Baby Bowlus

[fudi50]

I recently purchased the short Baby Bowlus kit version from Skybench and I am looking for input from those who have built this model. I am trying to build a model based on the one displayed at Elmira [spelling?] I have discovered numerious errors on the plans example wheel postion aileron ribs. What has your flying been like did you fly with C/G as per plan.What total weight was your model. Have you built struts as the one depicted. FYI my model fuselage/boom/tailplane weighs 48oz the fuse is built with 1/16x3/8th Mahogany over 1/16th balsa my wings weigh 26oz each are sheeted with 3/64th Mahogany as per full size.

[shaneyee]

I am scratch building a Baby Bowlus too... about the same size. I wasnt too confident of laminating mahogany veneer onto the fuselage pod so I used 1/8" balsa with 0.75oz/yd fiberglass cloth inside and out. I plan to stain and varnish to a mahogany hue for stand off looks. Yours is so much nicer and I wish I had not been so impatient.

Did you use a 1 1/8" boom? I think thats the scale size ( 5" full size ) I find it very heavy and I am afraid I will have to use a solid copper or lead nose in the front to get the CG right. Where is the CG on the plan in percentage terms?

Is that sawtooth spoiler standard? I have a barndoor spoiler as I couldn't find a picture of the spoiler deployed.... bad guess, oh well. "Stand far off" scale then....

Shane

[fudi50]

Hi Shane
Yes spoiler is saw tooth type but I have to change to barn door I am in error the Super Albatross located in San Martin Airport I viewed a few years ago has this type. woe is me ! percentage of C/G don't know equasion but from L/E it is is 4" cord is 11 1/4". I used the 1" tube and added on the underside a 1/4 x .25 aluminum strip with dimpled rivets on back side to simulate orginal. My model should eigh around 8lbs plus nose weight ! one wing weighs 26oz with scale position of mahogany sheet. My plans came frrom Skybench who's owner is not to helpful of a person. Hence my asking questions in this forum.

[John Gallagher]

The original full size design had no spoiler, but most builders (if not all) added a spoiler. Most have a single top surface spoiler. Remember the original was a kit built aircraft.
Here's a history of the Baby.
http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero/aircraft/bowlus_ba100.htm

[fudi50]

Attended last months scale fly in at Los Banos and won Pilots choicefor Best Vintage sailplane.
Have attached pictures of it in flight. Although greatly modified from the Skybench short laser kit, this model is a great flyer real responsive on coupled aileron rudder controll. Elevator is not pitch sensative. I am delighted with the finished model

[fudi50]

Pics now attached

[s14slide]

I have just got all my wood together for a set of baby plans I won on ebay. I just started clearing my room to start the build, but my health has been holding me back for the past week. I have an article about the build written by Capt. Dale Willoughby, USMC (Ret.) from an old "Scale R/C Modeler" magazine. Got any suggestions for a new scratch builder. I plan on taking however long to get the first one decent enough not to be considered a freak when looked at by other scale enthusiasts and also fly well. After that, I'll take my time to build a really scale inside and out type of bird. I always like to keep around a "beater" when it comes to just about anything in life!

[fudi50]

I don't realy have an answer for you I guess it all depends on your own level of building. For myself I try to find good pictures of the original and then use my imagination to craft a look alike to scale.As for the Albatross I only found one picture of the cockpit, the rest of the exterior was modeled after the full size exhibit in Elmira

[s14slide]

Well, I think I've heard of one here in Japan, but I may be thinking of another historical glider, maybe the Minimoa. Can't remember exactly. I can't wait to start on this thing.

[avicom]

fudi50; Nice model you have! I had purchased one about 3 or 4 years allready. It's still in the box. I managed to get almost all the wood to start the build when I was called for deployment. While I was servicing in OIF there was a broken pipe at home and my wife was out at job. Guess what my home get flooded and all the wood for the baby was soaked wet also. I'm doing a new inventory to try to start the build again. Here is where I find that the plans have some deviations in size from the original plan. Did you made an enlarge copy of the plans? I read that this will help with the scale down problem, but don't remberber what size I have to enlarge the plans. Thanks any ideas and tips to help me in the build will be appreciate.

Rgs

[MTT]

@fudi50 :
From me too, congrats on a very nice model !

However, I can't understand, why you went through the effort of detailing a scale cockpit, but on the other hand, did not install the wing struts, even if they were to be non-functional ??

I looked at your pics several times, and something was not right, although I could not place it, until I did a image search for Baby Albatrosses, and then it dawned on me.....
Here a pic of a full-size Baby :
http://www.russellw.com/photoalbum/ivsm_2005/Bowlus%20Albatross%20lfq.jpg
http://www.russellw.com/photoalbum/ivsm_2005/Bowlus%20Albatross%20right%20wing.jpg

[SoarPilot]

Fudi - Great looking Baby Bowlus. I have also purchased the short kit from Skybench & will hopefully make a start soon.

This is my first scale build and I was hoping that a partial kit would make the process easier. However, I am a little concerned about your comments regarding the mistakes on the plans.

Can you please elaborate on some of the areas that need refinement?

I would appreciate any assistance as this forum on scale sailplanes is my only resource.

[fudi50]

Reply to MTT. I did make the struts as per the original [see Skybench website for pics] the first flight of the Albatross at Los Banos unfortunately upon landing the port strut got caught up in some brush and the brass strut mounting on the wing broke. i decided to fly without struts at that point.Where did you find the two pictures posted

[fudi50]

Soarpilot.
Use the largest of the two wing plans supplied build one wing wax plan to make translucent turn over plan and build second wing now you will have two identical. for more scale realisam I made a wood template 1/4" smaller than the plan outline. Pin template to a board use 4 x 1/16 x 1/4 either spruce/bass/balsa soak in water, dry off, glue together and wrap around template. Allow to dry when removed you will have a scale outline T/E that is stronger than the thick balsa supplied. The aileron ribs need to be scraped and replaced with 3/32 ribs in a geodetic position also for realisiam gussets should be added. I made laminated T/E for tailplane and rudder Re wheel position because the full size utilised the axle for strut support it needs to be lowered 1/2" however if you are not building struts [not shown on plans] its no big deal. One last area that a great deal of attention should be given is servo and linkage installation the snake idea caused me big problems and I ended up putting a mini servo in the under side portion of the fin and used a carbon rod for the rudder. If you want any other info e-mail me direct ddalchin@earthlink.net.
P.S I visited Brisbane back in 79 then went to Mt Iser ended up in Darwin took a job with Queensland Mine Co 150 miles north of Darwin Company were excavting
uranium. David AKA The Brit

[MTT]

@fudi50 ;
Did a google image search, and found them here : http://www.russellw.com/

click on "vintage photo album ", and do a search for "bowlus"

[SoarPilot]

Fudi - Thanks for your timely advice. I will try and keep you informed of my progress. Should be the next glider to grace the ole building board.

Had another look on the SkyBench site on the weekend. Saw the lovely shots of your Bowlus on the site. Can't wait to make a start.