20%VULCAN

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Since 1994,my 1/7th scale Vulcan has been flying around the uk shows--starting life with Super tiger 45cc engines---then soon replaced with 2-Zenoah 62cc,then a few years back,converted to twin turbines.I intend retiring this model at the end of the 2010 season,so earlier this year decided to look at building a replacement.After much discussion with members ,i decided at the 1/5 th scale size,which brings it out at 20ft wingspan.The main reason for this ,was the 10ft Vulcan i have been displaying for new member Rob Greenwood--this model was built by Alan Walker from the Hucknall club,and is super scale---so i talked Alan into letting me borrow the plans,and had them doubled in size---and the outcome is the basic structure to be seen at last months Gaydon show,kindly cut by Richard at Falcon Aviation.Since Gaydon,i have been slowly working on the main fuselage structure,glueing and jigging all the formers.Also the tail cone has been built and stringered,ready for covering with Balsa.The tailcone and Fin fixings have been designed and fitted---a couple of piccies of the build so far are attached.The main structure will be covered in epoxy sheeting,and nose/tail will be balsa covered.I intend fitting 5 seperate 2.4 radio systems,situated in wings and fuselage ---the scale undercarriage,with 24" long legs ,is being constructed by an LMA member locally.The final weight i am hoping to be not much more than my 1/7 th at 150lbs,and the power will be 4 .160 turbines,instead of the 2 in the existing model.I am hoping to get the two main wing panels built and ready for stringers this week,will post some piccies when these are done---[attach

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[Robert_Greenwood]

Can't wait to see this next to mine!! I wonder if it will be louder than mine?? hhhuurrmm....

[Simon Wright]

That looks great Dave.

After yesterdays talk at the AGM I am surprised you are still building it since the Victor is apparently a much better plane

Si

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Ah but simon---he did say thhe Victor carried more bombs ,but Dave did say the Vulcan was a cracking display aircraft---which is what we do with them---so ,i rest my case

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Have had a rest from the fuselage today,started planking the tailcone,and spent the rest of time building the first wing panel.This is a complex shape,with under camber/reflex/and washout built in,so plenty of time was taken jigging it up on the workshop floor [way too big for any of my benches].Just glued all main joints now and left overnight,should be ready to start putting some stringers and making up two "T" spars,these will be in addition to the 3 hefty tubes already installed.Have arranged for the appointed LMA inspector to call in next weekend to have another look over the build,before the remaining stringers and spar fixings are finalised.

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[DAVE JOHNSON]

]Spent several hours today jigging up the second wingpanel---then aligned to first panel to check for alignment---will spend the rest of this week adding spars etc

[Robert_Greenwood]

Very nice!! its surprising how fast they come together when they are pre cut kits and why is it when you look at the model on paper it allways looks smaller....don't know about you Dave but i need a bigger workshop!!

Keep up the good work!

[Benjamin Gittus-Nash]

All the best with your project dave glad to see good progress

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Benjamin--thanks for your comments---its been slow progress over the Xmas hols due to work and family committments,but will be getting back to the project this week and post more updates---best of luck with your new build,if you need any help/advice,plenty of expertise available thro this forum--DAVE

[DAVE JOHNSON]

After a 2 weeks break,i have started work on the wings again today,as you can see from the pics,the "i" girder spars have now been installed[i main and 2 sub spars],and the leading edge has been aligned and balsa clamped on to start building up the 2" thickness required .The undercamber and drooping leading edge has now been set and clamped while the glue dried,and with the help of several alloy angle lengths,these are now holding while several plywood quadrants have been added for strength.Even before any thought of skinning ,there is very little flex in the wing now,and is very nearly ready for another over 20kg inspection----back later in week with more updates--

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[Hugh Grant mbe]

Morning Dave, Looking good !!
Interesting to see the Depron parts being incorporated into the structure.
Cheers,
Hugh

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Hugh--yes it was interesting to me--something i havnt used before,it was Richards idea at Falcon,and i must admit under compression it is strong.On the original plan,it only had half the number of formers,but we decided to go with Depron for every other one,because i am skinning in the epoxy sheet and didnt want any sagging ,i am confident this will work out,and its keeping the weight down.Hoping to get the first leading edge finished tonight---DAVE

[Robert_Greenwood]

Looks Brilliant.... Its surprising how much strength you get on joints when you use quadrant ....and it dose't add too much weight...

What Is Depron made out of??

Cheers

Rob

[John Greenfield]

Dave

Firstly a belated Happy new Year.

I can see the Depron ribs but what material have you used for the silver ribs. Always interested in alternative building techniques and can't work out from the pictures what it is.

Happy building.

John

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Rob--Depron is a type of foam--used normally for leccy models,but Falcon had been experimenting with success for using on large model building
Morning John---the Silver ribs are ply---the camera in the poor light just made them look silver----other than the extra depron ribs its all traditional build----DAVE

[Richard Hughes]

Hi - Just thought I would add my two-penny worth about these ribs.... The type of depron I used is a Black depron which I stock - it is slghtly more rigid than the usual white that mini models use - I came up with the idea several years ago and used it successfully on a couple of my own projects, but there is a general resistance to new ideas sometimes so the first time I used it in a "cut" for someone else was in Hugh Grants 2m Chance Vought Flying Pancake that I deliverd at Rougham - in that project even light-ply would have been too heavy and balsa would have cost a fortune so I persuaded Hugh to let me do it in this Black Depron which has been very successful- with the big Vulcan we needed to add more ribs but they were essentially just to keep the skins apart and so needed very little in the way of strength laterally and they do just that - keeping the surfaces supported without adding much weight.
I am working on another design at the moment where I hope to take this even further and who knows, we may soon have on the show cirguit a 20ft+ powered model that is under 20Kg!
cheers
Richard

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Another few nights and a full Saturday s work,and the ailerons on one wing have been built and sheeted ---the ailerons are over 4 ft long,but are split into two each side,the wingtip has also been built up and shaped,and several in fills making ready for the epoxy sheeting---tommorrows nights work is to hinge and test fit these surfaces,and make and test fit the servo boxes for the same---then its back to the building board to make the Elevators--these again are over 4ft long each side,but once again split into two--they are also twice the depth of the ailerons at approx 14",so i expect to allow a few nights for these---back later in week

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[robert ellis]

hi dave.,well what can i say,,.first thanks for keeping the B17 for me,,,doing the 2.4 conversion,,.test flights ect.,,.also it was nice seeing the new build vulcan in the flesh.,,.thats going to be one hell of a model....let me know if you want a new home for the spit.......

me or graham bucanon will keep you lot on here posted on the new pant scheme on the fort....if any of you have seen the p38 he had.,,."now mine" im sure you will know the quality its going to be..
rob..

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Morning Rob--good to meet you yesterday.glad to see you got back down south ok---be good to see an online refurbishment and repaint of the B17 on here---twist Grahams arm---you know it makes sense---DAVE

[robert ellis]

hahahaha,.,.,he cant sleep at nite now its down here,,,cant wait to get his hands on it.....