Pepsi Chipmunk Build

Sort of lost momentum these past days. Maybe it's the depressing weather?

Managed to push myself into doing something constructional today. I have made up some fairings using 1/16th balsa as per the plan. Except I made these to wrap round Oleos rather than 4 SWG piano wire. They slide on nicely as you can see on the test fit using Pennzoil Chipmunk wing as it already had Oleos fitted to test before covering with film. But for my money I think they could do with another 25mm in height.

The modified spats now have extra wide axles to allow the spat to clear the Oleo whilst the spring is in action.

Which brings me to another point. Anyone got any spare 1/16th balsa sheet 100mm wide at least so I can make up some more fairings?

Wheel Spats and wheels fitted on original landing gear temporarily so the new engine can be started up in the near future. 125mm Oleos are on order but probably not available now till end of January. I think it is time for a break after what seems like 100's of man hours.

And finally for 2016.......... First time on her wheels. :woohoo:

And if I don't see any of you at the weekend then may I wish you all a Merry and Peaceful Christmas and Happy New Year.

looks well Phil. makes a pleasant contrast to the Extras etc currently dominating the Cashmoor skyline.

Super job Phil Not sure on the "Mug Shot" frightened me to death :lol:

flyingpete wrote: Super job Phil Not sure on the "Mug Shot" frightened me to death :lol:

That's called a well earned break Pete. Trouble was I took it too early - April :lol: And I used the lift and stairs rather than the window. 5th floor apartment :silly: rather than climb out the window

Very nice Phil. Good to see it on its wheels. When will she fly?

Soon as we get a dry day when I can kneel on the grass alongside the house to take the cowl off and warm her up initially and do all the usual checks. Then see what the weather brings forth. I would prefer a better day than your Hawk maiden.

Pepsi had her maiden on Saturday 19th February. Jon put her through the paces as usual.. Needed a fair bit of trimming though. Quite a lot in my humble opinion.

Trim comparisons in clicks (JR radio 1 click = 4 steps) with Pennzoil Chipmunk below. With Pepsi now back home and looking at the ailerons they do look odd for level flight and the elevator a very obvious down.

Aileron: Pennzoil = 28 Right Pepsi = 48 Right
Elevator: Pennzoil = 24 Up Pepsi = 52 Down
Rudder: Pennzoil = 24 Right Pepsi = 24 Right

I can live with Pennzoil, but how to I go about or what to adjust to reducing the trims on Pepsi?

The more I look into setting a plane to reduce excessive trim the more it becomes a wider subject. :blink: Spent the afternoon reading about setting up planes. Brain overload! so, back to Pepsi.

Reading the TX trim settings for Pepsi. Elevator down trim. Plane wants to climb even at cruise throttle? Engine thrust line? Main wing incidence? With the latter I assume the centre line of the main wing should be parallel with stabiliser and or the centre datum line of the fuselage?

Ailerons, one is quite a way down the other slightly up. Not sure which way to go on this one?