That’s looking really good Craig.

Computer problems; I used to worry about “all that stuff” but my head is getting full and I don’t worry about it anymore. Why? My son is an IT guy (among other things ie-auto mechanics) and keeps it all going. However I’ve been waiting “forever” for him to get my CalComp plotter running on the new windows platform. It only works (for me) on an old system with AutoCad R12!

Beside, “balsa” is really a lot more fun.

Looking at SD’s “built in servos” reminds me of when I built a really nice (at the time, to me at least) model of a Spit, all balsa, powered by an OS Max .15. I worked my “buns” off, as a kid, built it, dreamed of flying it, test ran the motor, etc. etc. Proudly I brought it into my LHS (early 1960’s) and Murray looked at it made a few nice comments, but did not point out the mistakes I had made. I had built the tank and engine in! I later had to cut the cowl area to get the engine out.

Well, watching your build, I’ll just have to add a Vic Smeed "Mams'elle" to my “to do List”. Well guys/gals, we’re all going to have to live into triple digits!

John

Day 18 -- Wing

The starboard panel has been attached to the center section. It's a rough joint, and I'm going to need a bit of lightweight compound to fill the dips, but I think it will look OK in the end.

Discovered something -- the angle drawn into the dihedral brace on the plan (bottom edge of DB) is a tad more than 2 3/4" at the tips. I'm not going to rip out the braces at this point, and just need to make sure the port panel lines up symmetrically.

Photo 1 shows the progress...

Originally Posted by cpmcgraw

Discovered something -- the angle drawn into the dihedral brace on the plan (bottom edge of DB) is a tad more than 2 3/4" at the tips. I'm not going to rip out the braces at this point.......

Don't talk to me about dihedral braces!! Having a slight issue there myself, as it happens....

Day 18 -- Wing

Photo 1 shows the glue-up of a completed wing. I managed to get the tips equalized, and I think it will all work itself out with compound, but it's still rough looking. The balsa was very soft, and wanted to tear and crush instead of cut. If I do this model again, I'll know what not to do...

Photo 2 shows the center section held in place with clamps. It also shows what a careless thumb can do. There's a big gash in the rear section where my thumb just politely punched itself through the skin. Fixable, but ugly...

Originally Posted by Colonel Blink

Don't talk to me about dihedral braces!! Having a slight issue there myself, as it happens....

The scroll saw beats the x-acto knife hands down. It's just hard to maneuver thin ply into an oscillating blade without the blade grabbing and jerking the ply.

Having to see through these try-to-focus peepers doesn't exactly help the situation much, either... I figure as long as I keep my fingers out of the blade, I must be doing something right...

I may be visiting the US on business in the next few months - I have decided that I just have to get me some of those clamps!!!

And I am fully aware of the issues of seeing through 'try-to-focus' peepers as well

With very soft balsa, I have found that a new razor blade beats any Xacto to a cocked hat - as long as you watch out for fingers. The Dart Kitten has a rather fetching blood stain on the fuz side

I am impressed with your progress on both models - you'll be maidening two before I have finished one!

Originally Posted by Colonel Blink

With very soft balsa, I have found that a new razor blade beats any Xacto to a cocked hat - as long as you watch out for fingers. The Dart Kitten has a rather fetching blood stain on the fuz side

Please Blinkie, before you amputate something get a Swann-Morton scalpal handle and a good supply of 10A blades. The ONLY way to cut medium and soft balsa without risking life and limb!

I agree with George - Swann Morton's are probably the best you can buy. This is what I use for most manual cutting with a trusty Stanley knife for anything too recalcitrant

Handle 6A/25A blade
Handle 5A/10A blade
Handle 9/11 blade.

I prefer the plastic handles for better grip and the small one is used only for film cutting and covering.

Ray

I have a whole selection of scalpel handles - but then many years ago at a model jumbly sale I bought a box full of 50 Swann-Morton scalpel blades (not sure what type number) which didnt fit any of the handles I had or subsequently bought! So since then, my sporadic times modelling have been done with holding the bare blade in my podgy fingers. Handles? Pah! They're for beginners and lightweights!!!!

But I am now down to my last half dozen or so, and I'm not sure I would have the same feel using a handle after all this time.....

Originally Posted by Colonel Blink

I may be visiting the US on business in the next few months - I have decided that I just have to get me some of those clamps!!

Those clamps are indispensable Col and you don't need to use them as an excuse for another jolly in the States as they are readily available from your local B&Q. That's where I purchased mine for the princely sum of £6:98 per pair.
http://www.diy.com/nav/fix/handtools...skuId=11758916

I know where I'll be going this weekend...Cheers!

Originally Posted by Colonel Blink

I may be visiting the US on business in the next few months - I have decided that I just have to get me some of those clamps!!!

Lidl & Aldi sell them regularly.

Hobbyking have got 'em for $1.42 that's less than a pound each

Day 20 -- REBOOT

After a couple days of soul-searching and eyeballing that wing, noting that even after being careful to try to get the dihedral angles right, it still wasn't, I have decided to scrap this attempt. It just isn't up to my expectations.

At this point in the build, it doesn't make sense to me to use a frame-up that just isn't right and never will be. Also, all of the balsa came from my scrap box, so I have no major investment in the frame except for time. Even that isn't a total loss -- I know what to look for in the frame, and have learned some things about what I want to change.

I have some fresh scraps for ribs ready for the knife, and it won't be difficult to work up the rest of the parts. Again, it's all just scrap balsa. And time.

All-in-all, I'm not unhappy that this happened. Disappointed in my own deficiencies at building, of course, but not so bummed out that I'd call it quits on the whole project. I had similar problems with Envoy, and that one got fixed easily. So will this one. Mamselle is just too pretty an airplane to use sub-par components in the build.

More updates to come...

Crikey Craig, that's drastic - and brave. It looked OK in the photos, but plaudits to you for not accepting something which YOU don't like - my criteria with any model is that I have to be satisfied with it.