Jtec Radiowave 2.8m MX2 Build(s)

[Trumpetman]

You don't have to be crazy to do an indepth build thread, but it doesn't hurt!!

[tbrum]

Enjoy the balsa dust during the sanding Alan. Very therapeutic

At least some of us are normal. Gordon on the other hand...

[Trumpetman]

If you've seen my picture on the cover of this month's MAAC magazine you know that I'm not normal! LOL

[tbrum]

Ha!! I actually just sat down to read the magazine about 30sec ago and I recognized the MX2!! Congrats

I don't see any glue down for that stringer, LOL.

Congrats again

[Trumpetman]

Thanks, pretty much a staged photo of "dry fitting" the stringers. My wife saw the magazine first while I was out working and told me that I looked like someone pee'd in my Wheaties! Lol

[Scrappy]

Funny how your mind works, went into the shop last night to get working on the wing cores and somehow the Turtledeck core got sheeted up!!


I had been looking at the foam T-deck core and was figuring out a plan to attack it a couple of days ago and had cut a few pieces of 3/4" MDO sign plywood I had to use as a clamping system, I left the foam and cut plywood on the bench so when I went into the shop it was natural to just start to it!

So... I cut 2 angled pieces of the plywood to clamp in the sides and one piece to set the weights on. I used cut 90 degree pieces of plywood to hold one piece in place and screwed it down to a wooden base(first picture) and then clamped everything up square and tight and screwed several angle braces into place along the front edge to use for when I "loaded" the foam up with the windexed sheeting to form it (second and fourth picture). I was able to better control pressure from my clamps this as it used a squeezing pressure from the bottom up. I was able to just use 2 clamps this way and it gave me good access to check the top edges.

To get edge pressure where the sheeting leaves the foam press and tries to splay outwards I had some 3/4 x 1" aluminum angle that slipped in along the edges (plywood sides were cut taller for this reason) and to apply pressure I just used screws, the deeper into the foam (third picture) they went the more wedging effect took place so I could tune it as I wanted to.

Fifth picture shows it all loaded up with the glue and weighted down (hey, use what you have handy!!) and the last picture shows the final result which I am super stoked about as it is darn near perfect!!!!!

At least to my eyes!

So...tonight and tomorrow night I have to get the cores prepped with the root rib, falase rib, and the phenolics glued in so I am ready to take them up to Gordon's this weekend to begin the sheeting!!

(Shh...but I think he wants to do mine first as practice before he does his....just don't tell him I said so!) LOL!

[Trumpetman]

Nice way to deal with the t-deck sheeting! We can do my wings first if you want LoL

[Scrappy]

Nice way to deal with the t-deck sheeting! We can do my wings first if you want LoL

Thanks! And I am good with your or my wings first...

[Scrappy]

Thanks, pretty much a staged photo of "dry fitting" the stringers. My wife saw the magazine first while I was out working and told me that I looked like someone pee'd in my Wheaties! Lol

I just thought you looked very, very serious....

Who knew a stringer could cause that much concern!! LOL!

[Trumpetman]

I take the precise placement of every stringer very seriously.... NOT