BBW 32% Yak

[T. Bob]

Carden offers some locations for holes to remove weigh that don't amount to as much as one can get if you work at it. This entire motorbox complete from the kit weighs 32.5oz's..Time for Jenny Craig

[T. Bob]

Here's where we're headed, 3.1 oz's on one side the hard way...

[T. Bob]

Here's a days worth of 10.3oz's of trimmed off fat..As soon as Tboob's gets a motor mount over here this number will get bigger.

[T. Bob]

Well the Jenny Craig results are in, The entire assembly started out at 32.5oz's. After the program it hit the scale at 20.1. I got 12.4 out of the assembly so in reality the cannister system added 7.5 ounces over a stock built plane with incowl mufflers. If Tbob machines out his gear we will be more than under the weight normally seen..This is a big plane, I would love to see 28lb's finished out but this will take a lot of work which I'm game for..We'll see

[T. Bob]

Progress is slow but I did manage to get the fuse crutch done. This will get sheeted and then it's on with the assembly...

[T. Bob]

Motor box: lots of clamps and a framing square. All 30 minute epoxy with milled glass mixed in the resin.

[T. Bob]

Fuse assembly: I usually take a day to assemble and look over this to make sure its right. Lots of squares all the way down the sides and referencing the assembly to the plans. If it looks wrong usually something is. Lots of shifting and adjusting to get this perfect. Once the glue hits it its there for good. This is one of the nice things about Carden kits. The plans are very accurate...

[T. Bob]

Fuse is framed up ready for the bottom side decks and 1/4's...

[T. Bob]

Fuse bottom: The bottom deck is set 3/32 inside the fuse side on both sides. This allows the sides to be blended into the bottom deck to aid in making the fuse more rounded. The top deck will be similar. The 1/4 rounds on this kit do not fit for ****. I had to make a 1/8th strip shim to go underneath the side that glues to the fuse to raise it up so that it will blend with the bottom and then grind the top side to get the sheeting to match with the rear deck, big "pita". To make the 1/4 rounds easier to fit I wire cut the excess foam on the inside to make it easier to form in when I glue it on. It also eliminates a couple oz's.

[T. Bob]

Canister tunnel: The lightening holes on the tunnel sides need sealed up to keep the heat off the 1/4 rounds. I used 1/32 sheet balsa to cover the lightening holes. The tunnel floor is 1/16th balsa. There's a foam cover piece to fairing in the fuse from the bottom deck forward to the cowl rear. The heat outlet will match the 1/4 balsa plate and the hole will be lined with 1/32 sheet for covering purposes. This should look pretty cool when done. Made here in the USA...

[T. Bob]

Top side: 2-1/2 degree SWB mount with a 3/8th's plywood spacer to set engine to cowl fit up. Motor is an "impotent" DA100...Ladies exit first of course...

[T. Bob]

Pictures shows the amount of shaping to get the fuse to the round shape. This is very tricky to get the fuse to match the rear of the cowl. I used the cowl ring to get an idea where to start with the 1/4 round placement. Also you can see the start of the bottom vents for the canister air outlet. I did it this way to maintain the fuse shape without it looking like its got a big flat spot on the fuse bottom. This piece will be notched for the landing gear and the front part will be of the bottom fairing will be removable. Yaks are a lot more work in the Carden line up and this is why, a lot of shaping and fitting to get right....The little balsa 1/32 strips will line the air openings to cover the foam. With a little luck in a day or so this will look like one piece