Vincent

I hope for about 69 gm/dm2. I am nearly completed so will know the actual figure soon.

John

Finished the Koverall and reasonably happy with the result. In case it is of help to others I attach a series of photos.

1) Make a paper template of the shape, I used left over Christmas paper.
2) Check the fit on the space with adequate overlap.
3) Close up of the Koverall and the glued area is just visible
4) Tack the Koverall in place with an modelling iron.
5) Heat up the glued surfaces so there are no wrinkles the apply the heat gun very carefully. Too much and it will pull the covering off the glued surface.
6) Dope the glued surfaces and let dry before applying a hot air gun carefully to get a nice even tension.

John

Final photos of the completed Koverall surface with 2 coats of dope.

I have just fitted the Eagletree small sensor to measure max airspeed. This came with its own pitot tube. I fitted it as near the front of the plane as I could reach. It is shown extended to its maximum.

John

John,the finish looks excellent!Thanks for the Koverall how to.
Stuart

Excellent!

Lothar

I have now completed the plane with its installations. Unfortunately we have bad cold and snowy weather and it may be a while till I can get some finished pictures. It is amazing how a plane just gains weight as it is being worked and the longer. I have a final weight of 4.0Kg which is more than I hoped but will still be pretty light for such a big wing and the engine thrust. The bad weather will delay any maiden flight.

John

Finished!

Now for some nice weather for maiden.

Any idea how to get photos to post vertically?

John

She's a beauty John,congratulations!
It's been a pleasure and an education watching you build this.
Cant help you with the photo thing- lie on your side in the snow?
Stuart

She's a beauty John,congratulations!

Amen! Well done John! I'm really looking forward to see her in the air. I really hope weather betters soon. We had freezing rain yesterday here in Heidelberg

Cheers,
Andrés

John,
I agree, it is a beauty! I can empathize with your weather, 6 degF (-14 degC) here this morning and 10 inches of snow, with winds gusting to 25mph today (2 days ago it was 50mph). Definite building weather, too bad I have to go to work.

I can not wait til you've reported how it flies, I'm sure it will be spectacular (hopefully video too).

Regards,
-Eric

Well had a bit of a setback. Some one kindly pointed out that I had used the flex tanks which are not proof against kero. I contacted the manufacturers and I was advised I had no choice but to take them out and replace them.

I reluctantly cut into the pristine underneath and removed the tanks. I then set about making some conformal tanks that would give me a little more fuel. I had the blue foam and cut 2 plugs and covered them with plastic parcel tape and coated with wax. I then applied 2 layers of 135 gm glass fibre. It was not easy to get the cloth to sit properly particularly at the corners. On one tank I used peel ply after the first layer and held it in place with cling film. I then applied the second layer after it was set and after removing the peel ply.

The tank is cut in half and the blue foam is dug out with long nose pliers. The inside of the tank is left with a nice shiny finish from the tape. I then drilled the hole for the bung reusing the one from the old tank. The 2 halves were joined with a thin layer of Hysol and after it was set overnight I applied a wrap of Kevlar tape.

I turned the ali bung holes and they are glued in with Acrylic glue or Hysol.

The the acid test would they leak? Well the first tank was fine so I could proceed with more confidence to make the second.

Hopefully I can get the reinstated model ready to fly in a week or so.

John

Sorry to hear that, John! Better now than later

Cheers,
Andrés

That's a shame John.I don't know what the weathers like down your way,but it's been a good'un up here,blue sky and a light breeze.Perfect maiden weather!
I presume you'll have a bit of a weight penalty?

Yes a nice day but cold here.

The new tanks are a little heavier so yes a slight increase in weight, but not really significant. The extra fuel should help though.

John

You've got to admire the power of the internet. Some little voice from a 1000 miles away saved you from a big mess..... It pays to post !

I wonder if the original tanks could have been used by flooding the inside with some sort of rubbery liner?

Kent