Ron and Tom catch up on workshop progress, including 3D-printed wing ribs, correcting the Duellist plans, a quick Dollar Tree foam airplane, the Horten build, vintage Irvine engines, pneumatic retracts, and new shop tools.
Chapters
00:39 — Catching up after the nitro-engine recording
01:49 — Testing a lighter 3D-printed wing rib
03:29 — Printing directly on a glass bed
07:59 — Redrawing and correcting the Duellist wing ribs
15:44 — Ron’s quick profile-foamy experiment
20:00 — Tom’s Horten progress and vintage Irvine engines
26:11 — Building an Escapade as an engine test airplane
28:35 — Duellist retracts, engines, and balsa order
34:18 — New shop tools for scratch building
39:39 — Next steps for the Horten and Duellist projects
Workshop Updates and Project Progress
3D-printed wing ribs
Ron redesigned the Duellist rib to remove unnecessary material, printed it directly on glass for a smooth surface, and brought its weight down to about 11 grams. He and Tom discuss how its weight, strength, and cost may compare with a traditional balsa rib.
Correcting the Duellist plans
Tracing the ribs into CAD revealed dimensional errors in the original drawings. Ron explains why clean vector geometry takes time, how he adjusted the rib profiles to match the spars, and why the retract opening will need to be checked against the actual landing gear.
A fast foam-airplane prototype
Using electronics from an older pizza-box-style airplane, Ron built and flew a simple Dollar Tree foam prototype. The first version exposed center-of-gravity and battery problems, but it also provided enough information for a revised design.
Horten and Duellist build progress
Tom shares progress on the Horten wing and his plans for the Duellist: twin O.S. .46 engines, tuned pipes, pneumatic retracts, fresh balsa, and the possibility of CNC-cut ribs. He also talks about several vintage Irvine engines and an Escapade that can serve as a practical flying test bed.
Building out the workshop
A marketplace find brought Tom a bandsaw, table saw, drill press, scroll saw, combination belt/disc sander, and rolling stands. The new tools should make future plans-built and scratch-built projects much easier.
Key Takeaways
- Printing on a flat glass bed can improve first-layer consistency and leave a very smooth surface.
- Old plans should be checked carefully before parts are cut; small drawing errors can compound during assembly.
- A quick foam prototype can reveal balance and power-system problems before time is spent on a finished version.
- Matching the Duellist’s retracts, engines, and structure early helps prevent costly changes later.
- Small woodworking tools can greatly expand what is practical for plans-built RC airplanes.
Episode 14 Transcript
This transcript has been lightly edited for readability. Timestamps are retained.
Read the full transcript
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