Scale Soaring UK

Apologies Andrew, I used your last name.

The tailfin spar, having been bonded with resin, is now very stiff, offering good strength.

The foam was removed and spar placed in.

Having finished the top sheeting, the support were sawn off and the formers rubbed down.

Bottom sheeting can now be glued on.

No worries Martin. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread now I've found it.

More progress on the bottom sheeting - this was more tricky than the top, due to the compound curves.

I've also put together a fuselage stand (from the many ply offcuts I have in the workshop), with some foam edging.

After an overnight cure, the tailfin has both sides and the spar bonded on. It weighs 116g and is very strong vertically & tortionally.

The leading edge was filled with a stiff expoxy/micro balloons mix and will be shaped to the correct profile.

Tail plane mounting screw at the top.

Skin finished (bar sanding down) and the fuselage comes in at approx. 700g

Couldn't resist propping the tail on!

As the front of the fuselage will potentially quite weak, I've lined the inner sheeting with 3mm, high compression, foam. (That will then be glassed on the inside.

Where the wings will connect to the fuselage, it's important that the location pins are in line.

I created a jig from an oak offcut - drilled & reamed two 5mm holes, to give a snug fit to 2 carbon fibre rods. Then the brass tubes can bonded to the wing profiles perfectly aligned.

Having bonded the foam onto the inside of the balsa skin, a layer 100gsm glass (on the bias) was applied.