K40 Laser

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Excellent

Looking forward to the build

But do you think, Colin will allow it?

Just tell him you are building a Typhoon Speedboat?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Ray

The 1/5 drawings that I have are highly detailed and were drawn by Roy Vaillancourt but as I am building at 1/6 scale I am cross-referencing with a 1/6 Brian Taylor drawing.

Drawings everywhere and I am like a pig in muck.

Captain Bob

I could always put floats on it and make it into a seaplane!, but seriously I don't want to take advantage of Colins good nature so apart from showing how the laser works I won't be posting much.

Paul

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

A little update

I've been going through the ME109 cutting files and they relate to a 1/5 scale kit link

Researching the kit I found that the skin is made from a composite material link so I have ordered the skin and a few bits from the manufacturer.

Its another big bird, video link

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Paul

Do you intend to fly these model aircraft?

It`s great fun building, but no fun repairing!

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Bob

I do want to fly them but the problem might be insurance, I used to fly IC helicopters but after my first heart attack, and due to the new medication the insurers refused to cover me to fly large rotary wing models, which is why I got into heavy lift drones.

As you know, drones are very easy to control but I still had to pass a medical before the insurance company would cover me.

I have been flying my current stock of fixed wing models at my cousins farm and the insurance company was happy for my heavy drone insurance to cover medium weight fixed wing models, however the new models will potentially exceed the limits of my cover in both weight and speed.

I will have to wait until they are built and then the insurance company will send an engineer to assess the weight and speed of each model and I will have to get through another medical and a test of my reaction times.

Paul

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Captain Bob

I am firing up the laser today to test cut some parts for the ME109, I will try and take photos of the cutting process but I've no idea if the camera will work under these conditions.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

OK, my mate

BTW……Are you aware that scale models can fly as PSS,,,,Power Scale Soaring quite well

The beauty of the hobby is that they don`t need an engine.

Your Typhoo would be OK

They used to fly at Great Orme and Moel Famau….I used to fly at Charlesworth Derbyshire

Look it up on YouTube

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

I would be worried about the overall weight being to much for the wings to provide enough lift even if there were decent thermals.

Paul

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Paul,

The slope soaring boys will make any design fly, but they are looking for 30 knots + and a really good hill 😀

Regards Ray

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Ray

The way that I build things I would need a force 9 and Snowden, it might fly then but probably end up in a pile of matchwood.

Paul

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Captain Bob

I got carried away with cutting and forgot to take photos during the process, these parts are from the ME109 and very luckily the cutting files included part numbers.

As the actual cutting process is all automatic I had plenty of time to do a little bit of building.

There are slightly more scorch marks and 'sooting' than I expected, I think the laser might be slightly out of focus.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Paul

That looks very nice and aeronautical and wonderfully complicated

It looks great fun gluing it all together

Looks like a good little earner too?

Thanks for showing us

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Bob

Whilst using a laser is a quantum leap forward in fast, accurate and almost magical cutting this particular machine does have limitations both in power and cutting area.

Using a K40 as the basis for a business is a non starter but from a DIY perspective it is fantastic and I will never go back to the Bandsaw.

Paul

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Fantastic Paul. Way to go. Looks just like the real thing in construction.

Ashley

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Ashley

I think the laser is well worth the investment as I used to loath standing for hours at the bandsaw, no more backache!

All

The parts that I ordered from the USA for the ME109 have already been dispatched and should be with me in 5 days. Given the current situation I think that this is amazing service

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Paul

When your stuff your arrives from America…..Don`t forget to steralise it first

We can`t be too careful these days

Bob

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Paul

Impressive. You certainly wouldn't want to cut all those out by hand. Though of course you used to have to do. I assume that generally things used to be kept more simple.

Chris

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Chris

At this scale the parts were always 'as complicated' and took many hours to cut out.

Sitting back and watching the laser doing all of the work is almost magical.

Paul

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Paul

Some while back I was talking to Ian Hull at SLEC and he mentioned that they were obtaining some special ply which greatly reduced the scorching around the laser-cut edges. As the parts I send him are all CNC-routed I haven't followed this up but it might be worth giving them a call about the sizes and thicknesses available.*

That photo reminded me of the old Japanese-produced 'Pilot' kits. They were mainly die-cut liteply and beautiful things to assemble, but they were usually too heavy to fly properly.

DM

*Just found it on their website SLEC Laser Ply

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 12/04/2020 14:03:07

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Dave

Thanks for the link.

I think it might be something to do with the gule that bonds the ply together, I do know that my back garden smells like a manx smoke house so its not all bad.

Paul

Edited By Paul T on 12/04/2020 16:01:07

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

I think you're in the right area there, Doc – but "gule"? Must the same stuff Harry uses on his Vopser…

DM

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

So much for speel checker

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

The ME109 body panels have arrived from the USA, a great big box full of very finely laid fibreglass

These are the engine cowl, forward fuselage and canopy.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Paul…those cars in the background are the donors for the engines for these beasts?????

Ashley

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Ashley

No they are to small, I have a couple of Caterpillar D8 units which will fit nicely

Paul

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