The Model Pg. 1

This section is dedicated to the Topflite Cessna 182 Skylane model that I have recently completed. The paint scheme was derived from the original 1979 Cessna 182Q reg, no. N735PE owned by C. Crandall Jr. in Alabama. Scale Model Research has photopaks available which gives good overall exterior and interior detail. But for extreme detailng, I shot an hour of digital video tape of a local 182 and referred to it for details such as body panel and rivetting patterns, hinges and handles, light housings, etc. I literally tried to create the most detailed model possible. Obviously, the functionality of glow plug & choke access, Slimline pitts style muffler outlets, etc. forced alteration to the cowl area from the full-sized version. The model is powered by an O.S. .91 Surpass 4-stroke. The main struts have shaped balsa and are glassed. A Robart 654 fixed strut with functioning oleo is up front, very scale. The most ambitious portions of the building process were in the restructuring of the wings' center panel where it meets the fuse ahead of the rear window and the design of opening pilot side door and luggage hatch. The original kit isn't even close to the full-scale 182 where the trailing edge of the wing and fuse meet. It had to be completely altered. The finished wings' center panel has nothing aft of the rear-most spar. The roofline above the rear window is now part of the fuse and contains the fillets which sweep up and out to the inner-most flap ribs, and a hinged portion allowing access to wing bolts, charge, aileron and flap electronic connections. Contained in the front most portion of the hinged roof panel is a BVM canopy latch which latches into the aft spar of the wing. The latch is disguised as a GPS antenna as per the photopak mentioned above. The opening doors were a challenge which required quite a bit of work. Flexible pushrods allowed for rerouting under the cockpit floor. The hatch's handle actually functions with a whole lot going on between the the exterior skin and the interior panel of the door.


	This section is dedicated to the Topflite Cessna 182 Skylane model that I have recently completed. The paint scheme was derived from the original 1979 Cessna 182Q reg, no. N735PE owned by C. Crandall Jr. in Alabama. Scale Model Research has photopaks available which gives good overall exterior and interior detail. But for extreme detailng, I shot an hour of digital video tape of a local 182 and referred to it for details such as body panel and rivetting patterns, hinges and handles, light housings, etc. I literally tried to create the most detailed model possible. Obviously, the functionality of glow plug & choke access, Slimline pitts style muffler outlets, etc. forced alteration to the cowl area from the full-sized version. The model is powered by an O.S. .91 Surpass 4-stroke. The main struts have shaped balsa and are glassed. A Robart 654 fixed strut with functioning oleo is up front, very scale. The most ambitious portions of the building process were in the restructuring of the wings' center panel where it meets the fuse ahead of the rear window and the design of opening pilot side door and luggage hatch. The original kit isn't even close to the full-scale 182 where the trailing edge of the wing and fuse meet. It had to be completely altered. The finished wings' center panel has nothing aft of the rear-most spar. The roofline above the rear window is now part of the fuse and contains the fillets which sweep up and out to the inner-most flap ribs, and a hinged portion allowing access to wing bolts, charge, aileron and flap electronic connections. Contained in the front most portion of the hinged roof panel is a BVM canopy latch which latches into the aft spar of the wing. The latch is disguised as a GPS antenna as per the photopak mentioned above. The opening doors were a challenge which required quite a bit of work. Flexible pushrods allowed for rerouting under the cockpit floor. The hatch's handle actually functions with a whole lot going on between the the exterior skin and the interior panel of the door.


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