Well, after working on it now for about three weeks so far, I am happy to say
that I am finally about half way through the building of my Dynaflite "Piece O'
Cake" motorglider, and I really must say that I am enjoying this project
enormously. I started out with one package of five magnets, which I purchased
at Radio Shack, and one tube of Super Glue jel, which I purchased at the Home
Depot. Since that time, I have gone back to Radio Shack four seperate times,
each time to purchase one additional pack of magnets, and I have gone back to
the Home Depot four seperate times, first, to purchase one additional two pack
of jel, secondly, to purchase two additional two packs, and thirdly, and
fourthly, for three additional two packs each. My magnets add up to forty
cents apiece, although I have also discovered some larger magnets at Radio
Shack, which are selling for a dollar apiece. Since my current plan is to
continue to build sailplanes of increasingly larger dimensions, I probably will
eventually stock up on the larger magnets. Of course, in the mean time, I am
also learning how to estimate the amount of glue which I will be needing for
future projects.
The only tool which I started out with in launching into this project, unless magnets and glue might also be thought of as tools, is a plastic handled hobby knife, which I purchased at the Hobby Lobby. Several days later, I went back to the Hobby Lobby, for an additional package of #11 blades, and, up until a few days ago, these were the only tools that I was using. In pushing my knife through the piece which would become the leading edge of the wing, though, I began to realize that a razor saw would be very handy to have. Finally, after trying, for three times in a row, to cut a gusset, and failing all three times, because of my inability to prevent the wood from splitting, I realized that to complete this kit, a razor saw is actually a necessity. Nevertheless, I continued to press forward, postponing this tool purchase, for I was anxious to get the four wing panels to the point where I could then join them all together. Gluing the #1 wing ribs was another detail which I postponed, because, although I am sure that I would have done just fine, had I simply followed the instructions, still, I had something else in mind.
I have a book which was written by a fellow named Willaim Cumpiano, and which explains about how to build a steel stringed acoustical guitar. Well, the head piece of a guitar is that part upon which the tuning machines are mounted, the tuning machines, of course, being those items of hardware which are used for either tightening or loosening the strings. In the Cumpiano book, there is a picture of the author using a stainless steel protractor to establish the angle of a guitar headpiece. Similar to a miter gauge, this particular protractor has a moveable, lockable straight edge which is a functional part of it, and this Cumpiano protractor is the same one which is sold at the Home Depot. Once I got to the point where it was time for me to make the dihedral gauges, I went ahead and purchased this tool. This was about three days ago. And, by the way, here is a picture of the protractor:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004T7TB.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
I drive a compact pick up, and there would not be room for me to transport my plane in the cab of my truck. Since I mow grass on a daily basis during the season, I therefore have built a camper to protect my tools. My camper, though, does not include side windows. Instead, I have installed shutters, which, of course, reduce my visibility when they are in place. In addition to this, since, again, I plan to continue to build sailplanes of increasingly larger dimensions, I will eventually get to the point, regardless, where it will be necessary for me to consider the building of wings consisting of more than one piece. Well, the Piece O' Cake does not come with a two piece wing option. I have discovered, though, that the Great Planes Spirit sailplane does come with a two piece wing option, and, since the Spirit is in the same class as the Piece O' Cake, I decided that if I could somehow locate a manual for the Spirit, that it would then be possible for me to duplicate this feature for my own plane. Well, I consider myself to be very fortunate that Tower Hobbies has seen fit to include the manual for the Spirit on their web site, in the form of a PDF file. I downloaded this manual yesterday, and am now studying it, also for the spoiler option.
Well, this is just a little progress report, I suppose, and, as always, I am open to any additional comments or suggestions which might be put forth. Happy flying!
Michael
Michael Mandaville
in the Texas hill country, just west of Austin
The only tool which I started out with in launching into this project, unless magnets and glue might also be thought of as tools, is a plastic handled hobby knife, which I purchased at the Hobby Lobby. Several days later, I went back to the Hobby Lobby, for an additional package of #11 blades, and, up until a few days ago, these were the only tools that I was using. In pushing my knife through the piece which would become the leading edge of the wing, though, I began to realize that a razor saw would be very handy to have. Finally, after trying, for three times in a row, to cut a gusset, and failing all three times, because of my inability to prevent the wood from splitting, I realized that to complete this kit, a razor saw is actually a necessity. Nevertheless, I continued to press forward, postponing this tool purchase, for I was anxious to get the four wing panels to the point where I could then join them all together. Gluing the #1 wing ribs was another detail which I postponed, because, although I am sure that I would have done just fine, had I simply followed the instructions, still, I had something else in mind.
I have a book which was written by a fellow named Willaim Cumpiano, and which explains about how to build a steel stringed acoustical guitar. Well, the head piece of a guitar is that part upon which the tuning machines are mounted, the tuning machines, of course, being those items of hardware which are used for either tightening or loosening the strings. In the Cumpiano book, there is a picture of the author using a stainless steel protractor to establish the angle of a guitar headpiece. Similar to a miter gauge, this particular protractor has a moveable, lockable straight edge which is a functional part of it, and this Cumpiano protractor is the same one which is sold at the Home Depot. Once I got to the point where it was time for me to make the dihedral gauges, I went ahead and purchased this tool. This was about three days ago. And, by the way, here is a picture of the protractor:
I drive a compact pick up, and there would not be room for me to transport my plane in the cab of my truck. Since I mow grass on a daily basis during the season, I therefore have built a camper to protect my tools. My camper, though, does not include side windows. Instead, I have installed shutters, which, of course, reduce my visibility when they are in place. In addition to this, since, again, I plan to continue to build sailplanes of increasingly larger dimensions, I will eventually get to the point, regardless, where it will be necessary for me to consider the building of wings consisting of more than one piece. Well, the Piece O' Cake does not come with a two piece wing option. I have discovered, though, that the Great Planes Spirit sailplane does come with a two piece wing option, and, since the Spirit is in the same class as the Piece O' Cake, I decided that if I could somehow locate a manual for the Spirit, that it would then be possible for me to duplicate this feature for my own plane. Well, I consider myself to be very fortunate that Tower Hobbies has seen fit to include the manual for the Spirit on their web site, in the form of a PDF file. I downloaded this manual yesterday, and am now studying it, also for the spoiler option.
Well, this is just a little progress report, I suppose, and, as always, I am open to any additional comments or suggestions which might be put forth. Happy flying!
Michael
Michael Mandaville
in the Texas hill country, just west of Austin