I already have a thing about twins and a while ago had taken to the Tony Nijhuis design Wellington (13 foot) having seen one owned by Tony Hooper (IC) and another owned by Tony Hill (electric). This is available as a CNC cut kit available through SLEC.
I had a pair of suitable Zenoahs to spare from a similar sized twin which had been good runners.
Before long Ian Redshaw had fixed me up with a partially started kit and I got the retracts ordered from unitracts.
After leaving everything lying around for a couple of years (others have waited longer) I recently set about getting on with it.
The basic fuz frame had been started and was very flimsy but this was soon sorted out when the planking went on. This seemed to take ages and I was reminded how long it takes to build a model from scratch. Something I haven't done for about 10 years.
![Basic fuz frame.jpg](./download/file.php?id=8175)
- Starting the planking.
- Basic fuz frame.jpg (49.27 KiB) Viewed 22719 times
![partially sheeted fuz 2.jpg](./download/file.php?id=8176)
- taking shape
- partially sheeted fuz 2.jpg (48.2 KiB) Viewed 22717 times
The model didn't come with any wing tubes so I rooted out some standard waste pipe and an aerial pole from B&Q which are a crack on fit for nominal cost. Looking at the second pic the wing tubes look out of line but sliding a wing rib on each side made the line up look about right.
Next thing to line up was the tail which at the time I needed to be removable. On the plan the tail is supported by a rectangular vertical spar and a carbon fibre rod. These slide through the fuz (see next pic) and once again of course have to be lined up. I have to confess to being a bit lost at this point so rather than make a mess of it I put the fuz in the too difficult tray for a while to make a start on the wings.
![Tail support.jpg](./download/file.php?id=8177)
- tail support
- Tail support.jpg (50.79 KiB) Viewed 22607 times
If there's anything I hate it's cutting out wing ribs of different sizes so to pop them out from a pre cut sheet is bliss. The basic frame is easy enough to do and soon takes shape.
The ribs are only cut from lite ply and quite bendy hence the temporary spruce strips to keep em straight.
![Wing frame 1.jpg](./download/file.php?id=8178)
- basic frame
- Wing frame 1.jpg (56.67 KiB) Viewed 22604 times
To sheet the upper surface I used the trusted cellotape hinge method to make an enormous width of 3/32 balsa which I stuck on in one piece. The end result is step free and needs very little sanding.
![Completed planking sheet.jpg](./download/file.php?id=8207)
- Completed planking sheet
- Completed planking sheet.jpg (33.77 KiB) Viewed 22296 times
![Sheeted wing.jpg](./download/file.php?id=8180)
- Sheeted wing
- Sheeted wing.jpg (53.83 KiB) Viewed 22600 times
I just did the frame for the other wing so I might have something to put together in a couple of days.
Both wings done now but only sheeted on top surface so far.
The next dilemma was whether to build flaps in or not. Tony Hooper didn't bother and for that matter neither did Tony Nijhuis.
Following representations from numerous it looks like I will have to build em. Research shows the flaps to be split and running full length from the fuz to just short of the aileron.
Looks like I will end up doing em as it's obviously easier to do it now...
![Flap detail 2.jpg](./download/file.php?id=8191)
- Flap detail 2.jpg (13.02 KiB) Viewed 22553 times