Spook Swappable build and Maiden

I was browsing through some balsa models, still debating on stepping up to the next level, when I came across the Spook. 

I loved the gullwing and simplicity so I set out immediately to try to pull off a swappable version. I am still debating the balsa. 

Starting wtih the wing I decided to use something I was comfortable with and trusted a lot. I based it off the Old Fogey undercambered wing. Really the whole thing is a mutated Old Fogey with a Speedster style tail. 

I went with a 48" wing when flat. Bent to shape it measures 45.5" tip to tip with a 7" chord. From here out it will be metric 122cm wing, 18cm chord. (I did the inches to give an better idea for those that build emperial) I looked up some plans and found what I was looking for. Spook PDF  A smart man would print them out and trace them but I just used them full sized on the screen for measurements and freehand drew the templates. It's hard to see the pencil marks but each wing is 61cm. I wanted 7cm across the fuse so I made the marks for the breaks at 3.5 cm then another at 15cm after. (18.5 from the end)

I also wanted the airfoil to resemble a folded foil so I made two breaks in the wing. it has a break 4cm from the leading edge and the second 3cm past that. I sanded them down and literally held the edge to the screen until I was satisfied with the shape against the PDF example. I used two sets of supports, smaller for the leading edge. I glued them one break at a time. I then glued the wings together and added packing tape for strength.

Now for the tricky part, folding them into gullwings. Not too tricky, just a bit messy and hit and miss until I cut out enough material. I cut gaps, leaving connections at the edges for strength (after the wings were done I realized they are completely secure and I could probably have cut them all the way. I used the ol' Josh Bixler method of fingernailing a groove to tell the foam where to bend on these secions.

Having a Swedish friend would help here, instead I glued the joint and used a container to hold the wing up while I held pressure on the center and measured the tip. 28cm off the table surface. More tape for security on each fold. I did one side at a time of course and am so far pleased with the results. Time to go for the gulls.

Now the wingtips are 15.5cm off the surface. I cut to the outside this time (much cleaner now that I know roughly the gaps) leaving the area between the airfoil breaks uncut. A cleaner look would be to make these cuts at an angle, but I hide them under tape anyways,and they are plenty strong.

Enough, I like the wing, I go to bed on a good note.

Next is the fuse, I freehand this as well and determine where I want the pod while wondering if I want the entire front open or am I going to posterboard it for looks. I mull that over while I make the template, make a little wing section so I get the mounting point the way I want and put it all on foam.

Borrowing from the wisdom of Ed experimental airlines, I make a rectangle of foam and start experimenting myself. I like how he will peel the paper off one side of the sections he wants to bend smoother and decide to do this to cover the nose. The half that doesn't take the pencil well is where I peeled the paper off. I would have been wiser to leave that section a little longer as I ended up a little short where it meets the wing. The first line from the left is where it will bend up hard to form the "windshield". The next is a small gap to bend smoother into the cavity. Then a Flitetest approved fold to mount the skewers and a plate long enough to reach the first set of tabs on the power pod.

I cut just a small angle out of the place where I want it to hard fold down to make the pod mounting point.

Whew, a little sanding and its pretty enough for me.

Now the tail feathers, I used the specific shape of the spook and joined it Flitetest style.

The rest just went together as you would the Fogey and Speedster. I did sand the body a little along the back because I cut sloppy and and it seemed too high going back to the tail. I used colored packing tape for decoration, duct tape for the windows.

That was it, just taped it up pretty and try it out, too bad it's windy... no wait, that's never stopped me before.