Haven’t done this for years !

Middle son Will is picking up the old traits and, rather than buy all foam, out of the box, battery in, and fly type models … he has opted to build an RCM&E FW190 plan based aircraft.

Interesting to get used to reading this sort of plan again and prepping all the ribs and spars etc He has also invested in some Robart retracts … I always dreamt of those but could never afford them … had mechanical set which were a bit clunky ! Flew them in my SuperStar off an old American aerodrome in Suffolk called Alpheton

Spent a few hours pulling various parts that were covered some time ago and can now be re-joined to the mother ship !

The Elevators have been off ever since covering as have the tailplanes and elevators but now I have decided the wings are on to stay (they have been on and off about 3 times to date) then they can all start to go back on board.

Pays to mark these ..(‘S’ for Starboard) as each was pretty built in situ you do get slight deviations in fitting placements … which effectively makes all placements unique.

Looks so much better when the tail goes on … will leave the re rigging off for now as that will get in the way of covering the sides. Picture right above … shows a position that will NEVER happen .. differential elevators !  – mid way through re connecting.

These are extremely difficult to re-connect post covering I imagine so I took the opportunity to reconnect now where I can get easy access. Will take the overhead of tricky side covering !

Nice to get first aileron back on .. These look quite nice now they are covered and sensible gap on the frise 🙂

As I don’t have the facility to hoist the entire body skywards and work on covering I have opted for what PHS (Paul) mentioned was the ‘keep fit’ option ! ie forget gym memberships and riding pushbikes …just nip under and over, nose to tail, under the wings etc to measure and trim the material for covering the full body underside … Then use temporary clamps to hold it in place so that I can get pencil marks for the glue line.

Then work a method for releasing the forward pieces to get those hotmelted in place and slowly work backwards… this method seems to be working a treat !

Had a problem prior to this getting a good ‘hold’ for the glue on the stainless bulkhead .. but, following PHS advice roughed it up using wet and dry, then a thorough cleaning/de greasing then etch prime.

Just need to secure the exhaust duct tail oratex using same method as above.

A nice tricky bit of tape re enforcing the other evening. But good to get another little job out of the way.

Makes a neat finish and looks very secure and hard wearing

Didn’t get a chance to upload these pictures from last month

used part of my large roll of green cow from the brilliant factory in Leeds !

Whilst waiting for a replacement guauge crack on and prep underside for covering also complete leg covering