PaperModelers.com - View Single Post - Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)

**YankeeBoy** · 03-03-2012, 09:28 AM

Thanks for the comments, all. After getting the landing gear bay diagrams from Will the LG stub assembly was straightforward.

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-016.jpg

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-017.jpg

Finally able to start the wing skinning. The alignment tabs Will has on the fuselage formers insure perfect alignment. I thought their removal would present problems after wing skinning but it was quite painless (using a BRAND NEW BLADE.)

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-018.jpg

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-019.jpg

I now started sorting out the puzzle pieces for the fuselage skinning. Here a dry fit of D5 (the anchor skin) and D4 + D2. A general note for ALL fuselage skins: PRE-SHAPE, PRE-SHAPE, PRE-SHAPE!!! Once you have applied adhesive it is probably too late to get the shape correct. There are some fairly complex curves, especially forward of the wing, and these need to be sorted out ahead of time.

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-020.jpg

D13 and D13A go in the notch under the fuselage just behind the wing. The printed side of D13A glues to the inner (unprinted) surface of D13 and forms the cooler exits. Parts D13bL/R are a mystery to me - cannot find a place for them...

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-021.jpg

This shows the underside of the (skinned) inner wings and several of the fuselage skin pieces. I have pre-shaped most of them at this point but they will all need further shape tweaking before installation

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-022.jpg

The next four photos show the dry-fitting of the under side of the fuselage in the wing root area. First D10, then D11, then D13 and finally D12. I actually joined these four skins into one assembly before applying them to the frame.

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-023.jpg

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-024.jpg

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-025.jpg

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-026.jpg

Dry-fitting D-5.

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-027.jpg

Dry-fitting D6 to D5. I joined these two into one assembly before final installation to the frame.

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-028.jpg

Nervous final check of D5/D6 to D4 interface. D5/D6 were then fixed in place with drops of CA adhesive applied to 3-4 spots on the interior of the skin where joiner strips and frame met. This minimized the possibility of staining the exterior.

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-029.jpg

The D10/D11/D12/D13 skin was then glued to the frame and to the D5 joiner strips with the following results:

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-030.jpg

Will Aldridge's XP-72 Beta Build (also)-72-031.jpg

Once my nerves settle down I will complete skinning aft (after figuring out the intricacies of the tailwheel and tailwheel wheel well) and then will finally tackle the front end. The fit of all parts has been uniformly excellent - a characteristic of all Will's designs. More in a few days...