Now for the fillets on the intake tubes.

I'm doing one fillet at a time and with mid-cure (15 min) epoxy. I don't want to take ANY chance at being rushed by a faster setting resin. Plus, since it's a slower cure, it creeps down into the deep crevasse formed by the intake BT to wing balsa joint. TBC

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Are they dry yet?

That depends: dry or cured?

Anyway, I applied the remaining fillets to the airframe, and while they're drying/curing I've started the wing pods which are constructed from the scrap produced from the cutting of the intake tubes (the scrap that I nearly threw out.) Each scrap piece produces (2) 4.5" pieces and (1) 2" piece.

Since I won't get a second chance on this odd-sized tube, I've marked the scrap lengths for cutting and taped them to a heavy walled dur-dur (in this case the aeroshroud shaping tool from a Quest X-30) to have a steady, rounded surface for the cross-cuts.

.....and voila! TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

I then take the (4) 4.5" pieces and scrape the concave edge on a dead-flat, 220 grit covered Corian slab to make the joining edges perfect.

The halves are then joined with Titebond red label, clamped with small rubber bands, and I'll let that DRY overnight. TBC

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

The tube is an Estes 1090 tube.


Fantastic build. Don't throw out the small scraps left over from making the engine pods since they are use for addtional bling that goes on the pods.


John Boren

Thanks! Yes, I see that. An additional pod part is constructed for each side from the remaining 2" pieces of BT. TBC

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

I was wondering why it's labeled a skill level 5, now I see why.... This is probably the most tube cutting I've ever seen in an Estes kit.

Nice build so far....

Thanks! Yes, the tube cutting is quite challenging and uses up a lot of #11 blades.

The best chance of coloring the insides of the pods is before assembly, so I've enrobed the balsa center form with Monokote adhesive film and painted the front and rear insided inch or so of the pod itself. I've also painted the portion of the wing that goes through the pod to the center form. I'll cover the open ends of the pods bofore the model is painted to keep the insides black. The last decorative piece is also surface-mounted on to the outside suface of the pod. This pod has taken about 2 hours so far (I haven't even started on the other one!) TBC

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Now I have the pod assemblies mounted onto the wing tips and I can exhale. I had to notch the contour of the wing tips a little more for the wings to fully insert into the pods to engage the pad internal rib. I then applied adhesive to the wing/rib joint from the inside of the pod using a pipette. I'll let the Elmer's white glue dry and then do epoxy fillets.
Sorry, I won't post a photo of my mouth on a thin brass tube--that's where I draw the line on disclosure. TBC

Attached Thumbnails

     

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

I've now filletted the pods to the wings and installed the engine mount. Assembly is finished!! (Yay!)

Now the Aeroglossing and the sanding can begin! TBC

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078