I finally got the kit my wife bought me for Christmas the other day, it was on backorder for a couple of months. I sat down and started working on it and thought I'd post the build as construction progresses. I'd like to be able to fly it by June 1, but I've got some busy times ahead with work, so that might be a little ambitions.

The kit is a Top Flite Elder 40, which has a WWI era scale look to it. Here's what it should look like when I'm done.


I'll begin construction by building the horizontal stab. First step is to lay the plans out on the workbench, then cover it in wax paper. I'll then build right on the plan. Some of the parts needed to build the stab are also in view.


The framework for the stab is built out of 1/2" by 1/4" balsa. The center slotted area and the curves at the tips are pre-made, the rest is cut to fit.



Stab ribs are in place.


Capstrips have been added to the ribs (on top and bottom surfaces) as well as gussets to reinforce the ribs. On the left side, you can see I've sanded it into shape. The capstrips are blended to the leading and trailing edges of the stab, and the some of edges are smoothed and curves are blended in. You can compare the difference to the right side, and you'll see it right away.



Both sides have been sanded to shape. I'll finish sand it and fill in any blemishes when it comes time to cover the piece. The leading edge has also been rounded a bit, but that won't show in this pic.



Next, the elevator!

The finished picture isn't showing for me.
Linking from the forum didn't work either.
Opening a new window and putting the link for the picture in it did work.

It looks like it will be a pretty neat plane when you are done.


Wheels

I downloaded the pic from Tower Hobbies and put it in my photobucket album with the construction pics. Let me know if it works better for you now.

I agree, it is a great looking plane! Thanks!

Yep, that got it.
I put this thread on my watched list too.

Good luck with the build.


Wheels

Wow, this looks to become an interesting thread! Good luck with the build.

How do you determine the curvature of the cap strips? Or do they have the same curve front and aft?

Good question! The plans have a cross section view of the stab to show the way the capstrips are blended in to the leading and trailing edges.

I haven't been able to get much done, but I've just finished working on our HS musical, "Mame." I'm the band director, and I directed the pit for the production. Now that its over, I'll have more time to build.

I haven't been completely out of it, though. I was able to get some work on the elevator. The Elder has a split elevator, and the halves will be joined together with a wooden dowel You can see the notches for the dowel on the two halves. One half is almost done, it needs to be sanded to have a tapered trailing edge ( you'd think they could have given tapered stock to make the elevator! I hate sanding!) and the hinge area needs to be tapered as well. I'll show that when it's done. For now, though, you can see the stock from which the elevator halves were cut, the basic form of the elevator, and the more or less finished version with the rounded end and scalloped trailing edge.

Will love to see it fly

Have to have it in my watch List

Yeah, sanding is terrible... I have this wooden boat model I'm working on occasionally, and the worst part is the sanding to shape. All those frames.

My offices is only a few feet from my workbench too, so I worry about sawdust getting sucked into the computer (as well as all over everything!) If the weather is nice enough, I'll take it outside and do it there were it's no big deal.
The last model I made (Great Planes Ultrasport) I wound up doing the final sanding on my deck in the back yard. That had a lot of shaping to do for the cowl and wingtips.
Here's that plane

I finished it last spring and flew it all summer.