Motor Nacelle

In constructing the motor nacelle start by constructing the ply wood motor pod. When built ,fit into the wing in between W2A making sure to fit the 1/2" balsa spacer underneath EB, remember to draw your throttle linkages through the motor pod as your fit it into position. Then with your ruler mark the centre lines of the nacelle onto the wing and taking measurements from the plan glue formers E3 to E6 into position. Now fit the tank hatch onto motor pod and glue in formers E1 to E3A. Sand and fit E7 and two E8s into position to give the construction rigidity and ready it for sheeting with 3mm balsa. With this done sand nacelles to final shape for sheeting with balsa. My next step was to sheet the nacelles starting at the wings at E8 on both sides working to the top centre at E7 using 20-25mm strips of balsa. While time consuming it was the best method to achieve the best contours. Next make up the rear balsa blocks out of 12mm balsa and glue into position then sand to shape the entire nacelle and cut out the tank hatch. Now refit the hatch with pins and screws to lock in position for service to the tank bay.

Cowls

The plan shows a built up engine cowl manufactured from 3mm balsa wood. Assembly the cowl rings with 61/2 mm spacers then edge glue 3mm planking, (cut to the length of the cowl jig), and paint with cloudy ammonia and wrap around the cowl jig and hold in place with rubber bands until dry. This process ends with a rounded pre-shaped planking which can be trimmed and glued into position easily. Build up two layers of 3mm planking on the interior front of the cowl and one 3mm layer on the rear exterior. When dry the cowl can be sanded to shape and fibre-glassed or finished as you require. Finally fit cowl to nacelle, sanding as required to achieve a good fit. I mounted mine with four small hardwood blocks.

Pontoons The Pontoons are carved out off dense grade polystyrene, I started by cutting rectangular foam blocks to the correct size, then made paper templates to mark out the approximate shape then carved out the shapes with a new stanley knife blade.

When happy with the shape complete with a final sand with 400 "wet and dry". Shape pontoon arm P into a streamline profile and then recess into pontoon. I then used 3/4 ounce glass cloth and epoxy resin to seal the foam and recessed the pontoon arm P into the underside of the wing.

Tail Section Tailplane and Elevator The tailplane and elevator can be built directly on the plan, (on a flat surface), in one piece from the tailplane rear spar to the elevator front spar and split into two pieces on completion. The split elevators were also constructed in one piece then separated after the wire joiner was fitted.

Pin down the centre section and spars and cut and fit the frame ribs and glue into position. Fit balsa tips and then unpin from building board and sand flat. Now make up 1.5mm balsa sheeting and sheet top and bottom of tailplane and elevator construction. Sand back to shape, mark and cut off elevator from the tailplane, sand leading edge of elevator to allow for hinge movement and fit 21/2 mm elevator joiner wire. When dry, cut out centre section of elevator to allow for rudder movement. Hinge the elevator off the tailplane and put aside.

Fin and Rudder The fin and rudder are constructed in two symmetrical halves. Build up one side over the plan. When completed, lift off plan and reverse and construct the second side on top of the first. Fit reinforcement gussets FN and R1 and carefully sand FP and ribs to the required profile. (Note that R3A is not fitted until tailplane is fitted into the fin).

Fit the 11/2 mm balsa sheet skin between R1 and R3 on the fin and complete the skin on the rudder making up the balsa tip blocks to suit. Put aside until final construction and fit out on the fuselage to facilitate alignment of flying surfaces. Completion of balsa skin from R3a to R6 is completed later.