Scale RCM 1/3 Scale Champ Build

Yes the hardest part is completed. Can't wait to get back to building the Champ.

I ran out of excuses time to get back to work. Decided to ease into the project with the wing struts. Bartman provided me some great photos of the his full scale project. Started making the fittings for the fuselage connection. These are made from 5/16" round bar and 14 gage steel sheet welded together with full penetration weld, then sawed and filed into the final shape. I had previously made the forks. The stainless steel streamline tubes will be silver brazed to the fittings. The wing connection requires a 5/16" box tube and a 5/16" round tube. I plan to smash a 3/8" steel fuel line into a square and use 5/16" fuel tube for the round. These are next up.

LOVE your Champ build. GREAT engine choice!

Loving the metal work! So timely for me as I build my Cub.............

Not much work today, spent the morning shopping and most of the afternoon and evening playing 500 bid with friends. Did find time to get the tubing and do some smashing. I bought 5/16" key stock to use as a spacer in the vice however the first attempt failed as shown in the photo, back to hardware store for 1/4" key stock to stuff inside the tube while smashing. The 1 foot of tube yielded enough for 1 prototype and two pieces for the main struts. I need to get the plane back on the bench and take final measurement for the the strut length and start joining pieces together. I'm quite happy with the result. The full scale versions are quite crude and I am trying to duplicate them

I jigged the fittings at the proper length and offset on a piece of scrap lumber sheeting and 1" x 1/8" steel angle while silver brazing. The main strut is fixed length and sets the dihedral angle at 2 degrees. Close enough. I need the lathe to make the parts for rear strut however I decided to put new headstock bearings in it. The bearing are due here today, might get it back together tomorrow

More work on the struts today. Completed the rear strut to wing connection. This is a 5/16" brake tube inside the stainless steel strut. Then began making the jury strut eye bolts. The full scale uses 10-32 bolts for the jury strut, I will be using 2-56.

I am using 3/16" steel rod for the eyebolts. The vise was rescued from the scrap bin and repaired. I use it for holding small round parts. Drilled two 3/16" holes in the split line to hold the rod fast. Then mill away, the center leaf is 1/16" thick. Need to make the Jury struts and the right side will be complete, then on to the left side.

That end mill chewed those little pieces up like candy I bet.

There is a lot of spring in those small parts. I started at 010" on the first side and finished at .005", the second side was started at .005" and the last .012 was cut at .002". I'm really liking the DRO.