Fascination Project

Fascination Project

This is David Gibbs' F3A Aerobatic model -- a Fascination -- built from the plan. It is pictured here with young Nicholas gingerly holding on to the finished creation.

The plane was built over about three months at the end of 2001 and has proved to be a very competent performer. Further details and photos on some of the building steps can be found in the details section. David liked it so much that he built a second one -- which flies even better!

As an F3A model, the Fascination:

Is just under 2 metres long, just under 2 metres wide, and just under 5kg in weight.
Is powered by an OS140RX engine (about 23cc)
Is fully covered (rather than painted) with the exception of the belly pan.

Some photos from key stages of construction -- click for a larger version of each image.

What is left of the plug for the belly pan mould, the mould itself, and the resulting belly pan

The wings, tail, fin, fuselage frame, turtle decks and other pieces after they have been broadly beaten into shape (but before the cutting control surfaces or sanding leading and trailing edges)

The wings and tail after the control surfaces have been cut out -- and ready for the hinge bearing surfaces to be glued in/on

The all important step (after all the wing and tail incidences have been set and checked) of getting the wings and tail aligned (sitting in place while the tail plane is epoxied in place)

Fuselage assembled, engine and radio gear fitted -- and celebration that the belly pan fits (but getting the undercarriage to be long enough for clearance on the 17" propeller was a different matter!)

And then the covering process starts -- using iron on plastic film.

And then magic! It is all finished and looks great!

*** 10 January, 2010 10:26 PM +1000 ***

Last updated 10 January, 2010