Turn, Time, Talk, Task - Pa28 G-ELUE 1/32 - Balsa Scratchbuild

[Westland48]

Hi all,

 

How many times have I heard that phrase "Turn, Time, Talk, Task"? My (incredibly patient) flying instructor would repeat these words every time I passed over a turning point on a navigation exercise...

 

Following on from my 1/32 Schleicher K8b build, I've decided to stay with the balsa scratchbuilding and make the aircraft which probably means the most to me... The venerable Piper Pa28-161, specifically G-ELUE, affectionately known as "Gluey". Why the Pa28 and why G-ELUE? G-ELUE was the first plane I solo'd in and the first plane I landed at an airfield different to the one I learnt at. So despite the Pa28 being a fairly unremarkable aircraft, with limited performance and handling, it's got a place in my heart.

 

Now to the build, but first, I apologise for the awful out of focus photos - I didn't realise my phone camera wasn't focused. The build started with getting hold of an electronic copy of the Pa28-161 Pilots Operating Handbook (POH) to use the three view drawing as the plans. These were scaled to 1/32 and printed, fortunately the Pa28 is has a fairly simple/basic construction - both the side and top elevations of the fuselage are a very similar symmetric aerofoil shape and the corners are slightly rounded (in other words it's a reasonably aerodynamic rectangle).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The airframe has been constructed using ribs and stringers, just as the real Pa28 is - I've added the cabin floor as I'm going to scratchbuild the cabin and create a plunge molded canopy.

 

More to follow!

[RLWP]

I'm really interested to follow your build

 

Richard

[mozart]

1 minute ago, RLWP said:

I'm really interested to follow your build

 

Richard

Me too, should be an educational build.  

[Cap'n Wannabe]

This should be interesting!  To the best of my knowledge, only the PA-28-140 has been kitted in 1/48 and 1/36, and the -180 in 1/72.

[chrish]

Pulling up a chair!

I’ve been wanting to try this with Guillows balsa flying model Cessna 170

maybe we should start a group build (kidding)

[MikeMaben]

 

          

 

 

[Westland48]

Work done this morning, I've split the wing into two sections, the inboard (straight) and outboard (tapered) section. Each section will be made from 5 ribs, which will have the upper and lower surfaces glued to them. I didn't bother using a spar during my previous glider build, I don't think I'll bother with one this time either.

 

 

Seen above are the measured dimensions from the 1/32 plans, however, I've had to shrink the ribs by another 2mm to account for the thickness of the skin. The Pa28 uses a NACA 65(2)-415 aerofoil, I pulled one off airfoil tools and scaled it.

 

 

 

And a word of warning, for those expecting an excellent, well planned, detailed, accurate build.... sorry to disappoint, basically I'm just making it up as I go along an hopefully it will look ok-ish at the end!

 

Cheers!

 

[LSP_Kevin]

I love this kind of modelling!

 

Kev

[RLWP]

1 hour ago, Westland48 said:

And a word of warning, for those expecting an excellent, well planned, detailed, accurate build.... sorry to disappoint, basically I'm just making it up as I go along an hopefully it will look ok-ish at the end!

 

Doesn't matter. You are doing stuff that I don't know how to do, and I'd love to make a 1/32 model of this:

 

 

Your techniques are very applicable to such a project

 

Richard

[Woody V]

Following. Love balsa models.

[Lee White]

Following. Old School is my school, bring it on!

[mozart]

I’ve always wanted to make a 1/32 model of a Percival Proctor, this could be the answer! 

[Westland48]

So, I was unhappy with the cabin floor, it wasn't curved enough - so I built another. I also realised that the fuselage section width at the fore and aft of the cockpit was a bit too small (I build it all undersize anyway as it's skinned with 1/32" balsa, but due to being undersize I've skinned just the cabin fuselage sides with 1/16" balsa. I've also used milliput to make the engine cowl.

 

 

 

I had initially intended to make the forward cowl from laminated balsa, filed to size. I tried to drill out the air intakes, but the balsa split. Instead.... I've made a "male" "plug" to create a "female" mold from milliput. Once this is dry, I'll use the "female" mold to make the final part, molded from milliput. I used some cling film to stop it sticking.

 

 

 

I have no idea if it will work, but it looks like it's turned out alright. Just need to wait for it to dry overnight and I might be able to do a bit more once I've come home from work (designing 1:1 scale helicopters!).

 

Cheers

[Out2gtcha]

Lovely stuff!  My dad build Quarter (Ahhhhem 1/4th) scale R/C ships for many years and the techniques remain very similar. 

 

Looking forward to more! 

[Westland48]

It's been a couple weeks! I didn't have any glue or balsa and no time for modelling over xmas, however I've now stocked up again.

 

I've filed out the air intakes and landing light hole on the front cowl, it still needs some work and the sides need to be built up a little again

 

 

I've skinned the rear of the fuselage, added milliput and filed back to get the rough shape, it looks ok

 

 

Above you can see the cowl needing another round of sanding.

 

And heres the wings work in progress... Both upper and lower skins have been cut out, now I need to cut out each rib and glue it all together - easy?

 

 

I've also cut out the horizontal and vertical stabilisers, these will be made from 3 pieces of (approx) 1/32" balsa, glued together than sanded into an approximate aerofoil.

 

More to follow!