LSP_Matt Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Hi Jean, Totally understand about the posting...I do much the same unless I have new piccies. Feels less like you're trying to hog the limelight sort of? Really enjoying seeing you work this way. I'm sure Derek must be watching with interest as well as it has the potential to circumvent a lot of work. I recall something from that nerdy movie National Treasure. I think Nick Cage says something about Thomas Edison trying upteen different ways to make a light bulb...all but the last one failing. I think he put it like he found 1000 ways 'not' to make a light bulb...he found only one that worked. Surely we learn more and get better satisfaction from trying a 1000 ways that fail...besides, in knowing what can go wrong surely this will be of assistance when you're stepping outside the box with the technique when you come to design something else? Bravo for the perseverence and I'm fascinated by the techniques you're showing us. Cheers Matty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCote Posted May 17, 2008 Author Share Posted May 17, 2008 Wings seem to be the order of the day lately, in particular with Derek working his usual magic over on his Tempest thread. Here's a "first draft" of a fiberglass wing for my Spitfire. As my appeal for advice in my last post went unanswered ( ), I did some research on the web and found quite a bit of useful information (eg here). I was especially lucky that Paul Monforton, author of my Spitfire bible, very kindly sent me a long e-mail with tons of advice based on his long experience as an RC modeller. I'll post a blow-by-blow in my blog this week-end, but here are some piccies of my first attempt. I have to confess that I'm pretty pleased. Despite a number of mistakes on my part, the two halves mate up well, the wing has the requisite spanwise "camber" when viewed from the front, and the difference in angle of incidence between root and tip is visible in side-view. Still much to be done (spar, ribs, wheel well, radiator recess, etc).. I'd never heard of vacuum-bagging before Paul's e-mail. It's really the cat's meaow: the resulting wing halves are tough, have sufficient though not excessive flex, with a thickness of less than 1mm. Thanks for looking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 Wow Jean, that looks fabulous! Can you explain a bit more about how the vacuum-bagging thing works? I'm quite intrigued... Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCote Posted May 17, 2008 Author Share Posted May 17, 2008 Hi Kevin, Thanks for the compliment. I'm hardly an expert, given that I've only recently heard about the technique, let alone used it, but the idea is to create a vacuum to press the wetted (I used epoxy resin) fiberglass matting hard against the mould, thus squeezing out excess resin and air bubbles. RC guys swear by the method because it results in lighter, structurally stronger parts. I used it to achieve uniform thickness over the part and to obtain maximum strength for the thinnest possible shell. The link above gives a pretty good intro. Best, Jean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironwing Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 Jean, Have I told you how much I hate you lately? You have really hit a new plateau in skills and ability. This is wonderful work. Im hoping you'll leave a link to your blog so I can read it, then steal everything you do. Like I said, This will be the mother of all Spitfires...Magnificent my friend... Cheers, Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCote Posted May 17, 2008 Author Share Posted May 17, 2008 Geoff, thank you for your kind words. My blog is here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Javlin1 Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 Geoff, thank you for your kind words. My blog is here. Like what I see so far Jean and at the site I will say have to give it a better looking over later.Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 Hi Jean, I read this thread for the first time Friday evening, then had to go have a lie down, what can I say that hasn't already been said? Mindnumbingly superb work, like the blog too, and do you have the Monforton book, if so what do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCote Posted May 19, 2008 Author Share Posted May 19, 2008 Kevin and Kagemusha, thanks for the encouragement, it means a lot to me. Kagemusha, I've got the Monforton book and it's quite simply mind-boggling. If you're a Spit fan, I can only urge you to get it: as an engineering reference, there's nothing like it (and no, I have no stake in the company, just a bowled-over customer) Best regards, Jean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 Hi Your doing some really interesting things on this model. Thanks for sharing. Texas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tourist Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 Jean, are you asleep? Faut qu'ca bouge! MORE, More, more........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCote Posted June 8, 2008 Author Share Posted June 8, 2008 Christian, à tes ordres! And Texas, thanks for your comment. Not that much to report really. Everything is progressing ok but just seems to take so much time. Here are the internals of the wing, a brass spar with ribs 5, 8 and 12 and two apertures, one for the UC and the other for the MG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCote Posted June 8, 2008 Author Share Posted June 8, 2008 To my great relief, the spar and ribs fit snuggly inside the two wing halves. View of bottom of lower wing, with 0.01 mm brass sheet inlay containing cut-out for the UC leg. Rib 5 forms the outboard wall of the radiator recess. There will be a similar inlay in the top half to accomodate the UC bossing (the mk XVIe had the thicker three-spoke wheel). There are (or will be) more details on my blog. Hope everyone is well and busy with their modelling. Jean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek B Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 Jean, Truely amazing engineering work there Jean (it goes way beyond normal modelling realms). I like your approach to the wing construction - it's probably stronger than the real thing! I shall stay tuned. Cheers Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCote Posted June 8, 2008 Author Share Posted June 8, 2008 Cheers Derek, I'm looking forward to the next instalment of your own wing, though these things do take time (the voice of experience here). Edgar, I have been trying for the longest time to come up with photographic evidence for my Spit (Stocky Edward's high back Mk XVI as she was in April 1945). Not having to put in the blister would cut down on work for me, but I can't shake the feeling that at some point I've seen late-wartime photos of XVIs with bulge and 3-spoke wheels. On the other hand, the Wings and Wheels book featuring a Czech Mk IX LF in its original condition supports your assertion. Maybe somebody out there has a relevant photo? (perhaps Brian, to whom I am indebted for pointing me towards Edward's plane?) P.S. To amend the above statement, it's the bulge I'm fairly sure I've seen on wartime photos, and perhaps i assumed the three-spoke wheels from that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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