This is my latest project of any significance since my last build of the 47% Super Starduster previously posed.
It is a 50% model of a full scale Phoenix DR-104 aerobatic biplane.
Specs are as follows:
106” wing span
101” length
RTF weight 53lbs±
Engine 170cc DLE twin
Construction is 3mm (1/8”) 3 ply poplar AKA “Italian bending plywood”, wiggle wood, etc.
All tab and slot construction (this is where the V1 engineering MPCNC shines) with 3/32” balsa sheeting covered with non certified ceconite.
All laser cut with a MPCNC Burley with a NEJE 40 watt laser head.
The MPCNC Burley has been the best money spent on tools in my shop in 15 years.
It looks so massive but even at 50% still looks big enough for a small person but I assume it’s strictly RC? It is just fantastic. Do you just scale the original drawings or do you have to model the whole thing from original plans?
I love and always been attracted to wood boat building and this is so cool.
Is there massive amount of government hoops you need to jump through?
Anyway fantastic project. A friend many, many years ago (45 or so years) built a homemade plane which was overwhelming. It was something like low and Easy or something?? There was canard wing. We moved not sure if he ever finished.
This aircraft (have 4 different designs now) is a custom build of a one of a kind full scale aerobatic biplanes that have never been modeled.
I start with a sketch developed from pictures that I obtain from the owner, internet, picture service, etc.
I always ask for permission to model their aircraft first.
I then either go and take measurements myself or have the owner get the required dimensions.
From the sketch and the dims. I then develop the drawing in AutoCAD and or Fusion 3d for intermediate formers, ribs, etc. that would have to be lofted.
Then develop the interior structure based upon wood chosen or structure type chosen.
Then DXF out parts to Lightburn to be cut on the MPCNC Laser
The the building fun starts
There are no plans to build from, every part is indexed to the part next to it and is interlocked somehow and the structure self squares itself.
After the entire aircraft was framed up it was out of square .0625” which could be due to wood flexing.
The accuracy and speed that you can frame an aircraft up at is incredible !
Without the MPCNC and being able to customize the build for the laser (other than buying a $10K laser system) this would have never been possible.
Video to the assembly of one aileron for my previous Starduster project.
Will be using Spektrum IX20 for tx and their giant scale RX and Pro Modeler servos 650 oz in (ailerons) and 900 oz in (elevators, rudder) and 2 5000mAh 2S lipo packs for radio power.
All though I do have a small field to fly at at home, I trailer all of my more “significant” aircraft to the fields that are more a fit to models these size.
Not a big trailer though, 8’x5’ V nose cargo trailer is all I need to transport 2 of the aircraft I fly, both are in the 50% sized aerobatic biplanes.
Their full scale biplane big brothers they are modeled after are not big aircraft at all with 17’ to 21’ spans.
Granted I have absolutely what you just said but I am sure it is right!!