Since NARAM 56 is just around the corner I decided to stop looking for the perfect project to build as my concept scale model and proceed to construct an X-34 which is still a way cool looking design.

I’m using typical model airplane construction on this model just like my Navaho. It took about two and half hours of work tonight to assemble the parts shown. This should be a really quick build and should be framed up hopefully in less then a week.

The rear three formers containing the hole for the 29mm motor mount tube are 1/8” light plywood. Everything else in the images is either 3/32” sheet balsa or 3/16” square balsa stock. In the bottom front of the model you will see a BT-5 body tube. This is where I will place any nose weight to balance the model with. Once the model is all covered up it would be hard to get weight up front but now I can simply poor some lead shot down the tube and back it up with a balsa plug. Still left on the fuselage are the application of the top rear sheeting which is 1/16” sheet balsa, the top center will get some 1/16” sheet balsa and the top front will be planked with 3/32” by 1/8” balsa sticks.

And yes this model will be Radio Controlled, since who doesn’t like extra mission points.

John Boren

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You're a fast builder, John. Should make for an interesting project.

By the way, do you use a personal laser cutter on your projects? If so, what brand/model do you use? Been looking at them in general lately but am not really sure which models would do best at cutting sheet balsa and fiber board most likely used in rocketry.


Earl

__________________
Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

I have access to one at work. It's a cheap Chinese made laser that I wouldn't use for production but for prototype work it's good enough.

Ah, ok...I kinda wondered whether it might be one located at the workplace. If you don't mind me asking, what model/brand is it and the ballpark cost?

If you are not 'allowed' to say for business reason I understand. But, if you CAN share I'd be most interested in hearing what unit you use. I've looked around at some of those 'cheap' units with the same thought: not robust for production use, but for personal use might be pretty workable. Just don't know really which unit might be best.


Thanks,

Earl

__________________
Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

Nice.

__________________
If it flies, I can crash it!

Don't believe there's any secret here. A simply web search for China made laser cutters should bring this company up. Liaocheng Shenhui Laser Equipment Co.,Ltd

It is a 100 Watt laser, but I am lucky to be able to cut a 1/8" 3 ply birch. The tube is about five feet long so it sticks out the side of the machine a couple feet. The table size is big, can't remember exactly but 12" x 24" is no issue at all. There were some electrical issues with it, which took me a while to figure out but at under 5K, "6 year old price" I would purchase one now that I know what to look for and fix before I started using it. It does use a 220Volt outlet so you would need this as well. It has a large water take that I put a gallon of distilled water in as needed and a exhaust fan that takes the smoke out doors. Really simple to operate using AutoCAD and can also be used with Coral Draw.

I spent about 5-1/2 this evening pretty much framing up the rest of the fuselage.

The X-34 fuselage is 33-1/2” long and weights 5.2 ounces. I still need to add some balsa fairings to blend in the box shaped rear top of the fuselage to the rounded top front fuselage. Once this is completed I will then remove the bottom of the fuselage where the wings goes, so I’m thinking I will actually loose a little weight.

The images show the center top being sheeted with 1/16” balsa. The rear top of the fuselage got some stiffer 1/16” sheeting with the grain going across the fuselage. The top front is planked with 3/32” x 1/8” balsa sticks. It doesn’t look very pretty when completed but the shaped is designed so a whole 1/32” needs to be sanded off to get to the final contour. If you need a little light weight spackle here and there to get it to be perfect, so be it.

The nose section is just a couple of blocks of balsa glued in place and sanded to shape. It all goes well I show have the wing done by the weekend and then there’s just the vertical fin after that, so the framing on this build is going really fast.


John Boren

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One last one for tonight.

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