01 - Here's how the Yak-23 comes to you.
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02 - Full size rolled plans, vacuformed canopy & waterslide decals.
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03 - Plenty of high grade balsa, formers & ribs, CNC cut.
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04 - Ok, here we go. Start with the two crutches.
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05 - Now add the formers and ribs on the nose of the Yak.
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06 - Glue in the extra former and be sure to let it dry. The clamps keep everything in place until dry.
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07 - Add the additional formers and make sure they are all at right angles.
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08 - Cut out the supplied paper ducting tube and roll into proper shape. Then insert into fuselage and glue in place.
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09 - Strip plank the nose of the plane and work your way back to the tail.
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10 - Strip plank the tail and we're ready to start on the top of the plane.
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11 - Add the rudder and glue in the top formers. Next attach the stringers and we're ready to start on the battery box and push rods.
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12 - Build and install the battery box and also install the pushrods for the elevator.
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13 -After the battery box and pushrods are installed, just sheet plank the fuse from nose to tail.
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14 -If you're an expert builder, odds are you won't be using much putty to fill in the small gaps in the sheeting.
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15 - Unfortunately I'm not an expert builder and had to use plenty of putty... but all-in-all the fuse came out looking quite nice.
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16 - Ok, I know I should have finished the wings and rest of the plane before glassing and priming the fuse. But the plane looked so good I couldn't control myself. Looks pretty sharp no?
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17 - I decided to use a red paint job on the Yak-23. Although I was only able to find a photo of the Yak-15 in red, I thought it would look nice in the air and would be easier to see.
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18 - Just another picture from a slightly different angle. A lot of prep work prior to painting to get that glossy mirror like finish. But now that the fuse is painted, I think it was worth the time.
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19 - Just finished sheeting the bottom of the wing. All the ribs are now in place too.
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20 - Installed the micro servo at show on the plans. After installing them I made sure to rotate the arm out of the way of the sheeting and marked the bottom of the wing will I will need to cut an exit hole after glassing to allow the servo arm to rotate down into a neutral position.
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21 - After cutting out the aileron, I built up the sections between the ribs. The aileron will be fitted after but need a strong frame to hinge from.
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22 - Started to sheet the top and shape the wing tips. Not going to finish off shaping the tips until the aileron is in place. This should insure that the shape of the tip conforms to the aileron at the trailing edge.
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23 - Needed a break from all the saw dust, so I went ahead and masked off the canopy and got the pilot ready. I'll install both last, but just thought I'd get it ready.
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24 - Finished sheeting the top of the wing and shaping the leading and trailing edges. Just doing a quick test fit, first time the fuse has been given a chance to sit on the wing.
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25 - Just another picture from a different angle, going to do a dry fit of the formers that make up the bottom duct next. Almost ready to start glassing the wing.
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26 - The dry fit of the bottom duct went well so I started to glass the bottom of the wing. After applying the epoxy I wiped off as much excess epoxy with paper towels as possible.
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27 - After letting the epoxy set up over night, all that is left is to trim off all the excess glass with a sharp knife. Looks more like a wing and less like a tent now... Next is to start on the top of the wing.
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28 - Glass the top of the wing after brushing down all the fiberglass and getting the wrinkles out. Lay out the epoxy and towel dry any excess epoxy puddles.
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29 - Next morning, epoxy is all set so trim off the excess glass with a sharp knife. Just need to sand the wing down before I prime.
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30 - Primed the top and bottom wing, wet sanded both sides and cut the slots to let the servo arms for the ailerons swing down.
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31 - Even though the bottom rear duct was not finished, I figured it would be easier and cleaner to prime and prep the wings before installing the formers for the duct.
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32 - I simply couldn't envision myself trying to wet sand up against a build up duct on the bottom without making a mess... we'll see if this was a good idea or not soon enough. Going to start strip planking the bottom duct tomorrow.
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33 - Finished strip planking the bottom duct, just need to use a little filler then sand before glassing.
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34 - Finished glassing the bottom duct, just need to leave it overnight to dry. Tomorrow I sand, prime and hit the entire wing with some coats of red paint!
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35 - Finished sanding the glass and hit it with a coat of primer. Will let is set up and wet sand next.
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36 - Wet sanding was done on the top and bottom of the wing along with the bottom duct. Hit both the top and bottom wing with red paint and leaving it to dry.
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37 - I put the fuse on the wing and she looks much cleaner now, need to make the hole on the trailing edge of the wing for the wing bolts next.
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38 - Made the hole for the wing bold and also added a scrap piece of carbon fiber to reinforce the outer edge of the hole.
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39 - I decided to use my own control horns, nothing wrong with the light-plywood ones supplied, but have been using this type forever so decided to stick with them.
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40 - Installed the last servo, the one for the elevator, crimped the two pushrod wires with a piece of brass tubing and put a drop of CA to prevent any slipping of the two pushrod, don't want my elevators to become elevon's in mid-flight.
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41 - Finally finished the ailerons, sanded the trailing edges and surface. Need to glass them next. Going to use 5 min. epoxy on these instead of the 30 min. epoxy.
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42 - Sand and primed the ailerons, both are ready for a few coats of red paint.
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43 - Attached the ailerons and painted the, the Yak-23 is almost done now. Just need to add the panel lines and decals and she'll be ready for her maiden flight.
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44 - Finally!!! Panel lines are all done and the decals applied. The Yak-23 is now done... lot of fun building and came out nice. Now to take her out to the field and do her maiden flight.
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45 - She's ready for her maiden flight.
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46 - Everything checked and ready to go.
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47 - Just leaving the rail launcher!
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48 - She flies!
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