Wellington build and re-build

[Peter Siggins]

Hi Dave ,

I tried Flitehook for some excellent pins - out of stock at the moment but worth a shot.

Steve I do like the look of what you're doing - just a question I didn't know the tail feathers had the strips on as well? By the way it takes a serious amount of solartex to cover it.

Pete

[Steve Vodrey]

Hi Pete.
The tail has similar strips to represent the geodetic structure. Once again I can't really be bothered to do the underside although I did make the effort to do both sides of the fin...
I got 20 metres of solartex so hopefully that's enough.

[Steve Vodrey]

After yet more time doing last bits of preparation before covering I took the lounge over and set about starting the covering last night.
The open structure lends itself well to solartex so several hours later the fuselage is about done.

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To prevent the covering getting saggy in the sunshine I may well give the whole thing a spray with thinned down some cellulose dope.

[Karl mander]

Very nice, at this increased rate of construction she may have her maiden flight before 2020!

[Jason Griffiths]

Steve - Looking very nice .

[Steve Vodrey]

Before finishing the covering it was time to set up the direction of the elevator servos as reversing one of them is not an option as they would both be reversed so best to get them moving in the same direction. Same applies to the four flap servos but not the ailerons of course. This makes it possible to use a six and seven channel receiver to operate the 13 servos needed thereby avoiding the extra cost of 8 and 14 channel receivers

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Well that's the covering done. The geodetic effect looks ok after all the tedious work involved.

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Time to do some spray painting tomorrow. My local car paint supplier kindly mixed the base colours for me in cellulose.

[paul needham]

Aye up Steve, how do you get away with building the welly in the living room ? Looking good mate.

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

Could be a pair of wellies! Looking good Steve

[Steve Vodrey]

Thanks gents.
Busy spray painting at the moment and building the front gunner. I wasn't going to make it until test flights were done but being the optimistic type best to make the proper job than waste time on a temporary lash up just to cover the hole at the front...
Steve

[Steve Rickett 2333]

Nice and tidy!

[Jason Griffiths]

Looking Good .

[Steve Vodrey]

The bit that counts is the painting which never goes to plan. Anyway after getting some low tack tape I spent several hours masking off the black bits that I had done over the weekend.

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The brown soon went on all over so I can put the green on later after I have a proper idea of the pattern...

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Just a bit foggy in the garage. I do use a mask but i'm glad I don't do too much spraying...

[Steve Vodrey]

The night black was also a special mix and according to the paint shop has green and all sorts in it. Not that it can be seen.

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The camp needed to be blown in so I used my badger airbrush for this. After spending most of yesterday getting it to behave it started to work properly and all was done.

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[Dave Parry]

Looking fantastic Steve, another great build thread I have enjoyed watching. If you ever feel the need to send me an article on this or any other build, I would be delighted to publish it in the Journal. Don't forget not all our members use the forum or the internet come to that.

[Steve Vodrey]

Thanks for that Dave.
The journal featured a build thread for the same SLEC Wellington fairly recently done by Phil Robertshaw.

After letting the paint harden up a bit it was time to pull off all the masking.
Comes off a lot quicker than it goes on...

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[Karl mander]

WOW! Looks the mutts nuts.

[Phil Robertshaw]

Hi Steve,

Nearly there and looking good. Looking forward to flying mine with you this year.

Cheers. Phil

[paul needham]

looking rather grand Steve.

[Steve Vodrey]

Thanks for the comments. Just in the process of attaching all the moving surfaces and fitting the gear.

[Craig Green]

Looks good Steve, have been peeking in on your build. That covering and paint looks awesome.
What gear are you using?

Cheers, Craig.