Mue-23 motorglider - Page 3

No Step · Mar 07, 2009, 08:13 PM

Thanks Dieter, I might just take you up on that. I intend to make a contribution to their restoration fund. I may have you translate a letter for me. That'd be much better than translation software. Btw, looks like some nice slope sites you've found over there!

Fred

No Step · Oct 10, 2009, 09:08 PM

I'm starting the build. It's been a year since I started thinking about this model. I just finished doing the maiden flight on my most recent project, a Sperry Messenger biplane,- http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1074370 (yes, I'm very happy) , so next one in the build Que is the Mue-23. I'm clearing my workbench tomorrow and will start laying down balsa on Monday.

I've just spent 5 hours going over my plans, making changes and adjustments here and there. And I'm sure more changes will come about as I go along. To my knowledge, this will be the only R/C model ever built of the Mue-23, in the whole wide world,... to this date. That's so cool! I'm a pioneer!

I contacted Akaflieg München last month to see how much progress has been made on their restoration project. Sadly, no progress has been made at all. They have been doing other things and/or flying. I was hoping for some new pictures. But that's just not going to happen. I'm officially part of their Mue-23 restoration project. I contributed $75 to their building fund. Solitaryman contributed as well. They probably bought beer and Schnitzel with the money. That's OK. I feel like I'm a part of the project anyway

.

Stay tuned for progress reports as they happen. I'm hoping the build will be completed by the end of January, 3 1/2 months. That should be more than enough time.

If anyone has missed it, to recap, it will have a 157"ws, electric (Axi 4120/14), 4s or 5s 2600 maybe even smaller - 2100? All I want is about 2 climbs to altitude. I'm thinking 4s will be a longer, more labored climb. Whereas, 5s, will take her up NOW! We'll see. It will have a one time retractable gear. So after takeoff, the gear will retract once and stay there. Landing will be done on the half exposed wheel. I don't want the complication of a fully up/down retractable wheel. I want light and simple. That's my thinking so far, all subject to change

.

No Step · Oct 13, 2009, 06:46 PM

It's a start.

ShredAir · Oct 13, 2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by No Step

It's a start.

No step, it's a first step... : )
I look forward to following along, and I'll be in Munich next spring, maybe I'll have a look at what the Akaflieg is doing with theirs.

Dieter Mahlein, ShredAir

suirendoujin · Oct 14, 2009, 09:36 AM

Fred!
Keep the pics coming!!!! Waiting all the time.
Toshiro

No Step · Oct 14, 2009, 11:35 AM

That would be great Dieter. I'll be finished with the model by then but that's OK. I'd be interested in hearing how it's coming. They said they'd send me photo updates, but I'm not really expecting them. It's easily said and easily forgotten,... with all good intentions.

Toshiro, hello my friend! Long time no see. I'll keep progress updated regularly. I have both sides done, and now planning how to join them. The lower mid fuselage transitions to an inverted triangle cross section which will be tough to do. Water, maybe mixed with ammonia, patience, and for sure cracking (or cutting) of the the longerons will be in needed. Upper image is a cross section roughly 3/4 down from top of fuselage.

No Step · Oct 14, 2009, 04:31 PM

I'll be posing often. I know of one at least one other person that may build one so this thread will also serve as a well documented "how-to" to show how I went about building mine (right or wrong). I'm pretty much making up the process as I go along. Mistakes will be admitted, and successes will be bragged about,... all in good fun. I must have made dozens of changes (some major) to my drawings just over the past week. I think I've got it pretty much nailed now though.... subject to change as I go along

.

No Step · Oct 14, 2009, 09:53 PM

This has got to be the most tedious part of the build. It is going well.

ShredAir · Oct 15, 2009, 07:22 AM

They say, the worse the weather the better the building...
Is the weather THIS bad already in Everett? : )

Dieter Mahlein, ShredAir
(from sunny and warm Colombia)

No Step · Oct 15, 2009, 10:25 AM

Yep, it was very nice until Monday (the day I started the mue-23), now it's raining, and windy. 10 day forcast is for more of the same. Our winter is here. Whoo-Hoo! Perfect building weather. I love it. Full speed ahead.

No Step · Oct 15, 2009, 08:25 PM

I didn't do much today but "fix it". Because the sides were built first then attached to the fuselage plate with the drastic concave curve, there was a foreshortening of the side frames. I used aluminum angles to square everything up again and cut loose lower glue joint of 5 paired diagonals so they would allow the bottom longeron to drop down properly. I filled the gap with balsa. I have no idea how to get around this. It'd be very difficult to purposely build the sides "wide" in the middle to make it come out right. I'm happy with how it's turned out . Everything is straight and square. That's the most important thing.

maxxnut · Oct 18, 2009, 11:58 PM

The weather station near the ERMA field on saturday morning at 8am showed a rainfall of 3.2 inches per HOUR....God was playing with the garden hose again. Got enough balsa Fred ???

Neil

solitairyman · Oct 21, 2009, 05:47 PM

Hi Fred,
I like this. But it is going to fast again.
I am looking forward to the rest of the building now.
BTW I did send them a box of the good Belgian chocolates too.
As I was told the box was empty before one new it

I have changed a bit on my Moni too.
I will post it later.
Noël

No Step · Oct 21, 2009, 10:18 PM

I spent half the day today gluing up the lower fuselage and double, triple checking My landing gear idea. I'm going to have to start bending steel pretty soon.

Hello Noel, those drawings I gave you are way out of date now. I've made many, many, many changes since then. I'll get you the new files when I'm done, or sooner if you need them.

mmartin55 · Oct 21, 2009, 11:42 PM

Nice work Fred. Its always fun and humbling to watch the master at work!

Tom

Oct 10, 2009, 09:08 PM	#32
No Step My hanger is full Join Date: May 2003 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 2,683	I'm starting the build. It's been a year since I started thinking about this model. I just finished doing the maiden flight on my most recent project, a Sperry Messenger biplane,- http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1074370 (yes, I'm very happy) , so next one in the build Que is the Mue-23. I'm clearing my workbench tomorrow and will start laying down balsa on Monday. I've just spent 5 hours going over my plans, making changes and adjustments here and there. And I'm sure more changes will come about as I go along. To my knowledge, this will be the only R/C model ever built of the Mue-23, in the whole wide world,... to this date. That's so cool! I'm a pioneer! I contacted Akaflieg München last month to see how much progress has been made on their restoration project. Sadly, no progress has been made at all. They have been doing other things and/or flying. I was hoping for some new pictures. But that's just not going to happen. I'm officially part of their Mue-23 restoration project. I contributed $75 to their building fund. Solitaryman contributed as well. They probably bought beer and Schnitzel with the money. That's OK. I feel like I'm a part of the project anyway . Stay tuned for progress reports as they happen. I'm hoping the build will be completed by the end of January, 3 1/2 months. That should be more than enough time. If anyone has missed it, to recap, it will have a 157"ws, electric (Axi 4120/14), 4s or 5s 2600 maybe even smaller - 2100? All I want is about 2 climbs to altitude. I'm thinking 4s will be a longer, more labored climb. Whereas, 5s, will take her up NOW! We'll see. It will have a one time retractable gear. So after takeoff, the gear will retract once and stay there. Landing will be done on the half exposed wheel. I don't want the complication of a fully up/down retractable wheel. I want light and simple. That's my thinking so far, all subject to change . Last edited by No Step; Oct 11, 2009 at 08:23 AM.

Oct 13, 2009, 06:46 PM	#33
No Step My hanger is full Join Date: May 2003 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 2,683	It's a start. Attached Thumbnails 38.8 KB · Views: 66

Oct 14, 2009, 11:35 AM	#36
No Step My hanger is full Join Date: May 2003 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 2,683	That would be great Dieter. I'll be finished with the model by then but that's OK. I'd be interested in hearing how it's coming. They said they'd send me photo updates, but I'm not really expecting them. It's easily said and easily forgotten,... with all good intentions. Toshiro, hello my friend! Long time no see. I'll keep progress updated regularly. I have both sides done, and now planning how to join them. The lower mid fuselage transitions to an inverted triangle cross section which will be tough to do. Water, maybe mixed with ammonia, patience, and for sure cracking (or cutting) of the the longerons will be in needed. Upper image is a cross section roughly 3/4 down from top of fuselage. Attached Thumbnails upper image is a cross section roughly 3/4 down from top of fuselage 19.3 KB · Views: 64

Oct 14, 2009, 04:31 PM	#37
No Step My hanger is full Join Date: May 2003 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 2,683	I'll be posing often. I know of one at least one other person that may build one so this thread will also serve as a well documented "how-to" to show how I went about building mine (right or wrong). I'm pretty much making up the process as I go along. Mistakes will be admitted, and successes will be bragged about,... all in good fun. I must have made dozens of changes (some major) to my drawings just over the past week. I think I've got it pretty much nailed now though.... subject to change as I go along . Attached Thumbnails Fuselage plate is 3/16 balsa. I considered 1/8" lite ply, but stayed with balsa. I had a nice piece on hand. I'll be adding some cross pieces to the plate later. 43.3 KB · Views: 45 Gluing fwd part is easy 42.0 KB · Views: 48 41.9 KB · Views: 50 I didn't use water on the longerons while wrapping to the curved plate 91.4 KB · Views: 47 I sliced the longeron 1/2 way thru but it still snapped apart at the last second. If I used water it would have been fine. 71.2 KB · Views: 51 When I positioned them back together, I ended up with a small gap. I'll add a tie plate there later 70.5 KB · Views: 48 Top cross pieces will be easy, but the fuselage sides are going to be groaning with stress in the transition area. 34.3 KB · Views: 44 Back half is triangular. I'll add cross pieces tomorrow... and I'll wet the balsa. At the bottom, some of the joints may crack under the stress. I'll reglue everything once the cross pieces are installed. 94.3 KB · Views: 50

Oct 14, 2009, 09:53 PM	#38
No Step My hanger is full Join Date: May 2003 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 2,683	This has got to be the most tedious part of the build. It is going well. Attached Thumbnails Angle aluminum is used to keep longeron straight. Cross pieces are easily installed. 40.0 KB · Views: 51 32.4 KB · Views: 48 39.0 KB · Views: 48 Oh man, this is gorgeous! 36.7 KB · Views: 59 Bottom longerons beveled and glued together 96.0 KB · Views: 53

Mar 07, 2009, 08:13 PM	#31
No Step My hanger is full Join Date: May 2003 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 2,683	Thanks Dieter, I might just take you up on that. I intend to make a contribution to their restoration fund. I may have you translate a letter for me. That'd be much better than translation software. Btw, looks like some nice slope sites you've found over there! Fred

Oct 14, 2009, 09:36 AM	#35
suirendoujin Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Far East Posts: 596	Fred! Keep the pics coming!!!! Waiting all the time. Toshiro

Oct 15, 2009, 07:22 AM	#39
ShredAir slope'n the Colombian Andes Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Girardota, Colombia Posts: 3,699	They say, the worse the weather the better the building... Is the weather THIS bad already in Everett? : ) Dieter Mahlein, ShredAir (from sunny and warm Colombia)

Oct 15, 2009, 10:25 AM	#40
No Step My hanger is full Join Date: May 2003 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 2,683	Yep, it was very nice until Monday (the day I started the mue-23), now it's raining, and windy. 10 day forcast is for more of the same. Our winter is here. Whoo-Hoo! Perfect building weather. I love it. Full speed ahead.

Oct 15, 2009, 08:25 PM	#41
No Step My hanger is full Join Date: May 2003 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 2,683	I didn't do much today but "fix it". Because the sides were built first then attached to the fuselage plate with the drastic concave curve, there was a foreshortening of the side frames. I used aluminum angles to square everything up again and cut loose lower glue joint of 5 paired diagonals so they would allow the bottom longeron to drop down properly. I filled the gap with balsa. I have no idea how to get around this. It'd be very difficult to purposely build the sides "wide" in the middle to make it come out right. I'm happy with how it's turned out . Everything is straight and square. That's the most important thing. Attached Thumbnails 39.0 KB · Views: 50

Oct 18, 2009, 11:58 PM	#42
maxxnut Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: smokey point, wash. Posts: 204	The weather station near the ERMA field on saturday morning at 8am showed a rainfall of 3.2 inches per HOUR....God was playing with the garden hose again. Got enough balsa Fred ??? Neil

Oct 21, 2009, 05:47 PM	#43
solitairyman Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 112	Hi Fred, I like this. But it is going to fast again. I am looking forward to the rest of the building now. BTW I did send them a box of the good Belgian chocolates too. As I was told the box was empty before one new it I have changed a bit on my Moni too. I will post it later. Noël

Oct 21, 2009, 10:18 PM	#44
No Step My hanger is full Join Date: May 2003 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 2,683	I spent half the day today gluing up the lower fuselage and double, triple checking My landing gear idea. I'm going to have to start bending steel pretty soon. Hello Noel, those drawings I gave you are way out of date now. I've made many, many, many changes since then. I'll get you the new files when I'm done, or sooner if you need them. Attached Thumbnails 1/8" hard plywood plate on bottom of fuselage floor. Spreads out stress of hard landings. Still need to make cut out for gear legs to retract up into fuselage. 83.9 KB · Views: 19 1/8 x 1" lite ply extends through the 3/16" balsa floor, up onto fuselage framing. This helps spread out the loads from landing gear,... I think. 38.1 KB · Views: 27 Lower formers 44.5 KB · Views: 22 Lower fuselage basically done, landing gear next. 44.6 KB · Views: 27 RH door, LH is a window 40.4 KB · Views: 19 Busy intersection of sticks. 42.3 KB · Views: 21 Access hatch for stabilizer bellcrank 90.2 KB · Views: 25

Oct 21, 2009, 11:42 PM	#45
mmartin55 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 2,077	Nice work Fred. Its always fun and humbling to watch the master at work! Tom