Hello,

Am beginning a scratch build of McHard's plan for the classic SE5a, 27" wingspan. If anyone has built a model from this plan, I'd be interested in hearing what problems you may have encountered. Pictures to follow soon!

I've started with the top wings. One of the nice things about the SE5a is all four wing panels are pretty much the same. First task was to make up a bunch of wing ribs, which I do in batches to keep from going crazy!

Next, I notched the leading and trailing edges to accept the ribs; the pictures show the ribs dry fitted; using this method makes the work go very quickly indeed!

Your LE and TE notches look very nice, clean and crisp. What method are you using to achieve this?

On this one I just used a nice sharp razor saw with a small block clamped to it as a depth stop. After the cuts are made, I have a micro mortising chisel that chips out the waste. goes pretty fast!

Top wing panels went together fairly quickly, and I love having a solid block on the wingtips to attach the covering film to.

The two upper panels will get attached to the center section, and had fun putting the partial leading edge formers in; should look great when covered.

Joining the wing panels to the center section --the plan called for an elaborate system of brass tubes and wire and all manner of little twisty wire bits that aspire to connect the wing to the fuselage; I abandoned all of this in favor of simple 1/16 ply connectors that overlap the wing spars.

That should be a big improvement.

I certainly hope so. We'll see if I come back from the test flight with a whole plane or bunch of sticks and torn covering!

Next step is to add some notched lite ply cabane and interplane strut plates.

The bottom wings are built almost exactly like the top wings, with the exception of the wing root detail.

Wings have been joined using 1/16" plywood spars shaped to the correct angle. These are backed up with two thick spars of hard balsa.

I've started fleshing out the fuselage sides, and I'm following the plan selectively as aspects of it tend to be a trifle heavy.

Originally Posted by capeflyer

...I've started fleshing out the fuselage sides, and I'm following the plan selectively as aspects of it tend to be a trifle heavy.

Like what? Photos?

Fuselage formers and battery compartment deck were fitted next. Before they were glued, I cut an angled notch through the solid fuselage sides for the cabane struts which will be made from 1/16" ply and will slide (coated with epoxy) through the slot into a slot cut in a hard balsa former. The aft ones will be done in a similar fashion. The angle fore and aft and athwart was taken from the plans.

I installed the servo deck with servos right around the CG. glued the two sides together forward, let dry, then using the plan as a guide glued two ends together. Then filled in the cross struts using squares.

The aft formers were made from steamed strips of balsa bent and glued over a form. These were then tacked into place with CA and then reinforced with epoxy fillets. The turtle deck sheathing was steamed too; the advantage being the wood is dry in a few minutes (versus soaking the wood).

Next step was to sheath the turtle deck area forward, and cement the stringers on the formers aft. After this, the rudder and stabilizer/elevators were made.