RE: Piper Meridian project
Thanks for the complements, I have tried two different types of stock for the fuse formers, first was 3/8 balsa, but that was not easily drilled, nor was it very sturdy and way to pron to cracking. then I tried 1/8 plywood, the cheap kind. The plywood was great, it cut good, built nice, was sturdy and didn't crack so easily. The average spacing for fusealage formers is about 1 7/8. The formers for the Meridian are about 1/2 inch wide on the sides. You might be able to get a little smaller then that, but 1/2 seems good to me. You can liten the weight of the formers by cutting 1/8 holes. But I dont know how a narrower former would hold up when you needed to string the formers together. Is that a 737 or a DC3
Posted on: 7/16/2004 9:55 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1995930

RE: Piper Meridian project
Glad to hear that the S.E.5.a is ready to go, Four wings can't be a plesent experience in any world. Weathers been rather good here, and I've found a group of people who fly. I havn't had to time to go out and watch yet, but They seems to be getting organized and are AMA sactioned so thats a start. I am currently working with the Department of Transportation here in South Dakota to close part of the airport for an annual R/C Fly in, That paperwork is a pain in the arse, but seems to be going fine right now. We will fidn out hopefully next week if they will let me have the event.
Posted on: 6/30/2004 11:17 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1948737

RE: Piper Meridian project
OT: Ryan Thomas is now, 3 months old and doing well, Lucas is being the supportive big brother, I hope Rose is doing well, and Ops being what it is, I can only hope their staffed.
Posted on: 6/30/2004 11:15 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1948728

RE: Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD FAQ
Well everyone will need to help, I'm a man on a mission, but I need helpers... Plus, I need you mods to edit the posts as well to update the information as it comes in!
Posted on: 6/30/2004 11:13 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1948719

Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD FAQ
Temporary FAQ position for linking Need articals, general tips, ideas.
Posted on: 6/28/2004 10:08 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1941845

RE: Modeling Software
I beelive that we have a good idea on what we want from this listing. A sticy FAQ about different software, links, costs, etc would be a great benifit to everyone. If you know of any software you use to make your scratch built aircraft, just list it here and we can sort out the headings and placement of it, make reviews features, etc.
Posted on: 6/28/2004 9:33 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1941764

RE: FIRST ATTEMPT AT SCRATCH BUILDING-iN DEPARATE NEED OF AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION ABOUT WING RIBS
I fail to see why the LE and TE need to remain the same size? Is this a square wing?
Posted on: 6/28/2004 12:39 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1941090

Modeling Software
*editorial note, make sticky, thanks* [ul] [*][b] COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN ( CAD Programs) [/b] [ul] [*]TURBO CAD 4 LE [ul] [*]Cost and Liceinsing: Free for infinit users [*]Pros: [ul] [*] [*] [*] [/ul] [*]Cons: [ul] [*] [*] [*] [/ul] [*]Informational / Reviews Links: [ul] [*] [*] [*] [/ul] [*]Download Links: [ul] [*] [*] [*] [/ul] [/ul] [*] Software 2 [ul] [*]Cost and Liceinsing: [*]Pros: [ul] [*] [*] [*] [/ul] [*]Cons: [ul] [*] [*] [*] [/ul] [*]Links: [ul] [*] [*] [*] [/ul] [/ul] [*] Software 3 [ul] [*]Cost and Liceinsing: [*]Pros: [ul] [*] [*] [*] [/ul] [*]Cons: [ul] [*] [*] [*] [/ul] [*]Links: [ul] [*] [*] [*] [/ul] [/ul] [*][b] PARTS AND EQUIPMENT DRAWINGS[/b] [ul] [*] [*] [*] [/ul] [/ul] [*][b] COMPUTER NUMERICAL CONTROL (CNC Programs) [/b] [ul] [*] [*] [*] [/ul] [*][b] AIRFOIL PROGRAMS [/b] [ul] [*] [*] [*] [/ul] [*][b] AERODYNAMIC CALCULATORS / PROGRAMS [/b] [ul] [*] [*] [*] [/ul] [*][b] LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA (engineering topics) [/b] [ul] [*][link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_1941845/anchors_1941845/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#1941845]Scratch Building, Design, 3D/CAD FAQ[/link] [*] [*] [/ul] [*][b] TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT [/b] [ul] [*] [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/Where_to_find_what_you_want%3A/m_1063414/tm.htm]Where to find what you want[/link] [/ul] [/ul] I will edit this message to update current software listings as they become mentioned. And as such, what software packages do you use to design your remote control aircraft. For example, I use TurboCAD 4LE. (i'm cheap) What software do you use. The categories I can think of are. Please provide any other categories so we can make a complete lisitng with links to those products. Airfoil Design Weight and Balance Overall Design Misc
Posted on: 6/28/2004 12:37 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1941086

RE: FIRST ATTEMPT AT SCRATCH BUILDING-iN DEPARATE NEED OF AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION ABOUT WING RIBS
Since the wing airfoil will remain constant, with only the size decreasing you just need to find a way to rescale the other ribs. The easiest and most simple way for you for you do do this would be on a photocopier. Wingroot = 210mm 1 = 200mm (95.2%) (95%) (.2) error: .42mm 2 = 190mm (90.5%) (90%) (.5) error: .95mm 3 = 180mm (85.7%) (86%) (.3) error: .54mm 4 = 170mm (80.9%) (81%) (.1) error: .17mm 5 = 160mm (76.2%) (76%) (.2) error: .32mm 6 = 150mm (71.4%) (71%) (.4) error: .60mm Total scaling error is 3mm (not something to really worry about) I doubt a photocopier will have a percent to the hundreths, but you should be able to get away with using just the tens. You will have a margien of error of cource in the total length ranging from .17mm to .95mm. If this doen't answer the question, I dont understand the question
Posted on: 6/28/2004 12:32 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1941073

RE: CAD
Yup, Turbo Cad 4 LE is a rather good program I am an extensive user of the program and am using it to design the Meridian. I'll be happy to help if you have any questions... Very 10 Pro makes my laptop Celeron 1.6 die...
Posted on: 6/27/2004 1:59 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1938738

RE: Piper Meridian project
-- CAD Update and/or Double-Checks -- [ul] [*] Former Changes [ul] [*] Relocated 1/8 dowl runner holes to locations that will create a more smooth run with no sharp angles. [*] Relocated weight reducing holes, reduced the number of holes to allow for stronger fuse formers. [*] Remeasured certain aspects of each former to ensure that they meet current presision requirments. [*] Enterly new cowl design, this is because the old design looked nothing like the Meridan...too 'square' [/ul] [*] Engine Changes [ul] [*] Completly redrew the Zenoh G26 and RCV 120-SP, with this the proper propeller sizes where measured to ensure gear would be tall enough. WILL need to do some work witht he front wing former moving it back, or something for a new wheel well locations. [*] Found that a WARN Turboprop would fit very nicely into the aircraft, with penty of room to spare. [*] Ensured proper thurst angles where correctly drawn in CAD. [/ul] [/ul]
Posted on: 6/26/2004 9:31 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1936871

RE: Piper Meridian project
Well it feels good to be working on her again. I've looked at the carcus everyday since the move and it a rather depressing feeling seeing something you worked on die without even a first flight. I can not explain the glee I have to be once again dove into CAD fixing thoe problems I noticed while building the fues. Glad to think, you feel some of what I've been doing is good solid ideas, I only hope in the end it comes out ok. -edited to add the following- **PS How is the King Air Project going?**
Posted on: 6/26/2004 9:17 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1936844

RE: Piper Meridian project
Part of the redesign is to make the cowl look more like the real Meridian instead of the cowl I designed before, (which I had to be on something), since it looks nothing like it should. In the picture below, the left side is the old design, the right side is the new design. YES, there is errors, and such its put together in a hury from rotated parts and such.
Posted on: 6/25/2004 5:16 PM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1935278

RE: Piper Meridian project
No problem, I've had a busy transition from Indiana to South Dakota. Plus, with a new kid, ( 2 total ) there is not much time to build, let alone cad. I'll try to stick to at least a weekly update for the time being, perhaps a little more depending on the content of the construction. Actual construction wont happen for some time as I'll be reworking some design issues. I'll also be busy doing maintance to the new house (we move the next two weeks, might be a little quiet here then). Some things I'll be looking at fine tunning on the cad. (things I thought about while building...) [i]---think of these as notes to myself as to things to look at or improve---[/i] 1). Improved Tail Design. The way the tail was built before was a rather strange process, and how it attaches to the fues could use some adjustment. 2). Improved Stabalizer / Fuse Design. The joint between the fuse and the stab is stable, solid, and good, but I beelive there is room for improvement. Most notable, the way the stab is secured into the fuse. I think I will add the ability to manualy control the pitch of the stab, with a screw or simular method. 3). Redesign how the wing attaches to the fues. Currently there is alot of room for error in this method. If the formers are not perfectly stright, (90 degrees), there will be massive problems later in development. 5). Design of a fuse gig. This will allow you to make the fuse stright and level without worry about any twisting. I envision this to be a 1/8x6x48 panel of wood cut to slip over the backbone, and you slide the fuse formers down the panel. The penel then holds them in position as they dry and ensures they sit correctly. 6). A new engine version, the RCV engine may not be the best engine to use with this aircraft. Allot it fits perfectly inside the cowl there may be better options. There are a couple of different options to design, or build. The aircraft cowl is large enough to fit a turbo jet engine inside with no design issues around the cowl (maybe some minor cutting or formers once built). The other option is for the G series of engines, they do not fit correctly, and would require some design issues, but is more cost effective then the RCV engine. As I mentioed previously the fuse formers have been redone for a couple of reasons that I notices while cutting, and building the fuse the first time. [u]1). Too many holes, poor selection of hole location.[/u] When I designed the fuse formers origionaly I used a simple "jig" to establish where each hole should be on the cad. Unfortunitly the location of some of the holes (although looked good), didn't do so well in real life. Either with problems in cutting or stringing the runners. The new design has less holes, more correctly placed holes. This all should make buidling the runners easier. [u]2). Poorly designed tabs.[/u] The tabs are the part of the fuse formers that sit ontop of the Backbone. These tabs at times bent, got misshaped, or damaged durring building or cutting. To prevent that from happening in the future formers received a newly designed tab. The new tabs are designed very differently from the previous version. These two items will add some additional weight to each former. That is unfortunite, but is required while building to ensure a good buld. The additional weight is not much, and with the new design should be stronger.
Posted on: 6/23/2004 1:32 PM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1928664

RE: Piper Meridian project
Well, here is an update. Due to damage to the fuse, I'll be starting construction on the fues from the beginning again. This gives me the oportunity to fine tune some things which I found poorly desiged the first time around. Perhaps the most troublesom issue was twisting in the fuesalage, but the worst design issue was the fact that the entire nose cowl was not the correct shape. The shape it was designed with was much to "square" in fact, the former that the nose cone would butt up against was not only not circlural, but way to square. So I took this time to redesign the cowl and formers behind it to be more circular leading up to the point where it is perfectly circular at the nose cone. Attached is an image of the re-worked fuesalage. Red is fues formers, Blue is the redesigned nose cowl. You can see how it bleeds into a circular shapre rahter then square. Also, all the fuse formers have been fine tuned to be more sturdy, redesigned the tab system that plugs into the Fuse backbone. These changes may add a little weight to the overall design, but it will do wonders for preventing fuse twist.
Posted on: 6/23/2004 12:18 PM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1928459

RE: Piper Meridian project
Hey Mr. Temple how goes it! I have not fallen off the planet, just you could say have bigger issues to fry, like dealing with a real airport.. Construction on the Meridan has stopped for the time being until I get moved into a new house. I move in on the 28th and then construction should start up soon there after. Some of the fueslage was damaged in the move and as such will need some repair work. I may just start construction over again with lessons lernt, plus then I wont have the twisted fues to deal with. For the record i'm in Watertown, SD.....airport manager there. come fly by any time. When construction starts back up, I'll be sure to post pictures..
Posted on: 6/17/2004 2:27 PM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1910974

RE: Piper Meridian project
I have not forgotten about the project. I am bust at work and life, you know how those things get in the way. I am purchasing some more supplies tomorrow to start cx on some parts of the plane. Photos will follow. Wings will be done next..
Posted on: 11/10/2003 11:47 PM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1267809

RE: Piper Meridian project
The project is not dead by any means, just on hold while I go through some times here in our economy with little money to fork towads building. I tweek things then and now but nothing worth posting about. When I've got some progress done on th estab i'll post but I dont know when that will happen.
Posted on: 10/15/2003 12:56 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1203010

RE: fowler flaps
here http://homepage.mac.com/mikejames/rcu_flaps_site/rc_setups.html
Posted on: 9/22/2003 3:58 PM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1154060

RE: Piper Arrow 2
Not sure when I will get to that. Currently building the Meridian.
Posted on: 9/18/2003 8:15 PM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1146325

RE: Piper Meridian project
I do not have a clue when "final" assembly will take place. If you mean when will the aircraft be at a level such as an ARF kit, only heaven knows. But each day something is done to it, so eventualy it will be finished. Right now I am a little...preocupied...with the tail and rudder assembly. Controlling the rudder effectivly with little flutter will be a pain in the final assembly but for the temporary fittings there now it seems to run just fine although not very smooth. Once I finish up the doors to the cab space under the tail I will start on the stab which should take some time to finish as it has some difficult parts, but I have picked up some skills/ideas from problems I faced in the tail to help make the stab assemly quicker with less problems. Not sure when stab cx will start however.
Posted on: 9/18/2003 6:51 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1144779

RE: Piper Meridian project
Sorry for the poor quality of these images as my camera and I can not stand still enough to get a good image in the lighting conditions, so here you go... These images should be rather self explanitory, but if the quality s soo poor you can not make out, it is the rudder drive servo mechanics. Once the side walls are on the base section of the tail you will not be able to see this and the only exposed part will be the rudder cleves.
Posted on: 9/14/2003 4:56 PM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1136440

RE: Straw vote on scratch building
Because to some people semantics is important. I can not fault you for your ignorance of this fact as it really isn't that important. Its a personal preference to control and semantics. The fact that it is subjective is a problem in itself, that is why a definition gives us common ground when comparing building. After all this is a building forum not a flying forum.
Posted on: 9/14/2003 5:20 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1135528

RE: Piper Meridian project
Well, wait till you see the next image line up. Tail is coming along great and so is the tail area on the fuse. I still have to sand down the puddy to blend well and once that is done I will take a couple of images of that process. Then its off to get the servo set up for the rudder done. This all in mind while I try to stay out of the way where the bolts that attach the stab to the fuse will go. It is rather crampt in the aft section of the fuse.
Posted on: 9/14/2003 5:14 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1135526

RE: Straw vote on scratch building
Given the fact that I am currently building the piper meridian from my own plans and didn't use anyone else plans I will say that I am scratch building the piper meridian. My definition of scratch building means the following: You design and build from plans you create from an aircraft of known type. Someone who designs an aircraft from the ground up is not scratch building they are designing an aircraft. Thats my twist way to look at it, and I see no problem with that approach. To say that scratch building only includes original designs is a little abstract and not true to the process of building. One thing for sure, scratch building is [b]NOT[/b] building from plans.
Posted on: 9/14/2003 5:07 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1135521

RE: Piper Meridian project
The filment in the last image on the upper rear of the tail has yet to be sanded down, once thats done it would look like, so... ugly. I still need to add in the lower frame under the rudder so it blends with the fuse section and then do all the stuff mentioned in the post above.
Posted on: 9/12/2003 3:36 PM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1132103

RE: Piper Meridian project
Here are a couple of imaged for your amusement. The tail is partly attached to the fues. Still lots to do, but it looks like it fits. Servo placement will get interesting to say the least.
Posted on: 9/12/2003 3:33 PM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1132094

RE: Piper Meridian project
Man those are ugly. Anyway it is strong and should be finished in a coupel of days. I need to put sanding sealer on it and sand down the leading edge of the weight balance. Hidges are sunk robart pin hinges. The pivot point which is about 3/16 into the leading edge stock of the rudder so the rudder moves close to how the real tail moves. There is fillment puddy on the tail and rudder which is why areas look different then others, not to mention the rudder side that looks like ti was burnt. It has sigment / filment puddy all sanded into the crack to reenforce the balsa. Sigment is also in other areas to strengthen where filment puddy would not go. Once the sanding sealer is on, I'll sand it down again, and paint the SOB so it looks good.
Posted on: 9/12/2003 11:14 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1131522

RE: Piper Meridian project
we havn't had very many update pics for awhile and i want you to know that things are still steaming ahead even though there are not many images. ( partly because it looks ugly and its difficult to share ugly things). With that said here is the tail from someplace near the beginning to today, still unfinished.
Posted on: 9/12/2003 11:09 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1131505

RE: Piper Meridian project
Thanks for the info about the glue, I will try that and see if that makes any difference
Posted on: 9/12/2003 11:06 AM by Author "ThunderAI-RCU" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=1131502