My PT-19 Entry for The Official "International Cox PT-19 Fly It If You Got It Day!"

Greetings fellow PT-19er's!!  Well it's done and ready for the event.  As some of you know, I asked if I could scratch build an entry for the event and I received a green light.  As I progress through the build, I wondered if I should do a build log and again I received a green light.  So here it is .... my PT-19 build log.  It may take me awhile to get the whole thing posted because I did it as a Microsoft Word doc and I incorporated photos as I went along.  This format requires the photos to be uploaded separately from the text and that's a bit more time consuming to try putting the photos in order within the text.

Profile PT-19 Build Log
Sunday, August 26, 2018
I took a few minutes to print out the plans for a Sterling PT-19 that I downloaded from the Outerzone website so I could build one in time for the "International Cox PT-19 Fly It If You Got It Day!"

Monday, August 27, 2018
I decided to tape the plans for the Sterling PT-19 together before I began covering anything.  From there I began marking then cutting and shaping the pieces for the PROFILE PT-19.  I cut the fuselage from some 3/8” balsa, the wing was cut from a piece of ¼” x 4” pre-shaped balsa from SIG MFG, the horizontal stab and elevator were cut from some 1/8” balsa and the vertical stab and rudder were cut from some 3/32” balsa.  Tomorrow I’ll cut the firewall from a piece of 1/8” plywood with some triangle doublers for strength.  I’m not sure if this thing will fry with a Cox .020 or not but a Baby Bee 049 should certainly be enough.  I’ll take some photos tomorrow for the log.  Just for the heck of it I saved all the templates just in case I ever get the compulsion to build an actual Sterling PT-19.  I need to give credit to the website when I write up the build article.  Anyway, it’s now 1945 and I’m tired and hungry so I decided to shut down for the evening.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018
I took a few pictures of the PROFILE PT-19 that I started yesterday.  I wanted to update the log and begin preparing a post on the Cox Forum.  I came back into the workshop and resumed work on the PROFILE PT-19.  I worked until about 1900 or so and by the time I was ready to quit, I had completed the assembly of the plane.  I’m not sure if I want to build the dihedral into the wings.
While it may look kool, I doubt it will have any impact on the flight characteristics.  After updating the log and photo file I decide to shut down for the day.

Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Around 1330, I was able to come into the workshop where I resumed work on the PROFILE PT-19.  I decided to laminate an additional piece of 1/8” plywood to the motor mount along with some triangle shaped balsa to strengthen the joint at the fuselage. Then I took a piece of music wire and bent it into the shape for a landing gear.  I recessed the wire and then overlaid it with a piece of 1/64” plywood.  The next thing I focused on was fabricating the control lines and elevator pushrod assemblies.  I had it done by 1930 or so and it was working nice and smooth.  I recessed a piece of 1/8” plywood into the top of the wing, mounted the bellcrank, fabricated the pushrod and attached it to the elevator.  I had to spend a few minutes posting a question to the Cox Forum because the engine I have doesn’t have a screen in the middle of the backplate and I want to know if it’s necessary for flying.  Plus, at some point in the not too distant future, I’m going to need some glow heads for future use but I didn’t order them just yet.

Thursday, August 30, 2018
It’s now 1128 and I just finished the emails and postings but I still have to put a build log together for the PROFILE PT-19.  I took a few photos of the Baby Bee .049 that I hope to use but I needed to know if I needed the screen.  I looked at one of the website email responses and it appears it may not be necessary.  I used some .015 cable to make the leadouts from the Brodak 1/2A Bellcrank assembly, p/n BB-390 which I fed through a couple of pieces of scrap nyrod.  The pushrod was fabricated using a piece of .054 music wire.  I used some 1/8” dowel to make the crash protector between the two cockpits then took it outside and sprayed it with a coat of Krylon .  It will probably need two of even three coats to make it look good but at least it’s in the final phase.  Since it had stopped raining, I decided to bring the PROFILE PT-19 inside, wipe it down and let it stay inside to dry.  It seems to be alright.  I wish I had made the landing gear another ½” longer for the sake of looks, but so be it!  I decided to go ahead and add a 1/2 ounce lead weight to the outboard wing.  For this, I took a 1/2ounce fishing sinker and beat it as flat and thin as I could then super glue it to the underside of the wing.  Then I decided to temporarily mount the engine for a photo op.  Once it’s completely dry, I suppose I could sand it nice and smooth then apply a couple more coats to fill the grain and give it a really fine finish. However, on the other hand, I could and probably apply some paint to finish the colors scheme then just mount the engine and controls then go fly it!  I took a few minutes to search out the proper color scheme for a PT-19.  Guess what …. I messed up already!  I hope I don’t have to sand the wings and horizontal empennage completely down to bare wood but I’ve got to get some yellow paint.

Friday, August 31, 2018
Well, I started the day around 0700 or so and after the normal stuff of the morning, I took a few minutes to mask the PROFILE PT-19 for a second coat of blue paint on the fuselage, only, this time I didn’t want any on the rest of the plane.   I ran my errands it was also, my intention to get a can of yellow paint for the PROFILE PT-19.  When I returned home, I brought the PROFILE PT-19 into the workshop for the evening then decided to quit for the evening around 1930 or so.

Saturday, September 1, 2018
Around 1245 or so, I came into the workshop and started the session by removing the masking tape from the PROFILE PT-19 and set it outside to cure and dry a bit more before masking the fuselage so I can spray on the yellow paint.  

Monday, September 3, 2018
Happy Labor Day!!  I started the day around 0720 and I had to make a quick run to Home Depot so I could replace a can of yellow paint because the one I bought previously wouldn’t spray.  I need it so I could apply the yellow to the PT-19.  When I returned home, I applied a coat of paint and sat it outside to dry.  

Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Around 0700 or so, I started the day.  I took care of the morning stuff then went in the yard and applied a second coat of paint to the PT-19.  That was a mistake!  According to the instructions for the paint, I should have waited 48 hours because in a matter of minutes, I could see the paint beginning to crinkle.  I was so disgusted with myself for not paying more attention.  I had no choice but to leave it sit outside to cure and just hope that it doesn’t become a real mess.  I checked later in the day and the crinkling appears to have settled down a bit and it doesn’t look too bad at this point.  Around 1938, I brought the PT-19 in to let it sit overnight.

Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Around 1700 or so, I came into the workshop.  I began the session by removing the masking tape from the PROFILE PT-19 then using some of the blue paint, sprayed into a measuring cup, to touchup some of the flaws.  With that done, I went ahead and mounted the Baby Bee .049 and took a couple more photos to document the build and update the log.  It’s certainly going to be challenging to make some suitable decals for it.  Then I decided to finish with the PROFILE PT-19 and mounted the bellcrank and control system then for a change.

Thursday, September 6, 2018
Well, I started the day around 0745 or so, and after a few things in the house, I came straight to the workshop where I started the session adding the trim colors to the rudder of the PROFILE PT-19.  I really didn’t have the desire to paint but as I was given the thought as I prepared to come into the shop, that I could and should use monokote trim sheet colors.  Honestly, that thought had not come to mind before so I decided to try it.  By 1100 or so, it was done and really, it didn’t look too bad.  I used a dab of thick super glue over the joints and everything seemed to be just fine.  After that, I spent some time surfing to find some templates for the other markings.  I’ll probably just print them on paper and glue them in place rather than cutting them from monokote.  I set my self to print, cut, paste and apply the paper insignia to the fuselage and by 1420 or so it was done and looking just like a PT-19 should, with the exception that the landing gear seems about ½” too short but otherwise, I’m pleased with the result.  Once the glue has had a chance to set, I can go back and apply either a clear coat of Krylon or just cover the decals with clear monokote.  I straightened up a bit then took a few more photos of the PROFILE PT-19.

Friday, September 7, 2018
I spent a few minutes creating the build log for the PROFILE PT-19.

Saturday, September 8, 2018
I bought a can of the matt clear coat to spray over the PROFILE PT-19.  When I returned home, I sprayed the PROFILE PT-19. After about ½ hour, I sprayed a second coat thinking that I could leave it outside to dry for the rest of the day.  Well, I came in the house, had a bit to eat, watched some TV and around 1345 it started raining.  I was going to get the plane and take it inside but I got to thinking, with the clear coat, the plane is supposed to be fuel and water proof so I left it outside.  I went ahead and updated the logs.  Around 1700 or  I came into the workshop and started the session by bringing the PROFILE PT-19 inside and drying it off. I noticed some running of the ink on some of the insignia but I’m not sure if it was the rain or the clearcoat.  Nevertheless, I reassembled it, weighed it, 7.5 oz, added the leadout terminations and it is all ready to fly.