A lot has happened since the last update in July. Mainly the tail feathers ( almost literally ) are done now and the fuselage and tail is covered, ready for painting. Aluminum fuselage side panels are ready for painting as well.
August- September 2014
Had to purchase 250 pieces of bamboo from an importer and sort through them to find enough good ones. Requires 3/4 inch and 1 inch sizes, up to 10 foot long ones.
The adapter to accept the center bamboo post
Joined the wood strips to the bamboo using T88 epoxy.
Getting ready to wrap the wood strips and bamboo poles where they meet. Used the NEW Super Seam cement and ceconite tapes.
T88 epoxy
wood strips merged with the bamboo
Tail center bamboo adapter
gluing everything in place with T88
leveling
leveling
If you look closely you can see the nine elevator wires, top and bottom. This is in the most forward control position. Reason for all the tapes is to prevent the poles from splitting.
cable splitter from the two elevator cables to the nine wires going to the bamboo poles
getting ready to secure the wires
some show completed.
looking to the rear, underneath
top view, across
Nodes where the eyelets will get attached to. Lock nut is embedded in the epoxy.
Tip node
Looking forward
from below, looking forward
from above, looking forward
Upper elevator cable and splitter.
September-October 2014
Now comes the fun of covering.
This is where I deviated from the original version, which used linen, coated with Cellon. I assume that was a version of cellulose at that time. Unfortunately it only had a two year life span. After much thinking and research I decided on AC grade Ceconite SF102, 2.7 oz. , after all I want it to last a lot longer.
Starting with the upper fin
step 2
Rib stitching- back side
close up
All by the book,
By the bible
right side fuselage gets started
elevator already covered
starting on left side
more of left side
Tail from below, held on with 1/2 inch double sided seamstick tape and then rib-stitched
More of the elevator
Inspection panel open, seen from front
Open seen from back
Closed
Quarter turn closure fastener
Tail from above, before tensioning
Tail from below, note the merge of double layer to single layer. Glued and rib-stitched
Outriggers in place and tail now stretched
Whole section with outriggers
Better view of tail with outriggers. Lots of rib stitching!
