Great Planes Super Stearman - build thread

[grosbeak]

The McFueler comes with these #2 Phillips head screws, but it's much quicker to thread the screw holes with a #2 servo mounting screw.






I installed the Phillips screws...




... but decided I would stick with button head hex screws for continuity with other hardware.




Inside...




I connected the fill/drain line to the bottle and the McFueler, and the fuel system was finally done.

[grosbeak]

Progress update

Vendor's estimated build time: 20 hours
Current actual build time: 94.4 hours
Progress through build (estimated): 59.4%
Estimated build time at this rate: 158.9 hours (up from 121.5)

... and 921 photos.

[grosbeak]

On to the wheels and pants. I had heard before of the idea of filling the pants with expanding foam to give them some internal support so I decided to try it.




It took a while to hollow out the wheel space...










The pants must be drilled for the axle by the builder. A mark is made halfway from the front to the back of the wheel opening, a half inch up.




I cut a piece of scrap to fit the inside of the pant for support while drilling.




Half inch hole drilled in the starboard pant.




Both drilled.

[grosbeak]

Sanding the backing plates.




To glue the backing plates to the inside of the wheel pants I'm using West Systems epoxy thickened with coffee grounds.








I put some masking tape on the outside to catch any runs.




Backing plate clamped in place - alignment verified with a 1/2" transfer punch.




Set aside to cure.

[grosbeak]

Axle and wrenches.




Both axles on.




While the wheel pants cured I couldn't resist putting the plane on its feet for the first time.




The wheels are 3-3/4" diameter, which is not extremely common. Great Planes does not appear to make a replacement, but Robart (http://www.greathobbies.com/productinfo/?prod_id=ROB117) and Thunderbolt RC (http://www.thunderboltrc.com/index.p...roducts_id=905) have them in that size.

[Dennis 9412]

Is that Maxwell House or Folgers coffee grounds?

Seriously, what is the purpose of the coffee grounds?

Regards,

Dennis

[grosbeak]

Is that Maxwell House or Folgers coffee grounds?

Seriously, what is the purpose of the coffee grounds?

Regards,

Dennis

Hi Dennis,

The coffee grounds thicken up the epoxy so it doesn't run... I used sawdust for the same reason when attaching the dummy engine to the cowl. It worked beautifully.




I could have used Hysol, but I didn't have any. What I did have was West Systems and coffee grounds (and sawdust, but I wanted to try the coffee grounds).

And I'm pretty sure it's Kicking Horse coffee - Three Sisters, to be specific.

[Carlisler]

I like your willingness to experiment there John!

But i have this idea now that Chocolate chips are gonna be the new trend in building!

LOL

[grosbeak]

I like your willingness to experiment there John!

But i have this idea now that Chocolate chips are gonna be the new trend in building!

LOL

Excellent idea, Scott. I'm going to mix some with JB Weld and use it to attached some muffler extensions. I'll have the best smelling plane at the field!

[Machzx]

what weighs more ?