37 J-3 CubTail
Wheel
This afternoon I laid up the left rear window laminated spline, which has to dry overnight. So while I was waiting, I decided to use the time to build up the tail wheel assembly and install it on bottom of the rear fuselage. First I glued the two 3/32" round balsa wheel halves together. Then I sanded the wheel to shape, which was a little difficult and took some time to do it right because the wheel is small (only 1/2" in diameter). I drilled out the axle hole in the wheel with an .065" bit and inserted the short piece of .065" aluminum tube I used for the tail wheel bearing, which you can see in the picture below. The aluminum tube bearing was CA'ed in place
I bent the .031" piano wire into the shape of the
tail wheel landing gear using the plan pattern as shown below.
I cut a 1/16" length of insulation from a piece
of small black ignition wire to use to keep the wheel on the wire. I slipped
the tail wheel onto the landing gear axle and then forced the 1/16" length
of insulation onto the wheel axle to retain the wheel as shown below. A
quick check showed that the wheel spins freely on the axle. Later, after the
wheel is painted black, I will CA the piece of insulation in place
permanently.
I grooved the bottom of the fuselage so the
landing gear would fit down flush with the bottom of the fuselage and CA'ed
it in place as shown below. Later I will glue on a small wedge of silk over
this to further reinforce the bond before I cover the fuselage with yellow
tissue.
The picture below shows the tail wheel assembly
installed on the fuselage, which sets the stance of the fuselage. Seems like
a lot of "to-do" over a tiny balsa tail wheel doesn't! Well anyway, this one
more detail out of the way.....................Tandy
