building a Guillows kit P 40

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Started building this Guillows P 40 and half way into it decided to post my progress. This is going to be a CL powered by a tee dee .051

Well, I'm really behind the times.  I didn't even know Guillows made sheet wing plane kits. Is that a 400 Series kit?  Looking good.  I'm looking forward to your progress.

The Uninformed Mark

@batjac wrote:Well, I'm really behind the times.  I didn't even know Guillows made sheet wing plane kits.   Is that a 400 Series kit?  Looking good.  I'm looking forward to your progress.

The Uninformed Mark

  They don't Mark, I added 1/32 balsa for strength. Im still new to CL and need my planes to be x-tra strong,,,,and yes it is a 400 series kit

@akjgardner wrote:

@batjac wrote:Well, I'm really behind the times.  I didn't even know Guillows made sheet wing plane kits.   Is that a 400 Series kit?  Looking good.  I'm looking forward to your progress.

The Uninformed Mark

  They don't Mark, I added 1/32 balsa for strength. Im still new to CL and need my planes to be x-tra strong,,,,and yes it is a 400 series kit

I thought the same thing. I like your idea. Are you following the dihedral angle on the plan? It's hard to tell from the pics. Are those lite-ply bulkheads? Any space in the nose for a fuel tank bay? It might be good to plan for an access-hatch and fuel-proof the whole inside of the nose. Maybe tack-in a smooth thin plastic-sheet "trough" for a balloon or bladder-tank to sit in.

Very COOL!

@roddie wrote:

@akjgardner wrote:

@batjac wrote:Well, I'm really behind the times.  I didn't even know Guillows made sheet wing plane kits.   Is that a 400 Series kit?  Looking good.  I'm looking forward to your progress.

The Uninformed Mark

  They don't Mark, I added 1/32 balsa for strength. Im still new to CL and need my planes to be x-tra strong,,,,and yes it is a 400 series kit

I thought the same thing. I like your idea. Are you following the dihedral angle on the plan? It's hard to tell from the pics. Are those lite-ply bulkheads? Any space in the nose for a fuel tank bay? It might be good to plan for an access-hatch and fuel-proof the whole inside of the nose. Maybe tack-in a smooth thin plastic-sheet "trough" for a balloon or bladder-tank to sit in.  

Very COOL!

Thanks Roddie. yes the dihedral is correct to the plan,The bulkheads are not lite ply, but i will beef up the front of the plane,great Idea on the accessible fuel tank and fuel proofing

Cool build! I had one of these in the queue until a buddy begged it off me. I built a Guillows Zero per plan as a kid and powered it with a Cox 049. It was a real nice flying airplane although the flat bottomed airfoil would be better if it weren't! I guess it worked well for me at the time being a young, inexperienced kid and all. Now I'm just an old, experienced kid but still don't know much!

Yes, it probably wouldn't hurt to strengthen the nose framework. Do you have any thin CA adhesive? I see the tube of Ambroid on your bench. I love Ambroid.. but I use CA a lot now. Thin CA can add a surprising amount of strength to balsa.. without adding much weight. Areas that won't need sanding, (the inner framework of the nose) can be treated with it.. which also helps to seal the grain prior to fuel-proofing. You could try a test by saturating a scrap-piece of a balsa stringer with thin CA.. and do a break-test vs. an untreated piece. If you've never used CA/superglue, have a fan blowing on low speed to carry the vapors away from you. The vapors can cause an allergic reaction in some people. I had trouble with it.

Looking Good Joe !!, that will really be nice all decked out , What was the power plant if I missed that ,,, Thanks for sharing your build . I have built some Guillows but has been a lot of years , I was just up stairs not long ago and was looking at all the pieces of difft. planes I have WOw. Eric

@roddie wrote:Yes, it probably wouldn't hurt to strengthen the nose framework. Do you have any thin CA adhesive? I see the tube of Ambroid on your bench. I love Ambroid.. but I use CA a lot now. Thin CA can add a surprising amount of strength to balsa.. without adding much weight. Areas that won't need sanding, (the inner framework of the nose) can be treated with it.. which also helps to seal the grain prior to fuel-proofing. You could try a test by saturating a scrap-piece of a balsa stringer with thin CA.. and do a break-test vs. an untreated piece. If you've never used CA/superglue, have a fan blowing on low speed to carry the vapors away from you. The vapors can cause an allergic reaction in some people. I had trouble with it.

CA is my friend too, My loyalty to Ambroid made me put the tube there for the photo. lol

@getback wrote:Looking Good Joe !!, that will really be nice all decked out , What was the power plant if I missed that ,,, Thanks for sharing your build . I have built some Guillows but has been a lot of years , I was just up stairs not long ago and was looking at all the pieces of difft. planes I have WOw. Eric

Thanks Eric. Iv'e always liked Guillows kits and now that I'm getting lazy . I like the laser cut kits even more. Power is coming from a tee dee .051. It's going to be a little heavy but I think a TD will do the job.

Something to consider is strength of the nose. Guillow select Balsa is really hit or miss, usually more of a miss. If built per plans the TD will rip the nose off. You may need to block between the formers or sheet the nose.

Do the plans call for a Pee Wee? If so you will be way nose heavy, which you already alluded to. You might have to add significant weight to balance.

Looks like a fun build!

Ron

@Cribbs74 wrote:Something to consider is strength of the nose. Guillow select Balsa is really hit or miss, usually more of a miss. If built per plans the TD will rip the nose off. You may need to block between the formers or sheet the nose.

Do the plans call for a Pee Wee? If so you will be way nose heavy, which you already alluded to. You might have to add significant weight to balance.

Looks like a fun build!

Ron

Hey Ron ,Thanks for the input. I am going to sheet between the formers with 3/32 balsa back to the cockpit and sheet the whole plane with 1/32. Also to compensate for the heavy nose the tail featers will be solid 3/32 balsa

When I built the Zero I did as suggested and put all that infill balsa around the nose at firewall. If I were to do it again I would sand a 'rebate' in the structure then wrap with 0.75 oz fiberglass cloth sandwiched between 1/64 balsa sheets. Fiddly but light and strong!

@ARUP wrote:When I built the Zero I did as suggested and put all that infill balsa around the nose at firewall. If I were to do it again I would sand a 'rebate' in the structure then wrap with 0.75 oz fiberglass cloth sandwiched between 1/64 balsa sheets. Fiddly but light and strong!

Thanks ARUP. I might give that a try

Your build inspired me to start the Nakajima B5N 'Kate' that I've been dreaming about for some time! Maybe some day we can fly them in the same circle and do our own mini battle! Both planes to survive and fly again, of course!

ARUP. Glad you got inspired, actually I havn't worked on mine in a week, So you've Inspired me to get back on it.Yes a reenactment of the sky battle at Pearl Harbor would be fun.Up till now Iv'e been more of a RC guy but hav been building some half A control line for springtime flying.

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Looking good Joe , there is quite a bit to the framing but should come out nicely , is it getting covering on the fuse or going to be sheeted ? getback

Beautiful Work!

'Must-Resist-Clearing-Bench-And-Starting-New-Guillows-Project' !!!

Fighting Temptation Kim

@getback wrote:Looking good Joe , there is quite a bit to the framing but should come out nicely , is it getting covering on the fuse or going to be sheeted ? getback

I'm going to cover with 1/32 balsa and then synthetic tissue.......I think

@Kim wrote:Beautiful Work!

'Must-Resist-Clearing-Bench-And-Starting-New-Guillows-Project' !!!

Fighting Temptation Kim

Thanks Kim, Iv'e alwas liked Guillows kits.Now I like the laser kits even more.