A Rescued 'Bridi' Shrike Aero Commander Kit!

Fair Dinkum - you blokes are going to be the death of me - the problem is inspiration and I'll think I'll blame Tony for that. As previously noted I build from scratch - or occasionally - when I can afford one - a Kit. So in one of my trips sneaking around the local tip I bumped into a bloke. He said - you build model aeroplanes - and - of course I said YEP! So he said - I have a shed full! bought 'em off a bloke ten years ago but never took the hobby up - would you be interested in them? Be still my beating heart! I tried very hard to appear nonchalant but he must have twigged he had me hooked - I went round to have a look. A shed full??? Damn right he had a shed full and after some bargaining I came away with fifteen models, 16 motors and a heap of other junk which he insisted I take in the deal. I won't drive you nuts with a description of all of them but one of the treasures was a genuine - you bute, unbuilt, Bridi Aero Commander Kit - most of it was there - about 90% I think and best of all the original plans! - from 1974! That was about a year ago and I have sat there staring at the Aero Commander and it has been staring back at me. Damn it - I went out today and bought a pair of Magnum Pro 40s for it and some materials to make up the missing bits.

Now I need some help - the fuselage is a fibreglass moulding and I need to work out how to make 4 internal bulkheads. I have one of those gadgets that you use to take profiles of a curved surface - but - it won't fit inside the damn fuselage. Any advice on how to best plot an ACCURATE profile for an internal bulkhead when you cant get at it???

Photo of the model attached - brief specs:

- recommended motors - 2 x 40 2 strokes
- wingspan - 79.5 inches
- fuselage length - 56.5 inches
- wing area - 715.5 squ inches
- weight - 12.25 lbs
- functions - ailerons, elevators, rudder, throttle control, flaps, retracts.
- scale - 1"= 7.7"

Oh yeah - and designed by Dan McCann and drawn by Joseph Bridi.

Thanks for the suggestions fellas, I think i should also clarify something I said when I started this thread - the comment was 'the problem is inspiration and I'll think I'll blame Tony for that' - what I meant to say (remember I'm only a poor colonial) was the problem is TO MUCH inspiration and I'll think I'll blame Tony for that. The bloke builds with speed - AND precision - now that is something to aspire to.

Hi Bruce
I have used both methods, and both work. Once tried expanding foam, not a good idea, as it split the fuz, and its a sod to get out.

I also think Tony is an inspiration to us all, his build and speed are first class. wish he lived nearer:)

Garry

as said above, use the profile device on the outside, then take off an average fuselage thickness and cut a card template.
then you can tweek the template till you have a perfect fit, transfer to liteply and epoxy in place.

jobs a good un.

oh and by the way.

i hate you for getting all them planes. i need one i can fly now.

Well Tony - perhaps I forgot to mention that as they'd been sitting in the blokes shed for ten odd years most of them were being used as residences by the local rats and mice. One of them still had the original radio, servos and batteries still fitted in the fuselage. The rats had dined on the wiring, chewed into the battery and pee'd on everything. Took the wing off and nearly choked on the smell. Needless to say had to junk that fuselage and all the radio bits within. You can still hate me if you like.

naaaa i think i will let you off

shame about the rats.

Lepto what Eric - is that some strange European ailment I used large amounts of disinfectant and rubber gloves.