Pilatus B4 build

[Peter]

Not really a build tread - I work too slowly for that!  But a progress report on a Pilatus B4 build from an old Mike Trew plan.  As you can see from the photographs, the fuselage is coming on.  Half planked (that took a bit of time!) and currently I am working on the controls before planking the rest.  Made the tailplane last weekend - it is bolted on.  As I have changed the wing section I want to be able to alter the longitudinal dihedral as I suspect that on the plan is too high for the HQ25/12 section I am using.  So far so good - but anyone else building from this plan, watch out for F11 - this does not have the correct profile!  

Anyway - best wishes to all for the New Year.  Scamper - I hope all this talk of DG1000s does not mean you have give up on your B4!!!

[scamper]

Looks very good.  :clap:  Hope to get going on mine again soon. I got the wood, piano wire joiner and airbrakes from Topmodel with the DG-1000. All i need now is the motivation. :lol:

I put F11 in and didnt notice until later that it was wrong. I had to glue another piece of ply to it to get it to the right profile.

[Fred]

Hi Peter, good to hear back from you  
The Pilatus is looking really good indeed  :clap:  :clap:

[Alan_Perse]

Nice work. Keep it up. :clap:  :clap:

[cvanscho]

Nice job, Peter!

Chris

[Peter]

Right - seems with this poor weather quite a few of us are busy building.  Here then is an update on progress with the B4.  Fuselage is mostly planked now and servos/controls installed.  It looks much better now I have added a nose block!  Currently working on the first of the wings - fully sheeted structure so trying to get the innards sorted before adding the top sheeting.  The idea is to build both wing panels minus the top sheeting so that I can sort out the joiners/dihedral/alignment to fuselage. Constructing a canopy is looming so any advice much appreciated - not done this before. Also  would like to make a hinged metal (aluminium?)frame for the canopy perspex - how should I go about this?

[Stephan]

Hi Peter
for the first time I see a B4 in an all wooden approach realy great  :clap: That changes from this fiber and foam stuff.
Stephan

[Fred]

Hi Peter,
Like Stephan, totally agree !
Really nice job, and so rare to see a Pilatus built in wood !  :clap:  :clap:

[Alan_Perse]

I agree also  :clap:  :clap: . And when it's fully built you won't even know it was built from wood.

[Peter]

Thanks guys. Yep it is amazing what you can do with wood - time consuming but satisfying! I'm quite impressed with what complex shapes and curves you can create with a bit of effort.

[Fred]

Well, I can't disagree with that !  :mrgreen:

Sorry I haven't answered your question about the canopy...
Well, with balsa locks, you can make a plug and then vaccum form the canopy (http://www.gliderireland.net/vaccumforming.htm) but manually is also fine (use a 2 liter coke bittle...)
I have the vaccum box if you want to borrow it ! (and clear plastic too...)

For the frame, I will do it in brass tubes and soldered. Easy to form in shape, easy to solder too (see the frame for the 1/3 scale Ka3..)

[Peter]

An update on progress - or a couple of photos anyway! Actually beginning to look like a glider.

[Alan_Perse]

Peter. I dont know if its a problem with my computer but I can't see the pictures   .

[Peter]

Nope - I cannot see them either .  I'll try again.

[Alan_Perse]

I can see them now. Looks sweet       . Keep up the good work.
Makes me want to make a glass glider out of wood to.