Phil's Phase 6 Build

As it is raining I was wondering what to do. After learning a few things at the slope yesterday, I have ballasted the WildCat with 450 gms of lead. Fitted new lightweight fins to Zagi. An afternoon of Um! Bored!.

Brian I have opened the box! :ohmy: The Phase 6 box. Read the instructions, sort of. Check that I recognise the bits n pieces. Made a start. This is my first true build so bear with me. I may make a few mods as I go along. I am hoping to finish it this side of Christmas maybe.

Going to glue up one side first as a template to use against the second to ensure identical sides.

Nice to see a traditional build again. Big mug of coffee, chokky bix in the tin.............bliss!
Chris Foss' instructions tend to be short and sweet, a vital read though, helps avoid the "what the?" moment.

Phil Ford wrote: Going to glue up one side first as a template to use against the second to ensure identical sides.

Left and right will work better than identical!

:lol: You know what I mean Mike. The datum lines have to line up or will have issues later with tail plane at the least, let alone the wing.

Brian, I read the instructions which can be a bit ambiguous. I have looked over the preformed bits and have created a plan of actions and sequence. I will concentrate of the fuselage for now. When I get to the wings I will follow Mike's idea of a hardwood spar inlaid in the foam.

With slope soaring put off today, Sunday and after completing some website jobs, it was time to get some more work done. A bit fiddly curving longerons but done now. Got two sides ready to drop into the building jig for the next stage. Bending in fuselage sides to nose block and installing F1 and F2 to the rear face of the spruce uprights

And finally for today, fuselage in build jig to align the sides to the 3/8 balsa top ready for gluing. This is going to be a bit fiddly as you have to align former, wing plate and sides all at the same time whilst keeping the sides vertical. A few temporary custom spacers on the bottom (top in picture) will help enormously.

This afternoon been studying the "instructions" and looking back on a Phase 6 build in 2009. Back then they did not have former No.1 as I have, only the former for the wing dowel and a balsa former further down the fuselage behind the wing saddle by about 4 inches. my thinking is that when pulling in the front to the nose block it was a more sleeker (is that a word?) look than my version which if I fit the former no.1 will have a more bull nose look.. I suppose the updated version gives it more structural strength.

Image shows Gary's fuselage back in 2009

After manufacturing a servo tray and glued it in, one side can now be glued to the balsa top. I have used a laser beam from the servo tray to the imaginary elevator/rudder horns to get a good idea where the control rods will exit. ) I can then slot the fuselage sides and install guide tubes and supports)

The kit puts the elevator rod straight down the middle of the fuselage to a pre-made torque rod and pre-soldered arm.. It would get busy in there when the rudder control goes in. So I will make up a torque rod myself and use a horn in the traditional place on the elevator. Plus if maintenance work is needed in future it makes it easier to sort out.

Once I am happy with the internal layout I can then glue on the other fuselage side

Having a break tomorrow to check grass at Cashmoor early then off for a bit of slope soaring with JB in those high winds. Anyone else?

Where are you going slope soaring Phil?
Simon O

Not sure yet but it is a SouWesterly. Will decide with John Bannister. Maybe Gourds Farm but favour a WSA site. The former is only 15 mins away from Cashmoor and a WSA site about 25mins. I will be up at Cashmoor fairly early tomorrow first to check grass areas then onwards to slope. Why? Did you want to have a go?