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Schleicher ASH31 4m

Let us all watch your new project progress.
MartinE
Posts: 126
Joined: 28 Oct 2021, 14:36
Location: Essex

Re: Schleicher ASH31 4m

Post by MartinE »

The last of the stringers have been attached & and the nose formers.

The plan is to have a motor up front and use a 'scale spinner to maintain the nose shape.
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MartinE
Posts: 126
Joined: 28 Oct 2021, 14:36
Location: Essex

Re: Schleicher ASH31 4m

Post by MartinE »

Fuselage skeleton pretty much done.

Also threaded through wiring for tail servos.
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MartinE
Posts: 126
Joined: 28 Oct 2021, 14:36
Location: Essex

Re: Schleicher ASH31 4m

Post by MartinE »

Also hot-wired the tailfin, from EPS. then cut the obechi skins to size.

Note the aluminium tape on the edge of the hot-wire profiles (to give a nice smooth cutting motion).
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MartinE
Posts: 126
Joined: 28 Oct 2021, 14:36
Location: Essex

Re: Schleicher ASH31 4m

Post by MartinE »

Next step for the tailfin is strengthening the skins and joining to foam core.

I've applied 1 layer of 106gsm bias carbon fibre (East Coast Fibreglass) and 3 lengths of 80gsm uni-direction carbon fibre (Easy Composites).

Foam core positioned on the skin and then weighted down in the foam negatives.
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MartinE
Posts: 126
Joined: 28 Oct 2021, 14:36
Location: Essex

Re: Schleicher ASH31 4m

Post by MartinE »

Before all the sheeting is applied, I need to install the ballast tubes.

Made from a couple of layers of 180gsm carbon/Kevlar (over a Dowell rod), they are bonded into the pre - cut fuselage holes.

Some of brass slugs shown.
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MartinE
Posts: 126
Joined: 28 Oct 2021, 14:36
Location: Essex

Re: Schleicher ASH31 4m

Post by MartinE »

Whilst still attached to the build base, the top and side skin sections are being glued on.

The skin is 1.5mm medium grade balsa - steamed (on the outside) to obtain the curvature.

Mini-spring clamps, pins and masking tape required to hold/glue the sections on.
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MartinE
Posts: 126
Joined: 28 Oct 2021, 14:36
Location: Essex

Re: Schleicher ASH31 4m

Post by MartinE »

Last of the top sheeting applied. I've left the sections above the wings so that I can have access to epoxy in the wing location tubes.

The curvey lines are now evident.
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MartinE
Posts: 126
Joined: 28 Oct 2021, 14:36
Location: Essex

Re: Schleicher ASH31 4m

Post by MartinE »

For the tailfin, I've made 4 reinforcements;
1. The spar, which is balsa with carbon fibre caps, with glass wrap
2. Top tailplane mount, with threaded insert
3. Bottom support plate
4. Rear spar, balsa strip with bias carbon fibre on one side

The servo wire slot is hot wired out
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User avatar
Andrew Ray
Posts: 88
Joined: 19 Mar 2015, 19:15
Location: Staffordshire

Re: Schleicher ASH31 4m

Post by Andrew Ray »

Beautiful work there Martin, you make it look so easy.
MartinE
Posts: 126
Joined: 28 Oct 2021, 14:36
Location: Essex

Re: Schleicher ASH31 4m

Post by MartinE »

Thanks Ray, as usual these things always take a bit of trial and error☺

The workshop is getting a bit chilli now (even with the heater on) so progression might slow done a bit - and my wife keeps reminding about some festive event coming up😁
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