Autumn 2019 workshop activity
In between making a living and paying the mortgage, I have been out in the workshop, first thing to do was to have a tidy up and make a new balsa wood rack, you can see it on the end wall in the photo below.
As always I have far too many projects on the go at any particular time , so in no particular order 1) 2 x New control line pulse jet speed models, 2) Build Club32 pylon models, 3) Finish Q40 pylon race models. 4) OS60 parts for 10cc speed model.
I have also spent time in my machine shop making a set of exhaust stubs for the OS 60 speed engines that my friend Dick Hart and I will use at some stage in the near future. If you look carefully in the workshop photo above you will see on the back wall a 10cc monoline speed model which will use the OS60. These parts were manufactured with a combination of manual turning and CNC milling.
OS60 Exhaust stubs
For the CNC work I have a Wabeco 1210 CNC milling machine, over the years I have learned to programme CNC machines to enable me to manufacture parts for my competition models. The exhaust stubs are made from a type of aluminium called 6082 T6, this is a really nice material to machine and gives a good finish.
Wabeco CC-F1210 CNC mill with 3 axis control and NCCAD control software.
Below you can see the massive intake and exhaust of the OS 60, this engine will easily produce 5 Bhp.
OS60 CL speed engine
OS60 Exhaust stubsExhaust stub machining fixture
Exhaust stub machining fixture
Summer 2019 workshop activity
I recently finished off a couple of Club 32 Tracer pylon race models, these have a glass fibre fuselage with glass cloth and epoxy covered wings (click here for an article on glass cloth covered foam wings). The wings are then spray painted, I always use Badger airbrushes for the spray painting, the patterns are achieved through the use of vinyl cut stencils, in these detail areas I use the Badger 200 airbrush, for the main colours and clear coat final lacquer I use the Badger 250. The writing that you see is done with computer printed inkjet waterslide transfers, the blank material can be purchased on Ebay.
Club 32 Tracer pylon race model. Powered by SC32 and Multiplex RC system.
I really like building models such as the Tracer, I think this is because they are a throw back to my teenage years, I first built a Tracer in 1979 when I was 17 years old, the model has only had minor design tweeks since then and the wing is identical.
My 1979 version was covered in tissue and dope over the solid surfaces and powered by the then new Irvine 20.