AS-350B"A-Star" On-line support build-up. Page 2.
Click image for kit info.
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We start with the landing gear pieces
by de-burring the skid tubes for easier install of the wood dowels. We
won't use the ABS white covers until later on
the spring-steel struts. I like this spring steel becuase it has a memory
and will not bend out of shape on a hard landing.
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I did have sand the dowels slightly
to get them to slid in snugly and I used this scracp piece of carbon tube
(or anything) as a depth gauge to push the dowels
into place as per the instructions. I used JB-weld to glue these
in. Later they will be sanded flush and scale
details can be easily attached. I slid the t-pieces on at this point but
did not glue them to the skids, I left
them loose for alingnment purposes.
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The next step as per instructions
is to de-grease and sand the skid struts and then slide them into the body,
but
I wanted to see how the wood will work with all
of this so I mocked up the wood for test fit first.
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.
It is a good idea to use a square to align
the pieces for "Tack gluing". I only use Balsa USA CA glue and BVM
epoxy. CA for most of the wood attachment and
BVM glue for the gear and blocks and tail rotor bulkheads, etc...
(Form the BVM while wet, do not sand it later
as it contains micro-silica that is cancer causing! clean up with acetone.
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While "Tack-gluing" the pieces
I used a slab of marble tile for a flat surface, glass also works well.
Here the
wood set (basic) is seen just tacked together
for test fitting. Permanent gluing will come later when it is ready to
be installed in the body for good. Note: H-4
is left loose at this point and is used only for spacing! I still have
to
attach the tabs for the cockpit floor to it and
H-5.
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Here is how the pieces should
fit at the bottom, corners all matching. Slots are for skid struts
shown here , now slid
into the body and fitted to the T-pieces for
skid tubes. Some minor adjustment of holes were needed to bring the
body into full-level and the skids flat.
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