Hi All,
I have had my Shapeoko 5Pro for about a year now. My decision to purchase one was to start machining parts for our 8/5% scale Fi-156 Storch. Its all designed in Solidworks and using Carbide Create along with vCarve Pro for the software. We have the rudder finish and covered and now starting on the elevators. All the parts cut on the 5Pro, I attached some pictures of what we are doing which is the elevator. To give you an idea of the size its length from tip to root rib is 76" [193.04 cm}. Hope you enjoy them.
I’ve flown a bit in a Piper J3 down in south Texas. Point it into the wind and it will hover. My friend helped catch “the bad guys” for the local authorities by searching the brush from the air.
I’m curious from your profile, where is “New Hampshere”?
I lived in Northwood NH, now retired and living in Georgia. Here is a link to my Piper L-4H I built from scratch off copies of original Piper drawings. Enjoy.
I saw the “rocket launchers” on the wing of you plane! There’s a YouTube video of a WWII spotter where the soldier mounted those and went after tanks and stuff while out looking around. Great story!
Yes, look up Bazooka Charlie or “Rosie the Rocketer”. I did not what to copy that L-4 and found another L-4 with bazookas mounted differently, which I copied on mine. You can see the original B&W pictures on my web site photo album. BTW, mine do work.
We use an aircraft approved covering called “Poly Fiber”. Its a heat shrinkable polyester material. The covering is glue to the perimeter of the structure then heat shrunk to make it taut. Then various coatings are applied up to the finish top coat.
Here is a picture of the rudder frame and covered up to finishing with colors. That is a 72" (182.88cm) scale next to the rudder for size reference. Enjoy.
My aunt was originally born in London England. During WWII my uncle met her while waiting around for D Day. At the end of the war they got married and came back to Shreveport LA. My aunt lived through the Blitz of London. However during the war my aunt worked in a Spitfire manufacturing plant assembling air planes. She worked on the wings internals because her small hands would fit up inside the wings to attach all the cables and things necessary for the plane to function. Before that she worked sewing heavy canvas bags that naval shells were shipped in. She sewed up the bags and sewed in a rope for a handle to carry the heavy shell for the sailors to transport and load the large caliber naval shells.
Airplanes are designed by computers now but it was incredible that planes were designed on paper and hand made by artisans long before people even know what a computer or CNC was.
So hopefully you have someone with small hands to attach the internals needed to fly your plane.
Brings back memories. About ten years ago I was asked if I could make some sort of an airplane as a prop for Bible School. Sure, I said. Looking at your pictures I couldn’t help thinking that I wish I’d have had my Shapeoko back then. My wife would probably agree with that. Good thing I was already retired!
Hi All,
Thanks for all the kind comments, much appreciated. Here is the final construction picture of the elevator frame. 2nd one is in process. The length for size comparion is 76" from root to tip.