Jilles Smits 1/3 scale Ikarus

[SteveArchibald]

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick post tonight as its almost time to sit back and watch some TV, although building this beauty is calling. After successfully completing another Jilles Smits design, the Sperber Junior it was time to start planning and building my 2019 build and what better way to keep to a timely schedule than to get a build thread underway.



She is going to be a beauty.

Not alot of imagery to post tonight as its mainly the setup of the support structure and after printing the scaled drawings out twice due to a scaling error on my large format printer resulted in having to re-jig the formers twice. Anyway all is now setup and am underway.

Not the greatest pictures tonight as I am on the surface and once I move it indoors after the Sperber wings are moved off the bench I will use a better camera.





That's all for now folks.

Steve

[SteveArchibald]

Hey Cliff,

How's it going? Yeah my plan is to print them although I havn't had my 3d printer setup for a while so some calibration is in order. I custom built one to print 500 x 500mm, a nice big build plate so we shouldn't have any worries.

Man this will be the biggest build I have done to date .

[SteveArchibald]

Sounds interesting, I havnt tried carbon filament yet so maybe give it a go but like you said a ruby tip will be in order.

[SteveArchibald]

Hey guys,

I am not sure if anyone other than Jilles can help me out with this one. The plans call for a front skid to be constructed as well as a retract at CG and the rear roller under the rudder. Could it be possible to do away with the midships retract and just use the front skid retract? I am confused as to why we need both.

Hopefully these images make it a little clearer as to what I am talking about.





I am thinking I could probably get away with just the skid, however, I am happy to install both as long as its required as the retract is quite pricey from the EU.

Cheers Gents

[SteveArchibald]

Hey Cliff,

Thanks for the speedy reply which solves my question. Retract as well it is . Thanks for the pics and links

Steve

[Jilles]

Hi all
The Iakarus did have the main retract and skid together, see attached picture of the full scale.
The story I heard was that the skid was only used with the retract on heavy going fields like a snow cover. In that case the fuse would topple forward, the skid preventing damage to the fuse. So you could use two separate channels for each of the two features and choose if you want use the retract wheel only or both. Never use the skid only

[SteveArchibald]

Hey guys,

Cliff, nice print for the cockpit, I will definitely have to get the 3d printer out again. Come filling and sanding it will be perfect-a-mundoo.

Thanks for getting back to us Jilles, that was what my next plan was going to be with separate channel for the skid and retract so it gives us the option. thank for the drawings again the parts fit beautifully thus far. I'll get some more pictures sorted for tomorrow.

Night all.

[SteveArchibald]

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for the slow progress here on the Ikarus, things have been progressing slowly due to a injury that occurred whilst I was in the military. It required surgery so have been out of action for quite a while.

I'll try to get this build back up and running but for now here is the current progress on this beautifully crafted and drawn aircraft. Brilliant

There is a bannana in there just for scale haha.

Have a good one and I am hoping to get this build thread up and running again.

Steve

[Jilles]

Good to see there are now two Ikarus Meteors on the go and an other here in Australia. I did this design for a local friend.the built was started about 3 years ago and still going. He is a busy men and does minimal 3 projects at the same time.
I see remarks that my drawings are a work of art. very kind comments but is more due to a professionally type of CAD software. I have used this in the past for 20 years for my job and now in retirement can still use it. I cannot afford updates but that is not a problem. It does what I need it for.

[SteveArchibald]

Afternoon fellow flyers,
I am just doing some forward planning and am looking at the potential for three section wing vs two section wings and wanted to know everyone's thoughts and method of securing the section together.

As you can see in the image this is one of the carbon tube and tube assemblies used for connecting each length together. What is your preferred method of securing them together for flight, simple through hole t-nut or something more exotic?

I am very curious as to the best/easiest methods out there, if I dont ask we will never learn from the learned constructors on this brilliant website.

Thanks in advance guys.

Kind Regards
Steve