BLACK HAWK PROJECT
UPDATE
VI
Wednesday 8
September, 1999 22:53:47 44 PDT
G reetings All!
W ell, I've made some good progress on the
project this week...in fact, I should be ready to start applying the fiberglass
resin later this week if I have the time! After that, it's only a matter of
adding the Bondo treatment, painting, and adding windows and decals. There are
nine pics in this update.
T he first pic shows the first stage in the
construction of the ESSS (External Stores Support System) auxiliary fuel tanks.
I made these from one of the the cardboard tubes that carpet is rolled up on
(free at a local carpet store):
T he next pic shows
the base construction of a pilot/co-pilot seat. These were made of cardboard
with some closed cell foam padding attached. The rear support frame is
constructed of wooden dowels with a cardboard tube (the kind found on
dry-cleaners' clothes hangers) affixed.
T he next photo shows
the instrument panels and pilot/co-pilot seats a bit farther into the process.
The instrument panel was done on acetate with openings cut to allow backlighting
for some of the major instruments, then painted black. I'll place a detailed
control panel decal on top when it's finished:
T he next pic shows
closer detail of the pilot/co-pilot seat after material and a five-point harness
has been attached. Except for some finishing, addition of some of the finer
details and painting, the seat is ready for installation:
T he next pic shows
the detail on one of the sound insulating panels Mrs. 6 sewed for me. The roof
panel is still under construction:
T he next pic shows
detail of the rotor hub. It still needs some closer work and some more detail,
but this should give you an idea as to what it will look like. It is constructed
primarily of 1 1/2" PVC pipe and connectors, with 1" PVC sockets for each rotor.
The rotors themselves are cardboard with wooden lattice stiffeners:
T he next pic shows a
more advanced stage of one of the auxiliary fuel tanks. I have added end caps
from two different styles of plastic soda bottles and filled the "tank" with
insulating expanding plastic foam:
T he next pic shows a
closer view of the tail with a stabilator, tail wheel, and antennas
attached:
I replaced the wheels
I had before with some 5 1/2" air-filled wheels (made for R/C aircraft) and am
VERY pleased with the detail. Although the rims are a bit different from the
real thing, the tires themselves are indistinguishable. These are much better
than the heavy, clunky solid rubber wheels I had before (although they were
twice as expensive at $15.00 each wheel). The final shot shows the overall
progress on the bird so far. The fuel probe is 3/4" PVC pipe with a 1/2" PVC
insert at the end:
W ell, that's it for
this week. Thanks again to all of you for your support and encouragement! Until
next week, take care!
Teddy T
Lightning 6