Wow.... You really have come a long ways on the racer.  Kudos to you and your easy-going pace to give you some artistic license as you go along.  I know exactly what you mean.  You've done a fantastic job on the horizontal stab.  I'll definitely be watching over your shoulder and learn as you go along.

Thank you for your posts!  Thank you

Gary (Skye)

Looks great Mike
Paul

I think you're already building an rc ship, Mike! 

Neal

Hi Neal - Ironing on covering is a technique that allows sheeting to be added to a compound curved surface such as the horizontal stab section of my airplane. The surface curves down in the horizontal direction as well as the front to back direction and I just don't have enough fingers to hold everything in place till the glue dries. All that is necessary is to apply two full strength coatings of white or yellow glue to the surfaces desired to be bonded together and let each coat dry between applications. Then I usually glue some surface in a small place just to hold the sheeting from sliding around. Then set a household iron to a fairly warm setting and literally iron on the covering. The heat reactivates the glue enough to adhere to each other and cure hard. Be sure everything is where you want it as this is absolutely permanent and "bark on tree tight", no rework can be done. I'm using 1/32" covering and the heat is moderately warm, my convention is just don't turn the wood brown. I also bought a small travel iron at our local Value Village for about $5.00 and use it just for this application. I think this methodology originated in a veneering shop by some enterprising woodworker that didn't want to use the usual application of hot hide glue and veneer hammering. It'd a bit messy but absolutely traditional.
Mike

Back to work on the horizontal stab hinge solution and it is well under control. Got the hinges in and the frame stabilized so I could actually touch it without breaking it. The bottom cover on the horizontal stab is done and ironed on and the bottom of the elevator is done and ironed on also. Time to trim it up, install the mating surfaces and iron the final covering.
Mike

You sure you're not building an rc ship?    Looks really "spiffy," Mike.  Nice to find something so "perfect" to "fill the bill." 

Neal

Quote:

Neal - The Marcoux Bromberg came a bit before the North American products but you are right, why reinvent when you can use existing methods. This is why I was drawn to the AT6, similarities in look and function. It was just by luck I ran across the manufacturers drawings of the AT6 functionality, made the job of moving forward much easier. Stick with it I will, the plane is going to see action in next years Canadian Historic Hanger model show. Looking for first place in the display category.
Mike

Wanted to get out today for a run the the grocery store and some model supplies but at 28 degrees and rain we have a 1/4 inch ice on everything. This old boy is staying in for the next two days.
Quote:

Neal - I'm not even sure if I'm right or wrong either, so due to the little information that I have I'm stepping into the designer role here. The goal is to produce a plane with all outward appearances of the subject with some functionality. It's a bit involved but with my penchant for details it's all fun and a slow pace, more suited to me so I can invent the details. To your question, I'm fairly certain it is a T6 and is so identified by the Historical Hanger and if the Canadians followed the US Navy methodology for paint schemes, the plane belonged to the section leader of Section 3 (planes 7-9) and the color was (is) True Blue.

If I may indulge a bit of history, in 1922 a system was adopted by the U.S. Navy that is still used today. Airplane squadrons were identified by the letter V for heavier than air plus a letter that designated the mission, F for fighter, T for transport, etc. These eventually morphed into a series of numbers and letters on the side of the plane, i.e. a plane from bombing squadron 1 (VB-1) would have 1-B-3 on the fuselage. A series of letters and numbers identified the manufacturer and type. First character designated the aircraft type, second character designated what number design it was, the third character identified the manufacturer and the fourth character identified any changes or improvements. So, the Curtiss Hawk was identified as F6C-3 or the third sub-variant of the sixth fighter design by Curtiss. In the mid-20s section colors emerged. The section leader had the entire cowl painted, the right wing section had only the top half of the cowl painted and the left wing section had only the bottom half of the cowl painted. There's a whole history of other identifiers including fuselage bands for the section leader only and included chevrons on wing tops either pointing forward or rearward, each with separate identification purposes. Later tail feathers were painted to identify which carrier group the were assigned to. It's all very involved and colorful albeit a bit clumsy.
Mike