Topic: Balsa USA 1/3 pup Rebuild

I have no idea how the strutter flies though.

I have been informed it flies very well. If it doesn't it's too late as I have just sent my order off.


    Tom

I've seen a couple of these fly and they seem to be very well behaved. Two of Micks plus another MR design by John Jackson. I do hope you make the airbrakes work

Ian.

I've seen a couple of these fly and they seem to be very well behaved. Two of Micks plus another MR design by John Jackson. I do hope you make the airbrakes work

Ian.

Brian did a smaller one, many years ago, which flew quite well. I have a video of it I will try to download onto Youtube and post the link.


  Tom

I have no idea how the strutter flies though

The Mick Reeves Strutter flies really well!

I made mine 7 years ago (the small one 2,28m) from plans and it is still flying good
There is a thread on the Dutch forum here:

http://www.modelbouwforum.nl/forums/vliegende-schaalmodellen/33395-mick-reeves-sopwith-1-1-2-strutter-2.html

Sadly some early pictures have been erased due to a software update but will be restored soon  
There is also a video:

http://www.bosmodelair-productions.nl/demovideo/Sopwithdemo.wmv

It's a very nice flyer, do combine ailerons with rudder for smooth turns
Forget about the airbrakes, they don't work and are a pain while rigging up the plane  
It's nice to see them coming up though, but I've locked mine now

Very well designed construction  
And a plane not seen very much (at least here in Holland  )

I'd say: go for it!  

On mine I swapped the flat rigging wires for cables for easier transportation, that also saves me about 10 minutes in rigging up the plane
This winter it will become a new color sceme, the silver one of the Memorial Flight

Ralf

Thanks Ralf! Nice video
Having a bit of difficulty with the forum as my understanding of Dutch is zero
I will have a look at the photo links a bit later today.


  Tom

Anyone live near Mick Reeves going to Cosford this weekend? I need the Strutter wings leading edges collecting.


   Tom

Ever since I rebuilt this model it has always flown with a fair bit of down trim in the elevator . This was caused by to much incidence on the top wing . My mistake when I rebuilt it. It has always cheesed me off .
So today I took the saw to it and sawed off the Centre section.
Spent most of the afternoon digging out the old strut ends . Need a trip to B&Q for a bit of timber to make some new ones.

Once I have sorted that issue out then I need to attack the fire wall . At the moment its got a Zenoah 74 twin in it which is coming out and  geared 38 going back in.
The UC needs a bit of TLC so I will rebuild that as well
I will take that opportunity to fit new fuel lines including the clunk pipe , a pair of new switches and a new battery.
Should be good to go then in a couple of weeks
I will post some pics later

Oh big poop    I still have your plans I guess you will be needing them so should I post them Monday or are you ok to wait till Barkston.  I'm rather embarased.

Oh big poop    I still have your plans I guess you will be needing them so should I post them Monday or are you ok to wait till Barkston.  I'm rather embarased.

Don't worry. Not needed

Si

So centre section removed. I added some ply doublers to the inboard faces where the incidence dowels go to strengthen it up a bit and to give a fixing for the flying wire brackets. These will be bolted through the outer ply rib ,strut and the doubler with 3mm bolts which will also mechanically fix the struts to the centre section as there has been a fair bit of hacking around in there. Better to be safe than sorry.



The struts are now glued into the fuz but not the centre section. I will do that bit tomorrow when I can turn it up side down.





Si

So the centre section is all glued back on. Its got mechanical fixings as well just to be sure as the slots were not a perfect fit for the struts. I did use PU foam glue which is ace for things like that.  The landing wire brackets are bolted on and screwed so should stay put with my rubbish landings. Recovered it and gave it 2 coats of warbirds linen which it was before to seal it up
Really pleased I did that job, should have done it two years ago.
Next is refit the wings and adjust the wires for length. A couple of them could do with replacing so it will be a good job done.
Just need to get the book out and look up the dihedral angles again.




Simon

Simon
the incidence on that top wing looks way out. and the leading edge looks to shapely. I fear it can only serve to improve on your Carp landings 

Looking good mate What you bringing to the S&M do I understand you now have a a stabke of WW1 birds to choose from 

Simon
the incidence on that top wing looks way out. and the leading edge looks to shapely. I fear it can only serve to improve on your Carp landings 

Looking good mate What you bringing to the S&M do I understand you now have a a stabke of WW1 birds to choose from 

I don't do landings just arrivals .

Have no idea what you are talking about 

Si