2015 Project #1- Electric "Weston UK Velocity 50" THE BUILD

[Derek]

Thanks guys! I'm real happy with how the plane is looking.

[Derek]

I was asked, by a Facebook friend, to make a bit of video of my build progress thus far. So I did. Although I do have pics here at the Hangout, I thought it would be rude NOT to share the video with you guys, as well. Here ya go. I think the video gets a bit blurry every now and then because I was taking the video with my phone. I was moving it around a lot and I don't think the auto focus could keep up with my movements.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmo8TIiKac0

[Vipertech13]

Looking really nice! Great work!

[Derek]

Looking really nice! Great work!

Thanks Gerald! I'm happy with it thus far!

[Tony]

Nice build video D. Your a clever buga that's for sure...

[Derek]

Nice build video D. Your a clever buga that's for sure...

Thanks Tony! It's coming along real well.

[Derek]

I got some more progress done on my Velocity 50 build and I nearly forgot to get some pics, lol. So...here are some pics that I did manage to remember to get.

elevons.jpg (37.29 KiB) Viewed 5845 times

The first picture shows my elevons have all been cut from the plane, shaped, and wrapped. Ready for installation.

color to skin.jpg (49.44 KiB) Viewed 5845 times

Second picture shows that I've added the blue and black to the top (skin) of the plane. The skin is my old reliable "Dollar Tree Foam Board". This stuff is $1.00 per sheet and each sheet is 3/16" thick and 30"x20". It's quite lightweight and once you add some packing tape, it becomes quite strong. I'm sure you'll notice that I did not cut the tape to make the curves. I actually came up with a pretty clever way to make the curves. I'll have to wait until this weekend because I want to show this part in a video. Pictures just won't be good enough, lol.

color to fuselage.jpg (43.96 KiB) Viewed 5845 times

Third picture, not sure if I showed this last time but I have the fuselage sides cut out, mounting holes drilled, and the sides have been wrapped

I am so happy with the way the plane is coming along. I'm really looking forward to getting back to making progress this weekend. I'm going to take a wild guess and say that this plane may be ready for a maiden flight in about 3 weeks. I'll be off work this coming weekend and I'll get some progress done. The following weekend I'll be working. The weekend after that...it may be possible for a maiden flight.

[danhampson]

It looks amazing Derek. I love the color scheme.

[Derek]

It looks amazing Derek. I love the color scheme.

Thanks Dan! The color scheme is the true scheme of the actual kit. Either a red fuselage and blue on the wing or a blue fuselage and red on the wing. I'll have black and white checker on the underside. It really should look impressive when it's done.

[Tony]

Looks awesome that Derek, your doing a great job mate...

[Derek]

I have an update video to share with you guys but the video has been "processing" for nearly 3 hours. I don't know what to do now. I suppose I could just take some pictures and post those but the video explained the detail much much more.

[Derek]

Here is a bit of a video update:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJE40UdGeqI

[Tony]

Very good Derek, clever idea

[Derek]

I had to take a few steps backwards so that I could take a couple of pictures, lol. I'm just not very good at recognizing a good stopping point and taking documentation. As progress is made, I get excited and I just keep going. I'd probably forget what country I was in if I didn't stop to take a break, lol.

Anyway...here are a couple more pics of what I've gotten done tonight and I am super happy right now.

The first pic shows that I have the sides of the fuselage and the vertical stab installed and glued....along with a bit of tape, lol.

Sides and Stab Installed.jpg (41.37 KiB) Viewed 5801 times

The next pic shows that I have the top skin cut into their appropriate halves and I'm dry fitting them. I also have just made the marks to cut out the elevons.

Dry Fitting Skin.jpg (49.2 KiB) Viewed 5801 times

I tell ya what....if you take a look at the picture that I posted, on the first page of this thread...my build is really starting to look like the picture, ha ha ha. AWESOME!!!

[Tony]

It's looking really fantastic Derek, your doing an awesome job of it...

[Derek]

I forgot to mention this part...

I found this "leading edge" shaped balsa at my local hobby shop. The pieces were 36" long and 3/4" thick on the flat side. The foam that I'm using for the plane is also 3/4" so the balsa matches up very nicely. Here is a pic of the balsa that I used and if you look at my previous pics, you can see that I have the balsa glued into place and really looks great as the leading edge.

Leading Edge Material.jpg (429.07 KiB) Viewed 5799 times

[Derek]

Here is another video update about some progress. This thing is really looking great!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHbV3A1UBDw

[Tony]

Very nice Derek, coming along great...

[Derek]

Thanks Tony! This is just one of those things that we were just talking about. I get an idea in my head and then it's just a matter of time before I'm holding it in my hands, lol.

[Tony]

Very true, and it won't be long before its in the clouds I'm sure.... 180mph hmmmm. Lol, that's fast