So, it's time to restart this Thread/Build Log. I'm finally back at the Model Desk after a very "hit and Miss" several months. Having hung up my work gloves for good some 10 days back I'm ready for some serious modelling, fun, and finding out what this "Retirement Thing" is all about!
This is the forth or fifth time I've retired and this time I mean it. Below is the emblem I scraped off my Truck, the end of 10 years of Oilfield liaison, security, and safety activity. Great memory, and proud to have had the opportunity for a rewarding second (or was it third??) career.
Over the past four months, since withdrawing from the Group Build, I've done a little here and there concentrating mainly on a "modular" approach. The engine was completed, the Scharf Ring/Lewis Assembly is half done, the wings have been pre-rigged, and the landing gear is 95% complete.
First step of final assembly was mounting the bottom wing and landing gear which I completed a few days back. Despite using a template to ensure alignment of the connecting spars this turned out to be a real challenge; as I told a couple of fellow Members earlier It proved to be the worst case of "I wish I had two more hands and eleven more fingers" I've ever experienced in 50+ years of working plastic! In the end the wonders (and strength) of CA and holding my tongue just right triumphed over the urge to convert her to a flying scale version!
Also added at this point were the lines from the fuselage that pass through the port lower wing and to the Pitot Assembly and also the copper line from the wind driven fuel pump to the fuel system. The digital macro camera again picks up bare areas, dust, and "junk" that I can't see without visual aids, just plain humbling and ugly!
Once happy with the lower wing attachment the engine module was attached to allow installation of the front cabanes. At this point, with Thanks to Mr. John Adams, the trusty AeroClub BiPlane Assembly Jig was set up in preparation for both the Cabane mounting / alignment and eventual installation of the upper wing.
Next, the rest of the Jig preparation, some minor additions and touch ups, and then the dreaded upper wing mounting exercise! Hopefully back with another update in a day or two, rather then a month or two as in the recent past.
Cheers,
Lance
