RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
I coverd the bottom of the wing with jet white monocote, using one piece to cover each half of the wing and the top and bottom of both the flap and the aileron. I like to run the monocote in one piece around the movable surfaces on the wing to get a nicer looking joint and improve the aerodynamics of the wing, fewer open places on the wing makes for better airfoil. I added the 4 servos, 3 Hitec HS-311 standard servos and 1 Futaba S-148, because the futaba operates opposite the hitec, and that allows me to be able to use a Y connection for the flap servos and have them work correctly. I just had to find the correct controll arms to use on each so they would have the same throw. I had to add 1/4 ounce of weight to the right wing to get proper wing balance. I glued it to the wing cord as far out as possible to keep the weight in front of the CG and outboard as possible. I used a 24" Y for the ailerons and a 12" Y for the flaps. I shrunk some 5/8" shink tube over the 4 connections that will be hidden idside the wing.
Posted on: 11/23/2011 6:39 AM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10825310

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
Time to mount the wing to the fuselage. I secured a T pin to the rear of the fuselage at the center of the fuselage, using packing tape and 4 other smaller T pins to keep it in place. I use a string looped around the T pin to get the wing as close as I can, then confirm the alignment with a yard stick measurment. I found I had to use a 5/32" drill not the 9/64" wich was to small to get the 1/4-20 tap started. I used a 1/4" drill not the 17/64" because I did not have one, did not cause any problems. I used thin CA to harden the threads as per instructions, also used thin CA to harden all the holes I drilled in the wing, helps prevent cracking. I am using my GreatPlanes slot machine for the first time, it works very well. makes the CA hinges a lot easier to install. Got the flaps and ailrons installed all looks good.
Posted on: 11/20/2011 1:08 PM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10821116

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
Finaly got to work on the plane some more, I glued the wing halfs together with 30 min. epoxy, not the 6 min. as the plans called for. Personel preferance, I like 30 min. epoxy anywhere there will be a lot of stress. I use clamps with a small bit of plywood to protect my leading edge to help hold everything in place, the 30 min. epoxy gives you plenty of time to get it exactly correct. I sheeted the center section and drilled 3/8" holes instead of 1/2" holes, there is plenty of room to get my (Y) connectors through.
Posted on: 11/19/2011 7:39 PM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10820168

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
step 31 firewall.... This is where the fun starts, because of being electric not gas. I thought I had it figured out, and used the exact center of the engine mount holes as my center, drilled holes and installed my T nuts. Only to find out later that this was wrong. The highth was correct, but I needed to have moved everything to the left 3/8" to get the cowl to fit correctly. I forgot to take into account the 2 3/4" mount extentions. I did not want to take it apart at this point so I made a secondary mounting plate to correct the offset.
Posted on: 11/19/2011 7:29 PM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10807114

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
Time to sheet. I like to prefit everything, making sure it will fit correctly before I glue anything. On the fuselage I use thin CA. I glue one edge of the sheet first, let it cure, then get it wet with a water spray bottle, I get both sides wet, and alow time for the water to soak in all the way, about 5 min. then slowly form the sheet untill it is the shape I want, don't force it or it with crack, if it does not bent easily, soak it a little longer. I used #64 rubberbands to aid in this proccess.
Posted on: 11/11/2011 10:04 PM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10807663

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
Because I made the battery access hatch between formers 2A & 3A I had to reinforce 2A with plywood, because it will stand alone now, also drilled some 1/4" air flow holes to aid in getting air to the Lipo.
Posted on: 11/11/2011 10:02 PM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10807630

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
The fuselage is pretty straight forward, make sure to build a right and a left side[;)] I followed the instructions untill step 16. I chose NOT to preglue the Aft Fuselage Bottoms together, I wanted to wait to verify proper fit later. step 17 instalation of the wing saddle doubler was also NOT done yet, again wanted to wait till later. The formers MUST be 90 deg. I have modified a cheap plastic triangle with the corner notched out to prevent it from being glued accidently and glued balsa square stock to the bottom so it sits on its own, this simple tool has been very helpfull in all my builds. I use colored plastic pins to hold things in place without putting holes in the wood whenever possible. After step 20 glueing the right and left sides together is done, now I added the wing saddle doubler in place to make sure it is exactly in the right place. also I had to do some sanding and reshaping of the aft fuselage bottom to get it to fit correctly
Posted on: 11/11/2011 9:59 PM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10807079

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
The cockpit went smooth, except I completed the mid pannel before sheeting, so I could sand it all easier. I got my pilot from Hobbypartz.com. I cut out the clear canopy and test fit it, to find the right location for the pilot figure, then put the mid section where it looked best. The pilot is not glued yet, just there for the photo.
Posted on: 11/11/2011 4:17 PM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10807699

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
I moved former 3A aft 1" to give me enough room for Lipo. I traced 3A & 2A formers to make formers for access hatch. I am using 1/4" Rare earth magnets to keep the hatch in place. I will be sliding the hatch to the left to remove it, rather than convetional straigh up. The magnets are very strong, it is easier to remove hatch this way, I think there will not be a problem of the hatch falling out. Time will tell on that one. I built the hatch in place to assure propper alignment, using wax paper inbetween to keep from sticking to plane. I added 1/8" plywood on the hatch sides to hold the magnets.
Posted on: 11/11/2011 3:12 PM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10807643

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
I needed to move the motor mount about 2 3/4" forward to get the correct motor placement. I used 1/2" dia. nylon bushings purchased at local Ace hardware. longest length was 1", so I used 30 min, epoxy to glue 2 together to make it 2". and 1/2" length between the firewall and extention plate I made, I used 8/32 (#8) screws. 2.5" and 1" long.
Posted on: 11/11/2011 2:53 PM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10807619

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
I have the cowl cutout , glued, putty, sanded, ready for paint. I added 2 layers of reinforcement to the center of the cowl, made from left over ABS as plans suggested.
Posted on: 11/3/2011 2:15 PM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10795350

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
So far I have been working on this project for about 2 weeks now. I will try to keep current, as time permits, I prefer to build or fly, than spend time on the computer. The fuselage and Electric modifications are where things will get fun
Posted on: 11/1/2011 4:38 AM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10791729

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
I went ahead and put the wheel pants together, I cut them out on the cut lines per plans, except I did cutout the opening for the wheel, I found it easyer to work with. I used medium CA and worked my way around until nice and tight. Then used putty to fill in seams. Sanded down smooth, ready for paint. This was made very easy, following the cut lines.
Posted on: 11/1/2011 4:22 AM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10791722

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
I chose to attach the ABS wingtips prior to covering, I felt it would make a cleaner final wing. I filled the joint with putty, sanded everything to a nice finish. I chose to build the flaps and ailerons seperatly, I sanded a slight bevel to the bottom of the sub leading edge to make a nice tight fit. I went ahead and installed the servo trays in the wings now, got everything sanded except the hinges, saving for later, have NOT joined wing halfs together yet. want to get started on the fuselage.
Posted on: 11/1/2011 4:07 AM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10791715

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
when it came to the balsa block that fits between ribs W1 & W2 I did things different. I sanded the 1/8" bevel on the leading edge and sanded the side to fit nicely between the ribs as per plans, But then instead of trimming the WBS plywood plate, I used the makes as a refrence and glued WBS flush to the trailing edge of the block, then trimed it as per plans after it was glued to the balsa block, this made a very clean cut, I used my Exacto blade to trim away the 1/32" of plywood. Then I test fit it and marked where I needed to trim the block down to. Used a sharp knife to cut it down most of the way, then used a block sander to finish.
Posted on: 11/1/2011 3:52 AM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10791704

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
Building the ribs, spars and anything that had hard wood, I used thick CA. I soaked the 3/32" sheeting with a squirt bottle and used Titebond wood glue to get a good slow cure on all the sheeting, using pins and clamps to hold tight. I followed the instructions untill step 15, at that point I chose to do things out of order, that made more sence to me. I sheeted both top and bottom, then jumped to sheeting the outboard wingtip top and bottom, then bottom trailing edge, then the CA hinge blocks which needed a very slight bevel sanded top and bottom, making sure it fit properly use a straight edge to make sure it is correct. then the top trailing edge then the cap strips. It probably makes little difference, but it made more sence to build it in this order. Trimmed and sanded everything smooth.
Posted on: 11/1/2011 3:29 AM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10791675

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
Sorry about this, I had more pictures of the wing being built, but I messed up and deleted the pics, so will try my best with limited pics. I cut the wingtips out, leaving about 1/4" extra rather than cutting right on the line. Then I lined up W-5 rib where I wanted it, used a clamp on the trailing edge to hold it tight, and thin CA working it around keeping it tight as I went, then after it cured, I used Exacto knife to trim it flush with W-5, then light sanding to make it smooth and flush. I did this while the wing ribs where curing,
Posted on: 11/1/2011 2:36 AM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10791664

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
The fin and rudder went together smoothly, made no deviations to the instructions. Used thin CA for all of it, like the stab & elevator have it all sanded now except where hinges go, saving for later.
Posted on: 11/1/2011 2:12 AM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10791660

RE: GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
I am building the plane on a 2' X 4' acustic celing tile, using wax paper to protect the plans. I will be using Mercury Adhesives (CA) Thin, Medium and Thick viscositys, which I bought from RCfoam, which recently moved here to Colorado springs, about 7 miles from my house, they have a real nice warehouse. For sheeting I will use Titebond wood glue, a little old fasion, but I like to use it on sheeting specialy when it is dampend. The stab and elevator halfs went together smoothly, I built them as one piece not as seperate pieces as per instructions, then cut them apart when done, I find this makes things lineup better when putting it all together again. Thin CA was used on all of it. I have sanded all edges except where the hinges go, I am setting that asside for later, to do all hinges at the same time
Posted on: 11/1/2011 2:04 AM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10791651

GreatPlanes RV-4 Build thread as a 46 Electric
This is my first attempt at a build thread, so hope I can figure it all out. I will be building a GreatPlanes RV-4 as an Electric 46. With flaps. It will be a stock build, except for making it electric. The kit was purchased from Tower Hobby, they had free shiping on this plane. It arrived well packed with no damage, the kit was packed well also, the quality of the kit was pretty good for a GreatPlanes kit.
Posted on: 11/1/2011 1:18 AM by Author "T-jetracer59" in the forum "Glow to Electric Conversions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10791640