Rob's Bird of Time Build

[Rob Nicholson]

Welcome to my build thread.
My Dynaflite Bird of Time just arrived in the mail and i plan on starting it this coming week. I have a couple of wood builds under my belt and wanted something more challenging, and gigantic. I was looking for something a bit bigger then the bot (skybird/cloudbound), but for 85 bucks I couldn't pass it up.

I'm going to build it pretty much stock, with the exception of a three peice bolt-on wing, spoilers, and maybe a carbon laminated spar. I'm happy theres a few of these builds going on right now, lots of reference around. This is my first build of this complexity as well, so please feel free to share any advice you may think of. I'll appreciate any help I can get.

I snapped some shots of the box contents, hopefully they're going to show up....

Edit -
I have decided not to go with the three peice wing or carbon spar. I have an opportunity to build another project soon after I build this one that will be awesome. So I'm building this stock with the exception of spoilers. More info on Project Bird Monster to come.

[sierra-gold]

Hey Rob,

Good to see another build thread on the BOT. Each builder seems to highlight a different aspect of the build and encounter different problem build areas.

You can never provide too many photos either.

I have a Dynaflight kit on the shelf and when I finish off a couple of other already started projects I will get to it. These BOT threads will be a valuable resource.

Have a fun build and thanks.

SG

[imacer]

Keep the thread going. I just started a BoT kit also. Would like some help on adding spoilers.

[Rob Nicholson]

Finally really got started on my build here.

I'm already throwing caution to the wind. I set up my plans to work on the right wing before reading the instructions carefully. They say start with the left wing, and I say nuts to them.

Got all the inboard and outboard lower sheeting down, it took me a minute to figure out just what that diagram for step 4 was talking about. Test fitted and sanded the ribs, and inboard and outboard lower spars. Glued down the inboard lower spar, and I'm now waiting for it to dry so I figured I'd post up some pics.

Also found one of the outer balsa spars has quite a curve to it...

*EDIT*
In that first picture of the inner sheeting, the sheeting from the spar line back to the trailing edge should extend another 1/8 of an inch right. The rib that goes there is an AA rib, and requires sheeting under it. I had to add on the extra sheeting when I noticed this.

[Rob Nicholson]

Got some more work done on the BoT.

Set up and glued the Root rib with the hole for the joiner tube. (The one requiring the dihedral guage.)

Placed the #2-5 AA ribs. Took a bit of time to get those sanded down so they fit tight and square on the lower spar. They all had extra material along the bottom edge, resulting in rib sitting too high, resulting in the top spar being too high, and the shear webs not contacting both spars.

With no 1/4" ID tube to shape my filler bocks, I CA'd some sandpaper to the metal joiner rod, and after an initial carve out with a razor knife, sanded them out. Quite happy with how they came out, the joiner rod with the sandpaper was just the right size.

[Rob Nicholson]

Question -

Anyone who has built this model (Dynaflight Version). Step 14 directs you to cut out the center section of an A rib and to glue that piece to the innermost shear web. Am I missing something, or is that a typo, and should be telling me to cut one of the AA ribs?

[Guz]

Don't know the answer to your question, but I have a quick question.

Are the new BOT kits laser cut, or die crushed?

[Rob Nicholson]

Mine is definately not laser cut

[Rob Nicholson]

Mixed up the first batch of epoxy for this build, and got the large shear webs and the polyhedral plywood joiner curing now.

[Rob Nicholson]

More progress today.

I decided to skip epoxing the joiner box right now, and do it when both wings are ready for it. I saw someone else use this method in another build thread, and it seems like it will be much easier to ensure a nice square wing joint.

All the outer ribs on the right hand wing are in, as well as the trailing edge for both the inner and outer wing. The tips are currently curing in some clamps.

Stay tuned.

Apologies for the blurry pics. Had the camera too close.

[Up&Away]

To be continued?

[Purdue Aero Man]

Let's hope so. It's always great to watch another BoT come together. Perhaps he came down with "I don't feel like sanding-those-leading-edges-itis?"