Pepsi Super Chipmunk

As the Goldberg chipmunk is nearly finished and the weather appearing to be crap for at least another week and my wife has gone to stay with her sister AND not chance of flying either I took a new closer look at Pepsi. Worth having a go at repairing it I suppose. Shame I threw the plans out only a few months ago when tidying up, they would've helped tremendously right now. Quite few bits went into the bin some time ago so managed to find build blog on line with pictures of the fuselage being assembled. Plus with the glue marks on my Pepsi where parts originally went I judged I could maybe make new formers for starters and align them up again. Everything was smashed forward of the F3 (wing mount). God knows where the battery tray, tank went - possibly bin!

Well, today I copied cut out by hand some formers from some sellotaped bits. Had few cock-ups though and made one of them three times. Anyway, done now and F3 which is the wing mount former is now glued and clamped. Fillets add surface contact as the original former had tabs.

Looks promising Phil, making a start is the daunting challenge, now you've successfully glued part"A" to structure "B" you'll be finished in no time at all.

Phil - Pleased to read you are having a go at a rebuild - seemed a shame to bin the airframe.
In the past I've replicated shattered bits in cardboard, trial fitted then & cut final shape out of plywood.
Look forward to more pics.

Colin.

Well after a fair bit of fettling to get F2 to fit nicely it is now glued in along with the firewall. If anything is wrong it's too late now. I won't fit the rails or top sheeting so I have easy access to the bays and I have the engine back so I can make final planning of tank location, throttle guide and servo position, etc. It was a pain originally so having open access to bays should make installs a bit easier.

After what seemed an eternity finally was content on the tank install and forward access bay hatch. For ease of maintenance the tank sits on a tray, the front locates into a slot on the back of the firewall. The tray slides in with the tank on top and on the underside in line the access hatch the ignition module. The rear of the tank tray is supported by the battery tray. For maintenance all that is needed is to remove the battery tray screws and lift it out which also releases the tank and ign module too. Monday I will nip down to Screwfix to get some more cable ties to secure the tank and then I can have my lipo battery straps back.

Hopefully I can skin the front tomorrow and then possibly start covering the front end. Not sure if I can make good the cowl but I have another spare one anyway. Will worry about that when the time comes.

Engine is a problem that is going to crop up though. Crankshaft on back order.

Skinned the front end and made a some progress on covering. It was bit of a trying time to ensure covering was cut at the correct angle so that the red stripe sits in the right place, just clearing the canopy and meeting in the centre of the top deck. I made up paper templates for each piece of covering (reducing wasted covering as much as possible). Got the first blue section on and it looks reasonable. Hoping that when I cut out the other side it lines up and also lines up with the wing leading edge colour. Fortunately I had some quality images on the website to help me remember the livery positions, etc.

Covering now done. Lucky I had some spare graphics (stars). Cowl next. After some serious surfing I have located a crankshaft for the motor that is actually in stock. I think I will mount the motor temporarily to get the cowl cut where necessary and get it painted up (I am assuming that Halfords will have restocked cans of Fiat Capri Blue). Crank? Last job to do.

Then the wing next.

Thursday, I visited two Halfords to get the last few cans of Fiat Capri Blue. Friday mounted the engine and cut out the cowl where necessary. It was easier this time as I had some guidance from the original cowl. Marked up the securing holes in the cowl to match the fuselage. Cowl fits the fuselage nicely. Flatted down, then primed, flatted and then two coats of colour.

Monday,I need to get Pepsi on her landing gear so I can fire her up. So, moving on with repairing the wing. Used a bit of a broken rib to get some idea of the profile and cut out some lite ply to replace the front end of one rib and double up on a twisted one to keep it straight. Then glued a front edge on to brace it all. Once the glue has set I can move one to making a leading edge profile and make clean edges for the new sheeting.

As rain was forecast for the afternoon I thought I would get Pennzoil out and run her up. Kicked into life for a moment (about 3 secs) and refused to start at all. Pulled plug and it was soaked. Burned it off and treid again, but no joy then - Yep! It started raining. so mad rush to get it put away till whenever.........

With some longer spells of dry weather was able to get outside and do some sanding and painting. Wing fixed - one spat repaired too (although not the best grp jelling) Now back on wheels. Waiting on prop and then the first fire up.

Got Pepsi on her wheels today so I can fire up the engine. Would not fire! Bet it is dry. A few drops of gas down the carb intake and away she went. Runs happily again just like she did before the accident.

Dug out Pennzoil too. Fires but won't run. Been stood a while so I reckon there may be a build up of gunk in the carb - Engine/carb off again.

Don't know why these aero engines do this. My Baja buggy with a 26cc engine starts second pull after choke on once and sits in the garage for months. :huh: