Pepsi Chipmunk Build

Had a few spare hours and needed a balsa fix so i have made a start on the fuselage. Originally this model was kitted by apache aviation but it has now been taken over by slec. I built the original kit a few years back and the quality of the balsa and ply left a lot to be desired so i replaced most of the birch ply for lite ply as the model was very over designed. The model also had a reputation for comming out very heavy so i put lightening hole's where i could and i managed to save quite a bit of weight and the model flew very nicely.
This slec version of the chipmunk is router cut and the thick balsa parts are lazer cut, the wood and lite ply are of very good quality as you wold expect as slec are a good company to source balsa and ply etc.

Few more

The fuselage is now ready for the 3/32 sheeting to the front and back turtle decks which will be wet rolled and glued with gorilla glue. Once dry the fuselage will be given the treatment with my razor plane and sanded! Job done

Ok peeps it's time to get the chippy finished. Im going to get the wings and tailplane built so i can trial fit them to the fuz to check alignment.
Might be a good time to mention that this is a router
Cut kit. Although very accurate the biggest problem is all the corners are round so you have to clean up all the parts so you have nice crisp corners ready for use. The more accurate kit cutting is done by lazer which can cut very crisp corners, but it leaves scorch marks on the edges which need to be sanded before you can start gluing.It's swings and roundabouts but i personally go for lazer cut kit.
Anyway so today i will release all the parts from the tabs clean them up and will start gluing tomoz with some pictures

Looking forward to the photos Pete.

Seem to be a day behind.Covered the plan in plastic and we a ready to go.All the ribs are glued to a full length lite ply shear web.Next the 1/4 x1/2 hardwood main spar is tacked in place the the remaining rear balsa spars are added.Turn the wing over and do the same and add false leading edge.Turn wing back over and and pin to the board making sure all the rib tabs are flat on the board,once I'm happy I flood all the joints with med cyano.
The 1/4 ply u/c rib doublers glued in place with titebond clamped and left to bond for 30 mins.
Removed the clamps and glued the 3 piece u/c mounts in place with titebond and left to dry.Do the same for the other wing panel.
While they are left to dry I will glue up the 3/32 wing sheet panels and fit them later.

Wow! You have got that far in the build in the time it has took me to paint the living room with the first sealer coat after being plaster skimmed. :whistle: Taking a break now after cleaning rollers and unpainting myself.

Phil
Remind me again what you are using for power?and are we using robart hinges or the kavan flat pin hinge supplied with the kit??

Power will be a DLE35RA.

With regards to hinges my Pennzoil has Kavan flat hinges. I had thought about Robart type because you can get the control surfaces closer to the stab, wing, rudder. My concern was there may not be enough wood for Robarts allowing for the slight counter-bored holes. I don't mind Pete, if Robarts are good to go then use them. You have the experience so I'll leave it you.

Wings sheeted,flaps and ailerons marked out ready to be cut away