This Old T.I.E. Fighter

[Crawf56]

Finally, time to glue the Solar Panels on.

 

[Crawf56]

Note that the holes face forward. The model is well designed, so that you have to assemble it this way.

 

[Crawf56]

OK, now it gets interesting. Again, I only have the plastic TIE Fighter body; I must fabricate/purchase parts for the rocket body.

See the picture below. Items O are balsa parts. I have plenty of spare balsa, since one of my interests is building R/C airplanes. But the concern is Item H.

Item H is a plastic part, that glues to Item O. It also has a place for a screw, and guides that fit against the Solar Panel.

When the model is in "Rocket Mode", screws go through each Solar Panel, and into each Item H. This is how the rocket tube remains attached to the TIE Fighter body during flight.

 

[Crawf56]

I intend to use some 3/8 inch diameter wooden dowels for the screws to screw into. Due to the way the model is aerodynamically designed, I don't think the dowels will be a problem.

Here are the dowels, showing their location. (Not glued yet.)

 

[Crawf56]

Cutting the 3/8" dowels was a bit of work. Used a razor saw and a sanding block to get the shapes I wanted.

Also put some sandpaper (stick-on) on a spare rocket tube, to get a curved surface on the dowel.

 

[Crawf56]

I used a little thin CA glue to attach the dowels to the tube. I then used 1/8" balsawood to make the Supports. The Supports were glued in place with 15 minute epoxy.

 

[Crawf56]

The plan is to let this initial layer of epoxy dry, then go back and add an epoxy fillet.

 

[Crawf56]

I must confess to a lot of 'that's about right' aligning here. I used the structure of the Solar Panels and the rocket tube as guides.

If my TIE spins, I will just say I am recreating the movie.

I have been careful to not glue the TIE to the rocket tube.

 

[lakeroadster]

No doubt the folks at Sienar Fleet Systems would approve of your MacGyver modifications. The Galactic Empire wants some test flights however before placing any orders.

 

[cwbullet]

Interesting addition to strengthen it. I remember a couple wonky flights with this kit as a kid.

 

[Crawf56]

No doubt the folks at Sienar Fleet Systems would approve of your MacGyver modifications. The Galactic Empire wants some test flights however before placing any orders.

Yeah, but if there is a chance to get Imperial credits, then Sienar will probably steal my design mods......

 

[Crawf56]

I was admiring my thread here, and the witty responses, when my brain exploded.

Looking at the picture in Post #38, there seemed to be a whole side of a Solar Panel that I did not glue.

(Man, I can kiss that Sienar contract good-bye...…)

 

[Crawf56]

OK, got the epoxy out, and remedied the situation.

 

[Crawf56]

Adding epoxy fillet to the structure. Adding micro balloons to keep the epoxy thick.

 

[Crawf56]

Well, let's screw around a little bit...

A couple of screws keep the TIE Fighter attached to the rocket tube. I am using some hex head screws, which are widely used in the RC community.

The good thing about hex head screws is that, unlike phillips or flathead screws, they require less force to screw in. Easier to work with.

 

[Crawf56]

Pic of hex head screws with other items for size comparison.

 

[Crawf56]

OK, drilling a hole for the screw. Weapons of choice on the right.

 

[Crawf56]

Screw in the dowel. Since this is a hardwood dowel, the drilled hole is almost the size of the screw threads.

 

[Crawf56]

Rocket tube attached to TIE. Installing screws.

 

[Crawf56]

The shape of the TIE Fighter fuselage requires a launch lug offset. Trying to make it like the instructions.

 

[PhlAsh]

You're not going to clean up those fin edges?

 

[Crawf56]

The instructions I found for the TIE Fighter have a lot of good information...….but the instructions also lack critical information.

Most importantly, there is no value for the Center of Gravity [CG].

The instructions do show adding weight to the nose, but it does not say how much. It says add two 'weights', listed as: NCW-1A [#38280]. I believe these weights were lead washers.

So, my plan is to put a motor in the rocket, along with an estimate of needed nose weight, and do the old "string test": find where the rocket balances, and spin it around to see if it is stable.

Another observation is that the ONLY motor recommended for this model is a C6-3. Which means the model will be heavy for its size.

Any comments or criticisms of this course of action are welcome.

 

[Crawf56]

You're not going to clean up those fin edges?
View attachment 371470

To begin, your TIE's look great. In any contest, I would vote for you.

I left some flash (excess plastic) along the fin [Solar Panel] edges for added strength.

I am a sport-scale builder, be it rockets, or R/C airplanes, or model tanks.

 

[lakeroadster]

I'm loving this build... just sayin

 

[Crawf56]

Gentlemen, we had a successful string test. It is 35 degrees F, and I was out on the back driveway sling'n my TIE Fighter. Had a couple of steel washers in the nose, and a C6-3 in the motor mount.

 

[Crawf56]

The CG was roughly 4-7/8 inches from the back of the motor. (Note: The camera angle might make the value look different.) I will get other weight info later.

There is some warmer weather coming to northeast Arkansas later this week, so I hope to get some painting done.

 

[Crawf56]

I thought I would have to add nose weight. But I think I am using a slightly longer tube, and definitely a longer nose cone.

 

[Crawf56]

Here is my Darth Vader wallet. Seemed relevant.

 

[Crawf56]

Which brings us to another task to overcome.

See the pic below. As stated many times, I don't have the plastic "Post". The Post has guides that fit up against the "Wing" [Solar Panel]. These guides help reduce vibration in flight.

 

[Crawf56]

So, I had some 1/64 inch plywood left over from my 1/3 scale Nieuport 28 build, and used it to attach guides to the fins on the rocket.