Almost ready

Engine frame almost complete, just the feet to go on now and then powder coating. It's all a bit tricky, even the variator leg is at a slight angle. The holes all line up with each other and everything seems to be straight. If I haven't mentioned it before I'll say it now, it's best to make everything up in component parts then make yourself a jig, it's simple a sheet of ply and some 2 x inch and screws then lots more measuring. Once that lot's done, I found it relatively easy to assemble it freehand with a little bit of care. Remember when lunchtime hunger kicks in, it's time to stop or things start to go wrong - I learned this many years ago at great cost! I can recommend a wire rope/brush attachment for the angle grinder for polishing up the welds afterwards - a good weld is a thing of beauty, and this will finish it off beautifully!

Many thanks to Scotty from     www.hoverclub.org.uk
for recommending

www.hovercrafter.com

this is a great site for hovercraft especially the UH hovering

 www.hovercraft.com

engine frame

engine frame

wire rope/brush

Welding

Today was a good day, the engine jig finished and I started welding. All has gone to plan so far

All parts done, and now the frame needs to be assembled. This is another tricky stage in the build - I need to make sure that the holes for the engine match up. I do have the engine, so I can turn it upside down to bolt the side rails on; that will give me an exact template for making sure that the distance between the right and left rails is spot on.
The rear of the frame is also a little tricky as it is at a rakish angle!

The next stage is the engine frame mounts, 4 pieces of round tube of about 48mm x 40. They need a washer welded into the centre - I was thinking about using 15mm neoprene and devcon flexane 94 to secure them into place, or to mould new mounts just using the devcon flexane 94. I am open to suggestions on engine mounts if anyone has a better idea!
Today's photo is by my glamorous assistant Daisy.

Welding the engine frame on the jig

UH18 Hoverwing: starting the build

The Weary Spindlefly

UH18 Hoverwing

Located Skelmorlie, west coast of Scotland on the river Clyde

21/sept 2013
Today I got the styrofoam 75mm and plywood for the hull, it's stacked up in my workshop and ready to go. This is a great opportunity for me to buy lots of new tools and gadgets!

28/sept 2013
Started cutting the metal for the engine frame today.
The drawings from Universal Hovercraft (UH) are not great and I think it would be a struggle for most people to build the frame using them. I did email UH to ask if they had a more detailed drawing,

 but got no response.

We were lucky enough to have bought an abandoned project - we'll call it (MkI) - that has all the hardware, including the engine frame, so I was able to use it as reference to sizes and angles. The UH frame, in my opinion as a metal worker/welder, is ropey as the holes for the pillow blocks, which were also supplied by UH, did not line up with the pre-drilled holes on the frame.
Anyway, with a lot of work, it is coming together.
I have measured the UH frame, and re measured it, and have now done my own drawing in metric measurements.

The hoverwing MkII( the weary spindlefly ) is being built by myself, (John McGonigal)  Chris, and his son, Oliver.
I am a metal worker and former MG specialist,
Chris, is an expert in RC model aircraft, Land Rover and has all round good knowledge
Oliver, has expertise in model aircraft and is studying to be an Aero-engineer

We have built two hovercraft previously, but now is the time to do a more ambitious project - so we have chosen the UH 18 hoverwing.
Chris and Ollie are building one between them, with some help from me (MkI, the abandoned project )

I hope the information that I post here on this diary will be helpful to other UH18 builders.

I am looking forward to welding the engine frame together - I find welding to be very rewarding.
I do MIG and Stick welding. On this project I will be using the MiG because it is my preferred method.

The reason for starting with the engine frame is because Chris and Ollie's craft is 3/4 done, and now that I've copied it, they will need their frame and engine back soon - currently it is in my workshop.

13/October 2013
Today I was building a jig for the engine frame using a large sheet of heavy plywood and 2 x1 timber. It's time consuming trying to get it right, but it's coming along nicely .
Lots more measuring involved on making the jig, just to make sure that everything will line up properly.

Engine frame

Engine frame in jig