Sky 120 LMA Trainer

[Geoff McVey]

Whoes Dave?

Alan,

Sorry for calling you Dave, my mistake.

[Dave Parry]

I would look at scrapping the tailwheel in the kit, it's really isn't a good design, more of an afterthought. It contently kicks the rudder over when sat on the ground, not good for the servo. This needs a re-think, maybe an independent tail wheel that just moves freely the rudder is more then capable of steerig the plane.

[Geoff McVey]

What are you thinking of covering wise?

Hi Alan,

Not sure just yet, what would you suggest, currently trying to come up with some pattern design.

[Dave Parry]

Here is my sky-120 colour scheme when it was first built.

Sky-120.jpg (26.27 KiB) Viewed 10975 times

And here the current scheme.

Sky-120-1.jpg (17.48 KiB) Viewed 10975 times

Hope it helps.

[Mike Ellis]

No need for a steerable wheel as the rudder alone will track the aircraft for take off.
Mine is fixed and works perfect..

[Geoff McVey]

Geoff----glad you are enjoying your 120 build---here are a couple of pics from yesterday---this is the original 120 kit suplied to the LMA by Slec for a test build----4 of us built it in my workshop over 2 nights---its had a hard life opening the trainer slot at shows for many years---then spending a few years at waterplane events with some Cub floats on---and now reborn as the new PC Plod and test flown yesterday----getting a bit overweight now----but if you keep the finishing light you will find it a joy to fly

Hi Dave,

Very nice looking model, my thinking at the moment is to cover the model in yellow with various black trim, but I may change ths, still looking at what my options are, but always open to suggestions.

I'm sure it will be a joy to fly once setup correctly etc.

[Geoff McVey]

I would look at scrapping the tailwheel in the kit, it's really isn't a good design, more of an afterthought. It contently kicks the rudder over when sat on the ground, not good for the servo. This needs a re-think, maybe an independent tail wheel that just moves freely the rudder is more then capable of steerig the plane.

Hi Dave,

Will do what you have suggested and scrap the tailwheel unit, will look at what my best options are and see what tailwheel units that are out there or maybe design a new one from scratch.

[Geoff McVey]

Here is my sky-120 colour scheme when it was first built.

Sky-120.jpg

And here the current scheme.

Sky-120-1.jpg

Hope it helps.

Hi Dave,

Thank you for posting your 2 photos, very nice looking, it has given me some ideas.

Thank you.

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

Prob good advice on the tailwheel, I always ran mine with closed loop control, with springs to take the sideways load, but, as Dave says, the rudder will do the job, re the covering, we are finding the hobby king film to work well, and it’s cheap,

[Geoff McVey]

No need for a steerable wheel as the rudder alone will track the aircraft for take off.
Mine is fixed and works perfect..

Hi Mike,

I will more than likely go a fixed tailwheel unit as I'm guessing it will be much stronger.

Can you please post a photo of your fixed tailwheel unit so that I can have an idea of what it looks like.

Many thanks.

[Geoff McVey]

Prob good advice on the tailwheel, I always ran mine with closed loop control, with springs to take the sideways load, but, as Dave says, the rudder will do the job, re the covering, we are finding the hobby king film to work well, and it’s cheap,

A fixed tailwheel unit it is then, will also take a look at Hobby King.

Many thanks.

[Dave Parry]

Geoff, my second picture is Hobby King covering, it really does cover well and is cheep as chips.

[Geoff McVey]

Geoff, my second picture is Hobby King covering, it really does cover well and is cheep as chips.

Dave,

Your second pictute looks very nice and it sure has given me a few ideas, near the time of covering will look at Hobby King as you have suggested.

[Geoff McVey]

Wing parts.

Wing parts sorted, ready to be cut and cleaned ready for construction.

[Geoff McVey]

Wing Step 27

Parts MW1 hardwood strip glued to WS1 main spar, both of these parts were warped a little, so were pinned down once glued for 2 days, once removed from the building board a lot of the warp was taken out but there still is a litte more, this will be taken out as the wing is constructed.

[Geoff McVey]

Wing step 27

Main spar pinned into the up right position in a mini jig, this had taken some time to do because there was still warped slightly, now it's in position it's almost straight as it can be, also I have added some scrap 6mm square strip to support the wing ribs and keep them upright.

[Geoff McVey]

Wing Step 28

This is a better photo to show how straight I have been able to get the main spar.

[Geoff McVey]

Wing Step 28

A dry test fit of all wing ribs, only real issue at the moment is wing rib number W3, this rib is a little warped for some reason and will make this flat before glued in place.

[Geoff McVey]

Wing Step 28

Parts LE1 and TE1 have been dry test fitted, no issues and as you can see in the photo are both very straight.

[Geoff McVey]

Wing Step 28

Tube dry test fitted, 99p from the supermarket, once all the cling film has been used up, it's a perfect fit.