I recently found this old kit from the 60's or 70's in the RCG classifieds and have decided to do a build thread on it. I built one of these many years ago when my flying skills were not very good and I quickly crashed it. I hope to have better success with this one.

I already have an Eflite 32 and will be using a 12x8 prop and 4S batteries for power.

The plans were yellowed and brittle so I took them to the office supply store and had a couple of copies made, one to cut up and build on and one to keep.

I also added a new sheet of dry wall to my building table.

To get started, the stabilizer will be assembled first. I like that it's airfoiled!

The leading & trailing edges were pinned in place over the plans and the die cut ribs were glued in place with thin CA.

1/16" sheeting was glued on top and bottom, tip blocks added and the whole assembly ruff sanded to shape.

Very easy!

Before starting the wing, I first built a simple jig to allow the whole wing to be built at one time. I used sheetrock left over from my table top.

I cut four tapered pine wood strips on my table saw using a taper jig. These were then glued to the bottom of the sheetrock halves with drops of thick CA. This provides the correct dihedral to the wings as they're being built. I should point out that I reduced the dihedral to half of the suggested 1-1/2" per side.

When the two sheetrock sides were flipped over, they were taped together at the center section.

Great kit! I have one in my stash, too. I might put retracts on mine.

Back in the day when I cleaned the mess off the plane I had thought about an Instant Aztec in the Babe size with retracts.
Got as far as scaling the Instant Aztec plan to Babe size . . .

I am wondering about the 12 x 8 prop, is there going to be enough ground clearance?


Joe

Balsa Breaks Better Woodys Forever

The 12x8 is probably centimeters...

Originally Posted by ARUP

Great kit! I have one in my stash, too. I might put retracts on mine.

Retracts would be really cool!

Originally Posted by Thermaler

I am wondering about the 12 x 8 prop, is there going to be enough ground clearance?

You're right about the ground clearance being an issue. I can either go with a smaller 3-blade prop or extend the landing gear. But, I'm seriously thinking about reconfiguring the landing gear to a taildragger similar to a Morrisey Bravo.

Wing construction starts with pinning the bottom spars in place over the plans. Next, the die cut ribs with alignment tabs are glued to the spar with thin CA and pinned into position at the trailing edge.

The 1/16" x 3/8" trailing edge sheeting is added. I used CA on the bottom sheet and Titebond II for the top sheet.

This handy little silicone tub & brush makes using Titebond glue super easy. I got it from Rockler and use it often when I do woodworking.

That Rockler glue set up is nice! I'll have to get one and try it! Thanks!

I thought someone did a conversion from a Cherokee to an Aztec, and there was:

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=4620

Might give you some ideas.

For me, having been an A&P/IA for five decades, it would look more like a Seneca twin, 'cuz that is where Piper got the idea. The outline could be adjusted as you see fit for the airplane to resemble what you want

Originally Posted by Balsabird

I thought someone did a conversion from a Cherokee to an Aztec, and there was:

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=4620

Might give you some ideas.

For me, having been an A&P/IA for five decades, it would look more like a Seneca twin, 'cuz that is where Piper got the idea. The outline could be adjusted as you see fit for the airplane to resemble what you want

Want to take a guess at who sent that plan in? . . . ;>)

I have one on the way . . .

https://www.rockler.com/finishing/ad...nd-applicators



Joe

Balsa Breaks Better
Woodys Forever

Oh, Oh, I know, I know...pick me, pick me....



Never thought to look, was in a hurry, shoes weren't tied, any number of reasons unrelated to my advancing years

If you really want something different:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Pipe...cKheeyNC67HnIM

A three-engine Cherokee SIX that Piper played around with for a while. Twitter has some more pix according to Google, but I don't do social websites.

That would throw off even those familiar with Piper products

its gonna be a nice looking plane, i like the classic lines

rockler sure has some nice goodies