Grahame White Lizzie peanut

[g_kandylakis]

Here is something from the old SFA, some of you might remember...

Since I never got to finish it, it is still an open project, so I thought about posting a little more on it.

The model was roughly finished (no dummy engine and no details) and I was able to do some test flying, which proved promising. Duration was short, but that was never my aim, with such a funny looking airplane...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdgX3PGppno

The model was put aside as I worked on my Bellanca research. The test flights were good, but revealed a major weekness. I chose to make the landing skids ot of laminated basswood. While strong enough for normal flying and landing, the could not stand up to a sudden landing shock and broke just before the front lg strut. Once broken they needed replacement. I tried repairing and reenforcing with wire inside, but they were too sensitive. So the model was put aside.

Then, recently, I was thinking about the coming Intescale event and how I have no new peanut to fly. My Vendome has done its part, so is due for competition retirement. The Lizzie would be a good replacement, especially since it only needed finishing and of course a solution to the landing skid problem. After some experimenting I managed to do the skinds out of carbon fiber, planked with very thin basswood. Although not tested, they seem much stronger than the previous version and I am optimistic the will stand the stress.

[g_kandylakis]

The main missing detail was the dummy engine.

a balsa crankcase was turned and aluminium tubing was glued as a base for each cylinder.
Inside the aluminium tubing I added equal weights of lead, to reach the needed front balast for balancing purposes. The complete noseblock assembly weighs 2 grams...

Cylinders were again turned balsa, wraped with thread (two pieces, then the one was removed). Given the scale of the model at approx. 1:26, the cylinder fins looked realistic enough.

A dummy propeller was also carved. By the time I took the pictures it was already varnished.

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Simple wire pushrods were added and the whole engine was painted in gun metal.

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next it was dry brushed with aluminium, which gave it a more realistic metallic look

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More will follow...

George

[rgroener]

George, looks geat and the dummy engine is the cherry on the cake!
Roman

[g_kandylakis]

Thanks Roman,

and this is the current status:

Pilot carved from pink foam, dummy prop fittings done, still missing a windscreen, a fitting on the cowling and the fuselage step...

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For the engine I chose to make it floating on the main axle, so that it might rotate with the slipstream. Not that anyone might notice it in flight, it just seemed better, plus it is fun spinning it on the ground

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[Pete Fardell]

That looks wonderful, George! Yet another priceless gem from the Kandylakis stable.
(Good idea on the wheel skids, which may be the perfect solution to a perennial problem.)

[Monz]

Very nice George!

[Tim H]

Very impressive George! And the main question, how much does it weigh?
I'm always impressed with how good modelers like yourself can build structures so thin and light without them warping badly. Mine do even after pre-shrinking and banana oil finishes etc.

Tim

[g_kandylakis]

Hi Tim,

weight with flying prop is 12,6 grams, of which 4,3 are the flying prop and the dummy engine, balast included. When I did the initial test flights I used bluetac as balast. I tried to make the engine as heavy as the bluetac.

I hope this will be the flying weight, with rubber extra, of course. Still, there is plenty of wing area for a peanut, so I hope it manages some circuits...

George