Funny you mentioned that. The Conoe in the image below is the first REAL planking job I've done that had to look nice. I designed and made this display model for Midwest Products some nine years ago when I worked there.

John Boren

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Gorgeous build, John.

I thought the planking would never end but it finally did. I couldn’t be more pleased with the results. I did a first pass at sanding the whole fuselage to make it look pretty but I still need to do a final sanding. Luckily I will need very little filler to complete the job. I still need to add the Nose, air intakes and exhaust area, all of which will be made out of balsa blocks.

I went ahead any made the front canards and rear vertical stabilizers. I used 1/16” ply in the center of the vertical stabs, both for strength and so I could sand the leading and trailing edges to a strong point. The canards are laminated as well but I use only balsa. There is a square brass tube in the fuselage for the canards to plug into. I still need to perform a final sanding on these parts as well.

The planked fuselage came out at 3.9 ounces. It will lose a little more weight after the final sanding. With the canards and vertical tails in place it comes in at 4.9 ounces.
Next come’s the wing. I designed a built up balsa wing, but with a root airfoil of that’s only .41 thick and a tip airfoil that’s only .118 thick I decided it’s not worth the head ache to build, so I’m going to simply carve a solid balsa wing. I bet the solid wing comes in around 4.5 ounces so it should be fine weight wise.

John Boren

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A few more photos


John Boren

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Wow!

John,

That is some great craftsmanship !

Dave Fitch

Looking great.

I have ben trying to figure out how I could build a model design and this looks like it will fill the bill. Thanks for the lessons!

I am an AutoCAD draftsman, so the design layout is no problem, that leaves the lasar cutting. Could I borrow yours?

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Bernard J. Herman Ohio RLS

Starport Sagitta Rockets
email bherman@sagittarockets.com

NAR # 97971 SR

What's your idea on the best way to change Washington D.C.?
Let us know at the Cantina
Sagitta Cantina

We're looking for a few good Catos, please tell us about any you may have had. Survey of Anecdotal Malfunctioning Engines or S.A.M.E.

I can send you this autocad file of the X-29 that I found online. I don't know how scale it is outline wise. It has a 36" wingspan but you can scale it to what ever you would like it to be.

Just PM me with you email address.

John Boren

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Boy was I wrong about the finished weight of a solid balsa wing. As seen the entire wing only weighs 2.2 ounces. Even it a built up wing would be less than half the weight, I’ll take the ease of building a solid one any day. It only took two hours from start to finish creating these wing panels plus the drying time of the carpenters glue. The wing was just two layers of ¼” balsa laminated together. I drew the airfoils on the root and tip and then simply carved and sanded away the stuff that needed to go. They still need a final sanding and I want to thin up the trailing edge a little more. I’ve got more to do on them but I believe I’ll move on to the other parts first.


John Boren

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I don't see why not since it is a craftsmanship event and not a duration event. Do it and claim mission points.


Bill

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