1/6 Scale 1932 BS2 'Balestruccio'

[ARUP]

Hi Folks! This is going to be my first build here so be gentle! After purchasing the excellent book 'Italian Vintage Sailplanes' by Vincenzo Pedrielli with illustrations by Francesco Camastra I decided to drop contemplating other projects to build this one. I sure think it's pretty! It has what I like in a 'vintage' sailplane: plywood and fabric, gull wings, skid and struts. Plus, I can build two different rudders and cockpit enclosures to represent the sailplane in its two configurations. It has a nice aspect ratio so should actually be a 'performer' unlike my poor little Prufling which was a 'glider'. I don't know how to post photos with text after so here are a few photos of the book and sailplane. I started drawing the plans this past weekend. It'll have 118." span. That's plenty big for me.

[Tom]

Cool! Pictures in text are done with the bottom frame of the manage attachment page.....what I do is before I start to write I start my up load of my pictures......while I write I will insert numbers where I want the pictures.....the bottom frame will show all the pictures you uploaded with a "x" in the upper right hand corner.....un-check all of the pics....then with both the text window open and the manage attachment window open I will check the pic I want and then go to the text window and backout the number and then click the "insert image" button to the bottom right of the bottom frame. Damn....I just read that and I'm confused!
Maybe I will do a thread with screen shots on how to do it.......

[stihac]

Nice! I'm glad you will do the build thread here too!

Petr

[yyz]

Very, very cool! Nice choice. Subscribed

[Len]

Really really looking forward to this, thanks.

Tom, that would be great, thank you too.

len

[ARUP]

I started staining, cutting and gluing wood! These are nose section longerons. They were cut out in 'plan view' using 1/16" bass wood. The form to which they are attached is the curve of same longerons in 'side or profile view'. The longerons aren't finished for they will sandwich carbon fiber and a wire tow release loop. The rear of the fuse will be built opposite to the nose section. I'll build two profile view 'ladder' frames, jig them upright then add crossmembers. I'm guessing 8lbs for this model.



More to come! 10th Anniversary JR Aerotow, here I come! Cheers!

[ARUP]

More stuff! Not much to look at but the first photo shows how the nose longerons will 'key' into each other. Less wood but more time needed for this. The longerons will be grooved to hold the tow release wire loop and will also have CF epoxied between them for strength. The Prufling glider I built got similar treatment and has proved plenty strong.



This photo shows one of the 'ladder' fuse frames completed. The 3rd upright from the bottom is spruce and falls on the wing spar location. It is a key element for strength when connecting wings and struts to fuse.



That's all for now!

[TonyN]

Nice looking subject, I look forward to see it "come to life"

Tony

[ARUP]

Hi Tony- thanks for looking in! Hope to make it worth your and everybody else's time! I cut balsa this morning before going to my off day gig. Yes, balsa does smell good in the morning! The other 'ladder' is complete. Look: twins!



Gotta go...

[stihac]

Looking good ! You always pick a very cool subject to build.

Petr