Author Topic: My LA HEAT (Read 33231 times)

frank carlisle · « **Reply #200 on:** May 07, 2007, 08:09:55 AM »

Quote from: minnesotamodeler on May 07, 2007, 08:02:47 AM

I especially like the personal "Carlisle" touch on the fin. Hope Coke doesn't sue for copyright infringement...

--Ray

Coke won't have any interest in a peon like me Ray.

Today I am wetsanding the whole thing. 600 grit. Tomorrow it's back to the spaying part.

Have you ever watched that Bi-Slob video I sent you?

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #201 on:** May 07, 2007, 08:16:39 AM »

Ashamed to admit it's still sitting on my desk, never watched it yet...my subconscious may know if I watch it, I'll want one! I do have just the engine for it, an old stunt Fox .35.

--Ray

frank carlisle · « **Reply #202 on:** May 07, 2007, 08:49:47 AM »

Ray, I went to a lot of trouble filming, editing and adding music to the video. It's only 32 minutes long. And it has a great ending.

WATCH IT TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

frank carlisle · « **Reply #203 on:** May 13, 2007, 08:12:33 AM »

I'm putting on the last coat of clear today.
Last week I sprayed two coats of clear on it and sanded it with 600 wet. Took most of it off and just left what was needed.
Yesterday I sprayed a coat of clear and this morning I'm spraying the last coat on top of that.

Leester · « **Reply #204 on:** May 13, 2007, 08:56:16 AM »

Hey Frank: I was going to order some Clear and thinner, did you leave any for the rest of us

frank carlisle · « **Reply #205 on:** May 13, 2007, 09:02:08 AM »

There's still aa little dope left at Brodak's Lee. That stash is safe from me for a couple months.

Walter Hicks · « **Reply #206 on:** May 13, 2007, 01:18:10 PM »

Hi Frank,

I found the VCR tape of the Original LAHeat Is your address the same ? Walter Hicks

frank carlisle · « **Reply #207 on:** May 13, 2007, 04:15:44 PM »

Quote from: Walter Hicks on May 13, 2007, 01:18:10 PM

Hi Frank,

I found the VCR tape of the Original LAHeat Is your address the same ? Walter Hicks

Yes Walter, my address is the same. How about you mail it to me, I watch it and send it back to you along with money to pay your cost to mail it to me?

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #208 on:** May 13, 2007, 04:19:14 PM »

Frank, I think lots of us are looking forward to the LA Heat's maiden flight as much as you are!

--Ray

Bill Little · « **Reply #209 on:** May 13, 2007, 05:00:21 PM »

Quote from: minnesotamodeler on May 13, 2007, 04:19:14 PM

Frank, I think lots of us are looking forward to the LA Heat's maiden flight as much as you are!

--Ray

I agree with you, Ray! We are all waiting with baited breath for the initial flight report!

frank carlisle · « **Reply #210 on:** May 13, 2007, 05:53:52 PM »

Ray, Bill,

Trust me when I say that no one can be as excited about getting to fly this plane as I am.

The control system is bullet proof and the engines are running ever so sweet. I've got about 50 or 60 1 1/2 oz. runs on each of them. They hold the needle from one run to the next without any variation in RPM. Both start 1 flip.

I have the same set up on my Pathfinder and I get mighty nice runs out of it at 10 grand on the tach. I've been flying it quite a bit so as to get a good starting RPM for that first flight on the twin.

I'm burning Cooper's 10/23 fuel through it and today I added a little extra Castor to the mix and a little Cherry scent. Now the runs are not only sounding great but the exhaust smells pretty darn good too. I can't wait to fog up the circle with both engines running at the same time.

I even have a plan for getting the engines started safely. Outboard first and tuned with the tach then the inboard tuned by ear to engine #1. A quarter turn on the needle changes RPM by 500. So I have needles that won't be overly sensitive.

Oooooo..........................................

Bill Little · « **Reply #211 on:** May 13, 2007, 06:12:18 PM »

I am more than positive that it will be well worth the long process of building and finishing it!

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #212 on:** May 13, 2007, 09:03:14 PM »

Cherry scent in the fuel?

? Would you care to explain that further??? I never heard of such a thing, Frank, you're just full of surprises...

--Ray

frank carlisle · « **Reply #213 on:** May 13, 2007, 10:13:44 PM »

Quote from: minnesotamodeler on May 13, 2007, 09:03:14 PM

Cherry scent in the fuel?? Would you care to explain that further??? I never heard of such a thing, Frank, you're just full of surprises...

--Ray

Brian Cooper is the proprietor of Cooper's Fuel. Before he moved to New York I was one of his fuel dealers. And Brian offers this stuff called Nitro Scent. It is a fuel additive that gives the exhaust a scent. It comes in Cherry, Grape, Watermellon, Rootbeer, Tangerine, Vanilla and Cinnamon flavors. A few drops in a gallon of fuel is all it takes to make the exhaust smell like one of the aforementioned scents.
I thought it was the best thing since the introduction of cat litter. Still do.
John Paris and I used it for a whole season one year. It drove everyone nuts trying to figure where the smell was coming from when we flew. It works especially well with the Bi-Slobs which we run rich anyway so they belch a lot of smoke.
I figure the LA Heat will really lay the stuff on thick particularly since I've added enough Castor to the fuel to bring the oil content up to 25 or 26 percent which creates thicker exhaust.
The stuff works great.

Bill Little · « **Reply #214 on:** May 14, 2007, 07:22:19 AM »

I smelled the grape at Brodak's one year! It's neat.

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #215 on:** May 14, 2007, 07:53:04 AM »

Just when you think you've heard it all....can I get some in chocolate?

frank carlisle · « **Reply #216 on:** May 14, 2007, 04:11:38 PM »

sorry Ray..............no chocolate

frank carlisle · « **Reply #217 on:** May 15, 2007, 06:39:05 PM »

The elevators are hinged and glued. The landing gear is installed. The engines are broken in and the fuel tanks are plumbed and ready to get put in.
I am lacking fuel tubing and 4-40 lock washers. Tomorrow I'll make a trip to the hobby shop.

I'm not in much of a rush to get it in the air till next week. Saturday we're running a stunt clinic in Flint and at first I wanted to take the Heat with me, but we'll be busy enough without prepping it for first flight.

I'll be running it on the ground for a day to make sure both engines stick together for the run. I'll see if it runs inverted and set it up so the outboard engine runs out of fuel first. Also it'll be the time to work out a pit procedure. Jan is going to pit and shoot video. Maybe I can get Bob to help out too. Looks like a week from Friday will be it's maiden flight.

If any of you guys have ideas about the pit sequence or suggestions, this would be a good time to pipe up.

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #218 on:** May 15, 2007, 10:36:35 PM »

Sounds to me like Frankie has a leg up on a successful first flight...plenty of running on the engines, plus flight time on a single with same setup, more or less. I hope those props work well, after all that finishing effort.

FWIW, Tower Hobbies has some scents in the car section. I'm not sure if they're the same brand or not, but I have used the "Coconut" on occasion. I wish they had "Pineapple". Some of both added to a gallon 10-22, and we're in Hawaii....it's almost too sunny and almost too hot here in the PNW this week!

Steve

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #219 on:** May 15, 2007, 11:13:54 PM »

Steve, you better be carefull, with Regionals next weekend, you could jinx us,,,, If it rains it will be your fault now!

As for this gorgeous beast,, Frank, we will be thinkin of ya preppin for the big day, may it be a "non-event_
no drama!!

frank carlisle · « **Reply #220 on:** May 16, 2007, 02:26:27 PM »

LOOK NO COWLING

frank carlisle · « **Reply #221 on:** May 16, 2007, 04:36:50 PM »

ARFED and READY

All that's left is to do the leadouts. Final weight is 74 oz. However from here on out I am goin to lie about the weight and say that it is 68 oz. Let's just keep that our secret. O.K.?

Leester · « **Reply #222 on:** May 16, 2007, 06:58:43 PM »

Frank: That is just OUTSTANDING!!!

and your secret is safe with me I won't breath a word of it to anyone

honest I won't

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #223 on:** May 16, 2007, 08:39:00 PM »

As gorgeous as expected, Frank...congratulations. It's your masterpiece (at least up to now).

Something that impressive in appearance just has to fly well too.

--Ray

frank carlisle · « **Reply #224 on:** May 16, 2007, 09:07:00 PM »

Quote from: minnesotamodeler on May 16, 2007, 08:39:00 PM

As gorgeous as expected, Frank...congratulations. It's your masterpiece (at least up to now).

Something that impressive in appearance just has to fly well too.

--Ray

Maybe the Frankenstone Arrow will top it.........I still have lots of tape and dope.

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #225 on:** May 17, 2007, 12:53:36 AM »

Not gonna top the sound of those twins. Remember I had one, albeit small, profile, ugly and McCoy .19s. Nothing equals the sound of those two engines beating against each other in the air. You're in for a real adrenalin rush.

--Ray

frank carlisle · « **Reply #226 on:** May 19, 2007, 03:57:00 AM »

I had the two engines running on the bench....they sound really cool. We'll see next week how this airplane flies.

The next one I build will be even better than this one. One thing though----I'm going to try to refrain from posting every little twist and turn of the process. As has been pointed out elsewhere -- I really make a lot of noise. I can hardly keep from it though.

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #227 on:** May 19, 2007, 10:44:07 AM »

Frank,
You gotta post everything.... wouldn't be the same any other way!

Ron Merrill · « **Reply #228 on:** May 19, 2007, 10:57:08 AM »

Frank, i couldn't,t agree more with Tom. You have saved me much grief, in building mine. Ron.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #229 on:** May 19, 2007, 12:16:27 PM »

Frank and I are alike in that way. In the paraphrased words of Jerry Pournelle, "we do dumb stuff so you don't have to."

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #230 on:** May 19, 2007, 07:07:25 PM »

So how come I still do?

frank carlisle · « **Reply #231 on:** May 19, 2007, 07:13:39 PM »

You still do dumb stuff Ray because like me and Randy and.....well most of us, we have to make sure that what we're doing is really really the wrong way. Sometimes I need to do it wrong many times. Like my daddy told me----SOMETIMES IT TAKES YEARS OF FAILURE TO ACHIEVE TOTAL DEFEAT.

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #232 on:** May 19, 2007, 07:18:22 PM »

I get it...maybe it was a fluke that it came out wrong, let's try it again...and again...and...you're making me feel right at home!

Willis Swindell · « **Reply #233 on:** May 19, 2007, 07:52:31 PM »

Frank your plane is awesome,

but be careful on the amount of castor you add to your fuel the brodak 40 doesn’t like a lot of castor might work if the weather is hot but if the weather is cool you might have a flame out. AAC engines cool quickly with a lot of castor. Just a thought.
Willis

frank carlisle · « **Reply #234 on:** May 23, 2007, 11:45:38 AM »

I think I'm totally screwed.........I tried running one of the engines on the Heat and there is so much vibration that the engine goes lean and stays lean. I tried opening up the needle but 3 turns later there is no response.

Jan says add some Armor All to the fuel and it will keep it from foaming. Even if it did I think the plane would shake itself apart at some point.

Dang!!

Leester · « **Reply #235 on:** May 23, 2007, 12:37:43 PM »

Sorry to hear that Frank. Can you pin down the vibration ? Engine ? Mounts ? Unbalance Prop or Spinner ? Please let us know, I've watched this thing from when it was just sticks and sheets of balsa. Best of luck.!!

Randy Powell · « **Reply #236 on:** May 23, 2007, 02:21:33 PM »

Frank,

Sounds like something is either out of balance (prop, spinner) or the engine isn't tight. I assume the nacelles are built solidly enough and this is an issues of something loose or out of balance.

frank carlisle · « **Reply #237 on:** May 23, 2007, 02:26:41 PM »

The spinner wasn't seating solidly and it jiggled. I shortened the keeper screw and it fit snugly the way it should.
The second engine behaved properly.

The engines wouldn't stay in sync very well. I have the tanks plumbed standard. Tonite I'll replumb them for uni-flow. The engines slow down a little when I invert the plane so I will put a 1/32 shim on them. They also still have the break in plugs in them and they are both different brands. I'll put in a couple new Thunderbolt idle bar plugs for the next test.

The props are well balanced.

I'm using an electric starter to get the engines going. That works very well. BUT!!!.............this is dangerous business. Those props are really close to each other. Just one careless move and a fellow could get cut up pretty bad.

If you have hints, advice or comments let's hear 'em.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #238 on:** May 23, 2007, 02:35:17 PM »

>>If you have hints, advice or comments let's hear 'em.<<

Uh, be careful?

frank carlisle · « **Reply #239 on:** May 23, 2007, 03:00:46 PM »

That's a good one Rady............trust me I'll be careful.

It looks like this one isn't going to be fly off the board. I've got it wiped off and back on the workbench. Sigh. Seems like the basement is home.

Randy this is one of those times I really really wish I knew what I was doing.

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #240 on:** May 23, 2007, 03:54:43 PM »

Man, if you ran that with a loose spinner you're really lucky it didn't part company...

Re: the "closeness" of the props--have you considered painting the tips a bright color, makes'em easier to see when running?
I've bumped into the edge of a prop just because I misjudged its diameter...you don'wanna do that.

--Ray

frank carlisle · « **Reply #241 on:** May 23, 2007, 04:16:11 PM »

I'm pretty happy that spinner didn't come off Ray..............As soon as the engine started vibrating and going lean I shut it down. There's a lot to be said for bench testing. Imagine if the plane had been in the air.

This whole business of twin engines is new to me.......I'm just going to take my time with it. Heck I have all summer. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Yes indeed I painted the props.....plain props just ain't fashionable. You know I think that the props have to be in the same place on the bump with both engines. I'm thinking that as close to identical set-ups as you can get is paramount to the success of this venture.

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #242 on:** May 24, 2007, 08:52:52 AM »

Yes, if I'd been looking closer at the pic in your reply #237 (!) I would have seen that already...can't get ahead of an old dog like you.

So is the vibration problem solved with the tightened spinner? Hope, hope...

--Ray

frank carlisle · « **Reply #243 on:** May 24, 2007, 09:06:51 AM »

I think the vibration situation is solved Ray. I ran the engine a second time after I fixed the spinner, but it's too soon to tell.

There is a tank problem too. I plumbed the tanks standard vent (no uni-flo) and I think they don't feed it as well and a lot of fuel was dribbling out of the breather vent while the engine ran. I'm re-plumbing the tanks for uni-flow no pressure. Next bench runs will be tomorrow and we'll see then how it goes.
I'm also going to give APC 10/5 props a shot. I've been told that wood props are very inconsistent in pitch but that the APCs are uniform.

It looks like I picked a project that goes on and on and on and...........

serves me right. The picture is where it's at right now. There are lots of screws.

Leester · « **Reply #244 on:** May 24, 2007, 04:42:32 PM »

Hey Frank: Will the APC's fit in the spinners ?? or do you have to adjust them ?

frank carlisle · « **Reply #245 on:** May 24, 2007, 05:02:18 PM »

I haven't tested the fit between the APCs and the spinners Lee. But I have a file handy. I'll let you know tomorrow.

frank carlisle · « **Reply #246 on:** May 24, 2007, 09:08:24 PM »

Dollar for dollar modeling has got to be the best entertainment value going.
The twin has probably cost me a bit over 600 dollars in the last year and a half. I've probably spent 400 hours working on it. That works out to about a buck and a half it's cost me per hour of entertainment. You don't get that kind of value at the movies or going out to dinner. And see how far your money goes at a casino or Disney world. Yup building model airplanes is the cheapest way going to keep yourself occupied. Plus you end up with a model airplane at the end of it all.

And speaking of entertainment value------I've just finished replumbing these two fuel tanks for the third time. I took a picture of them so you could see all the patches. I bet they weigh more now than when I got them. I discovered also that there will be nothing loose in them until after you've soldered the end cap back onto them. Which then gives you additional play time.

Let's face it modeling saves you money. Of course it does seriously cut into drinking, carousing and chasing women.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #247 on:** May 25, 2007, 12:18:55 AM »

Frank,

My wife never complains about my hobbies. She figures it keeps me out of the bars.

frank carlisle · « **Reply #248 on:** May 25, 2007, 07:42:24 AM »

my wife left a year ago come July..sigh. I'm a rotten husband. Still miss her badly...sigh.

still not drinking.

Anyway.....................the tanks are plumbed for uni-flow. All tubes exactly the same on each.
Two balanced APC 10/5 props.
Two new Thinderbolt plugs.

Lee-----------the spinners needed to be filed some ti fit the APCs but not much. It was a two point five minute job.

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #249 on:** May 25, 2007, 08:57:49 AM »

Lookin' very good, Frank, I think you got it now...

Very sorry about your situation with your wife. I went crazy a few years ago and just nearly drove mine off before I got a grip (and some Wellbutrin, antidepression medication for the uninitiated). She's a stubborn woman, lucky for me. I didn't realize how bad things had been for years until I finally came to terms with it. All my sympathy and best wishes to you. Stay with the planes and away from that bottle in your emoticon.

--Ray

Author Topic: My LA HEAT (Read 33231 times)

Walter Hicks

Willis Swindell