13.54% Nimrod MRA4

[Phil Clark]

No disrespect Mike, but I stringly suggest you get yourself a BIG building board organised......you'll need it for the outer wing panels anyway, plus I personally feel framing the centre section up 'in mid air' so to speak and trusting that slotting it into the fuz will have it perfectly true may be rather over optimistic, no matter how tight the parts fit together.......

I look forward to seeing it at the end of the month.........

Phi

[Mike altham]

Hi Phil,

Non taken lol, unfortunately the size of my garage and the amount of large aerobatic models I have limits my board space. I have one that is 12 ft by 2 ft, one that is 8 ft 6'' by 3 ft and one that is 10ft by 3 ft which the outer wings will fit on.

Hopefully if I get offered a new job I will be able to move house and create my double garage I want.

When it comes to sheeting the centre section it will have to be a nice day and I will sacrifice my table tennis table with a sheet of glass on it for a true flat surface.

Cheers,

Mike.

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Mike---i have had the same problem as you---with all the room i have in my workshop,i have no bench big enough either,so i jigged my fuselage and wings on several B@Q Benches,checked they they were level and glued all in place while there---i have done the same with the sheeting,and i continually check for level/twist etc---if you are carefull i think you will be ok--DAVE

[Mike altham]

Hi Dave,

Is it the A frame trestles you use??

Mike.

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Mike--yes,once you get all level and jigged,i bungee the model down to them to hold in place--DAVE

[Dave Collis 2296]

Looking at the pictures of it in the work shop...yeah, it looks...biggish.... Then the picture of it leaning against the house WOW!!!

Looks like a unique project.

Cheers,
Dave.

[Mike altham]

Hi guys,

Thanks for that Dave. will get two a frames as well from B & Q this weekend.

Ifter looking at the forward fuse last night, and going off what Phil said I have added more (semi) Stringers between the original stringers as like Phil said there were pants ets in the balsa sheeting.

I have jigged the front fuse up last night and weighted it down so will be perfectly true. Placed the semi stringers in on one lower side of the fuse and sheeted with one balsa sheet which turned out ok with no pants etc.

Once I get the ammonia I need then I will splice another sheet onto to it for going round to the nose section.

I had a dry run with one of the UC plates as well last night. Needed a tad of tweeking but went in ok.

Hope the weather is ok at weekend to get the centre section outside.

Here are a few more pics.

Dave, it is scale to the full size MRA4. it was a nightmare getting hold of an accurate drawing of it as they are not readily available.

Just need to sell my big extra to make room for the fuse etc on my shelving.

Mike.

[Mike altham]

Here are the pics

[Phil Clark]

Mike

Another little suggestion (maybe me just being piky!!)...when sheeting, I always try and make 45 degree scarf joint between sheets rather than having vertical joints.......it just gived a little more gluing area making for a slightly stringer joint. If these joint are staggered in position & direction all over the fuz rather than all being in line, you don't have any localised 'weak' points either.

Phil

[Mike altham]

Hi Phil,

Yep no worries, thats what I was planning to do.

I have done that with the stringers as well and not had any of the joints in line round the circumference of the fuse.

The two top and 4 bottom stringers will be one length of cyparis just to give a tad more strength.

Cheers,

Mike

[Mike altham]

Hi Guys,

Not had much time this weekend to do anything but centre section is now getting to look a tad more like.

The gear plates are in and the ribs are in now.

Hopefully this week I will be able to get the wheels on the gear.

Partial sheeting of the Fuse centre section has started so it can be moved and joined for up at bradford.

Cheers,

Mike.

[Mike altham]

Just a quick update picture.

Still ploughing throught the build but other jobs like the house and van keep popping up.

[Paul Holt]

Awesome looking model so far Mike. Look forward to seeing this fly.

[Mike altham]

Hi Paul

Cheers

Hopefully get some more done before gaydon in a few weeks.

Outer wings will be started but not sheeted

Need to start planning where wiring etc and gear is going soon.

Cheers

Mike

[Paul Holt]

Any updated photos Mike?

[Mike altham]

Hi Mate,

Sorry not really any pics except the ones I took at Gaydon.

Will post a few of them.

Tail incidence now set so I can crack on finishing the back end and tails.

DIY laminate flooring the house has had to take priority for a week or so and the purchase of a turbine Hawk as well.

Cheers,

Mike.

[Paul Holt]

Look forward to seeing them Mike, never made it to Gaydon.

[Mike altham]

As you can see still needs a lot of work doing on it.

Im finishing the tails and rear fuse first now the incidence is set.

Mike.

[Mike altham]

1 more

[Paul Holt]

That is looking fantastic Mike.