Annother Islandmodels 1/3 Scale Ka8b build log

[Spanner]

Hi Guys
Yet another Ka8b on the way,
I started building this some months back from the excellent short kit supplied by Fred at Islandmodels. All ply parts nicely laser cut and slot together perfectly, 3 x sheets of drawings one with all the parts drawn up which will allow you to replace any parts that you may damage or loose during construction or hopefully not after a bad arrival.
To start I made a simple jig out of some pine strip wood and cut out MDF set squares which can be clamped in place to hold all straight and true during construction. This can obviously be reused for other models. I have attached some photos of the basic fuselage nearly complete before removal from jig. If this attempt at posting works for me I will post more soon showing progress to date.

Joe

[Spanner]

Thank God that worked
Just spent some 2hrs resizing photos and filing them for easy access in future,
So now I can report on progress to date!

Having got the basic fuselage built it was obvious that this model warranted a reasonable amount of cockpit detail to be added, a lot of time was spent trawling the internet for photos to decide just what I would do.
The fuselage is now almost finished and the tail plane is ready for covering.
Canopy frame made from brass tubing, Cockpit interior detail from brass tube, wood dowel and some aluminium sheeting, Seat made from fiberglass.

Still loads to do so back to the building board for a few hours as it is to wet to go and fly.

Joe

 

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Last few photos showing finished cockpit. Pilot arrived for a trial fit.
Working on wiring at present and then onto the wings.

[mick a]

cockpit looks amazing
well done , looks like your a fast builder , better get on with mine now

[Spanner]

Thanks for the complement Mick.
I must say that yours is also very impressive.

Joe

[Spanner]

Hi All,
At last some progress on the Ka8b, Airframe almost complete just one aileron left to build and some servos to install and she will be ready for covering.
No major issues to report but found that the ribs outboard of the ailerons were slightly to long, easily fixed by trimming the trailing edge and a little sanding.
I am covering the model with Diatex / Diacove and so far I have covered the tail feathers and the underside of one wing and found that with a little care it goes on quite easily
Here are a couple of photos as the model is at present and hope to finish the building work and complete the covering soon.

[mick a]

looking really good
what did you make your frame work from in the cockpit ?

[Spanner]

Hi Mick,
Canopy framed was made from brass tube, fixed frame work in cockpit was made using timber dowel. Some brass and aluminum sheet used to make control leavers and other linkages.

Joe

[Nhalyn]

Great work ! 

[billscottni]

loving the attention to details

[mick a]

hi thanks joe
must be doing something right as did mine same
looks likeyou will be flying before me at this rate -----weather

[Spanner]

Hi Mick,
I am sure that you will get to maiden yours long before mine is ready to fly, what was the finished weight of your model if you can remember? I have not weighed mine recently but I think it will be about 10Kg when finished.

[Alan_Perse]

Great work  .

[Fred]

Very very nice Joe! Stunning work! That canopy really look like the real thing! 

[Spanner]

Thanks all for the encouraging comments.

Despite some trying circumstance's over Christmas progress has been made.
Having caught a bad dose from the boss at our Christmas night out I then passed it to the wife. She was not impressed.
To compound matters I was then caught fooling about with Kate on the kitchen table as it was too cold at our usual spot outside. The wife insisted that I get rid of her or it would cost me dearly. As I cant afford a divorce I was forced to agree not to do it in the house anymore.
No guys not what you may be thinking nothing more than a bad cold / flue
As we were both suffering from Flue and the weather so cold I did managed to convince her to let me dress Kate before banishing her from the house.

See attached photo's
I thing she looks good either way.

PS, I still have to tell her about the baby, I am sure it will be all right on the night as they say but now is not the time. In about 9 months time  I might just introduce her to the little Focker.