Bill Hempel Yak 55

[AKNick]

Good evening Gents,

I have made a little progress on my Yak in that the servo mount in the wing has been fixed, so that's one more thing crossed off the list. Unfortunately, as it sometimes happens, I forgot to take any pictures. . . . . .

I do have a question I'd like to run by you Fellas. Since this is my first true giant sale plane, it is the first time I've had a spinner that is screwed into the side of the backplate in lieu of the usual bolt through the tip of the spinner into the end of crankshaft. Both spinners are also cut for each prop. I believe this tells me that I will have to use the prop as a guide to drill the backplates so I keep the prop blades centered in the spinner openings. I can use my drill jig to keep the prop and backplate centered, but what do you guys use to hold the prop to the backplate to keep it from moving while you try to drill the first hole in the backplate? Would something like two sided tape work well enough or do you guys have any better ideas?

Thanks Gent's

After grinding the spinner to accommodate the propeller, I carefully put my backplate, and pre-drilled (by me) prop on the engine for alignment and then used a drill bit to transfer the hole locations to the back plate. Then used a pilot hole, followed by the actual bit size - I double checked my alignment with the drill guide. After drilling one or two holes, you can add your drill guide to the prop/backplate stack and finish the last few holes up if you want. It's tricky for sure, I'm sure someone else has a better method... but that's what I did.

 

[HRRC Flyer]

Hey @AKNick,

I like that idea. I'm just not sure how much of a mark my drill bit is going to leave on a steel backplate.

 

[AKNick]

Hey @AKNick,

I like that idea. I'm just not sure how much of a mark my drill bit is going to leave on a steel backplate.

Steel??? Mine are aluminum. They say gray Anodized. That's an Aluminum chemical process

 

[HRRC Flyer]

Steel??? Mine are aluminum. They say gray Anodized. That's an Aluminum chemical process

OK, I don't know what made me type steel. I must be brain dead tonight. . . . . . Thanks for setting me straight @AKNick .

 

[AKNick]

OK, I don't know what made me type steel. I must be brain dead tonight. . . . . . Thanks for setting me straight @AKNick .

LOL, I was drinking a pretty darn good cup of coffee, all my brain waves are synced when that happens So you've got this! Don't worry when you said steel I thought you were right until I visualized drilling the last two... and I may have looked it up.. Now that we are both on track

 

[HRRC Flyer]

Well,

I got one last box with some items for my Yak.

I thought about showing you guys what's inside the box, but then I said to myself, "what's the fun in that?". . . . . . I promise I won't leave you guys hanging too long. . . . . . Work resumes on my Yak Friday at noon after I get off work. Hopefully with a good couple of days of work, I will have some good progress to show you this weekend. . . . . . .

 

[Snoopy1]

A hint would of been nice or weight and or size.

 

[HRRC Flyer]

A hint would of been nice or weight and or size.

No @Snoopy1, you guys are too smart for hints like that. . . . . OK, I have a hint for you Fellas. The contents of the box are multi-colored and gray all over. Now, no more hints. . . . .

 

[Snoopy1]

Radio or engine

 

[HRRC Flyer]

OK @Snoopy1,

I'll spill the beans. . . . LOL.

I worked on my Yak today for about four hours this afternoon, but I didn't work on anything to get the plane ready to fly. . . . . No, I spent the afternoon putting some of the graphics I got last week on parts of the plane. This the "multi-colored" part of the clue I gave you.

"Before".

"After"

"Before"

"After"

I will post some more pics in my next post.