Laser cutting really helps create neat and accurate parts (above left). The fuselage doublers (above right) were epoxied to the fuselage sides. Jim added a 0.2-ounce carbon veil between the parts for added strength. The initial step in
assembling the fuselage (below left) provides a straight front end. 3 × 3⁄8-inch wide trapezoidal planking (below right) was used on the fuselage
⁄32 bottom.
-inch thick
Some thoughts before you start Although not a particularly difficult build, I suspect that anyone building the EVX-48 will have a moderate level of building expertise and might want to customize it a bit. I recom- mend that you take a good look at the plans before you start and make some basic deci- sions on how you might approach the build. The first thing you may notice is that the bottom of the fuselage is planked. I have to confess, I hadn’t planked a fuselage in a few years, but with a little care, it’s a relatively easy and light way to form compound curves. Another item to note is that I built the wings on a fixture. The fixture was very easy to make and really helped. Both wings came out perfectly straight.
I find that most builders have a preferred sequence to their building. Some builders like to cut out all the pieces first and others
cut as they go. Either way works. Builders also have a favorite component with which they start. I almost always start my building with the tail feathers as I find it sets the tone of the build. It also seems to speed up the final assembly as these smaller compo- nents are already out of the way when the wing and fuselage are completed. One thing that is often overlooked during a scratchbuild is the wood selection. Using lighter wood for components that are not highly stressed will save a lot of weight and make the plane fly better. Because of the long tail moment on the EVX, this is partic- ularly important for the tail feathers and rear fuselage components. Using excessively heavy wood there will cause the completed plane to be tail heavy and most likely re- quire adding weight in the nose for proper balance.
I have gotten into the habit of weighing each sheet before I cut out the parts. I am of- ten amazed how heavy a piece I thought was reasonably light can be. As an added at-
tempt to keep the EVX tail end light, I used 1⁄16-inch balsa fuselage sides rather than the more normal 3⁄32-inch or 1⁄8-inch. As a result, the original EVX did not require any addi- tional nose weight and final balance was achieved simply by shifting the position of the battery.
You will probably note from the photo- graphs that I cut most of my parts out with a laser. Since I design all my planes in CAD, the laser cutting provides a level of accuracy not available by hand cutting. If you are interested, we are considering mak- ing a short kit available through 3DX Hob- bies. Check their website (
3dxhobbies.com) for availability.
A modified Master Airscrew balsa stripper (at left) made cutting the trapezoidal planks easy. The finished trapezoidal plank (above) cross section helps ensure tight joints.
FLYING MODELS 19
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