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Cessna 195 48" RC
While I wait out the winter months, I've been slowly working on a radio controlled Cessna 195. This model is from Top Notch which has several models in it's line. The 195 has a 48" wingspan, and can be powered with gas or electric motors. I intend to power mine with an electric motor...if I ever decide to fly it. The kit comes in flat balsa stock, but has all the parts laser cut for easy removal from the stock. This is not an ARF (almost ready to fly) model...
I started with the empennage...the horizontal stabilizer, elevators, vertical stabilizer, and rudder.
This is the first time I've ever built a balsa airplane. Most people do this as a kid, but I only had interests in plastic scale models when I was younger. After building the tail of this 195, I can't believe I never did this as a kid! I LOVE working with balsa!
Anyway, after the tail leading edges were all shaped, it was time to move on to the wings...the build order is identical to my real airplane...I didn't take any pictures along the way, but after all the ribs were pinned, the spars and leading edges were installed, and the sheeting was applied, I had a left and right wing. The problem I ran in to, was that I had built the spars upside down, and ended up with what would've been an anhedral wing, when dihedral is called for. A quick email to the designer, and I was told it was no big deal, and that all I needed to do was sand the root ribs to the proper angle for the dihedral. Did that, and then joined the left and right wings with epoxy.
Just like the real airplane, the wings were a bit repetitive, and the fuselage has been a lot of fun. It has come together very quickly so far. Basically three days of a few hours at a time, and I have this-
It has stringers and bulkheads just like the real airplane-
So, as of 2/20/2008, this is where I stand with this build. I'll add some more pics as things continue to come together...