The main reason for building this model is the "100 Years of Guillows" anniversary and the associated FAC contest. The existing Nieuport model cannot be used because it has been modified too extensively (from version 11 to version 23). I also found a photo in a family album from my active flying days. It shows the Piper Pa-18 Super Cub HB-OVZ, in which I had my first flight as a teenager and was later towed up in a glider. On the internet, I found additional photos of the OVZ and one of its sister aircraft (3 aircraft). One of these shows the paint scheme from toward the end of its service life, before it was replaced by the Robins. The model will also feature this paint scheme.
Peter
Preliminary Work:
The kit has been purchased and is being inspected. Everything is included, and the parts are cleanly laser-cut. The blueprint and assembly instructions include perspective drawings. This is a world of difference from the Nieuport kit, where all the parts had to be cut out of the printed sheets. The wood quality is significantly better, and the pieces vary in weight depending on their intended use. It's not just quarter-sawn wood.
As usual, I made a copy of the blueprint and used it to mark the color scheme, creating the decals at the same time. Since the photos showed side views, they could be zoomed on the screen to match the model's scale. Copies of parts of the plan on tracing paper allowed me to determine the exact size of the decals and work them out. These are produced from thin white covering paper or decal paper using an inkjet printer.
Tail Section:
Stretch the construction plan over the workboard and protect it with clear plastic film. Then begin construction with the tail section. The necessary parts can be carefully cut out of the balsa strips using the tip of a scalpel. The brown burn marks were removed with fine sandpaper, and the parts were glued onto the plan. Reinforcements were added for later tensioning and provided with a hole for threading them through. Everything was sanded clean and smooth, then placed on the scale for weight checking: 2.35 grams.
To be continued
Peter
Nice work Zip. And nice cut of facial hair I might add.
You remind me of a loveable nutty professor I had back in the day. He WAS nutty not you.
He would accidentally step off the stage during his rambling dissertations on bacteria in the intestinal tract of the paramecium. He was always in a state of some sort. He used a cane or crutch a lot.
Keep truckin on that Piper. I built one whilst caring for my son's broken femur. It kept me dialed in and focused... another good reason to have a model airplane going all the time. As well as a fat novel like Moby Dick.
Nice work! And might I say, Ahhhh Switzerland, home of the Bolex movie camera! Several of which I have owned in the past.
... continuing
Wings:
Copies of the plan created earlier were used to mark the drill holes for attaching the wings to the first two ribs of the wings and the fuselage sides.
This will be done using 3mm-diameter round rods. A recommendation for this can be found in the assembly instructions or the plan.
Next, the two wings were assembled on the plan. Since there were no specifications regarding the V-shape, I used an existing J3 model as a guide and glued the first rib in place so that the wing section has a 5-degree V-shape per side. After sanding and finishing, these two weighed 11.55 grams. To complete the wings, I also constructed the two struts as far as possible.
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Fuselage:
Some preliminary work is required here as well. Since the powertrain is assembled outside the model and fed through via an aluminum rail, the frames must be cut out accordingly. This was determined using copies of the construction plan and transferred to the frames.
After that, construction of the hull began. Initially following the plan until the first half was securely built, then working freely. When attaching the stringers, I deviated from the assembly instructions and the plan, as access to the rear anchor point of the rubber must be maintained.
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Next, the rear anchor point for the rubber band is attached. The two bearing pieces with the holes were glued in place so that they fit perfectly and were aligned. The aluminum U-channel, which was intended to serve as a rail, was cut to size at one end and machined so that the drive train's bobbin would fit into the recess. Small brass tube pieces with the same diameter as the spool were inserted into the holes in the bearings. A matchstick, sanded to size, serves as a lock. Once everything fit, reinforcements made of 0.4 mm plywood—which were tapered and sanded down—were glued to the bearings, and the tube pieces were sanded flush.
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Next, attach the upper fuselage half and cover the cowling with 0.5 mm balsa wood. Then fit and glue the landing gear assembly in place.
One thing must be said: The laser-cut parts fit cleanly and perfectly, including the stringers, which come pre-cut in the kit.
Apart from removing the laser burn marks, no further finishing is required.
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Now the lower half of the fuselage is finished, the planking is completed, and the whole thing is neatly sanded and finished. To check, I put the fuselage on the scale: 9 grams—
I'm satisfied. With the fuselage, the woodwork is now complete, although some wooden parts are still needed. So I placed all the assemblies on the scale, which now reads 24.8 grams.
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Engine cowling:
This is a thermoformed plastic part with molded-in features and recesses. Due to the way I route the powertrain and integrate it into the model, this part must be modified accordingly. Three auxiliary frames are installed, and the kit's propeller mount is replaced with an adjustable mount. Here's how: The front section of the engine cowling is cut away along a recess. On 2.5 mm medium-hard balsa, the three auxiliary frames are marked on the plan according to the contours of the cut line and the bulkhead, cut out, and sanded to fit. The same applies to the necessary recesses for the propeller bearing and the guide rail.
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One thing is already clear: these changes mean the model no longer complies with FAC contest rules, but that doesn't bother me anymore. I have a special connection to the original, and that's what matters to me.
So I continue building, gluing the first two auxiliary frames into the cut-off fuselage nose and the cowl, and sanding the parts flat. The three pieces needed to ensure the fuselage nose fits properly are made from leftover spars. Once glued and sanded, the fuselage nose sits cleanly and with precise contours. The adjustable propeller mount also fits perfectly.
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The third strut is also installed and sanded down. The radiator molded onto the kit's cowl fits the Pa-18-95, but I am building the Pa-18-150 version. The radiator is made from scraps of the vacuum-formed part. The plastic ball comes from my plastic model stash. The entire component, including the propeller shaft bearing, weighs 5.3 grams and is ready to be glued to the rest of the fuselage, filled, and sanded.
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This is now being done, and the paneling is also being added, true to the original model.
The fuselage, completed to this point, now weighs 14.9 grams. If I add up all the components built so far, the total comes to 30.7 grams.
To be continued....
Intermediate steps:
- For the elevator rail, the second end is now machined and provided with a recess
into which a locking pin made of steel wire fits. I knotted the rubber cord from
the kit (made of 3/16" rubber), placed it in the rail with the bobbin attached,
and secured it with the locking pin. I inserted the assembly into the model and
connected it to the model using the locking pin through the bearing and bobbin.
Now the stop, made from a wooden wedge, can be positioned flush against the head
frame and glued to the rail. Loosen the locking pin and pull the rail out of the
model.
Thanks to the stop, it will always be in the correct position when inserted.
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The propeller assembly, consisting of the spinner, propeller, washers, propeller
shaft, and propeller shaft bearing, is the next component.The polystyrene spinner
comes from the stock and is modified so that the propeller fits centered inside it. The 5"-propeller from the kit has been cleaned of all mold flash. The propeller shaft was fabricated from 0.8 mm spring steel wire with a formed hook for attaching the drive shaft. This hook is sized and shaped to fit diagonally through the opening in the fuselage nose.
The propeller bearing from the kit is not used; instead, it is replaced by one
that allows individual adjustment of the propeller shaft's pitch and camber by
adjusting two bushings with wrenches. The bearing fits snugly into a recess
in the fuselage nose and can be removed for adjustment.
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The main landing gear was built from the included plastic, wood, and wire parts.
Cut the wires to length and bend them into shape; glue the wheel halves together.
Sand the wooden shock absorber replicas to the correct shape. Assemble everything tentatively and attach it to the fuselage without gluing. It fits. Glue the shock absorbers in place and align them according to the plan while the glue is still wet.
For the tail landing gear, I will deviate from the kit because I want a movable wheel.
I found one in the right size in the "Plastkmodellbau" collection. I bent a piece from the remaining landing gear wire. The wheel of the wooden part was removed, and a
0.9mm hole was drilled into the rest to accommodate the wire. The wire was inserted and glued in place. A hole was also drilled in the fuselage at the appropriate spot, where the component is now inserted.
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I have now cut and adjusted the template for the glazing out of tracing paper. While doing so, I marked the contours on the hood.
The wooden parts of the cockpit were given a coat of primer where necessary, and then the first color accents were applied in accordance with the prototype. The decal with the cockpit instruments was also applied.
To be continued after the holidays 8) 8) 8)
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Nice work!
Those guillows kits have something in them. Great work so far and nice model kit!
The vacation is over, and work on the model has resumed. After reviewing the parts that have already been built, a template is made from wood scraps that match the thickness of the tail surfaces. This template is used to make the end wedges from leftover balsa wood. These wedges are not attached until the model—which has been covered with fabric and painted—is assembled.
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Covering and More...
(Part 1)
It's time to cover the components. I'll start with the wings. The paper included with the kit has a fluffy texture. I haven't had good experiences with this type of paper, so I'm using a different kind (17.06 g/m²) from my stash. But after the dampened paper dried, it had weak spots and holes all over. The result: I had to start the whole process over again. The new paper weighs 16.55 g/m², has a visible, gradient grain pattern, feels completely different, and is already applying beautifully taut. Satisfied with the result, I immediately covered the rear wing, vertical stabilizer, and fuselage as well. Next comes moistening the paper, and after it dries, applying two coats of thinned covering varnish.
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(Part 2)
"Glazing" the windows with transparent material. According to the plan, everything is to be glazed in one piece.
However, I plan to glaze each window individually, with the exception of the front one, which is adjacent to the windshield. So I cut two pieces from the clear material to match the outlines of the windows and then cut out the individual windows from those pieces. The snug-fitting parts were inserted and glued in place with "Supranol 2000," an adhesive used in plastic model building. One drop of the thin adhesive per edge on the inside and outside—let it flow in nicely and harden—and the window stays in place.
Somehow it bothered me that the fourth window couldn't be made the same way. So I created a new template for the windshield. And lo and behold, this one will "only" be attached to the strut. So I made window number 4 the same on both sides.
The windshield will be installed later, once the wings are mounted.
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(Part 3)
Now it's time to add some color. But first, all holes and openings are cleaned of paper and paint. Tamyia white matte (thinned) is the first color, followed by Tamyia red matte. Despite careful masking, a lot of manual work was still required around the curves of the hood and the trim strips, as the thin paint seeped under the masking tape. Various small parts, such as the wheels, rear landing gear, and propeller, are also painted. These are painted with different colors from the plastic model kit.
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Coming along nicely!
Assembly, detailing, etc....
(Part 1)
Let's start with the fuselage nose. Here, the "cylinder" openings are painted with the "Gunmetal" color. Then come the first decals. A front view photo was scaled down to match the model's fuselage nose, printed on decal paper (along with the rest of the decals), then the cylinders and radiator were cut out and applied to the model.
White propeller tips were added to the outer surface of the propeller assembly. The spinner was attached in such a way as to allow the propeller to spin freely. Connect the whole assembly to the fuselage nose, and this removable fuselage nose is complete.
Using a waterproof felt-tip pen, I marked the control surfaces, flaps, prominent sheet metal seams, and doors on the subassemblies. The top surface still needs some additional details, which will be added once the remaining glazing and fabric covering are in place.
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(Part 2)
Next, apply the decals, which were cut out individually from the sheet. To position the letter combinations, I printed them out on paper, trimmed them to size, and secured them to the wings and fuselage sides with tape. I then applied a strip of masking tape underneath, marked the letter positions on it, and applied the decals. Afterward, I removed the tape. Apply the remaining decals—done.
Next came the position lights, made from pinheads and thick superglue. The landing light—or rather, its cover—is a piece of self-adhesive aluminum foil. Before proceeding with the assembly of the wing and tail section, I weighed the model: 59 grams.
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(Part 3)
Reinforcement with round rods is recommended for assembling the wings. The holes for this were drilled into the components earlier. The round rods were then inserted into the fuselage and aligned. The wings were attached, and the wing struts were temporarily secured. This was done to maintain the exact V-shape. Secure the rods inside the fuselage with low-viscosity superglue. Remove the wing halves, coat the joints with white glue—as well as the holes in ribs 1 and 2—reattach the wings, and secure them with clamps until the glue cures. At the same time, the vertical stabilizer and horizontal stabilizer were carefully aligned and glued at right angles.
Next, the windshield is fitted. The material proved to be stubborn and could only be shaped by soaking it in hot water and using a hair dryer. It was secured using double-sided photo adhesive tape, Instant adhesives and other types of glue. Next, cover the remaining openings in the wing and fuselage, paint them, and add the color scheme and markings.
Attach the tail assembly and complete the fuselage end with sanded balsa pieces cut to shape. What follows now is the final assembly with the remaining parts and the addition of further details.
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Nicely handled George.
Very neat work Zip, it should look great in the air.
Looks good Zip...
Andrew
Finishing, Trimming ...
(Part 1)
The finishing process begins with attaching the wing struts and center struts. Next come the tail and main landing gear, the access bracket, and the exhaust pipe, followed by the tail assembly bracing and, finally, touching up the paint where necessary. The wheels are mounted on the wires, secured with glass beads, and checked for roundness.
The powertrain—including the spool, the 3/16" rubber band (1 loop) from the kit, and the hooks—is installed, and the nose cone is attached. The model, now largely complete, is placed on the scale, which reads 67 grams.
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(Part 2)
The center of gravity is marked on the fuselage and wing spars according to the plan. Now it's time to use one of my balancing devices. It consists of a piece of linen twine with a thin pin attached to each end. These are inserted into the wing spars, and the model is suspended from the twine. Tail-heavy—I didn't expect anything else! Pieces of putty are placed in the nose until the center of gravity is correct. I trimmed the model to be slightly nose-heavy. Two-thirds of the putty weight was glued into the nose in the form of pencil pieces; the rest remains as putty to allow enough clearance during flight testing. Trimmed weight is now 81 grams.
(Part 3)
And now??? Measure the technical specifications and then take it for a test flight as soon as the weather permits!
But what is the correct wing area, and what is the wing loading?
Wing area: 8.80 dm² (A); tail wing area: 1.15 dm² (B); fuselage area: 0.35 dm² (C).
If I use only the area of the wings (A), that comes to about 9.20 g/dm²; if I include the tailplane (A+B), it's 8.14 g/dm²; if I calculate using all three (A+B+C), I get 7.85 g/dm². In any case, it's under 10 g/dm², which promises a model that flies well.
Thus, the Guillows Kit No. 303 "Piper Super Cub 95" has been transformed into a "Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub" through modifications to the cowl. Although it is now "laser-cut," the design, according to the year indicated on the blueprint, dates back to 1961!
The build was a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy following the thread, too.
Peter
It looks very impressive Peter.
What a great looking collection of models in your workshop.
John
Last Sunday: Warm, calm weather. Just right for model flying and breaking in the models! First, I took some photos of the Piper—you never know. Then came the maiden flight. Even the very first trim flight ended in a beautiful, long, and stable glide of about 50 meters. The subsequent flights yielded the same results.
Wound the rubber band to 200 revolutions. Stable flight with a tendency to veer left, without much climb. The same pattern continued up to about 300 revolutions. Above that, the rubber band (gray, 2 strands of 3/16" from the kit) started behaving strangely. Despite good lubrication, the strands stuck together and no longer formed clean loops. The model was literally torn into the sky as it climbed steeply.
During one of the landings, a wing strut broke, which isn't a big deal and was repaired that very same evening.
Conclusion of the day: The model flies! It will get a rubber band from my stash (FAI Tan Super Sport 3/16"), and the kit's rubber band is going in the trash.
...and on the fly
Congratulations on your successful first trim flights! Now you're ready to win a "flowerpot" at the Guillow's Competition in Olten.
Chris
That looks very promising - good luck.
John