Pepsi Chipmunk Build

Today must be the soggiest dull day so far. However, got a tiny bit of momentum again on the Pepsi. The spat brackets did not turn up in the post today so I quickly dived outside and placed the wing on to the fuselage for only the second time. The blue wing line is near enough to matching the blue livery on the fuselage. Hanger 9, 1/5th scale pilot is nearest to scale size, the 1/4 scale Piper Cub full pilot model is a little to big. (and he isn't wearing shades )

As soon as the landing gear is fitted and spats painted up then a dry warm day will see first start up.



Here is Steve Oliver's version.

Be in the air soon then Phil

Interesting documentary on Youtube about Art Sholl who developed the Super Chipmunk

Strangely Jon I had thought about posting it up a while ago. I have watched it numerous times since I first purchased the Super Chipmunk Pennzoil. Fascinating documentary and a shame the Top Gun movie done him in. Well the cameras did anyway. Smart dresser too, shirt n tie man.

Jim "Fang" Maroney was lost in 2013, flew his into a hillside in Tennesee.

But there again not everyone is a Chipmunk fan...... :lol:
Could this below be my next member of the fleet?

Today was fitting new security LED floodlights and PIR, new wiring. Another DIY just job off the Mrs to do list....

Purchased some Hobbico spat mountings. I am going to use these rather than the Pepsi plan build version which is the same set up as per my Pennzoil. I found that the spats do not stay locked in position on Pennzoil in flight, even with flats ground into the axles as the ply gradually gives way. One always decides to hang down a bit.

So, for Pepsi I am going to try these handy items, hard plastic and quite sturdy. An extra long 4mm grub screw goes through the fitting, wheel collar and will sit in a flat on the axle. First image is the plan version and the second image is the Hobbico version. I just have to make up some ply blocks with metal inserts for the opposite sides of the spats to support the far side of the spats

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.