Super Constellation

[Keith Mitchell]

Peter Johnston's really getting stuck-in to my ex- Tony Nijhuis 'Connie, see:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2428

The pic' shows one of the cowlings he's made - superb quality as always!

[Tony Nijhuis 2280]

has Peter made a plug and is this the first mould off it Keith?

Great news to know its progressing

[Keith Mitchell]

Yes, indeed, Tony ......
The top and bottom fairings have been moulded separately.
K.

[Keith Mitchell]

......... Peter has taken some time-out on the Connie' to do a new F/G instrument panel for his full-size glider. He really is a wizard at F/G moulding .....

[Keith Mitchell]

Peter's been working hard on the tail section with a lot of strengthening work on the fundamental structure. He's now got it sheeted (vast quantities of 3mm balsa sheet being consumed......!).

[paul smith]

WOW MASSIVE !!! great work very impressive ,puts my ziroli 12 footer to shame lol

[Keith Mitchell]

...... no need to apologise, Paul. The logistics for yours will give you a lot less grief than mine .......!!
K.

[Keith Mitchell]

The horrible weather doesn't stop Peter making big progress....... Considerable strengthening of the centre-section fuz/wing has been required with internal spar stengthening, much ply doubling and S/S cross-bracing at the mounting points (see pic'). Wing-skinning on C/S wing, 2mm lite-ply.

Inspector, Phil Clarke, gave the 'thumbs-up' last week........

Space is starting to become a bit of a premium!

[Phil Clark]

I think Peter is needing a bigger workshop Keith.......it's ganna be a MONSTER.

Progressing nicely considering what you started out with.

Phil

[Keith Mitchell]

Peter with his longsuffering wife, Val, accompany the model as progress continues apace......

[Paul Holt]

cannot wait to see this fly!

[paul smith]

WOW

[Keith Mitchell]

Peter's now got the centre/nose section skinned and has made a beautiful GRP for the nose/cockpit (NB: the SuperConnie' has a much modified cockpit compared to the Connie'). He's started glass-clothing and has done the wing centre-section and is now rubbing it down.

He's sourced the best 100g glasscloth I've ever seen - and very reasonable - from Glassplies of Stockport:

http://www.lacartes.com/business/Glaspl ... port/21878

Glassing resin is West Systems 105, thinned 10% with methanol - goes on like water.......

I've now selected the engine type ; the all new ZDZ 90 which is very powerful and the most balanced big single I've witnessed.

K.

[richard armstrong]

hi Keith

i have the don smiths plans i thought they where big

ouch and wow wanna see that fly

just starting my dc3 build

[Keith Mitchell]

We managed to get the first rigging of the complete aircraft this morning before the rains came!

See you at Gaydon...............

[victor goode]

She looks absolutely brilliant lads, like the look on your face keith, cat and cream come to mind.

Keep going, Vic.

[Keith Mitchell]

.........like the look on your face keith, cat and cream come to mind......

It's even better in the flesh, Vic. Peter's doing a magnificent job.
K.

[ian redshaw]

A beautiful rendition of a beautiful aeroplane, very well done chaps!!!

Ian.

[doug bertram 1584]

Terrific model, Keith, a worthy alternative to the TSR2. Did the assembly time take longer than your demised Lanc. (One hour) ?
Doug.

[Keith Mitchell]

....Did the assembly time take longer than your demised Lanc. (One hour) ?
Doug.

It'll be much easier, Doug. The nose and centre-section travel as one piece. The tail is 4 bolts, feathers 4 and the outer wing panel fixing to be sorted (?4).

One thing Peter is doing though is ensuring all bolting is done from the top, saving crawling underneath which I really have had quite enough of!!

Also - as one or two have asked - the colour scheme is that on a presently extant and flying aircraft:

http://www.air-and-space.com/20050513%20Van%20Nuys.htm

K.