Flite Fest Scratch F2A Buffalo

by Wright_of_Way | July 18, 2016 | (14) Posted in Projects

This was my first ever 'real' scratch build. I've previously constructed airframes off of a laser cutter, but few were ever completed to flying order. With that previous histroy in mind it's quite amazing how well this project turned out, and the events leading up to it's completion.

My first Flite Fest, I wanted to make it as fun and productive as possible. Tuesday night, the day before the drive out to Ohio, I decided I wanted to create a 45" warbird for me to build at FF, even if I couldn't get it to fly or even finish it. I've always recieved critical statements about my wanting to make a Brewster Buffalo at some point, so I figured it'd be ironic if that was to be my build.

DESIGN

So, I worked deep into the night. I started out by sourcing some good reference plans, and tracing them in Photoshop in order to single out what I want to design it from.

After I had the drawing all traced, I simplified it into its own layer and saved it as a JPEG. I then imported it into AutoCAD, where I scaled the wingspan to the desired 45" and traced out all the formers and control surfaces. I had to use the information provided by the cutaways and isometrics to figure out a good shape and size for the box I'd be glueing all of my formers to.

After trying to wrap my head around it, I finally got all of the dimensions figured out, and had the process all ready in my head. I got it all compiled into a four-sheet foam configuration, for future laser cutting possibilities. At this point, I started to get some hope about it flying, as the box was big enough for a power pod.

As inexperienced as I am, I was resourceful enough to divide up the plans into US Letter sized PDFs and printed them all out, as well as compiling them all together into one large printed sheet of plans.


I started to cut out some templates, as well as glueing the 'fusebox' and tail construct together for Flite Fest assembly. As I am too young to drive out-of-state, I had my patient grandfather driving us 12 hours out to FF, with a Storch and the soon-to-be Buffalo in tow.

CONSTRUCTION

After setting up shop, and soloing for the first time (yes, I took on this build before my first solo) I started cutting out all of the templates for the airplane, and adding the formers to get a good idea of the airploane's lines. She looked beautiful from the start.

I had way more progress than anticipated, and was almost at the point of covering her with posterboard. I had to make minor changes to the formers' geometry due to differences in the wing's shape, but I didn't need to make any compromises otherwise with her construction.

On Saturday, our last day, I knew it was crunch time for finishing the airplane, and I set the ultimate goal of getting her to fly before leaving. Sourcing the electronics from my Storch (it runs off of the C Pack) and some servos from the FT Store, I had her almost ready to run. I made a bit of an edit to get the pod to fit by cutting a hole inside the cowling for pod mounting, and removing two inches wide of foam from the upper layer of the wing, but it still held strong and ready.

I spent the afternoon sketching, cutting, testing, and recutting posterboard to cover the entire airplane. I took the opportunity of the absence of wind and decided to get her ready to fly without her tail covering (it wasn't necessary in that spot). I was very lucky to have met Sam Hince, who had constructed the massive combat B-17. We had talked over FIRST Robotics and his build, and he looked forward to seeing her fly.

When I had finished the Brewster, I took her over to Sam. I told him of my recent first solo flight, and he suggested taking her over to Josh to maiden it. I was taken aback by how enthusiastic he was about flying her, despite how busy I thought he must be, running around the event. His best words were "Can we still be friends if I crash it?" We tested the CG and she was perfect at 20% from the leading edge. (I used two steel plates in the nose to balance her out).

The second we launched her, it was up and going steady. Bix was having her doing rolls, loops and inverted before a single circuit of the flight line. No trim was required. He passed the transmitter and she flew like a dream. I had predicted that a mid-wing warbird would have very serious tendencies against a rookie like me, but it was fantastic! She flew on rails at half throttle, and you would never have guessed her full-scale background.

I had Josh 'sign it into production contract with the US Navy', which was pretty neat.

After getting home, I laid her out on the dining room table to finish her up. She just needed some tail covering. After some difficulty getting the paper installed on the servo side, it was 'smooth' sailing from there.

CONCLUSION

She flies fantastic, and was a great build to start off my scratch experience on. I had to modify a couple formers based on geometric size conflicts, but I'd just suggest that if you need to make any modifications, it should still come out just fine. The next build of it I'd do would feature less posterboard parts, such as covering the midsection as one piece and the cockpit as one folded piece, for ease of construction and replication.

If you plan on taking one into your own hands, just know that the most important alignment is that the wing is centered and that the powerpod and tail section is properly aligned. The wrap doesn't need to be perfect to fly well, I even had it maidened without any tail covering! She'll fly on a very bare setup.

I'll likely make a build video on how to construct it more in-depth, so look out for that in the future.

MODIFICATIONS

A 1/2" cut in the top of the nose about 3/8" from the front of the fusebox (remove the cowling section), with a C fold-style plate about 1-1/4" long for mounting of the powerpod. Base all other measurements (pod skewer placement) on where it lies from there. (Test fit the pod so that it is flush with the top and that the pod is centered, facing straight forward, and then make your side-skewer marks).

A 2" wide removal of the top layer of foam from the center of the wing in order to seat the powerpod, leaving about 2-1/2" left from the trailing edge, and 1" from the leading edge, inside the fusebox. (The new plans should have accounted for this).

SPECIFICATIONS

Motor: Suppo 2217/7 1250kv

ESC: Suppo 30A Brushless

Battery: 2200mAh 3s 20C

Servos: 4 x Emax 8.5g

2 x Servo Y-Harness

2 x 20cm Servo Extensions

MATERIALS

4 sheets 20" x 30" DTFB

1 sheet (2 recommended) 20" x 24" Posterboard

1 BBQ Skewer

PLANS

F2A CAD File

Full Plans A (First Half)

Full Plans B (Second Half)

COMMENTS

RookieVet on July 29, 2016
My wife and I were across from this scratch builder and his grandfather. I'm the one in the blue t-shirt and my wife in the orange volunteer shirt in a couple of the photos. The work and attention to detail I saw put into this model was inspiring. She was a beautiful model even when just a skeleton. Excellent job! I hope we get to see a flight video sometime!
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Wright_of_Way on July 29, 2016
It was a pleasure to work with you two! We've met so many great people during FF, I wish everywhere I went was the same. I'll be seeing about flight video soon, the issue is I'm the only one at the field who could film it, and I'm obviously the guy flying it!
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Greenjeans on July 31, 2016
Nice set of skills you demonstrated through the CAD section at the top of the article. And impressive at your age. Would look good on a resume when you start job hunting further out in the future. I was able to take a builder/designer’s skill base like yours and turn it into half a career making plastic surgical tools for medical device companies. Keep on learning and you’ll go far. Congrats on producing a stable flying model.
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ttom on August 4, 2016
Yes, with you there. Have fuse and wings etc finished and altered but the covers where freehand and have I now to put them back through the computer to get a CAD copy. Going to scan in template copies I made. Then publish article and plans.
BF110 - yes yes yes. I am looking at G3M Nell bomber (wingspan gets me on the G3M) - really similar again! My mind is starting to rattle around how to do good looking and practical wing mounted powerpods.
Plus have BF109 nearly sorted - just tail to redesign.
Another one that has caught my eye (another warbird!) is the Irbitis VEF I-16. Looks an easy design plus only one ever made - invasion of Latvia stops production.

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Wright_of_Way on August 4, 2016
Good luck! I can only hope I can get a good repeatable system down for covering, it's been a pain trying to get it all.
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FliteGreg on August 8, 2016
Good job with your Buffalo! I really love that F2 after spending a lot of time playing the sim "War Thunder". It has a unique compact shape and a great presence in the air. I recommend the paint scheme with yellow wings and blue tail.
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Wright_of_Way on August 10, 2016
Thanks! I've played WT a lot too, and the Buffalo's always been a favorite. You'll be satisfied by the scheme I chose for the second one then... I'll maiden her this weekend and I'll post some images on the forum. ;)
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jrvalentin62 on July 28, 2016
Just downloaded the plans. Hope to try it out. Thanks for the share. Clear Skies, Calm Winds.
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ttom on August 3, 2016
Fantastic job. Really amazing build. I say that as I have just finished my first foamboard design - a Polikarpov i-16 which is very barrel shaped too. Did you already know your way around photoshop? I used Nerdnic's videos to learn photoshop and basic design quickly.
I must say that I am really impressed with your plane, it was ambitious to choose a wide fuselage design as your first. You did a brilliant job, what are you designing next?
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Wright_of_Way on August 3, 2016
Thanks! I've really had a leg-up from a Design program at a nearby Voc-Tech school, and I learned basic CAD and Photoshop skills there. I want to build a new Axis plane to counter it, most likely an Italian CR. 42 or something similar, or a Bf 110. First, I want to refine the Buffalo to be easily reproduced. It's just figuring out the covering Geometry, it definitely is a challenge to choose this kind of airplane!
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spetnazer on July 31, 2016
It awsome....congrat...btw, CAD file is brooken...i can't found this file. please fix it... thanks

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Wright_of_Way on August 1, 2016
Just fixed it, the DXF file should be working now.
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808aerosquadron on July 29, 2016
This is seriously awesome. Great design on an airplane most folks have never even heard about. And it apparently flew well, too (I hope the Flite Test crew took and will post videos.). Really well done.
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Air-headed Aviator on July 29, 2016
This is real cool. As a first time builde/ designer myself, its inspiring to see another young builder create something so impressive and apparently well made. Great job, I hope to see a build articlec one day to learn something.
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Bigdon1a1@gmail.com on July 28, 2016
Congratulations, for a young man a lot of work, good job
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Wright_of_Way on August 3, 2016
I have a Beta build coming along, the only differences I'm going to make to the plans will be the lower-mid fuselage formers' height, and the mounting of the cowling. Everything else comes along as an easy build process, I'll definitely be making a thread/video n how to build one in the near future! If you make one of your own, let me know, I'd love to hear about it! :)
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TheStig4449 on August 4, 2016
Yeah! You really did make plans for it! Me and my friend were with you before we saw Josh maiden it! I'm definitely building this one after I'm done with my P61 Black Widow: )
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Wright_of_Way on August 4, 2016
Glad you like it! After I finish the second one, I'll have some posterboard plans to save you your sanity too ;) Good luck on your Widow!
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migmorais on February 14, 2017
Nice project!!! In one of your pictures there is the plans in small papers, how do you print them like that?
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Wright_of_Way on February 20, 2017
Thanks! I condensed my CAD drawing into the smallest group I could, and put an 8.5 x 11" grid above the plans. I used these rectangles as guides as I individually plotted each area to a PDF file from AutoCAD. I then printed each one individually. I'm sure there may be an easier method than that, but that's how I managed to do it.
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migmorais on February 28, 2017
thanks a lot!
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Flite Fest Scratch F2A Buffalo