Wendell Hostetler 35% RV-4
I have finished converting the WH 35% RV-4 drawings to Autocad format in order to prepare the laser cutting files. Â During that process I have made several changes to the design that will be incorporated into the laser cut short kit that we plan to offer. Â These changes in no way infer that the Hostetler design is flawed and were purely cosmetic or personal preference in nature. Â Follow along with the test build of the RV-4.
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Layout view of all of the laser cut parts for the RV-4.
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Close up shot of the 3/32" aircraft ply control horns that will be included with the short kit.
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Close up shot of a few wing ribs. Tip ribs have laser etched guide lines for parts placement.
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Another parts close up. At the top are the parts to make up the fin and stabilizer trailing edges. Center lines and hinge locations are laser etched onto the wood.
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Laying out the fuselage plan which pretty much consumes the entire workbench.
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The original drawings show the forward fuselage built up from a 1/4" square truss frame infilled solid with 1/4" sheet balsa. This method seemed a little clunky and time consuming to me so I've made the entire fuse front end from solid 1/4" sheet balsa.
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Glue joint at the 2 pieces that make up each fuselage front end.
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The fuselage rear is made up of a 1/4" square balsa truss structure.
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The stab saddle is another variation from the original drawings which simply show the stab sitting on the truss frame. Combining Autocad with a laser cutter makes parts like these a snap to layout.
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With CA glues making a quick job of things, the left fuselage side was framed up in about 15 minutes.
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Planning ahead a bit and laminating some plywood parts with 30 minute epoxy. In order to get cleaner laser cuts, the 3/8" aircraft ply parts are made up of two 3/16" aircraft ply parts laminated together.
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The fuselage right side is built directly on top of the left side with a layer of wax paper between. The laser cut keys for the 1/4" square balsa stringers ensure that both sides are identical.
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Matched pairs of top and bottom cross pieces are made up ahead of time.
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Top cross pieces pinned down directly over the fuselage top view.
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Right fuselage side glued to the top cross pieces and reinforced with a small 1/8" balsa gusset.
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Left side glued in place in the same manner and then the bottom cross pieces are added.
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Basic fuselage box framing completed. The cross bracing is all temporary and will be removed once the fuselage is further along in construction.
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In order for the fuse to sit flat on the workbench, i had to overhang the tail end over the workbench because of the stab saddles.
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Another shot of some of the temporary bracing. I tend to over brace my fuselages in the early stages of construction to avoid building a banana.
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Here I've turned everything 90 degrees to the workbench to prepare for curving the fuselage front end to fit the firewall and former F-2.
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5 Responses to “Wendell Hostetler 35% RV-4”
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Hi Good to see a start on the RV-4. your recent build of the 30% decathlon got my attention but the RV is the one I would like to see how things go, just getting the love of big planes and gas engines.
Cheers M Fly
Hi:
Was wondering who cut your cut? What engine are you going to be using? Is there an “instruction sheet”? I am very seriously considering building this RV as I built it’s bigger brother (full scale) RV-8A. Took me 7 years to build her from the ground up. Really looking forward to building this one. Are you by chance on any of the forums i.e. RCuniverse etc?
Thanks in advance for any info
Regards
Glenn
Hey Glenn,
I cut my own kit…a buddy from our local club has a laser cutter and we do offer some kits for sale. I take scans of drawings and redraw them using AutoCAD making changes to better the design where possible. I don’t know exactly which motor I am going to use yet but it will definitely be a twin cylinder in the 100cc to 120cc range. I was leaning toward the DLE 111 but it isn’t produced anymore…might look for a used one when the time comes. Building a full size something is on my radar but that wont happen until sometime after the kids are out of the house and the wallet. I have accounts at all the major forums but I don’t spend much time at them…I find most of them to be too clique-y.
Hi I had planned on building the S Decathlon but dont like the Citabria cowl so looking at the RV4. Have a RCGV 120cc, and wondering if there’s enough room in the cowl for it . Cheers Dave
Dave,
I do not have a cowl for mine yet. In fact, I may end up doing my cowl as built up balsa and ply. I was looking at using the DLE 120 which I have read does not fit in the cowl but the DLE 111 (no longer produced) does. If I go with the 120 I will surely build up the cowl and just make the cheeks a bit larger to fit the engine inside.
Brent