Well, it could be worse. Been an Orioles fan since I was old enough to throw a ball. Brooks Robinson, Boog Powell, Earl Weaver, Jim Palmer. They have had bad seasons before, but this year was like a long, slow nightmare that simply refused to end.....

Next I glue the winglets onto the main wings and square up the mount with a length of .5 " x .5" angle alumium. After the Titebond red dries I insert a scrap piece of 1/8" balsa into the vacant tab holes on the outer surface of the winglets, scarf off the excess, and then sand them smooth.

TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

"The Vixen" has announced that my Black and Tan is ready so I'll make this brief.

I've filletted the main wing to winglet joints with 30 min. epoxy. After that cured I pressed wood filler into the tab hole recesses on the outer surfaces of the winglets which I'll sand smooth tomorrow.

Time for a Black and Tan! Good night.

TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Using the 220 covered Corian slab I sand the outer surfaces of the winglets.

Now to join the wing assemblies to the airframe.

I first shape the compound root edge of the main wing to match the contour of the airframe with 220 grit. Since the airframe is part paper BT and part 3D printed plastic, I'll use (2) adhesives: Titebond red and 15 minute epoxy.

Using the point of a Swiss file I give surface detail to the tail cone to receive the epoxy (note the employment of the Herculean thigh again.) I then mount the prepared wing assemblies to the airframe and use a butt-ugly-but-effective brace to square the wings from the airframe as the adhesives cure. I then fillet the entire length of both root edges of both wings.

TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Now to mount the canards to the PNC60.

The 3D printed canards are pretty rough so I clean them up on the Corian board. I then wrap the PNC with a piece of 220 grit and work the root edge on it until the contours match. Ill try 30 minute epoxy to join these dissimilar materials.

TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Well, the canard fell right off. The epoxy did nothing.

I'll test all of my adhesives (from left to right) on the shoulder of the PNC to see if any of them melt it. Nothing melts it. What kind of plastic IS this?!

I ended up having to use CA gel with a little shot of accelerator after it. We'll see how this goes. If it's not secure enough I'll make slits in the PNC, drive small spruce strips into the root edges of the canards (which are hollow, fortunately,) and slot-mount the canards to the PNC.

TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

I think the CA gel may have worked. The PNC weighs over 4 ounces and I'm holding it in this manner without the canard breaking off. We'll see.

TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

It took (2) tries to get it right, but I got the 8" BT20 bisected and glued to the belly of the airframe. I glued the half PNC with CA gel.

Question: I know very little about the Jayhawk Target Drone. This 8" BT20 is called the "flare tube". Does that mean that on the real vehicle it releases flares for target practice from heat-seeking missiles?

TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

According to this page from the Naval Air Museum Barbers Point (Hawaii) the Jayhawk carried high intensity flares and radar reflectors to aid in its simulation role, appearing as a much larger target on radar. Interestingly, if you look at the picture, it appears to have two nozzles in the back as well as the flare tube orifice. But the specs list only one powerplant. Perhaps Blackshire would know for certain, he appears to be quite knowledgable about the Jayhawk/Sandpiper:
http://nambp.org/beechcraft-aqm-37a-jayhawk
http://www.forums.rocketshoppe.com/...=vashon+jayhawk


P.S. Did they relocate the launch lug for the improved kit? Used to be in the flare tube for the older model.

Yes. The launch lugs are on the top of the model. The older version didn't have the 1/2 PNC at the front of the flare tube like this one does. Personally, I'd rather have LL's tucked under a wing than being a possible focal point on the top of the fuselage, but with the great weight of nose cone I suppose that could be a stability problem when leaving the launch rod.

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078