Cessna 180 (kit 601) build questions

[StefanJ]

Thanks for all the suggestions for keeping the rubber on the hook!

@supercruiser:

I ended up cutting my own stringers to complete the 601/Cessna 180. Not fun!

When I started my Arrow, I did just as you suggested, carefully cutting all the way to the end of the die-cut stringer sheet. All neatly bundled for when I start the process.

[StefanJ]

Bottom view of my almost-completed Cessna 180.

I used colored tissue for the top of the wings and the fuselage, and blue dope on the fuselage because it helped cover up the patchy tissuing job. I had to redo the panels up front several times!

I could probably finish the model in an hour, but I've been feeling beat after work and don't want to make any mistakes. Maybe this weekend!

P.S. I picked up a couple of pieces of gray colored "foamcore" project board. It is great for use as a photo background. I stack the boards with the bulletin boards I build planes on.

[StefanJ]

SO CLOSE!

My Cessna's prop seems to be scraping the cowl as it spins.

Before trying something on my own:

I've searched for, but now can't find, a diagram or description I remember seeing here of such of a slight modification recommended to be made to the thrust button / cowl area. The prop was tilted a bit. Up? Down?

I would be grateful for a pointer.

I'm gluing the last bit of tissue on tonight. The weather is crappy so I won't be able to test out the glide and trim, but I want to FINISH this one so I can start on the Arrow and apply my hard-learned lessons!

[ADW 123]

i add a ring of balsa around the thrust button to push it far enough out so it doesnt hit the cowling. some people add little washers to the prop shaft in between the prop and the thrust button to push it out the same way. you are thinking about downthrust. downthrust forces the nose down in flight, so it doesnt gain altitude too quickly. those cessnas will do that since they are great flyers, and they have lots of wing area and lift compared to weight.

[StefanJ]

That sounds clear enough.

I'll try washers, since even with a bit of clay in the cowl it will need some weight up front.

Downthrust . . . glad I asked!

I should have photos tomorrow, after the bit of tissue has been shrunk.

Thanks!

[Phugoid]

If you look at the end of my super cub build you'll see what I did to get down thrust and clear the cowling, I used some little plastic discs that I had at work, but you could make the same from hard balsa/ply/obeche/Basswood.

The downthrust stops the rapid climb (and possible stall) due to the intial burst of power that the rubber gives when you let go of the prop. It is usually coupled with some right thrust to control the torque reaction effect too.

Andrew

[ADW 123]

although i didnt add any right thrust to mine. it was a pretty stable flyer without it. plus i had a left turn.

[Phugoid]

You shouldn't use the torque for the left turn, otherwise as the power runs out, your left turn does too. That's a pretty easy way to loose your model if you've got pretty high into the big blue. You should make it neutral for the torque, and use the rudder or a tab to make it turn.

The right thrust doesn't really alter stability per se, it does control the flight pattern though....

Andrew

[StefanJ]

OK, it's done. (Except for the washer / spacer work mentioned above.)

This has definitely been a learning experience. It's shabby, but it should fly, if not especially straight.


In the close-up you can see the wrinkles on the leading edges, and the rough-around-the-edges tissuing on the body. I got better at overlapping adjacent panels by the time I got to the bottom of the fuselage.


The weather turned crappy today. In Portland, that may well mean the end of good weather until Spring!

Flickr group: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stefan_e_jones/

[SteveM]

You could be tent camping downtown in a park.

Rain helps us identify the Californians hiding among the locals. Umber-what?

[StefanJ]

I regularly fly model rockets in the rain, but they're pretty water-proof. After all the work I put into it I don't want my Cessna to melt away!

[BassettsAllSorts]

Looks great Stephanj.

A friend has picked this one up for me today so I'm going to join the build thread real soon (If a little late).

Looking forward to see this one fly.

Tom

[Mitch]

Hi Guys,

Just got home a few days ago and am finishing up chores and leftover Turkey.

Want to join in on this build. Always looking for better ways to make a model. Just got my 180 from the hobby store and the wood weighed in at 19.3 grams. (Also got a gram scale from Harbor Frieght) So I think I got a good start. I do not expect to use the paper in the kit. I will use Easy Built paper or maybe some Esaki. I enjoy looking at the build and Q&A's.

When I start my build I will post some pics.

My basic build will include white glue for contruction, Glue Stick to attach paper, then 2 coats of thinned clear dope.

Mitch

[StefanJ]

Mitch:
You want the OTHER Cessna 180 build thread.

I'd close this thread to further comments, if that was possible. I put my final product photo here because I was finishing up my "601" as the other build thread twas starting out.

[granpa]

After covering the body, how do we deal with cutting out the windows? Should we cut flush with the stringer or cut and fold in to cover the stringer and trim from the inside?