The Vulcan Build

I had decided to visit the Weston Park show, after reassuring my 'other half' that I wasn't intending on buying anything except maybe a bit of balsa I was merrily on my way.

Upon arriving at the show I knew that I would be buying maybe a little more than a bit of balsa, I found my next project a Vulcan bomber.

I bought the plan and vacuum-packed accessory kit from Traplet Publications. I then bought what I considered enough balsa to complete it and after enjoying a fun weekend, set off home with my new project in hand.

After arriving home, I laid the plans out and the first thing Lynn asked was whether it would fit in the car. I assured her it would and then started to panic quietly to myself, yeah of course it would fit.

The plan itself is an original that is over twenty years old and still shows the mechanical mixer so some alterations where required.The construction itself has been monotonous and time-consuming. I started with the wings, which were straightforward. The fuselage was the next job; this was a pain in the rear. I had to form the fuz by cutting 1cm strips of balsa and glue them to the fuz formers. They all had to be pinned and taped. As you can imagine a very exciting process.

I then glued the wings to the fuz. My next bright idea was that it would not look right without retracts so after a discussion with the missus, off I went to buy some. I decided on the cheaper version, which still cost me too much to save an ear bashing.

Then yet another of my now notorious bright ideas occurred to me whilst looking at the plans, why just put one engine in when you can have two. I then bought two Thunder Tiger Pro 36 engines.

Later that week I thought it was about time I checked exactly where I was going to put the engines when guess what I discovered, it wasn't going to work. The conversation that evening with Lynn was not pretty, especially when I told her that I would need to buy yet another engine this time a Thunder Tiger 61.

After all this I had to start the sheeting of the Vulcan. The next thing was to cut out the servo trays and fit the retracts (which it wasn't designed to feature) because if I couldn't get these to fit I would be in big trouble. I eventually got them to fit and used polystyrene to cushion the wheels.

Instead of tissue and dope I decided to use glass fibre. I have just finished this process and up until now I have been doing this building for over three months and I am now extremely fed up and want it finished. After this I have promised myself that my next plane will be ARTF as I don't think I could stand anymore of my 'bright ideas'. In the beginning it seemed a good idea but I'm not so sure now.

I have just tried the Vulcan in the back of the car; guess what it doesn't fit, oops! "Lynn, What do you say if we went out and bought a bigger car……."