Construction Manual
www.oldschoolmodels.com
Page 19
British
Sunday Fighter
Bristol Spadport
worked with the motors we’ve tried.
This box consists of the parts from LP6. M1 is the base as shown
in this photo, then the M3’s make up the sides, and M2 the top.
Before gluing these pieces
together, drill M2 to accept
your motor’s mounting bracket,
then attach t-nuts (not included)
on the back side of M2. When
that’s worked out, you can then
glue it all together, mount your
motor and then mount it to the
firewall.
To mount to the firewall,
we simply epoxied it in place. To align it properly, orientate the
fuselage vertically, with the firewall facing up. Then test fit the
motor box in position. Because of the built in right and down thrust
of the firewall, you’ll need to have the motor box slightly off-center
to allow the prop shaft to “appear” to be centered in the front of
the cowl opening.
Also, cooling holes will
need be added into the
fuselage to help cool
your batteries. We’ve
designed in 5 precut
slots on the side of the
fuselage to help with
this. These work along
with the included molded
louvers to help “scoop”
air into the fuselage.
Cut the molded louver right down the middle with a sharp set of shears.
You’ll see a couple of molded-in marks to help show where to cut.
These pieces can be left clear or painted to match your covering,
then glued in place over the fuselage side cutouts with some
canopy glue, after your covering has been applied.
Covering
Now it is time to cover the Sunday Fighter. Remove the powerplant,
main gear, tailwheel, pushrods, and any other components that
would get in the way of applying the covering.
Double check that all surfaces are smooth and ready to cover. Sand
as necessary, then cover the entire airframe with the covering/finish
of your choice.
Note that if you’re powering with an electric motor, you’ll need
to make a hole for the cooling air to escape the bottom of the
fuselage, near the rear.
When the covering is complete, re-attach all the components you
removed earlier in this step.
Logos, numbers, etc.
If you want to use graphics similar to the
ones we used, we highly recommend
Callie Graphics as a supplier for pre-cut
vinyl. They are a very well known provider
of custom graphics for R/C models.
We don’t have a specific graphic set for the Sunday fighters,
as they are using existing roundels, assuming you want to use
roundels. Our prototypes use 5-1/4” diameter on the wings and
2-1/2” diameter for the fuselage.
Contact Callie Graphics at this link: https://callie-graphics.com or scan
the QR code.
Note that Callie Graphics is not affiliated with Old School Model
Works, nor does Old School Model Works generate any income
from this partnership.
Attach the Control Surfaces
Now is the time to attach all the control surfaces to the airframe, by
gluing the hinges in position with thin C/A.
Make sure that you attach the elevator first, then the rudder. Also
note that the tailwheel assembly should be in place before the
rudder is attached.
Attach wheels
Use the included 1/8” i.d. wheel collars to hold each wheel (not
included) on the axles. For a maintenance free installation, file
a small flat on the axle where the set screw of the wheel collar
touches. Also use a touch of thread-locking compound to keep the
screw from loosening over time.
Finishing details (optional)
We’ve included a couple
of optional pieces to help
“dress-up” your Sunday
Fighter.
The first is a profile pilot.
In LP5 is PF which can be
covered with the included
color pilot printouts. You
can then make a “floor” for
him to mount to using a bit
of scrap 3/16” wood sheet.
4 pieces of a profile Lewis machine gun are located in LP3 & LP4
(LW1, LW2, LW3 and LW4). LW1 is the center of the gun with LW2
and LW3 attached to either side. LW4 is mounted on top. Make
sure you attach the pieces with the etched surfaces showing, and
take care of the rear handle of LW1 as it is thin and fragile. Put a
few drops of thin CA around the edges to help firm it up. Paint it
to taste and mount it to the top wing if you’d like.
Lastly is a molded windscreen. This piece is a bit oversized, but it
allows you to be a bit creative and leave as-is, or cut it down to a
more rectangular, smaller, or even narrower shape. Glue in place in
front of the pilot with a bit of canopy glue.
This completes the assembly of the Sunday Fighter. Now
you’ll need to adjust the control throws and check for
balance.
Recommended C.G. setting:
An important part of preparing the aircraft for flight is properly
balancing the model. This is especially important because of the
various motor/battery combinations that can be used.
CAUTION! DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!
The recommended Center of Gravity (CG) location for the Sunday
Fighter is measured back 2.3” from the leading edge of the top
Trim inside
this line.
Cut down this
center line.
