Large Model Association Forum

It’s 5 years since I started this project, the reasoning behind it was to build an aircraft to fit my Zenoah 124 twin,s that I had made. Two aircraft were started, one the Buchon and two the P-40 at 1/4 scale. Both fuselages were done as skeletons then all work stopped. Late on last year I got the building bug back and along with the 1/3 Spit we, that’s me and Steve Foxon started to get the Buchon project completed. Steve had never had a German aircraft so we decided to build 2 of them. Fortunately the fuselage was only dry assembled and we were able to take patterns off all of the formers and very quickly we had two. We set about having both fuselages built and sheeted for the end of December which we achieved. I have pushed on with the cowl plug and will be attending Paul Lewis’s fibreglassing school to learn the dark art of making a mould.
All tail feathers have also been completed so now it is onto the wings. We have made up a dummy section to set up the retract angles and after a little tinkering we got the required setting.
The plans for this project are not all my work in as much as I purchased from Meister a set of their 1/4 scale 109 plans and had them blown up to my scale. This is where I would say I spent many and more hrs redrawing the Buchon front end and redesigning the formers etc to suit the way I like to build. The wings are the biggest work as they are changed to a 3 piece design with working front slats and flap arrangement. Wheels are 8” with retracts by yours truly.

More pics

More pics

Started glassing of the cowl plug

Started on the wings making rib templates and checking fit etc

Still working on the wing, it’s slow progress but getting there. Also started on the plug for the canopy / frame which we aim to mould in carbon.

Slow progress on the Buchon due to this virus lockdown, wings were progressing well. Almost ready for top sheeting

With the shutdown I have moved the Buchon wing to my home workshop to get it completed now the NEXT jet has moved out.

I have made some more progress with the Buchon, the wing is ready for top sheeting and is waiting for the completion of the retracts to test fir before sheeting. The fuselage is now completed ready for glassing and all tail feathers done.

A little more work done just doing all the fiddly bits to get it ready for glassing. The test retract has been fitted and apart from a 1/32 spacer fitted a treat. A test fit of the wing showed no problems, just the cowl now.

All retracts done, fitted and tested, working really well. Wing mounts to fit next then top sheeting.

Moving along nicely, wings nearly complete and the engine is ready for fitting after its test run last week. Cowl due this week thanks to Paul.

Getting closer to completion, engine and wing mounts now done, wing tips, flaps and ailerons to do to finish the wings.

Bootiful!
Cary

Did the Bouchon get finished David?