IMAC The new Dalton 300 SP / 330

[Snoopy1]

Coming along nicely that is one good looking plane. Man it is big. Have a question the canisters look really short. Is that a special sort of canister.

 

[orthobird]

Hello there. Those are KS 95 canisters, rear dump. Not special.

 

[orthobird]

got some of the front bottom fuselage sheeted.

For right now, the build will be on hold, as I am helping a friend out with another project. Should be back on in 1 to 2 weeks.

I would like to make a comment: I went ahead and lifted the fuselage up and I also tried to see if there was any flex in the fuselage, if i held it by the tail, and there was none that I could see with my eyeball.

I then gently pushed down on the belly pan, and did not see any deflection (deformation) of the surface, i then applied more pressure, and still no bending, I then applied about 1/2 of my triceps strength, down on it, and again, nothing. This is extremely strong.

Will be interesting to see how she does up in the air.

 

[Pistolera]

Cam....just wished to say that over the past few build threads you've done, your skills have continually improved! This Dalton is really looking nice! Cheers

 

[Robotech]

He is a building machine. You don't get as good as he is without loving to do it.

 

[orthobird]

thank you very much for the nice compliments. What I am doing to the bottom front of the fuse, is to sheet the hard wood with balsa, this will help the Monokote stick on much better.

 

[TazmanianDevil]

Great thread and process.
Thanks for sharing.
Those new building methods the new Dalton is using are making things easier ? What about weight ?

 

[orthobird]

Hello Adi, yes, this new method Tony has made is way easier to build, in my opinion. You do not need to build the fuselage over plans. It is extremely precise, and the formers glue onto the "cross brace" upper and lower ply, extremely accurate. It seems to me, also that it may be even stronger (stiffer), but I do not know of a way to test it. There are many additional upgrades as well, for example, the stabs now have a larger diameter stab tube, and the stab phenolics also have a tip of the stab tube balsa support block, so that if you like to "snap", over time, you do not get play in the foam/stab construct. The wings also now have a deeper socket and a longer wing tube. Both the stab and wing tubes are carbon fiber. He also has a new landing gear, again carbon fiber.
With regards to weight, Tom Wheeler ,(he is also building this new Dalton [actually, 2 of them]), has made a comparison, of the two different materials, the foam sheeted belly pan, vs. the stringers construct, and the weight is very similar.

Seems to me, that this will overall end up being lighter, since we are not using the spruce cross braces. Nest time I go to the shop, I will make a measurement of the weight of the fuselage, once i Finish sheeting the bottom.


Best regards

Cam

 

[Notorious B.E.N.]

Quick question, why is 330 in the name?

 

[orthobird]

I received the new battery trays from Tony, and they are awesome! Thanks again Tony.