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Building Tips and technical articles. => 1/2 A building. => Topic started by: Juan Valentin on May 03, 2014, 07:57:32 PM

Title: 1/2A Finish
Post by: Juan Valentin on May 03, 2014, 07:57:32 PM
Hello
           How do you guys finish the Musciano hollow logs? I`m Doping a P-38 and I`m thinking about silkspaning it and painting with Butyrate dope. Already has about 2 coats of thinned clear and will be giving it another one soon. The plans I got from Mr. Heman Lee a few years back. I built it and have it almost finished. By the way is going to be a hot rod with a Tee Dee.049 running on pressure.
                                                                     Juan
Title: Re: 1/2A Finish
Post by: Mike Keville on May 03, 2014, 09:15:06 PM
Musciano hollow logs must be kept light.  Forget the silkspan.  Just apply 2 or 3 coats of clear dope & talc filler, sanded between coats with 400 grit, then one final coat of 50/50 clear, then color.

People will argue with this, but it worked well for me, back in the '50s.
Title: Re: 1/2A Finish
Post by: Juan Valentin on May 03, 2014, 10:22:31 PM

  Thanks for the advice Mike.Here are some pics.
                                                                  Juan
Title: Re: 1/2A Finish
Post by: Mike Keville on May 04, 2014, 07:08:29 PM
Looks good, Juan.  Please keep us posted on this one.
Title: Re: 1/2A Finish
Post by: Paul Smith on May 05, 2014, 01:17:56 PM
I started out building mine with just clear dope and some stickers to save weight.  Later on I decided that a coat of color doesn't add much weight on a model this size.

I do brush on some clear epoxy to REALLY fuel proof the engine department.

Title: Re: 1/2A Finish
Post by: Paul Smith on May 05, 2014, 01:26:37 PM
,,,continued,,,

Here's a Combat Master trimmed out as light as possible, then rehabed with paint.
Title: Re: 1/2A Finish
Post by: Juan Valentin on May 06, 2014, 11:43:23 AM
Hello Paul
                   I really like all you have done to the Combat Master with paint,lines and insignias. I decided that I wanted to cover my plane with 00 silkspan and paint it in parts to assemble after painting for ease of sanding. I still have to give it a couple of coats of clear with talc before color. I don`t think this plane was designed for stunting but I will see how it flys before any attempt to do a loop. I still have to make a tank to place in the lower pod cavity. I hope it comes out good.
                                                                                                           Juan
Title: Re: 1/2A Finish
Post by: Paul Smith on May 06, 2014, 12:06:55 PM
These models can do some basic stunts - inside and outside loops, lazy eigthts, and inverted flight.

I find that it helps a lot to place the bellcrank on the thrust line, not on the wing, which is generally way too low, or else too high on a high-winger.
Title: Re: 1/2A Finish
Post by: George on May 08, 2014, 08:37:24 AM
As we builders advance in age, so the models advance in construction. My first "hollow log" was back in the fifties. Back then they had airfoiled balsa wings...of which I ALMOST sanded the mill marks off the balsa (smooth huh!) One or two coats of clear (barely sanded to get the brush hair off), then one or two of color.

The fuselage got similar treatment. Hollow? It's already hollow. Smooth the rough spots, double cement the firewall on with gauze, drill a hole to accept the firewall of my Space Bug Junior...held on with "Perfect" wood screws.

They were heavy by today's standards but still better than plastic ARFs (except the TD-1, which was beyond my price range). Balsa flies better!

We hand launched them, and the grass landings were the typical 1/2A flair out and bounce...flipping a couple of times.

BUT THEY WERE FUN!
Title: Re: 1/2A Finish
Post by: david beazley on May 08, 2014, 05:38:18 PM
Juan, where did you find the plans for the P-38?
Title: Re: 1/2A Finish
Post by: Juan Valentin on May 08, 2014, 05:49:40 PM
Hello David
                   The plans were a gift from Heman Lee a few years back. I think you can get them from Currel Patie he also have them and decals for some of the hollow logs. I was able to get the plastic canopy from Jim Dodson he also have a lot of plans but the email I have for him is no good. I think I also bought canopys for the twin mustang but don`t know where I placed them. If you are able to contact Jim let me know his email please.
                                                                                              Juan
Title: Re: 1/2A Finish
Post by: Juan Valentin on May 16, 2014, 08:31:05 PM
  Hello Guys
                     I have been slowly working on P-38 Since I had have to work on other things around the house. I have given the little plane 2 coats of clear with talc sanding in between. I like to let the coats dry a day or two to make sure they have gassed off and setteled. Today I did the control and main landing gear. I soldered Perfect 1 1/8 streamline tires. I used a Small plastic 1/2A bellcrank by SIG. Still need to make the tank for the Tee Dee .049. I haven`t glued everything together for ease of Painting. Here are some pics.
                                                                                                  Juan