov on a 1/5th scale Mucha standard and I need to either match the white of the Diacov to paint the fiberglass fuselage or paint everything.

Rob

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:21
by TonyL
Hi Rob,

I am using spray cans, the one on the left is primer/filler
the one on the right is "signal-white"

The paint is more expensive than car-paint, but at least the
white paint covers better!
procedure: clean diacov with alcohol, spray with primer, sand
gently with 400 paper, spray with paint
p1.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:27
by chris williams
Tony, 400 grit is a bit coarse for the primer, especially with an air-dry paint: better off with 600 or 800

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:28
by TonyL
While finishing the other wing, I get back to posting pictures of the fuzz-build

5x3mm spruce stringer steamed to conform tail and glued into formers 6 & 7
fb13s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:29
by TonyL
5x3 spruce stringers with 5x3 spruce spreader bars
fb14s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:30
by TonyL
front end stringer steamed to shape
fb15s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:31
by TonyL
front part stringer glued to all 4 mm braces
fb16.sjpg.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:33
by TonyL
top stringer glued and reinforced The fuzz structure is very light and very
stiff with respect to bending and torsion
fb17s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:37
by TonyL
v-tail servo's symmetrical position
fb18s.jpg
fb18s.jpg (17.29 KiB) Viewed 1322 times

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:39
by TonyL
v-tail servo's installed in removable tray
fb19s.jpg
fb20s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:44
by TonyL
Hi Chris,

thank you for your comment, I'll give the 600-800 paper a try
when painting the wings

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:49
by TonyL
time for an update on the V-tail

2mm wire bent at correct angle
tb1s.jpg
tb1s.jpg (13.54 KiB) Viewed 1324 times

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:50
by TonyL
2mm wire soldered onto copper plate wire let into the wood, wire and copper plate epoxied to wood
tb2s.jpg
tb3s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:51
by TonyL
back view
tb4s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:52
by TonyL
v-tail main spar
tb5s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:53
by TonyL
hinges reinforced with 0.4 mm ply
tb6s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:55
by TonyL
2 mm bent wire left and right
tb7.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:56
by TonyL
half-rounds, top ones covered in 0.4 mm ply (facing hinges)
tb8s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:57
by TonyL
pre-forming the (wet) leading edge of 0.4 mm ply around a steel tube
tb9s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:58
by TonyL
half-rounds formers for leading edge
tb10s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 12:59
by TonyL
half-rounds formers for leading edge and hinge
tb11s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 13:01
by TonyL
half-rounds around hinge and shaped 0.4 mm ply leading edge
tb12s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 04 Jul 2021, 13:02
by TonyL
elevator rear view and front view
tb13s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Jul 2021, 12:41
by TonyL
I will be travelling next week, so an early update:
elevator finished: 19 grams
tb17s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Jul 2021, 12:42
by TonyL
elevator covered: 25 grams

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Jul 2021, 12:42
by TonyL
0.4 mm shroud and balsa reinforcement
tb19s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Jul 2021, 12:43
by TonyL
complete V-tial
tb20s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Jul 2021, 12:44
by TonyL
v-tail front brace height temporarily increased to 20mm (= height rear brace) to simplify alignment
tb21s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Jul 2021, 12:45
by TonyL
front brace notched to clear stringers
tb22s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Jul 2021, 12:45
by TonyL
rear brace holes plugged and new holes drawn to generate the required 2.5 degrees tailplane incidence
tb23s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Jul 2021, 12:46
by TonyL
v-tail covered in DIACOV
tb24s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Jul 2021, 12:47
by TonyL
fuzz wing saddle horizontal

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Jul 2021, 12:49
by TonyL
adding a 3 mm spacer, the v-tail is horizontal: angle = 2.2 degrees, close enough, please note
that the front brace was temporarily thickened to 20 mm
tb25s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Jul 2021, 12:50
by TonyL
v-tail horizontal in the span direction
tb26.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Jul 2021, 12:55
by TonyL
M2 screws in V-tail rear brace, notice gap between brace and stringers
tb27s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Jul 2021, 12:56
by TonyL
V-tail center cover from 1 mm plywood
tb28s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 18 Jul 2021, 19:51
by TonyL
V-tail - 2 mm steel screw epoxied into 6 mm carbon rods, 3 mm copper tube increases the glue surface, carbon tube: 20 grams each
tb29s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 18 Jul 2021, 19:53
by TonyL
elevator painted, ball epoxied to 2 mm horn at 30 mm from bend, weight 29 grams
tb30s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 18 Jul 2021, 19:55
by TonyL
3mm copper tube annealed and shaped using 2 mm brake cable
fb21.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 18 Jul 2021, 19:56
by TonyL
canopy tubes soldered together
fb22s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 18 Jul 2021, 19:59
by TonyL
used aluminium foil to act as heat sinks
canopy placed on fuzz
fb23s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 18 Jul 2021, 20:01
by TonyL
wings and v-tail assembled/aligned
fb24s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 18 Jul 2021, 20:04
by TonyL
tow release and servo
fb25s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 18 Jul 2021, 20:05
by TonyL
battery to be fixed with scratch tape
fb26s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 19 Jul 2021, 14:34
by TonyL
V_TAIL DAMAGE REPORT:

During the v-tail assemby the 2 mm balsa - 2mm steel wire interface proved fragile! It is strongly
recommended to epoxy a .4 mm ply panel over the entire width of the last 5 cm's!
The picture shows the original setup that should be reinforced!
tb4s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 30 Jul 2021, 16:24
by TonyL
landing skid from 2 x 3 mm plywood
fb27s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 30 Jul 2021, 16:25
by TonyL
tapered to 1 mm thickness and 1mm dural insert at front
fb28s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 30 Jul 2021, 16:26
by TonyL
tapered skid thickness at rear end
fb29s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 30 Jul 2021, 16:27
by TonyL
two skid parts epoxied together and cleaned up
fb30s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 30 Jul 2021, 16:28
by TonyL
M 5 brass insert made from M 5 screw with M3 allen bolt
fb31s.JPG
fb32s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 30 Jul 2021, 16:29
by TonyL
M 5 brass insert epoxied into hardwood block
fb33s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 30 Jul 2021, 16:29
by TonyL
dural strop bolted to ply-balsa ply sandwich of 15 mm thickness
fb34s.JPG
fb34s.JPG (13.09 KiB) Viewed 1284 times

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 30 Jul 2021, 16:30
by TonyL
front of skip bolted to fuzz
fb36s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 30 Jul 2021, 16:31
by TonyL
rear of skip in dural strop
fb37s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 30 Jul 2021, 16:32
by TonyL
3 mm ply reinforcements between formers 4 & 5, 4 mm balsa reinforcement aft former 5
fb38s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Aug 2021, 14:39
by TonyL
Finished building the other wing, cut a little jig to sand the leading edge, the ribs look
very simplar to the original Ka 3 profile: Göttingen 549, 14% maximum thickness and a
leading edge defined by only a few points
wb47s.jpg

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Aug 2021, 14:41
by TonyL
Both wings covered in DIACOV
wb48s.JPG
wb49s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Aug 2021, 14:43
by TonyL
3 mm ply reinforcements behind former 5
fb39s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Aug 2021, 14:46
by TonyL
Major modification of the rubber skid support, using a squash ball,
squash ball cradle from 3 mm ply to support landing skip
fb40s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Aug 2021, 14:47
by TonyL
cradle with squash ball to support landing skip
fb41s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 08 Aug 2021, 14:52
by TonyL
first rough balancing with the V-tail indicates 500 grams of lead in the nose
(not including the battery) when the fuzz is covered and painted I will fine-tune
the balance

the nose is build-up from balsa and 500 grams of lead glued to the formers, top, side, bottom and front views
fb43s.JPG
fb42s.JPG
fb44s.JPG
fb45s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 14 Aug 2021, 16:46
by TonyL
nose glassed
fb46s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 14 Aug 2021, 16:47
by TonyL
canopy latch
fb47s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 14 Aug 2021, 16:48
by TonyL
canopy frame from 3mm and 2 mm annealed copper tube,
using alu-foil as heat radiators to keep everything together
fb48s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 14 Aug 2021, 16:54
by TonyL
Help request for canopy glassing:
using polyzap on 0.5 mm rhodoid (hope this is English) caused
a brittle bond and brittle cracks in the rhodoid.
using epoxy glue avoided the brittleness but the joint with the
rhodoid was weak at best (used alcohol to clean and 300 grit
sandpaper to coarsen the rhodoid for the glue joint.

ps: used the polyzap on some other thin plastic transparent
material, glue joint was good, but the plastic became very
brittle aswell!

any suggestions are very welcome!

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 14 Aug 2021, 16:55
by TonyL
skid and squash ball damper installed
fb50s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 14 Aug 2021, 16:56
by TonyL
skid covered (not sure it will last as there are some rocky parts on our flying hill)

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 14 Aug 2021, 16:58
by TonyL
and the picture
fb51s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 14 Aug 2021, 16:59
by TonyL
fuzz covered, fuzz and wings ready for painting
fb52s.JPG

Re: Cliff Charlesworth Ka3 from LCS

Posted: 14 Aug 2021, 17:08
by TonyL
I found it very difficult to clip on the ball-joints for the v-tail control, after
the v-tail is installed on the fuzz
Thus I clip on the ball joint with the v-tail on the table, and then slide
the carbon rods into the fuzz, tilting the v-tail by 90 degrees makes it easy

the carbon rods will snag on the formers close to former 5, but with a thin
stick from the nose end this can be helped. With a little practice this takes less than 1 minute. Then the v-tail is positioned and the two 2 mm screws tightened.
I then adjusted the length of the carbon tube using the screw-on joint.