A tiny scale plane

With its full compliment of 12 formers the planking continues.

Shows the area of the big cockpit removable section.
The rear top decking will be added when the wing is in place.

An interesting design and build young man.
cant wait to see it finished and flying.
any chance of a copy of the plans as i fancy building a slightly larger version from balsa.

Sorry Tony but there are no plans as such - just the 3 view printed out big!

As it is being built as a true monocoque there is no internal structure at all just the formers and ribs to hold the skin in shape.
The extra fuselage formers not shown on the three view were created by putting the adjacent ones next to each other and 'guestimating' the outline of the intermediate one.
A NACA2412 wing section was found on the web, printed out at the right size and then hand redrawn less 3mm all round to allow for the Depron skin.

I have to admit its a balmy way to make a plane but it works for me!

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One side complete
The other side formers added and the motor mounts started.

It looks more like a Tudor warship than a plane!

Starting the planking the other side.
As I hoped it is a bit easier to get the planks the right sort of shape.

The cockpit formers are cut away to give a huge battery space.
The cockpit will be fully 'lined' and thus provide the torsional stiffness to the cockpit area.

Before going much further the front electrics and motor have to go in.

To be honest this picture is as much for my benefit as anybody so I have a record of where it is as it will be completely buried!
The slightly unusual motor mount tube spanning the first two formers.

The actual particle board motor mount is glued inside the tube 1/2" back from the front bulkhead.

Installing the rear motor can wait as there is sufficient access until the wing goes on.

i love how you build using depron.
wish i could build that well with balsa.

looks like i will have to find a plan for one of these.

Tony
What really puts me off even trying this sort of thing in balsa is the expense!
In Depron the cost of the glue is greater than the material.

Now this is black, very black!

It will be sprayed with a clear lacquer, not so much for a gloss finish but simply to keep your fingers clean!

With the basic fuselage skin complete the rear ESC goes in.

And the rear motor.

Until the wing is on and the top skin rear completed the motor mount is not rigid enough to run at full power.

I got tired of looking the the boat fuselage so put it together (balanced!) to give an idea of what it will look like.

Although the rear prop is reasonably protected the front one could get damaged so I thought I better order a spare from GS - they do a matched handed pair very cheap!
It was then I discovered I had made a fundamental mistake.
I originally sized the O-2 for 9" props but to my embarrassment I discovered they are 8". and of course they don't do a 9" version Still it doesn't really matter as there is masses of 'push' (vertical on one motor?).

At 8" that rear prop is going to be even better protected than I thought!

I put my fingers through the sheeting on my kavalier wing! I do seem to make boo boo's like that

Enjoying watching this come together
It is one of those build threads where I can't wait to see the end product

Rather fiddly bits so progress is slow.
As I did not need anything like the original access for the battery I brought the nose decking back to the windscreen line.

The rear air scoop. This really was a labour of love!

It is fully functional feeding air back to the rear motor.
Its getting there!

The first ground run.

It has a ferocious level of thrust so I just couldn't risk full power with both running.

I have spent the last few days pondering over the glazing.
As this is a super lightweight model I have decided to go for solid with painted windows as the complete canopy can then be made of Depron.
Still more planking!

Very light it will be held down with magnets.
However if I don't like the effect the underlying structure does allow full glazing to be added.

Canopy complete with black paint.

The canopy removed.

It is basically a big light (1/2oz) box. Its shape means only its leading edge needs a magnet.
The next job is to work out the best way (and colour) to paint the windows on. Pale green is possible or maybe a silver/grey would be better with such a dark colour scheme.