Wellington build and re-build

[Steve Vodrey]

Trusty sliding battery tray back in position

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Cockpit glass in position ready for planking

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[Robin Senn]

Hello Steve

Now thats a pitty to hear about the crash of your Wellington. In the first pictures that looked like a case for the bonfire and not for the building table. I really admire that you are rebuilding the plane, thats something I wouldnt have the stomach to do. So cudos to your will and apparent progress. I will be following for sure.

What kind of engine trouble did you have with the plane before the crash?


Best regards

Robin

[Steve Vodrey]

Hi Robin. It's coming along. Always quicker than building a new one.
This is todays progress.

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As for the engines, well the 26 Zenoah can be troublesome but after carb bits etc I had them sorted than had a signal loss which was terminal. Different RX in the re-build when it's done.

[Robin Senn]

Hello Steve

Wow, quite some progress! You are really pouring it on. And yeah, I also a have a special drawer for those "no longer to be trusted" RXs. Will you be staying with the Zenoahs, or are you thinking to change them too?

Best regards

Robin

[Peter Siggins]

Hi Steve as you know I’m a convinced Zenoah person .Very unfortunate to have crashed your Wellington,but the repairs look like going well.
Reason for post is something that has occurred twice in my last visits to our field,both times on different 26 Zenoahs ,of which ihave six in different models. The metering needle has stuck ,so the engine won’t start,a quick removal of the metering cover and blowing some pressure to the fuel system while pressing the sprung needle till fuel runs through - problem solved and engine totally reliable. I’m putting this down to the additives used in modern petrol even though I using the 5% super unleaded.
Just thought you may have the same trouble at sometime - all the best with the rebuild.

Pete

[Steve Vodrey]

Sticking with the Zenoah 26 pair as I will give them a good thrash around one at a time in a smaller model. They do fit well in the cowl and power output is ideal.
This was the cause of my engine problems this year.

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This got to the filter in the carb

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Thanks Pete for the engine tips. I believe the ethanol in petrol is responsible for a lot of our problems.

[Robin Senn]

Hello Steve

Yup, thats some serious gunk in the filter. No wonder the Zenoahs acted up. I switched to synthetic fuel about 12 years ago and never looked back since then. Less smelly, and no issues with the ethanol. It is costlier but as I use exclusively 4 Stroke engines fuel consumption and cost are much less an issue than with two strokes.

Best regards

Robin

[Steve Vodrey]

Well its time to get on the wings which are also a bit of a mess...

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slow progress. Bit of a jigsaw really.

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CNC cut parts are a must to save time. Big thank you to SLEC.

[Steve Vodrey]

Annoyingly one of the wing tips was damaged more than I realised.

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Underside soon repaired and tip replaced.

[Robin Senn]

Hello Steve

First a happy new year to you. I am still in awe about your progress (and perseverance) in the face of such damage. Those wings would admittedly have been a lost cause for me...
One question: how do you check the "surviving" parts for hidden damage?

Looking forward to see more of this ressurection...

Best regards


Robin

[Steve Vodrey]

Hi Robin.
Happy new year to you too. Most of the damage is of course visible. The fuselage is easy to check as for the wings it's a case of removing some of the covering and open up where needed such as the wing tip. Stress tests can be applied also to reveal weaknesses.

[Steve Vodrey]

Work continues mostly on the wings. They are nearly ready for covering now and all lined up. At last the model is taking shape.

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Many thanks to Paul from Kingfisher for making the cowls which has saved me lots of extra work.

[Robin Senn]

Hello Steve

Great progress there Steve.The repairs are coming together niecely as it seems. And nice cowls. Looking better (and definiterly sturdier) than the vac formed ones i use.

BTW, I see that you have also installed flaps on your Wellington. How is your experience with them, and what settings are you using? I am still experimenting with mine and havent found the ideal setting yet.

Best regards

Robin

[Steve Vodrey]

Hi Sean.
Thanks for your comments. I'm busy gluing strips of balsa on the outside of the fuselage at the moment
The flaps are very effective at full deployment which is about 60 degrees.
There is no need for any elevator mix as the pitch remains fairly constant. It will drop in from height quite steeply but still flare out. I did exactly that at Cosford one year and heard a gasp behind me to see that it was Tony Nijhuis.

[Steve Vodrey]

Well after many more hours its ready for covering.

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[Peter Siggins]

Crikey Steve you’ve got some patience - great rebuild job.I think if it had been me I’d have scrapped it!

Cheers Pete

[Steve Vodrey]

Thanks Pete. Will be done before too long.

[Robin Senn]

Hello Steve

Thats looking fantastic....and as good as new..or even better..;-) I have to agree with Pete, I wouldnt have had the will for such a rebuild. Great job.

And thanks for the information about the flaps. I am using a bit more flaps at the moment, around 75 degrees. Maybe that the reason why I need a bit of elevator down trim when the flaps are deployed.
And it must have been a great moment having Tony admiring you landing..... ;-)

Looking forward to you finishing the rebuild.

Best regards

Robin

[Steve Vodrey]

Not sure Tony was admiring my landing or watching in horror!
Anyway. Got some paint on it now.

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[Steve Vodrey]

Well after many more hours of re-installing engines, tanks and radio I got to test flight time yesterday.
Not the best of days for a test flight but the wind was down the strip and we got the engines running well.
All was fine with the usual landing at tip toe speed thanks to the flaps, and the wind.
Now to get it properly finished.

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Sorry but no video of the flight this time probably owing to people keeping out of the way