Latest Project updates
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In the beginning...
11/30/2003 - Ordered the cut kit from All-American Kit cutters. Due to the Christmas rush, I should get the kit in late January 2004. Ordered the cowls from Stan's Fiber tech and the vacuum formed parts from Nor-Ray Products as recommended on the plans.
1/05/2004 - So far I have the cowls and vacuum formed parts. The cowls look good although the air scoops are not as scale as I would have liked. The vacuum formed parts are; the canopy, top turret, tail turret (in two parts), the front bubble and some flat clear plastic for the fuselage windows. I ordered an extra rear turret to use in the nose and will need to modify it to be an A-6 nose turret. It needs the wind proofing enclosure around the guns. The turrets seem to a cross between an A-6 and A-15. I am now trying to decide if I use one turret to make a plug and make a new one myself or modify the one I have. I haven't vacuum formed in many years but I think it would be fun so I'll probably do it.
I am also working a design for the bomb bay doors that will be as scale as I can get it. I need the bomb bay door mechanism and turrets pretty soon in the construction. My plan is to use plastic channel for the tracks and door runners.
1/9/2004 - All American Kit cutters cashed my check so they must be cutting it.
I built a mock-up of one of the bomb bays and bay door to develop a working scale door system that works and to my delight, it does.
My original plan was to use aluminum, plastic or even brass to create the track but 1/32" ply worked best. Waxing the track helped the door slide easier. It needs a little refinement before it gets in the aircraft. I want it to be simple, reliable and scale. I used styrene 1/8" H column glued to the door panels then notched so it can curve. The doors will be solid sheet (scale) on the aircraft. The handles are for me so I can open and close it manually. I added the torque rod and arms (the arms can't be seen here) to work out the mechanism for moving the door.
2/13/04 - Received the kit from All-American kit cutters today and here is my assessment.
First the good:
- All the sheet and strip stock is there and looks to be very good quality wood.
- Everything is rubber banded or put in baggies.
- All parts are labeled and sanded
- The outlines are correct
- Even the splices are cut, the wing saddle/faring is cut and the cockpit parts too.
Now the bad:
- Notches aren't cut very well . Notches cut in some ribs appear to be off a bit. The top spar notch on the elevator ribs is not lined up with the bottom notch.
- The short ribs for the elevator leading edge (ER 7A- 12A) are cut too long (easily fixed)
- Stab ribs are plywood. They should be balsa (except SR-5)
Stab & Elevator ribs should have been stack sanded. - Fin and rudder parts are missing. They gave me 1/4" sheet stock for the fin & rudders. I was disappointed.
- up-date- Fin/rudder parts got here. Missing 2 FR1 ribs and both FR5's are cut with a curve. Oh well!
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I called Doug at All-American to let him know my findings and he was apologetic and said he will ship the Fin & rudder parts ASAP. Doug is one of the nicest business people I have ever dealt with. I'm still not sure why I got sheet stock for the Fin/Rudder but he will make it right and that's all that matters.
2/17/04 - Found another mistake by the kit cutter. The tops and bottoms of the fuselage formers were cut in half. Called Doug again and he will send new parts. Also found a mistake from the designer. The holes for the wing tubes are drawn in the wrong place on WR1. I'll need to move the holes but I'll do that when I build the wing.
I think they could have done better on the kit. I know that I could have done it better. I do like that all the wood is there and of good quality. I would go with Laser cutting if given the choice. Laser cutting would result in better notches and laser cut from CAD drawn plans would be even better.