|
Gee
Bee Model D
by Don McLellan
10/03/2006
|
|
Granville Brothers airplanes have always been
among my favorites, and ever since my recent re-entry to the
free flight hobby I have planned to build at least two or three.
The Death Trap Squadron free plan site (www.deathtrapsquadron.com)
offers many very well done plans, and among them is a 16.4"
wingspan scale Model D that I knew I had to build.
|
|
I built the airplane heavier than indicated by the plan because
I didn’t think I could manage the smallish thickness without
breaking and/or warping the frames during construction. 1/16”
stock was used for most of the structural members rather than
1/32” and 1/20”, although 1/32” stock was
used for the wing ribs.
|
|
The graphics for the tissue were done using a very basic
CAD program: FastCad. (Note that any CAD
program can be used for this - there is nothing special
about FastCad). The detail and position of all the graphics
for the airplane (including some discussion on possible
alternates) are shown on the plan. The cat head was scanned
directly from the plan, cleaned up very slightly in Photoshop,
and imported into the fuse side drawing files.
|
|
The graphics were printed on the dull side of white SIG
polyspan tissue, using an Epson printer with
DuraBrite ink (I’ve had problems with
smudging when printing on the shiny side of the tissue with
large, dark colored areas).
|
|
The printed tissue was attached to the frame using a UHU
glue stick and shrunk with 91% alcohol. Occasional areas of
stubborn wrinkles were shrunk several times with the alcohol
mixture; if the wrinkles persisted, pure water was used. Most
of the wrinkles were removed. After each piece was covered,
a light coat of clear dope, thinned 50%, was applied.
I have done some glide tests to date but not yet flown the airplane.
|
|
|
