[pd1]

I decided to change the fuselage sheets on the Astro Hog.
The factory supplied 3/32 sheet stock, while this might be perfectly fine, the stock in my kit was very light material.

I decided to up it to 1/8 sheet. I edge glued some 1/8 and transferred the printing to the new sides. I also changed the doublers from light ply to balsa.

Sides are together and formers have been added.


Without the torque rods for the ailerons, a new simpler and stronger rear wing mount was used.


Mount drilled and blind nuts added for 6x32 nylon hold down bolts.

Wing squared up to fuselage and front pegs and rear bolts added.


Firewall trial fit and then clamped and glued in place.
The ply pieces ahead of the mount are only there to help keep the firewall in position until the glue dries.


BLOCKS R US
Added the blocks to the front of the fuselage.
A cutout was made so the ESC cooling fins are flush with the outside of the plane.




This thing is built like a tank.
I roughly rounded the blocks on one side of the fuse. I'll do the other side tomorrow.

Did some work on the fuselage. Servo mounts and battery mounts are in.

Pushrod tube are installed and the bottom sheet has been started.

Stringers on top and the top sheets should go on tomorrow.


I finished the bottom aft sheeting.

I added the top aft sheeting and started the forward top sheeting.

I had to enlarge the battery opening so I had to loft a new former.

The rear part of the battery hatch is now the new former.

The second part of the forward sheeting is now on.

The darker color is because the wood has been wet so it bends without cracking.

Made the battery hatch and started final shaping of the nose.


The nose is only roughed shaped with 80 grit. I'll final sand everything immediately before covering.


The fuselage is finished for now, I'll put the fuselage and wing away for now.

The headrest on, makes it the Hog.

Fuselage covering..
Started prepping the fuse for covering...


The bottom was covered first so the edges of the seams won't show.
All the junctures had a strip of covering added so overlapping joints are easier.


Finally the side is covered and I just have to trim the edges and iron the edges down again.


Orange is nearly done

I've covered all the fuselage and stabilizer. Vertical fin on one side is covered and control surfaces are hinged.


All that's left to the orange is battery cover and half the vertical fin.


Now some trim.

Added some white to the top of the wings and stabilizer. A little on the fuselage too.

White needed on the leading edge of the vertical fin and maybe some checkers on the bottom of the wing. Running out of white.

The plane on the box has a black section on the top of the fuselage ahead of the windshield, haven't decided if I'm going to do that too.


Added some checkers on the bottom of the wing to help me with orientation.
The sheet of paper is for locating the checkers. Also a good straight edge.

Started adding the black pin striping too.