Dalton 300 build.

[JPrc]

Finally got some work done on the plane. Last weekend and most of this week have been pretty unproductive as far as building is concerned. One item that I just discovered yesterday that kicks some serious ass is the Dremel planer attachment. I went into Home Depot yesterday to get a smaller hand planer, which they didn't have, and remembered seeing a planer attachment for Dremel tools so I headed over to the accessories section and there it was hanging on the rack for $19.99. I snatched it up and headed home to prove to myself that this was just another gimic tool and there was no way around the tried and true method of razor planing and sanding. I was completely wrong, this thing is bad ass with cherries on top. I had the leading edge to the rudder planned and sanded in less than 10 minutes! It slices through the balsa like butter and is so easy to use and manuever. I planned right up to the sheeting and center line then finished shaping with my T-sander. Usually by the time you finish razor planning you are wore out and just want to get done with the sanding. With this thing you can save your arm for shaping and it is a lot faster than a razor plane.

[JPrc]

Both stabs sheeted with leading and trailing edge shapped. Nice tight fit to the fuse. Hopefully this weekend I can finishing dropping the carbon in the other wing and get the skins ready.

[rc4flying]

I hate to ask, but how much dust that it create ?

[SpgBob]

	Quote: Originally Posted by JPrc
	One item that I just discovered yesterday that kicks some serious ass is the Dremel planer attachment. I went into Home Depot yesterday to get a smaller hand planer, which they didn't have, and remembered seeing a planer attachment for Dremel tools so I headed over to the accessories section and there it was hanging on the rack for $19.99.

had to be creative since the hobby shop dosent stock anything we need.. lol

how are you going to glue the wings-- balsa to foam? this question was asked on worms post, why not just get a small paint roller and roll the foam cores.

plane looks nice man, cant wait to get a flight on that

kevin

[JPrc]

Actually it is more shavings than dust. As you plan it throw the chips on the surface and you just dump in in the trash after several passes once there is a thick layer.

[TREY H]

You didnt wont to wait till thursday for your razor planer?

[JeremyHolt]

HA!

[SpgBob]

where and the #ell are the updates man. guess it needs a bump back to the front page..

k-dog

[JPrc]

Been kinda slow this week. Got the other wing done with the carbon fiber. Both wings have the phenolic glued in and the root caps have been lightened. I was able to save 1oz out of the caps the current lightening holes. I hoping the wings come in at 3 1/4lbs ready to fly.

[JPrc]

Well I've gotten a little lazy in the updates but everything I have been doing has been your normal run of the mill stuff like sheeting wings and sanding. The wings are sheeted and incidence is set. At this stage with the wings sheeted and all mounting hardware the weigh 1lb 14oz so with the LE and TE it should be right around 2lbs. Looking like the finished wings should come in between 3 and 3 1/4 lbs. I also changed the wing retention method from the way Tony suggest. I was not comfortable with the nylon antirotation bolts and wing nuts so I modified them the way you see in the pics. Basically what I did was once the wing incidence was set at zero I drilled from one side of the fuse through the other side with an 18" long 1/2" drill bit. I cut 4 1/2 hardwood oak dowels and drilled and tapped one end for a 1/4" bolt. The 1/4" bolts were epoxied in and the heads cut off. I also made the receptical you see in the pic so the only thing you see in the fuse when the wing is on is the bolt. Next up will be setting the incidence on the stabs and mounting.

[JeremyHolt]

Now thats a good looking plane!..... so can I use your table again?

[ben_beyer]

I think I'm going to get some 1/4" studs and use your method for the wing retention bolts. The weight addition is minimal and the peace of mind is a lot better.