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:
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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