Another entry in Funbuild 5:

This is a scratch built twin Cessna with retracts after a plane that is outfitted as a China Lake resident. The decals are available on the thread "Post your Scale Decals for Downloading" page 51. The design is by Pat and the vac formed parts are from Pats Custom as well.

I will be adding pictures and the final video as the plane is completed.

Wheel well construction


I had a bottle of Merlot that was just the right size


Robart 1/2A retracts installed

Testing with the fuse attached.

Radio Install
This is really not a difficult model to install retracts in and the weight penalty seems like it is going to be minimal.

Here is a short video of the landing gear test:

MVI_6368.AVI (0 min 18 sec)

Here are the tail peices after covering:


I decide to do the nose a little different with the vac formed part. I want the fit to be flush so I an making a sub former to go inside the cone. Last time I carved a nose peice (too much work) but this time it will also take a while to get the fit just right.


I cut off the top, bottom and side peices in order to mount the cone differently. The sub former is double stick taped in place for shaping:

Fuselage is about covered, adding markings:



Time to clean up my workbench:

Wing ready for final wiring to be pulled and then covering:


Nose cone with sub-former installed ready for trimming:


Nose cone test fit...about right! Also, my hand matches the federal standard color for Navy blue.

Fuse is covered and the markings on. I used a combination waterslide and cutout graphics (from white and red econokote) because waterslide decals are not as opaque and are somewhat prone to wear and damage.

Next time I think I will go to Kinko's and make laser printed waterslide since they are supposed to be more durable.


I love the way Parklite goes on compound curves in a big wad......


Then it comes out nearly perfect after some heat gun abuse:

Completed the nose cone:



Fuse and tail group is together. Elevator pushrod and rudder pull-pull linkages and windows are next:

Great job thus far ! Very nice choice of schemes for this one too

Cheers,
-John

It looks great.

Len

Originally Posted by jofrost

Great job thus far ! Very nice choice of schemes for this one too

Cheers,
-John

Originally Posted by LenBFP

It looks great.

Len

Thanks guys, I had to take several steps back today. I accidentally had a drop of CA get away from me while repairing a former I cracked. Murphy's law dictated that it hit right on the steering arm of the nose retract. Totally my fault though.



So, that was the end of it's functional life. However, I was concerned about the nose retract because it was a cheaper one and not the Robart like the mains. So, I ordered a Robart nose retract today.

So in the long run it is probably better this way but I will not be able to make much progress for a week or so and the weather is shaping up to be perfect for Saturday. The nice thing about the Robart nose gear is it is 100 degree rotation instead of 90. I had to mount the other nose gear way up inside the fuse and at a funny angle so it would extend at the proper forward angle and still tuck up in the retracted position. The 100 degree rotation will help with the second installation.

Dave

Completed the wing, ailerons in and tested. The Ultracote midnight blue paint doesn't match so I have to custom mix some Model Master paint.



Pull-pull ruder system is in along with a carbon fiber elevator pushrod.

Getting close to completion. The Robart nose gear is installed an working. Painting the window frames tonight:





Hoping for a maiden flight in one or two days.....

Dave