Just Finished DeHaviland Chipmunk!

Mad Cap Romanian · Post by **Mad Cap Romanian** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:44 am

This is the first balsa model I have built in 20+ years.

I originally bought my hobby store from a guy that owned it in the Flea Market. It was in the inventory of half build/poorly built kits.

After having this kit sitting around in my house for 5 years, I decided to take a closer look at it and try to finish it.

It turned out that the two wings were "Built" and then the rest of the model was shoved into the box. The former store owner was selling this kit in this condition for $15.00.

The little sub-wing former was glued tightly against the wing former, so I had to cut that appart to attach the landing gear wheels between the two ribs. I also had to sandpaper and form the wing shapes as this wasn't done either. However, I completed the kit in 3 days!

The silk span was also pretty old and quite delicate to work with. Luckily, I had enough to cover the plane. I built the entire plane first, and then covered it with the silk span and painted it with metallic green, black, and orange dope, followed by Testor's silver for the stripes.

I used 2 metal washers to balance out the front of the plane and I flew it with the rubber band supplied in the kit. It flew about 30 ft.

I learned a lot with this build and I am looking forward to the next - a Comet Fokker D.VII with a 8" wing span.

Here's some pics of the Chipmunk! Enjoy!

Dave Matthews · Post by **Dave Matthews** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:31 am

Nice one MC.

Let us know how she flies.

Isn't this hobby, just the best.

supercruiser · Post by **supercruiser** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:53 am

Nice model, I like the wing walk you added.
I like working with half built projects or restoration projects, too.
Glad you made a flyer of this model. Looks like you moved the motor peg forward, slightly. How about adding more rubber and see how it does??

Mad Cap Romanian · Post by **Mad Cap Romanian** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:34 pm

ThanX everyone for the compliments!

Dave, that first flight was amazing! There's a near-by little water park and playground near the end of our block. Between the two play areas is a small field.

I came home from working at my hobby store at 6:30 and it was dark and cold out. We still have snow on the ground, but at this time of year it is more ice than snow because the sun melts it and then it re-freezes. I could barely see where the plane was going.

On the first flight, I threw it upwards and it flew crazily for a little while and then did a nose dive into the ground. I tore a piece of the silk span just under the wing, but it was ok.

Flights after that I threw in a straight line and the plane flew nice and level, stopping @ 30 ft away. I did 3 flights in total, and then it was too cold to turn the prop. I thought it hurt when the prop hit your fingers on a warm day, but try it in the cold!

Supercruiser - The motor peg was moved forward because I ballanced out the model with a metal washer that I crazy glued to the inside front panel of the plane behind the cowl. After I glued the silk span to the model and painted it, I found that the plane beacme tail heavy again. Instead of cutting up the silkspan on the nose to glue in a second washer, I simply put the second washer on the motor peg. It worked out perfectly. Maybe in the future, I'll cut the silkspan and glue the second washer inside the plane, but for now I'm just going to leave it.

In the future, I think I'm going to order a few goodies from Guillow's, like more silk span, a few rubber motors and some decals. Should be exciting to see how far it goes on a 2 ft rubber band!

Mad Cap Romanian · Post by **Mad Cap Romanian** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:35 pm

I also think I should add wing and rudder markings, but I'm not sure what they should be.

thymekiller · Post by **thymekiller** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:17 pm

If Guillows does not provide contest rubber, try here.
http://tinyurl.com/bf8g6s
Makes a big differance.

thymekiller.

Mad Cap Romanian · Post by **Mad Cap Romanian** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 12:42 pm

Had an accident with the Chipmunk last night.

She did a nose dive and it cracked the plastic nose cone!

UGGGHHH!!!!

supercruiser · Post by **supercruiser** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 4:18 pm

Ah, hah. This is not disaster, it's opportunity. Don't know how bad the crack is but, why not make your own nose cone out of laminated balsa sections or solid balsa?
Then you can make this nose piece detachable; which is necessary if you are going to use that 2' long rubber motor. Those big rubber knots will not fit through the opening in the plastic nose. This is assuming you are going to stretch wind it. Just a thought.

Mad Cap Romanian · Post by **Mad Cap Romanian** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 4:32 pm

I was thinking of using some of that expandible foam on future nose pieces. I wonder if that will work.

You're not suppose to have big knots in the rubber band. Instead, tie both ends together with some string. Big knots slap around in the plane and they also take some of the winds out of the rubber.

thymekiller · Post by **thymekiller** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:24 pm

DO NOT use the white foam that looks like a bunch of little balls. That stuff will disolve under almost any spray paint or glue. The blue foam with a "grain" to it is ok, just test your favorite glue or dope on it first.

thymekiller

Mad Cap Romanian · Post by **Mad Cap Romanian** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:59 pm

Good advice!

cmccrackan · Post by **cmccrackan** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:25 am

"Isn't this hobby, just the best."

well duh,!

Mad Cap Romanian · Post by **Mad Cap Romanian** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:07 am

Woah! I knew I haven't been here in a little while...but actually it's been over 1 year!

Well, last winter I decided to fly the DeHavilin Chipmunk at the park. This was just after a snowfall and partial melting.

The plane flew well, but it got caught in a slight wind, and then nose-dived into the hard ice. I cracked the nose and tore some of the silk-span. Haven't repaired her yet.

I did paint the store name up the side though!