1/4 scale Opel Rak

loopingfred

Hi there,
After the Ka3, new year, new projects !
We start with my new design, a 1/4 scale Opel Rak. You can find lots of picture and documents here : http://www.retroplane.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=413


Scale : 1/4
Wingspan : 2.50 mtrs
99% wood, the remaining 1% are the aluminium tubes for the tail (12 and 10 mm diameter)

Central Wing section :

Ribs lovers, this model is for you ! 5 formers, and almost 100 ribs ! I can tell you that I'm happy to have a CNC machine ! So, here are all the bits and pieces for the wing :


The building of this central piece is not that easy, mostly because everything is built "in the air" ! So, you really need a good eye for everything to be square ! The spars (4 for each wing) are made using 8x8 pine strips.


Then, well, you just have to add all the other ribs !
After nearly 2 hours, you have something like this :

loopingfred

The tail booms are attached to the wing / ribs using 3 pieces of plywood that take the aluminium tube (a picture is easier to understand..)



Well, now, you can have a break (tea, coffee, alcohol or whatever you prefer !) and have a look at your latest baby !



So, the central wing part is almost finish. Next, the external wing sections (2)

Fred

g5hn710m4xpdwy

very noice, would love to see the finshed plane

loopingfred

Thanks Flunked !

Fred

loopingfred

So, here we go with the external wing panels :
So, at least 1 and a half panel is done ! I had a shortage of pine for the spars ! used 10 mtrs, and I need 2 mtrs more...

One panel :


Junction central wing / external panel :


Tonight, I'll try to finish the remaining wing panel, and the central wing section.

Fred

tallus

Looking good Fred

g5hn710m4xpdwy

yes it is looking good. you make it look so easy but with the help of the cnc :P

Is this going to have a motor or anything? or is it just a glider?

loopingfred

Thanks Tallus

@Flunked --> No, pure glider, but equiped with the rocket system, only for meetings and the scale touch (and the laugh if she start to go in flames ! )

Fred

Plug

i thought the rockets were illegal in Ireland?

loopingfred

Plug wrote:

i thought the rockets were illegal in Ireland?

Yes, they are, like the fireworks that all my neighbors are firing almost every night

No, seriously, the rockets will be only on meetings, and mainly in France anyway.

Fred

coolwings

I'd like to see it fly Fred.
Should be really something.
Will you get a video of the maiden flight?

loopingfred

Hey Norman !
Well, I expect the thing to fly pretty much like a truck...:p But as usual, a video of the maiden flight / crash (we never know ) will be available.
Such as the test with the rockets.. We might have a laugh here !

Fred

loopingfred

Ooopss, forgot today's update on the building...

Not a lot of work done yesterday, but things are still moving !




Plan for this week end : TE and LE for the wings and I start building the fuselage or the tail section, we'll see.

Fred

g5hn710m4xpdwy

thats long... ...very long...:D

Plug

i thought my glider was long!:eek:

g5hn710m4xpdwy

you have a glider

Plug

yeah! Posted up crap flights and a pic or 2;)

g5hn710m4xpdwy

oh...:D

Plug

Lost intreast in it tho, couldn't fly the thing properly, nearly toke the head off my brother at one stage:D

g5hn710m4xpdwy

That's no reason to stop! Tis a reason to keep doing now that you know what it can do:D

loopingfred

Hi there,
I agree with Flunked.. Not a reason to stop !

If you live around Dublin, why not joining us on a slope with your glider and radio to have a look and why not, take your first flying lesson ! :rolleyes:

Contact on the link below or here : http://www.islandsloperebels.com

I go back to the garage now !

Fred

Plug

2 channel radio and a wing as balanced as the leaning tower of peisa.

g5hn710m4xpdwy

I thought you were in Cork. I am in Dublin [even tho I dont think you were talking to me] And I would love to get into gliding if theres any very cheap started kits or used models. I need evrything but the radio controls;)

Plug

Want to buy mine?:D I'll give her a bit of a service and balance the bitch;)

g5hn710m4xpdwy

dpeneds what your selling for. looks like your hitting the mighty 2000 post tonight, make sure it is done in this part of the forum!:D

Plug

Won't be too much, whats the budget?

Don't worry i'll save it for here:D

loopingfred

Hi Flunked, Anytime !
Check the forum in the slope rebel site or the gliderireland one or contact me if you want to have a look at the slope with us a week end !
For a beginner glider, let me know if you need one (if Plug want to come back to this hobby ! and he will.. Come on Plug, let's try it again ! )

And if you have any questions...

Fred

loopingfred

Hi there,
After a Saturday at the slope, a bit of work has been done sunday on the Opel, starting with the fuselage. The pieces :



Not a lot ! So, that goes really quickly to assemble :


After that, not a lot of work need to be done on it. Plywood sheeting, and space for the pilot, batteries and receiver.. Yep, no servos on the fuselage, they are all in the wings and tail !
First look at the fuselage with the wings :

Well, looks like the picture... Always a good sign !
Back to the wings for a while, and it's time to glue the LE (10mm balsa) and the TE (1.5mm plywood) :


Then, we do the same on the 2 external wing panels, and we can do a final setup and have a look back on the beast :



Well.. Not bad at all ! And the more I look at it, the more I think that can have a decent flight !

This week, it's time to work on the tail (elevator and rudders) section ! More ribs !

Fred

Plug

Coming on nicely fred;)

g5hn710m4xpdwy

Nice
Looking like a flyer rather than a sophisticated ladder now:D
I'll PM you about the me getting into gliding

loopingfred

True actually !

You can contact me at anytime ! And if you want to join us in a week end to have a proper look, no problemo !

Fred