Construction Begins
(click picture for larger view)
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Plans & Book Aft Fuse & start Center Section
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I
started scaling up my model plans in about August of 2000 using Model Cad.
This was my first attempt at any CAD program and I had put off learning
it as it seemed very complicated. I found out the best way to learn
it was to just try drawing some stuff and then altering it, just to see
what I could do. Model CAD's tutorial is basically non existent and
mostly consists of a manual about 3/4 inch thick of commands. Many
of which talked in Greek to me. Bottom line is I did learn enough
to draw my plans, layout my airfoil, build a rib jig and make my first
rib.
We had 2 months of down time as an interior water pipe broke and flooded the house. So the garage was full of furniture till we could get the carpet replaced. Takes a long time in the boondocks. Top Row Photo #1 - This is a picture of the model and my final CAD drawing of where we are going with this project. The main changes I had to make were; -Widen the fuselage in the cockpit area - Add another seat which also changed the cabane struts - Slightly increase the fuselage depth - Change the cowl shape slightly to fit the Continental 85. Photo #2 -Anyway this rib was completed 12/21/00 and I have around 60 more to make. It was made from 1/4 sq. spruce with 1/16 ply gussets. The nose section of this rib was initially made from 1/4 inch door skin. All glued with T-88 epoxy, however I found the gussets glued better with slow CA, plus I didn't have to clamp them for any length of time. That way I can pull the rib from the jib within a minute or two and gusset the back side while the epoxy sets up. This also eliminated ugly staples and staple holes after the staples were removed. The rib weighed 4 ounces as shown. Photo #3 -
Photo #4 - This show my master nose rib nailed to a rough cut piece of ply that I will route to exact shape. Photo #5 - This shows the front part of my rib jig and how I used it to attach all of the nose ribs. Gussets are oversized and will be sanded to shape. Bottom Row Photo #1 & 2-Just a pretty stack of ribs. - 2/22/01 - Have all, well most all of the ribs made and gusseted. Have a few more that will be special ribs, such as end ribs where wings join and any modifications necessary to those ribs to establish a sturdy wing walk. In addition will need to make 8, 1/8" ply end caps for all four ailerons. Photo #3 - A close up of my rib jig. It shows the offset dowels that are used to secure pieces that don't want to stay put. Each rib has 50 individual pieces and took approximately 5 total hours to completion. At this point I have about 250 hours in my project. Am now to the point of another wood order and setting up my tables so I can construct the tail feathers, then the fuselage. Photo #4 - Here I am laying out the vertical and rudder. CAD drawing was used and then figures transposed to a large sheet of meat wrapping paper that I taped to the table. Photo #5 - The results. It looks right and everything lines up well. Go To Index Page Next Page I want more info on the plans & book
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