Scratch Build SE5a Foamie

[Voyager2lcats]

I submitted these pictures on RCG, since Tony65x55 started the build thread for this design over "there". I figured I would start my own build thread here as a way to motivate me to work faster on this bird.:o The hardest part for me is going to be soldering the motor, ESC, and battery connections (way too hot at the garage work bench right now). I've got mini-deans connectors, so it should work nicely once I do it. So here are the first shots of this model. I will add more when I get the camera back from my wife. This is a pretty straightforward build, but I don't have a copy of the plans at this moment to post, but patience will be rewarded.

P.S. jpeg's aren't uploading for some reason. I'll add them tomorrow.

[CHELLIE]

Waiting On Pins and Needles to see your Build I am sure it will be very very nice, Chellie


Ps you might have to resize the pictures to upload them

[Bill G]

Are the file sizes too big? Need to be 100k or less I think. I always save with the "best for web" option in my photo editor.

The SE5A is a nice plane for scratchbuilding. The solid square fuse front should lend itself well to flat foam construction. I did a Guillows last year, and it flys well. My favorite WW1 bipe.

Soldering is my least favorite activity, especially since I have this old beat gun with a bad contact somewhere inside where one of the irons meets the coil wrap. I have to keep wrenching it with pliers to get it to heat up well enough to melt solder. I've got real good at it, since I know the sound of the "buzz" when its making good contact inside.
Sure, I could get a new one, but its hard to spend money on anything that isn't an airplane or airplane gear.

[Voyager2lcats]

Okay, successfully added jpegs- hooray! Thanks for the kind comments Chellie and Bill G! I have completed the attachment of the monoblock (holds motor, ESC, battery, and landing gear) and the tail fins, so I will update tomorrow I am trying to borrow a scroll saw from a friend to make a wing jig (heat them on it to add curve for airfoil). That is a side project in and of itself inspired by someone else on RCG (I am not advertising their site, honest!) Take care everyone and bear with me. I will probably finish the fuselage, the wings and then the cabanes and struts before I attempt to solder.

[Grasshopper]

Subscribed. Too bad you don't live closer, I'd loan you my scroll saw.

[Voyager2lcats]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

Subscribed. Too bad you don't live closer, I'd loan you my scroll saw.

What? You mean you won't MAIL it to me?! That's OK I am looking forward to your re-maiden(?) of your Jug. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. My little one (P-47) is cannibalized at the moment to run my P-40! I still need to fix the nose on my Cub- work and fun never end do they?

[Geoffrito]

Ooooooh hope this works out for you, I'm a big fan of the SE5a, I'm thinking of building one from foam myself =]

[Voyager2lcats]

Originally Posted by Geoffrito

Ooooooh hope this works out for you, I'm a big fan of the SE5a, I'm thinking of building one from foam myself =]

Hey Geoffrito, I think this is going to be a sweet little flyer, because the RCG users who posted the following pictures of their birds have videos that show a very stable slow flyer. Here are the plans and various pictures of others from the FOAMIE - SE5a - 32 inch! thread (by Tony65x55) on the Foamies (Scratchbuilt) forum on RCG.

[Geoffrito]

oh great, thanks! that'll save some time designing =).

[Voyager2lcats]

Some of these are completed planes, two are of a wooden airfoil jig, one is plans for a Lewis machinegun, and one is the front of a real SE5a in a museum. Enjoy!

[FlyingMonkey]

I might have to build one of these...

[CHELLIE]

Those planes look really neet, and so simple, Looking for videos of them flying Now Take care and keep up the good work, Chellie

[CHELLIE]

Originally Posted by Voyager2lcats

I submitted these pictures on RCG, since Tony65x55 started the build thread for this design over "there". I figured I would start my own build thread here as a way to motivate me to work faster on this bird.:o The hardest part for me is going to be soldering the motor, ESC, and battery connections (way too hot at the garage work bench right now). I've got mini-deans connectors, so it should work nicely once I do it. So here are the first shots of this model. I will add more when I get the camera back from my wife. This is a pretty straightforward build, but I don't have a copy of the plans at this moment to post, but patience will be rewarded.

P.S. jpeg's aren't uploading for some reason. I'll add them tomorrow.

use some bullet connectors for the motor esc and lipo, that way you can use them on different planes, I use the cheapy blue auto bullet connectors, they just crimp on, works good for me take care, Chellie

[Voyager2lcats]

Originally Posted by FlyingMonkey

I might have to build one of these...

I'm telling you! This thing is really easy to assemble and structurally tough. I have some more build pics, so I'll try and load them now. If they don't load, I'll load them from work.

Nope. I keep timing out. I'll load them tomorrow.

Bob

[Voyager2lcats]

Originally Posted by CHELLIE

use some bullet connectors for the motor esc and lipo, that way you can use them on different planes, I use the cheapy blue auto bullet connectors, they just crimp on, works good for me take care, Chellie

I considered them first Chellie, but I was worried about plugging into the "wrong" plug if I get in a hurry. I like the mini-deans because they are pretty much idiot proof (yes, I do mean Me!).

Bob

[CHELLIE]

Originally Posted by Voyager2lcats

I considered them first Chellie, but I was worried about plugging into the "wrong" plug if I get in a hurry. I like the mini-deans because they are pretty much idiot proof (yes, I do mean Me!).

Bob

Hi Bob I know what you mean thats why I use the female connector on the pos side and the male connector on the neg side of the lipo, that way I cant make a mistake when plugging in the lipo, on the esc to motor I use the female on the esc wires , and the male connectors on the motor wires, Take care, Chellie

[Bill G]

Originally Posted by Voyager2lcats

I considered them first Chellie, but I was worried about plugging into the "wrong" plug if I get in a hurry. I like the mini-deans because they are pretty much idiot proof (yes, I do mean Me!).

Bob

You can even do that with the keyed JST connectors by accident, when the female connector housing stretches out a bit.
I did that once, caught it quickly and ripped it back out. Didn't blow anything, but I always worry about the ESCs failing on that twin EDF because of that, whenever I fly it.

[CHELLIE]

I found my new avitar on the web, thought it was Cute, so I think I will use it Take care, Chellie

[Voyager2lcats]

Originally Posted by CHELLIE

I found my new avitar on the web, thought it was Cute, so I think I will use it Take care, Chellie

That lady must live in L.A.! That bra looks like it's working overtime.

[Voyager2lcats]

I e-mailed these to my desktop PC at work, so it takes me an additional day to post pictures. They won't upload to WattFlyer from home for some reason. Anyway here are the latest; not earth-shaking but showing progress. The landing gear fits pretty snugly into it's slot, so I don't think it needs a retaining system (yet). The nose needs some more work- I might fit some paper "grille-work" to make it look like the radiator cooling inlets on the real thing. I intend to make the wing forming jig and heat my wings uniformly- could take me some time I'm afraid.

[FlyingMonkey]

spiffy....

now I just need to get the new lady away from the main computer, so I can illegally print the plans using company resources.

[gfdengine204]

Fred,

You are ahead of me there, at least. Even if I had the plans, I never have built anything more difficult than an ARF. I wouldn't know what to do with plans......<sigh>

I wish I had one of you guru's closer.

[FlyingMonkey]

It's real easy with this sort of plane....

If it's your first, print out two sets of plans.

Cut the shapes out of one set, and trace them onto your foam. (People using foam board will trace it on the paper, cut it out, THEN soak the foamboard for peeling.)

Once you have your pieces, you start gluing. Hopefully someone has started a build thread, so you can see how they are putting it together.

[Voyager2lcats]

Originally Posted by FlyingMonkey

It's real easy with this sort of plane....

If it's your first, print out two sets of plans.

Cut the shapes out of one set, and trace them onto your foam. (People using foam board will trace it on the paper, cut it out, THEN soak the foamboard for peeling.)

Once you have your pieces, you start gluing. Hopefully someone has started a build thread, so you can see how they are putting it together.

You make a good point. I-unfortunately already had it cut out- but I will post some of the earlier build thread pics from RCG. They have some nice layouts in piecing this together, however Tony65x55's thread is not really step by step, so I think I can remedy that and post it. I think foam board is ideal for this build: trace your templates onto it, cut it out, soak it in water to remove the paper, and start gluing it together.

[FlyingMonkey]

I'll do that this weekend.

Maybe even take some pics.