Hanger flying

Here she is balanced and ready just need a polish and final programing of the tx. All up it is 2.3kg, not bad for a 3.3m span.


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Keel and how to sand the TE balsa cores?

Following a good practice day with the zenith on Saturday team zenith is back on it!;


I molded a keel last, here it is in place on the fuz with balast tube also in place.


Also playing around with how to sand the TE cores for neil's next plane. What do you think of this neil. Need a little work but you should get the idea from the photos. This will not mean much to those who have not yet moulded there own, but for those that have it makes a tough job a easy task.





didn't have no balsa for trials but I think this bit of 32th ply show the results rather well. Feather edges made easy :0).

Hope to join you all in a thermal soon.

F3b zenith. Thechalster

Chalster's New Toy

This weekend was time to join together 'The Chalster's' new model, the pictures below are some before during and after the joining.

Again on this the servos are moulded in the wings.

Once out of the mould and cleaned up, there was only 1g difference between the left and right hand wings at 722g and 723g each. The tailplane was a little heavier than last time at 92g but this could be down to the disser cloth and thicker paint, next time will will aim for 80g!

Both Mike's new model and my model are at the same stage after this weekend and just need horns and fus prep.

Looking forward to flying it now!

Getting Jiggy

A little time effort and thought and what a great result!

The jig was created to allow easy and accurate cutting of slot on top surface and scoring for the hinge line on the bottom side.

Stage 2 Complete

Below shows the completion of stage 2, one of the photos shows the moulds still with all the peel ply in the wings, as this pulls though the excess resin it is very important that great care is taken when removing it as you can easily pull the wings out of the moulds. The technique is to pull back on the cloth at 180 degrees, keeping the pull as close to the surface as possible as shown below.

The advantage of the peel ply is that it not only pulls through the excess resin away from the wing saving weight, when removed it leaves a rough wax free surface to bond to, ensuring that when joining the two mould halves together there will be a good bonding surface.

The next stage now is to cut the shear webs and prepare the servos and wiring loom.

All being well the tailplane should go together on Sunday, more then.

All the best, Harry.

F3B

'The Chalsters' Model Taking Shape

Sunday at 8.00am and back in the work shop, with the moulds out of the vacuum bags we prepare the wings by sanding down the balsa sandwich so we can get a nice join.

At this stage we will put in the UHM UD carbon spars, carbon reinforcements, peel ply for the hinges and the inner layer of 25g glass cloth. The moulds are then put back in the vacuum bags and oven to be cured for another 24 hours at 26 degrees Celsius ready for the next stage to join together.

All for now.

Harry

F3B

More of today

Saturday's 3 stoogies, The Chalster on meths, Mr Jon Whittle on Mica and Harry on it.

A long hard day in the Zenith Factory but great results, this is the first time we have used disser tissue on the tailplane, fingers crossed for a good result.

Second stage tomorrow and more updates then.

All for now.

Harry, Chalster & Jon.
F3B

Another Day, Another New Model

Another full day at the Northant's Zenith Factory.

Good to have another pair of hands on the job, many thanks to Jon Whittle!!

Mike - please look a little more interested...

Could it be sub 2.2KG??

All the components on the scales excluding nose counter weights and keel, I think we will be close to the 2.2kg mark which is a significant saving on the last model.

We are due to make another model this coming weekend, we will keep updating.

Thanks for now.

Harry

F3B

Getting lighter!!

We are getting there!!

No bad for consistency, only 1g difference between each wing panel.

All the servos and wiring harness have been moulded into the wings ready, this will reduce the disruption of airflow on the under side and make finishing the model easier.

Another new model

Some images below of before de-moulding and finished wings with flashing removed...very nice!

F3B

One in the oven!

The wings were joined together yesterday complete with the servos moulded in.

Currently undergoing post cure and should be de-moulded tomorrow, when I will update with some photos.

All for now.

F3B