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Build Log Top Flite P-40E Warhawk Gold Edition kit

rcdude07

70cc twin V2
Bought the kit NIB at a steal off of the local Craigslist back in October or November. Then had to find the right table and gather building supplies.



Finaly started the stab last night (2-4-13).

Nothing fancy, just got the TE and LE ready along with punching out the ribs and getting the two pinned to starting.

get-attachment.asp
 

rcdude07

70cc twin V2
Right side of the stab framed up. Nothing fancy or troublesome here.

LE of the stab ribs were beveled to create a nice flat smooth junction with the LE.

Beveling the rib LE
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Right side all glued in. Rib #1 gets glued in later due to have the stab joiner that goes up front and joins the two halves
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rcdude07

70cc twin V2
An hour of working last night resulted in the left half being framed then the two halves getting joined together. Nothing fancy here, just CA and balsa. Next step is prepping and sheeting the top if the horizontal stab.
 

SnowDog

Moderator
One of these days I should try a scratch build! That looks fun

Well, these are not technically "scratch" builds...a scratch build is just the three view plans and you figure everything out on your own.
A kit like this includes all the balsa, hardware, construction plans, and instructions.
But yes, these are great fun...and for those of us who don't fly as much in the winter, they are a great way to spend time.
 

rcdude07

70cc twin V2
One of these days I should try a scratch build! That looks fun

Well, these are not technically "scratch" builds...a scratch build is just the three view plans and you figure everything out on your own.
A kit like this includes all the balsa, hardware, construction plans, and instructions.
But yes, these are great fun...and for those of us who don't fly as much in the winter, they are a great way to spend time.

That's right SnowDog. Building a kit is tougher than assembling an ARF but a scratch build is the toughest. This is my 3rd kit build in all my years in the hobby, the first one I'm doing solo. The first two were when I was in middle and high school where my dad helped me. My dad is one fine builder, especially scratch builds. He orders 2 copies of the plans, one to build on and one to cut up to make all the pieces.

The nice thing about building 40 and 60 size kits/scratch builds is the plans are 100% (or so my experience has been) so you build right on top of the plans. The toughest part about these balsa builds is the sanding, especially sanding CA and/or epoxy when need be.

I haven't talked much about the mods I will be doing as I haven't gotten to the build sections for them yet. But my plans are to do the following: ditch the stock bell crank for individual aileron servos, upgrade push rods to 4-40, power with a DLE20, electric retracts.
 
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SnowDog

Moderator
That's right SnowDog. Building a kit is tougher than assembling an ARF but a scratch build is the toughest. This is my 3rd kit build in all my years in the hobby, the first one I'm doing solo. The first two were when I was in middle and high school where my dad helped me. My dad is one fine builder, especially scratch builds. He orders 2 copies of the plans, one to build on and one to cut up to make all the pieces.

The nice thing about building 40 and 60 size kits/scratch builds is the plans are 100% (or so my experience has been) so you build right on top of the plans. The toughest part about these balsa builds is the sanding, especially sanding CA and/or epoxy when need be.

I haven't talked much about the mods I will be doing as I haven't gotten to the build sections for them yet. But my plans are to do the following: ditch the stock bell crank for individual aileron servos, upgrade push rods to 4-40, power with a DLE20, electric retracts.

Yeah, I built a GP P-51 .40 size kit and I ditched the single aileron servo and put servos in each wing. Finished the airframe but still haven't covered it...got involved in 3D instead and I've never gone back to finish it up. ;) It'll be there whenever I'm ready for it!
 

rcdude07

70cc twin V2
Took the past couple of nights off from building to catch up on sleep. Without the proper amount of sleep I won't build a good plane. I got 20 minutes worth of work last night. This only involved cutting some sheeting to fit between the S1 ribs and sit flush with their top and hitting glue joints again to make sure the joints are solid. I've been email my dad to get tips/instructions on making and applying sheeting as I haven't done sheeting before. I also spent some time trying to make a sanding block since I'm to the point of doing some sanding to get the LE flush with the stab ribs. Included are pics from Friday night with the second half completed and joined as well as a close up to the 1/4" pieces of sheeting between the S1 ribs.

100_6088.jpg 100_6090.jpg 100_6091.jpg
 

SnowDog

Moderator
Hopefully your dad told you that with sheeting it is much better to use regular wood glue rather than CA....CA is VERY hard to sand.
Takes a little longer for the wood glue to set, but it is well worth later.
 
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