Phil's Phase 6 Build

Very disappointed you haven't mitred the servo boxes a la Grommet.

kevinross wrote: Very disappointed you haven't mitred the servo boxes a la Grommet.

Once the recesses where cut out to size, I just cut the linings to suit the aperture. Life's too short so if it looks right and does the job. Have not got a mitre box that small anyway. No-one is going to see it at 300 ft.

A bit of multi-tasking day today. Sort ballast out on zagi. Rummage around in my odds n sods box for another motor adapter and fit fit new pusher prop on Superwing. Time to get dusty!

Slotted the wings for the servo leads, next job connected servo extensions. Tested servos that they actually work and then test fit them. So far so good so then having ran out of 1/4 x 1/4 balsa strip I sliced some strips from a1/4 plank at 3/16ths. Then inlaid and glued the strips into the wing. Screwed servos lightly in place for now. A few cups of tea later I have sanded down the inlaid strips level with wing.

Made some slots for the control rod exits in the fuselage. The guide tubes cross over internally to keep the the slight curve to a minimum.

Tomorrow I am planning on gluing the wings together and then apply the glass bandage including the inboard trailing edge. With this done I can get an idea of profiling the wing cover. Once the wing can be test fitted I can then fit and align the tailplane.

Last week glassed the wing join, glued on the wing tips, sanded the tips down to near the shape they should be. Checked the wing against the fuselage and spotted a human error. The centre trailing edge does not sit on the fuselage saddle, about 6mm too high.That's what happens when you rely on the trailing edge strip. Only one thing for it - using a cutting wheel slice through the glass on the top side and down into the balsa. I can now flex the centre section a little and infill with a tiny wedge of balsa glued in. Then re-glass the area.

The rain is still streaming down the windows so what can I do now? Drilled the wings, tailplane and rudder for pivot hinges including a slight counterbore to allow for the hinge knuckle. Only an hour or so passed and rain still falling. Then decided to cover the the control surfaces, and then find the recesses for the hinges and re-open up the holes which took up the rest of the afternoon. Servo tray installed too.

Guide tubes temporarily installed but will be secured once the fuselage has been covered. I now realise I have nearly every colour possible except White Oracover.

What am I doing wrong? Have I missed something? Oracover on veneered wing but ripples even after shrinking temperature.

That Flu Jab yesterday has given me a mild Flu like feeling so patience is at an all time low.

Your Phase 6 has really come on Phil, and looking good, I feel I'm slipping way behind now :blush:

Not long now until the maiden.

Regarding your wing, did you start from the middle and iron outwards?

It has become a sort of start stop effort, If I can get the damn thing covered then I can finalise the install of hardware. Chris, yes I started in the middle. it appears to stick to balsa inserts fine but ripples only on the veneer .I am wondering if I should have started at one end, tack edges then shrink down....

Are you using just an iron or do you also have a heat gun?
Did you press the newly ironed section with a cloth/mit until it cooled to make sure the adhesive was stuck to the veneer?
Did you make pin picks in the covering where the air was trapped in order to create an escape route?

Mike, used an iron and a heat gun. I started all over again this afternoon after lightly sanding down again. Much improved but still a few bubbles. No, I had not thought of pin pricking the bubbles.

I actually use a scalpel to 'pin prick' the covering. The small slit lets out more air and is also less visible than a pinhole.