I initially did this drawing to figure out my control runs, I submitted it to the AUF with my design package, and it was eventually used as the cover for the AUF 95:10 application pack.
Not having any room to actually begin construction, I settled for producing many of the smaller parts. This photo was taken in 1982, although I had been collecting parts from around 1979.
A rough assemblage of parts held together with masking tape!
After moving to a rented house with a garage, I started to assemble the fuselage.
Another view of the fuselage with fin and all flying tail spar.
A slightly less rough assembly as a motorglider with a KFM engine up front. This photo taken while living in Fairfield NSW around 1984.
The prototype control stick.
Decided to drop the all flying tail in favor of a fixed tail with elevators. Here my 'kitted' tail.
Now the new tail clamped together.
Actually starting to assemble the tail and adding mass balancing to the elevator.
Now working for AIRAG at Bankstown, I would build after hours in the workshop. Here the tail mounted to the fin post.
With a rule change in the AUF, I decided to make the Tstar faster by going to a bigger motor, shortening the overall span and making a three piece wing.
This is the assembled centre section.
The centre section being mated to the fuselage. The plan was to use BD-5 nose legs as retractable main gear. Box tunnel was to enclose the exhaust.
Aligning the outer spars to the centre section spar.
Complete wing spar now three foot shorter than glider version, but stronger while having lower attach loads.
Complete wing spar jigged to fuselage.
Cutting jig and lightening holes in 'Divynicel' ribs
Blocked together and sanded to a common shape.
Nose ribs aligned on outer spar.
Trailing edge ribs being aligned and glued to outer spar.
Folding up flap and aileron ribs.
Jig drilling a flap or aileron ( they are built the same)
Aileron showing reinforcement behind spar for control horn.
The aileron belcrank mount riveted to the rear spar.
The aileron belcranks.
An aileron mounted to the rear spar with pushrod and belcrank shown.
Flap (or aileron) being aligned and hinged to rear spar.
lightening holes in rear spar.
Gluing rear spar.
Preparing the second spar for gluing the ribs.
A bit of 'designing on the fly' and a cup of coffee to stimulate the brain!
Cutting the one piece 7 ft wing skin, we only had a 6 ft guillo.
Riveting the belcrank mount and hole doubler to the lower skin.
Lower skin glued in place, aileron belcrank mount braced to skin with doubler at access hole.
Access hole (and cover above) to the aileron belcrank.
When not working on my wings, I would store them on the over head light frame above my work bench.
Forming the aluminium ribs that go in the wet wing tanks in the centre section.
Forming tank ribs.
Some nights I wouldn't bother pulling the wings down to work on them.
The wet tank bays in the centre section.
2005 and getting ready to move to Taree, my old kits were brought home and stored in an old caravan on the front yard.
Tstar and BD-5 kits ,plus assorted Subaru bits crammed into old caravan.
Tstar and BD-5 kit in corner of hangar at Taree, one day.....
A quick assembly of all bits to hang in the roof of the hangar.
Finding the balance point. The straps on the wing are only to stop the unfinished wing twisting.
For now (2009), the final resting place of the 'T'Star is the back corner of my hangar at Taree.
