DC MODELS

1/6 Scale F-8 Crusader

Power:   Thrust 28 ( or more )lbs engines

Length: 109"

Fully functional wing

( It would be a crime if it didn't )

Dad, this one is for you

07/04/06

The main wing is now out of the mold. See below.

Up-dated in red text.

Canopy part is now installed.

Side vents

The Laser Trac is from Sears. Perfect for scribing lines or other things such as wing alignment.

A laser can really help when doing panel lines.

Close-up around the top of the tail.

Coming next is the ECM dorsal hump. 

Moving along. Outdoor shots

The model will come from the mold with the canopy pivot location installed. The pin you see will be captured in the mold.

Applying aluminum panels to create a raised effect. The panels will be dimpled for screw and/or rivet details.

Placing some wrinkles in the hot section.

Speed brake area.

The two vertical lines have sealant in them.

This shows the heat wrinkles.

Once they are cut then the parts are cleaned up and prep. for molding.

The dimensions from which I created this drawing are from Vought aircraft.

This is part of the UHT after being cut on the CNC machine.

It is still in the box. The box allows the part to be cut as one piece by flipping

the box a cutting each side.

The same part after being cut from the box. There is a outer portion that being cut to

match this part to complete the whole surface. This is a plug to create a mold from.

The surface will be sanded and panel lines will be applied before molding.

How's that for a background. The two UHT parts fresh off the machine.

Whoa...    almost finished with the UHT.  The CD is for size ref.

Parting plane installed.

Epoxy/glass lay-up

With half the part snug in it's side the other side is waxed and with a film of pva on it.

Lay-up time is here.

Right and left molds are complete. This is one side.

Here are a few measurements, the trailing edge is 15" long, the lending edge is 20" long,

the rib root at the fuselage is 13.5".

Fuselage mold

Starboard side complete! 

Another view showing the parting planes of the other parts of the fuselage mold.

Just making parts to assemble. This is the front face of the wing, only can be seen when wing

is in the up position. The part will be inserted into the wing plug to create an stamped aluminum affect.

Process of matching the control surfaces to the main wing.

Close-up of the leading edge flap.

This view shows he flap and flaperon in position. All the parts shown are the masters for producing molds.

Next step is to pull lending edge flaps off and install close-out radiuses.

Masters for the main gear doors.  Model railroad rivets.  

Main doors fiberglass lay-up. 

As I go on this project I will post more pictures.

This is a 1/10 scale model I made back in 1986.

Yes it did fly and yes the wing did function.

The information learned from this one is being folded into the large one.