Dumas f9c sparrowhawk

[nickhawk]

Hello everyone

The Curtiss f9c sparrowhawk parasite fighter was always for some reason one of my favorite biplanes.Surfing around in the internet I found one kit from Dumas and without further thoughts I bought it.A week later I got a box which had the kit of the F9c and it contained some plastic parts, plans, instructions,but no balsa parts....My fault I was so eager to buy it I did not read the description.....But, I was determined to build it I had the plans and the parts so I blackmailed and bribed my friend Tasos who converted the plan into a file the laser cutter could read and voila.I started building it the worst part being stripping the 1,5 and 2 mm balsa stringers.It will be powered by a CO2 engine.I will use the ABS parts to make a mold for the wheel pants and the cowl.The cockpit will be balsa .

[nickhawk]

The left half of the fuselage and the side stringer glued

[Piecost]

This is a great subject and I look forward to following the build.

[nickhawk]

Almost done with the half left side cutting the stringers and sanding them to fit tightly was a time consuming work.Then the right side formers will be glued along with the stringers. At the same time I have applied 5 coats of release agent on the vac formed wheel pants and cowling provided by Dumas. I will then produce molds as the parts will be sturdier and lighter.

[nickhawk]

Empenage is started and after completed but not sanded put on the scale with 95% finished fuselage.

[nickhawk]

fuse and tail feathers.

[Piecost]

Looking good. Am I correct in thinking that you halved the width of the empenage leading and trailing edges? Did you do so on the fuselage formers too?

[nickhawk]

Yes I simply followed the instructions of the kit. I made some alterations though as I want it to be more rigid. I hope that I will sand the tail surfaces to create some airfoil-ish finish so the wood thickness was increased by 0,5 mm.
I want to reinforce the fuselage also with some cross beams between the formers.

[nickhawk]

Built the wings yesterday, with the extra ribs for more scale appearance

[dputt7]

Nice work, like the extra ribs.

[nickhawk]

The AUW of the parts I built so far (fuselage,tail, upper wing) is 26 gramms.Tomorrow I will start with the mold of the cowl belly and spats. I really hope with the epoxy parts that I will save alot of weight.....