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Balsa EZ Part 3: Engine cowl

PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:00 am
by TacitBlue
Construction continues. The engine cowl took a lot longer than I thought it would because of the complicated shape.

The construction process was basically the same as the fuselage, so I started photographing here. At this point it's ready to have the stringers attached at the corners.
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This is done by soaking them in warm water and then bending them into place and holding them down with rubber bands while the glue dryes. for sharper corners, I tryed steaming the wood and managed to bend them a little better.
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Here, all of the main striners are attached, and everything is sanded down. I just need a few more to hold the shape around that circular piece in the back.
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After the cowl was finished, I put it up against the back of the fuselage and found that the area to be glued together was crooked, so I shimmed it with some thin pieces of balsa...
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...and used a jig to hold everything straight while the glue dryed.
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And this is where I am now. As you can see I also have the left wing almost completed. I will document the construction of the other wing now that I am sure I have been doing it correctly. ;)
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It's a good thing that this craft isn't going to actually fly, but I guess if it was, then I would have made the engine cowl differently anyway. I guess my next update will be the right wing, and then after that the canard, tails/winglets, and finishing. I still haven't decided how, or even if I want to cover it when it's done. I might cover half of it to the centerline, so that the frame-work is still visible on one side when it's displayed.

Re: Balsa EZ Part 3: Engine cowl

PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 2:15 am
by ozzy72
That is coming along really nicely Tacit ;)

Re: Balsa EZ Part 3: Engine cowl

PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:59 am
by Jakemaster
wow!  you are really good at this!  Cant wait to see the finished product!

Re: Balsa EZ Part 3: Engine cowl

PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:09 am
by igs942
Looking really good there Tacit. I would love to be able to make something like that but I haven't got the skill (or patience).
Whats your next project... 1:1 Mossie??? ;D

Re: Balsa EZ Part 3: Engine cowl

PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:16 am
by Rifleman
Nice work so far........for a static model, its gonna be fine........ 8)

If it was going to fly, you'd have to start trimming away at least half of all that timber.......it looks quite robust .  :-X

;D

Re: Balsa EZ Part 3: Engine cowl

PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 6:54 pm
by Threadkiller
looking good!

one sugestion for when ur covering her.... if u get white semi-translucid tissue paper (the kind that comes included in most guillow's kits) and use a solution of water and glue (1:3) and with a spray the kind used to spray plants with, u can cover THE WHOLE MODEL and when the tissue dries and stiffens it becomes translucid, so the structure is visible and best of all, protected by the paper. i did that with my Supercub model and looks awesome!


great model man ;)


P.S. seems to me that you have a LOT of time in your hands.... eh? ::) 8) :D

Re: Balsa EZ Part 3: Engine cowl

PostPosted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 1:25 am
by TacitBlue
Thanks for the tips. I usually use a glue/water solution when covering with tissue, but I just brush it on. I hadn't thought about spraying it.

Re: Balsa EZ Part 3: Engine cowl

PostPosted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:49 am
by H
I was reeady to PM an inquiry about your progress; looks like it's getting there. Considering the amount of framework, as you said, it's a good thing this is a static model. :P