20%VULCAN

[ken hart]

Looks a lot like its an Arado 234, thats one A/C thats acheing to be done Ken Hart

[Alasdair Sutherland]

trouble is this plane use 4 turbines and I cannot afford one of them!!! my missus would kill me! !!

Maybe it would fly Ok on just three then?

Or two really big ones?

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Since last weekends Gaydon event,things have been moving on with the build---several sections have been worked on---firstly the fin and rudder have been finished and glassed.Also,while these were drying,the retracts were delivered from Alec Griffiths and the woodwork was test fitted --the retracts have now been returned for final finishing--

2010-10-16_16.42.26retract fit 1.jpg (51.87 KiB) Viewed 14335 times

2010-10-16_16.42.46retract fit 2.jpg (37.44 KiB) Viewed 14335 times

2010-10-30_19.17.59fin glass.jpg (27.15 KiB) Viewed 14296 times

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Also being worked on is the main fuselage--the only area that hadnt been finalised was the jet pipe area and the associated woodwork--after several nights this week,all that has now been sorted ,and the plywood fixings put in place for mounting the 4 turbines

2010-10-30_19.18.10turbine wood.jpg (47.23 KiB) Viewed 14334 times

2010-10-30_19.18.22turbine wood 2.jpg (45.43 KiB) Viewed 14334 times

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Another section being worked on is the wing number 2 leading edge--this is now ready for shaping and covering as wing number 1.

2010-10-16_16.43.18lead edge.jpg (44.52 KiB) Viewed 14334 times

In between all this work,i needed some more hardwood ,so what better than dropping one of your own Beech trees?? so a phone call to a couple of the show committee lads and here we go- --

2010-10-25_14.05.22tree cut.jpg (70.2 KiB) Viewed 14334 times

[AndyHopwood]

Very nice unitract equipment!! impressive skill to make those. are they in alunminium or cold rolled steel ?

[Allan Griffiths]

Hi Any,

retracts are toally machined from billet, Alluminium,

The original block took some lifting in to the band saw to cut in to managable sections,

Allan,

Alex son

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Since the last update,all the final bits of woodwork for wing fixings etc,and jet inlet ducting have been installed,and the wings were final fitted to the fuslage and the washout etc was set and locked,and while in this position,the top of the wing was sheeted--

2010-11-13_14.25.02LEAD_EDGE_SHEETresize.jpg (61.1 KiB) Viewed 14048 times

the first top surface was finished last night,all ready for lifting outside the workshop once the weather warms up to sand and rub down to a reasonable state before turning over to sheet the underside

WING_SHEETED resize.jpg (38.47 KiB) Viewed 14048 times

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Whilst wating for sheeting to dry[i still use the old pva glue]i am also working on the fuselage sheeting,and the pic shows the front ducting taking shape---its now starting to look like a Vulcan

2010-11-23_21.20.05FUZ_SHEETING resize.jpg (41.37 KiB) Viewed 14048 times

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Finally ,after approx 4 weeks,i have started work on my Vulcan project again.The cold weather was playing havoc with the glues/fillers etc,even thou i have a good gas blower heater in there whilst working,once i went in at night ,the temperature dropped low enough to affect the drying etc,so i decided to have a break over Xmas and let the weather warm up enough to work in there in comfort.The fisrt thing i did was finish of the 4 main jet inlet and outlet ducting---these were formed from Proskin,and mad in sections and glued together once in position

2011-01-16_16.32.49JET TUBES.jpg (35.86 KiB) Viewed 13708 times

The ones in the picture are two jet outlet outer ducts---the stainless metal outlets will be made and fitted inside these---

[DAVE JOHNSON]

The next stage,was to finish the balsa sheeting on one side of the Fuselage,and build the jet nacelles---the formers etc for these were duplicated ready for the opposite side once that was balsa covered

2011-01-16_11.23.43NACELLS GLASS.jpg (31.29 KiB) Viewed 13705 times

in the piccy you can see they have been painted in pond sealer,this was to strengthen up the balsa where it had been rubbed down ,at a later stage the complete area will be glassclothed,but that is several weeks away yet.Also in the piccy,you can see the 2 lids for the turbines---these will be front hinged at a later stage ,these also were painted with 2 coats of pond sealer to strengthen the balsa before the hinges and catches are fitted

[DAVE JOHNSON]

2011-01-16_11.24.04FUZ OVERVIEW.jpg (26.87 KiB) Viewed 13700 times

This last pic shows the first side now finished other than a small section of balsa which has been left to gain access to the wing fixing,the next time i have one of the lads call down,we will refit the wing and drill and fit the bolt and blind nut ,then the sheeting can be finished .

[stewart clifford]

Hi Dave, This model is looking more and more like a real monster now, is there anyway you can get all the bits in one place for a picture of the whole thing so we can get an idea of how big this aircraft is?

Stewart

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Stuart---yes,i also would like to assemble complete,but this needs to be done outside of the workshop due to the size,but unfortunately up this part of the country,the weather just hasnt been good enough to do this--hopefully in next few weeks i will be able to sort,i am working on top balsa covering of the last wing panel,so will need to final fir that shortly---the complete top of airframe will then be ready for displaying at the Spring Seminar----

In the last couple of weeks,sevral sections are still being completed,and here you can see the offside nacelles being basically built/covered and covered in filler ready for final rub down

2011-02-06_10.27.18nacelle build.jpg (31.71 KiB) Viewed 13535 times

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Both offside nacelles have now been rubbed down ready for glasscloth,so moving onto the final two areas on this side of the fuselage--the front intake and Turbine hatch.As piccies show,both being worked on and should be finished this week ready for moving fuselage out of workshop to get the final wing in for balsa covering

2011-02-06_15.54.26off intake.jpg (33.32 KiB) Viewed 13437 times

turbine lids.jpg (30.74 KiB) Viewed 13437 times

[Paul Holt]

Dave, having enjoyed watching your other Vulcan fly since the early days at Elvington when it ha 2 pusher props, i can not wait to see this fly!!

[Tony Collins 1073]

Coming along nicely Dave. Looks Qwhite all white to me.

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

Strewth boss, you need a bigger van looking Very nice, look forward to seeing it at the Bradford do on the 27th

[Mike Booth]

Incredible dedication, it will be a truely epic sight Dave.
I admire your stamina.
If the sun ever shines at Cosford, the shadow will stop about ten people getting heat stroke.
M

[DAVE JOHNSON]

Thanks to you all for your comments
Paul--yes ,amazingley its 17 years since it first flew on pusher props !! i also cant wait to fly this one,its looking better by the day

Alan--yes,i intend having it on display in one piece at the spring Fair,and eventually i will need to get the extra longwheelbase van before i start transporting around the shows

Mike--SUNSHINE at Cosford---since Arthur passed it over to me,i have always prayed for the sunshine--surely this year we must be due ??

Tony--yes yes,i know i have already got a couple of litres of whiter primer,so you may get your wish---