C17 Globemaster III @ 1/15th scale - for PSS

Last week Bob and I saw that there was an upcoming big SW wind, so a plan was hatched to get to the Orme as early as possible to get two maidens done. I got up at 5am and made the 3 hour trip with a car full of C17, to be greeted by a 55mph SW on the top of the rock. Wow! If she doesn't fly in this, she is definitely going in the bin.

All rigged and ready (extra insulating tape to hold the engines on!), the hardy lads we'd corralled into meeting us there lofted the airframe above their heads, and gave her the heave-ho. The first launch showed some tail-heavy attributes, but nothing that couldn't be handled on trim, thankfully. A slight runaway in the dive, but not something that made me panic too much - I didn't even make any changes for the second flight.

All in all, I'm very happy with her. Quite manoeuvrable, not too fast, fairly easy to land even without touching the throttle stick for the huge flaps. I did give the flaps a go on the front side and she slowed up very quickly without too much pitching - at least they're there if I need them!

The second flight was cut a bit short due to the backup receiver losing signal.  I still have no idea why this was, and can only assume it's something to do with the "beta" pre-release RB30 redundancy bus I was using.  I really wanted the RB in there to keep an eye on the flap servo current as it has that feature built-in, but I have since found smaller servo-current sensors made by FRSky that I can daisy chain off the telemetry ports instead.  I'll lose the battery backup feature, but by adding two separate receivers, I can mitigate that risk through them using different batteries and cross-controlling the aircraft for redundancy.

All photos courtesy of Phil Cooke - many thanks Phil for capturing these great moments.

Some specs;

• Based on ZZ176 based at Brize Norton when she wore her anniversary tail art.  
• 32lbs AUW
• 8 servos (2 ailerons, 2 flaps, 2 rudders, 2 elevators) all high voltage.
• 2x 2 cell 4000mAh LiFe batteries, 
• FRSky RB30 redundancy bus (for now...)
• FRsky R8Pro & R9X receivers (2.4ghz and 900mhz links)
• FRsky X20S transmitter
• Flytron LED landing lights and strobing beacon (fantastically bright!)

Construction is foam veneered wings, then glassed.  Fuselage is white foam rear, built-up centre around the spar box, foam nose.  Fus foam parts then brown-papered and glassed.  ABS vac formed engine nacelles.  Everything sprayed in 2K high build primer, then 2K matt battleship grey.  Decals from Callie Graphics and Dave's Decals.

Own design PSS Gloster Meteor

 This one has been bubbling away for a while, with some beta work on the first build being done by PSSA member Chris Barlow.  I've now got my own under way now, and she's come along nicely.

The wing is ready for glass now, as well as the tail parts.  A bit more fuselage shaping as well as the canopy / cockpit install and the fus will be ready for glass too.  All coming along!

C17 - keep on priming

Lots of bits still being primed and test fitted, final bits of priming hoped to be done this week, with a view to getting top coat started this weekend.

Engines test fitted for magnets :

Engines now have vortex generators and tail pipes added, then primed :

Flaps hinged onto wings : 

Flaps and engines mounted : 

Fuselage spraying has started too :

C17 - Paint at last, let's get her done!

It's been a while since I've posted (happy new year by the way!) but things have (as always) been moving along in the background.

The C17 has finished most of it's glass, but I'm always finding bits to remake or re-finish to tweak it a bit.  The port wing and most of the control surfaces have now been primed in 2k high build primer, with more bits waiting for garage space to get in there and get the same treatment.

After a quick rub down :

I forgot the battery / ballast box in the nose, so had to cut in and get that installed :

Engines are all now being finished off, as is the starboard wing and flap arrangement. Nearly 4 years after starting, the finish line is almost in sight!

PSS Hawker Seahawk - maidened!

A great afternoon's flying on Saturday at the Bwlch PSSA meet saw me maiden the little Seahawk.  Needless to say, she's a keeper!  A real charm to fly - responsive in all axes, a good speed range, looks bloody lovely.  Can't wait to get out there again with her.

Thanks to Phil Cooke for the photos.

PSS Hawker fest - Typhoon and Seahawk final pictures

These two finally out in the sun together this weekend, hopefully maiden the Seahawk next weekend on the Orme - weather permitting...

Hawker Seahawk for PSS - complete!

With Shona away in the USA for a while, Seahawk work has progressed quickly!

Final bits of filler applied, sanded, and primed:

Underside sprayed up: 

Underside then masked off: 

 Topside sprayed:

Decals and panel lines start going on:

Hinge everything, get the servos in: 

Exhausts glued on:

Finished! (yeah I can't be bothered mowing the grass yet, it's still March!):

She weighs a svelte 3lb's on the nose ready to fly with a 2500mAh LiFe battery up front.  All programmed up and balanced...now we just need some wind!

C17, Seahawk and Skyraider

The C17 has been plodding away gently in the background, with me glassing the myriad of parts as and when I've been building up a pile of bits that require it.  The entirety of the fuselage has now been glassed, and here I am finalising the tension system that keeps the two parts of fuselage together:

She's a big girl to keep in the workshop in once piece, so I migrated to the landing to add the first of the solid balsa end pieces of the undercarriage pods.  Bramble looks on, quite unimpressed:

I should be able to flip that over tonight and the other side.  Once they are carved to shape, they will need a layer of glass, and the joint between the two halves can then be finalised and gap-filled.  That will clear the fuselage for primer then!

The little Seahawk has been coming along well, the filler primer just about dry now:

Just the cockpit to finish up, top access hatch, then into final paint.  Nearly there!

This project has been tickling away for a while - an own design Douglas Skyraider.  It was originally intended to be next year's mass build model, but it looks like I'm too far behind so it might end up as 2022's model!  Crikey that seems far off currently.  Anyway, here are some pictures from CAD:

Apologies as they're photos of my screen, and not screenshots.  I hope to cut some parts for the Skyraider later in the year, will see how she goes.