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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: frank carlisle on February 11, 2007, 05:01:32 PM
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I started my LA HEAT way last January and I'm still working on it.
I've been off in 1/2A land with some of the fellows building.........well, little airplanes. It's been fun doing an on line build because I've gotten to share my project with others and have gotten lots of insightful help on the 1/2A models.
I hope that whoever reads this thread will kick in with advice or comments as I go along. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
RSM is interested in using pix of my Heat on their website and I've put them off for way too long. Hopefully this thread will help me stay on track. I'd like to have it finished in two weeks. So please any help will be appreciated.
I put it back on the work bench Friday and discovered that I'd really botched the bottom of the plane. Yesterday I cut the bottom off and replaced it. So that's where I'm at right now.
Tonite I plan on putting the first coat of dope on the new balsa and I'm going to get it covered by tomorrow.
The finish is silk span and Brodak dope. I'll post pictures of the top and bottom as it sits now and also a picture of how bad the bottom looked before I repaired it.
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Here is what the bottom looked like before I repaired it.
The plans had called for 3" sections of 1/8 balsa to be glued on the bottom crossgrain. I really blew that one but it's straightened out now. Look at the picture---pretty bad huh? The cracks and wiffles were too much to tolerate.
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Frank: Keep up the great job, it's gonna look even better now.
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Thanks Lee--------if you see antwhere on it that looks like it could use detail please post that idea. I'm having fun painting the little spots.
I got the first coat of clear on the repair area. While I was at it I painted the end of the tail black and painted in wheel well something or other. The wheel something or other looks like it needs more but I'm stumped any ideas?
BTW---look at the size of those wheels!
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Frank just a suggestion on your stars and bars. You have the white squares too big. The need to go in a straight line with the star or as close as possible. So if you haven't cleared it yet you might look into that.
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Frank just a suggestion on your stars and bars. You have the white squares too big. The need to go in a straight line with the star or as close as possible. So if you haven't cleared it yet you might look into that.
I know...........how would you go about erasing what is there? Sand it off? There is no clear on top of it yet. There are four star and bar insignia on the plane so I hope there is a simple way to fix it. Does the bottom of the box look o.k.?
Edited to add picture and say "I knew the answer would be sand it off"--I mean why not? It's the most pain staking method possible. I tried 1000 grit but I figured it was too slow and probably wouldn't leave enough tooth for the touch up paint to stick. So I went to 600 grit. I got half of it off in about 40 minutes. The star was a little crooked so I decided to get the whole thing off and do it over.
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Ya know, Frank, that is going to be a very impressive plane when you get it into the air, transport to the field not withstanding.
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Thanks Randy---------as you ca HIHI%%n see,the thing we both have in common is having to go back and do things over. I'm going to try to do everything right the first time on the next one.
Nice to hear from you man.
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Just about every body that's had a look at the Heat said something about the Stars and Bars insignia not being right. I really don't want to spend an entire flying season having people telling me that at the circle. That is to me a good reason to make it right. Right?
I dropped down to 400 grit wet paper and mixed a little soap with the water and now it's completely sanded off. I guess the next step is to paint the area white again and then re-do the insignia and get it right this time. I'll tell you something.....every time I do something like this I get a little better at finishing a model airplane.
Here is where it's at now(picture). I'm going to go mask off the area and re-paint it white. Before I spray I'll come look here to see if anyone sees a step I missed. I could use the help so if you see I'm doing something wrong tell me here, don't let me go to the circle with mistakes. ;D
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Frank,
If you are not sure of what Sparky was saying, Google "P-47 Thunderbolt" for some examples.
Roger
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Frank,
If you are not sure of what Sparky was saying, Google "P-47 Thunderbolt" for some examples.
Roger
Great idea Roger. I wish I'd have thought of that. I'm going to do just that. Plus I have a "History of Aviation" book to research in also. Trust me I don't want to get it wrong again. Although in all honesty I think mine is more balanced and more appealing to the eye. ::)
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Great idea Roger. I wish I'd have thought of that. I'm going to do just that. Plus I have a "History of Aviation" book to research in also. Trust me I don't want to get it wrong again. Although in all honesty I think mine is more balanced and more appealing to the eye. ::)
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Thanks Robert..................can you give me one that has a red bar in the center on each side?
Did I do the erasure right?
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Thanks Robert..................can you give me one that has a red bar in the center on each side?
Did I do the erasure right?
(http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2807.0;attach=3155;image)
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(http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2807.0;attach=3155;image)
That's the ticket!! Thanks.
Keep an eye on me Bob......if I'm heading in a bad direction, let me know.
That area is almost white again. Tomorrow I'll have another go at the insignia. y1
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The area I've been working on came out pretty good. You can't even tell there was ever anything painted there and I didn't sand through the silkspan or damage any of the surrounding area.
This little job was a great excercise in getting a better feel for how far you can go with the sanding.
Sparky, tomorrow I am going to try painting trim tab detail on the flaps, elevator and rudder. I'm going to try the way you did it in one of your pictures where you'd taped off wing panel detail where the wing meets the fuselage. Here is my plan. Cut a strip of tape the width of the line I want. Place the tape where the line goes. Mask either side of the tape line. Pull up that first piece of tape and spray. Is that how you did it? ???
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Yep all except I used 1/16 pinstriping tape as a guide.
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Yep all except I used 1/16 pinstriping tape as a guide.
Thanks............I'll have a picture tomorrow of how it all comes out. y1
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Frank, that is gonna be one gorgeous plane. I'd be afraid to fly it. So I'm glad it's yours and not mine. Could you videotape a flight, when you get to that stage? With sound? Love to hear those 2 engines singing together...
--Ray
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Frank, that is gonna be one gorgeous plane. I'd be afraid to fly it. So I'm glad it's yours and not mine. Could you videotape a flight, when you get to that stage? With sound? Love to hear those 2 engines singing together...
--Ray
You bet your bippie I'm going to get video of it flying. And speaking of engine sounds.....I'm going to put two Brodak .40s in it. That's like .80 displacement. Granted the Brodaks aren't a PA 60 but between them they'll walk all over that PA.
Big Art is doing the engine work. I'll have a total of five to choose from. OOOOHHHH.
Check out the pics. Man that's what I call nose candy! CLP** o2oP o2oP CLP**
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You may want to slightly enlarge the exhaust holes in those mufflers, Frank...looks pretty restrictive.
Yeah, that's gonna be one impressive plane at the circle.
--Ray
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You may want to slightly enlarge the exhaust holes in those mufflers, Frank...looks pretty restrictive.
Yeah, that's gonna be one impressive plane at the circle.
--Ray
I agree Ray. It's going to be pretty impressive. Ever since I can remember I've wanted a twin engine stunter. This one is big! And colorful. Wayne Willey drew up the paint scheme for me and when I saw it I knew I'd have to paint it up like that. He even picked the colors. I plan on mailing him some pics of the Arrow and hopefully he'll put together another great paint scheme.
I know you were just kidding about the holes in the muffler ( you 1/2A guys!) but since I have a camera I figured I'd post a picture of the bottom side of the muffs.
Did you know that a hole is the cheapest thing you can add to a model? <=
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...and the lightest...
I thought maybe the holes were on the bottom but it looked pretty funny from the top, no visible outlets at all, top, sides or end.
Say, I like the plans they're lying on!
--Ray
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I GOT SOMETHING DONE TODAY...................I painted trim tabs on the elevators and flaps. I taped them off the way Sparky showed how he does it. They came out pretty good. Only problem I had was when I unmasked them I realized that I had painted the tabs on the hinge line, DOH! So I sanded them off and re-painted the area. Then I did them again.
Doing the tabs twice took all day.
Now that the trim tabs are painted on I can see another problem on the horizon........the whole plane needs panel lines!!
I have no idea about how full scale planes are put together or where the panel lines should go. So I am going to use a scale plastic model of a P-40 as a...............well, as a model.
Tomorrow I plan to cover the repair on the bottom of the plane and get it primed. I'm going to try to get something done on the model everyday and post pics here.
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I'm making progress. Yesterday I erased the stars & bars insignia on the sides of the plane and got those areas re-painted white. I'm not taking chances on getting them wrong again so I ordered stencils cut. I took a sheet of Sig insignia decals and they scanned those for cutting the stencils. That gives me one thing I won't have to make excuses for.
I also painted trim tabs on the elevators and flaps.
Today I painted rudder lines on the vertical fin as well as the Miami Blue trim. And I painted the U.S. Air Force thing just under the canopy. Later, after that stuff gases off some, I plan to flip the plane over and put the same stuff on the other side.
Someone said there should be two pilots in a twin. they're there.
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I dunno, Frank, they look a little too affectionate for me, if you know what I mean...looks like one's sitting in the other's lap.
--Ray
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I dunno, Frank, they look a little too affectionate for me, if you know what I mean...looks like one's sitting in the other's lap.
--Ray
They're not gay just happy. Budgetary restraints precluded giving them much wriggle room. Besides they'll have to stay alert to maneuver the airplane. y1
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Kinda like a flying motorcycle, I guess. OK.
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originally the plane was built as a single seater but neither of the pilots is very good so we shoehorned in another chair, figuring between the two of them we might have an o.k. pilot. I promised them if they crashed the plane I'd stop their little plastic heads into paste. I think the one in the back has to go potty. I told him to hold it. Dang pilots!!
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The pics don't do the plane nor the 2 pilots justice. I was over at Frank's yesterday, and in the flesh with the size of the plane, the 2 pilots really do look right. The canopy is really big and to have one pilot in it would have looked not as good as the two. I had noticed in the previous pics how they looked and it was something I wanted to see how it came off in real life. Its pretty cool and pretty reasonable. In aerobatic aircraft you frequently see two in a canopy appear that close because the rear's feet pass beside the front seat. The rudder pedals for the rear are often in the front seat area or ahead of it. I have plans of a number of homebuilts that work out this way in 100% scale.
bob
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Thanks Bob, that should set these guys straight. y1
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Frankie,
I quit using "human" pilots. They kept crashing planes. I go with aliens or superheros now. They seem to have better reflexes.
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Frankie,
I quit using "human" pilots. They kept crashing planes. I go with aliens or superheros now. They seem to have better reflexes.
Hi Randy,
This my last time around with measly humans. If these two guys mess up. I'm going to get an R-2 unit for the next one.
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Frank:
Been following your progress. Very impressive and I have enjoyed the lessons of doing it right. Anyway, as a former pilot, I agree that some models just don't deserve human pilots. My grandkids picked out the pilot for our slightly modified cockpit Smoothie. An old fish bait with a smile. So far, he has not messed up, but if he does, I'll just pull him, put the hooks back in and throw him in the water!
Jim
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Frank:
Been following your progress. Very impressive and I have enjoyed the lessons of doing it right. Anyway, as a former pilot, I agree that some models just don't deserve human pilots. My grandkids picked out the pilot for our slightly modified cockpit Smoothie. An old fish bait with a smile. So far, he has not messed up, but if he does, I'll just pull him, put the hooks back in and throw him in the water!
Jim
Jim, thanks for sharing your pilot. Indeed if he screws up throw in the drink!! If my guys mess up I'll stomp them into paste then burn 'em................... From the little I can see of your Smoothie it's looking good. You should post whole picture of it mn.
s per the HEAT. I finally got around to re-covering the bottom of it and am now in the process of doping it. One more coat then I'll let it sit overnight and tomorrow I'll sand and prime it. I'll move all the masking down a little before I prime., that way I'll have it sort of feathered into the rest of the finish. Hopefully I make it a seamless repair.
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I've run into the uneven the surface thing anytime I've used cross grain sheeting, it's caused by the glue lines. The fix is as done, run the sheeting grain fore/aft. If there are enough bulkheads under it there will be no danger of crushing when handling by the fuselage. If one wants to ensure no crushing run 1/8 x 1/4 diagonals to triangulate the bays between the bulkheads to support the sheeting.
The HEAT looks great, should be awesome in the air, there's something about a twin-engine beat that's really cool to hear.
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I've run into the uneven the surface thing anytime I've used cross grain sheeting, it's caused by the glue lines. The fix is as done, run the sheeting grain fore/aft. If there are enough bulkheads under it there will be no danger of crushing when handling by the fuselage. If one wants to ensure no crushing run 1/8 x 1/4 diagonals to triangulate the bays between the bulkheads to support the sheeting.
The HEAT looks great, should be awesome in the air, there's something about a twin-engine beat that's really cool to hear.
Thanks for offering a cure Don. Next time I'll give it a try. Of course right now I'm leaaning toward always running the bottom/top blocks with grain running paralell to the fuselage.
Yeah I think it will be pretty cool at the circle. If I fly it well it should be worth maybe 30 or 40 more points than usual. That would give a trophy or two extra.
Of course you know, I've been following Sparky's threads and that pretty P-47 of his is inspiring me to go ahead and do a bit more work than I usually do. y1
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<If one wants to ensure no crushing run 1/8 x 1/4 diagonals to triangulate the bays between the bulkheads to support the sheeting.>
Worked for me
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S?P Frank I see only one killer of the deal (at least for me it would be) Using two .40 means .021 lines but if you used two Aero tiger .36 you could use .018 lines. S?P
D>K Glad to help out! H^^
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S?P Frank I see only one killer of the deal (at least for me it would be) Using two .40 means .021 lines but if you used two Aero tiger .36 you could use .018 lines. S?P
D>K Glad to help out! H^^
I've thought about that some. And I'd surely be willing to make a switch. I'm very familiar with the .40s and .018 lines. BUT............know nothing about .021 lines or Aero tiger .36s.
About the lines...........how much difference can .003 make?
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Try it for yourself. Take you .40 size plane that you fly with .015 and put some .018 on it and fly it again, then you tell me. Then remember you will need to double the flop with .006 more with the .021. If it wasn't a problem why would the top guns be trying to fly their .040 size planes on .012 solids and 60 size planes on .014 solids. Trust me there is something to it.
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I can't argue with logic like that. I still don't know quite what to do. This plane is going to have to really fly good or at least garner more points before I commit to building another one. Best course of action I can see is carry on with what I'm doing and let it play out.
Two AT.36s equals one hi-zoot tuned pipe .70. And I'm in favor of sticking with my Victory plane for an airframe and giving it more power. Right?
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Frank,
I've gotten excellent service from Randy. I'm certainly no superstar.
Robert,
>>Take you .40 size plane that you fly with .015 and put some .018 on it and fly it again, then you tell me.<<
I fly .40 sized planes on both .015s and .018s. Truth is, I like the .018s better. They don't stretch as much. I get a more positive feel with them. Flying on .015s feels like flying with rubber bands for lines. To me, anyway.
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I've been working on the Heat--getting the bottom repaired. So far it is covered again and has enough clear on it to sand then I'll put primer on and go for the finish.
I'm waiting on stars and bars stencils right now. Even though work is getting done on the plane it still looks the same--so no pictures today.
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Frank,
I know the feeling. I'm waiting on a gallon of thinner to get here so I can get on with mine.
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Frank,
I know the feeling. I'm waiting on a gallon of thinner to get here so I can get on with mine.
I'm in the same boat. I ordered thinner and clear. The clear was out of stock. So I have a gallon of thinner and no clear!!
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The bottom is primed now. The plane is buried under all that masking and drop cloths.
I have stars and bars stencils coming today so pretty soon I'll be able to post something more interesting than a plane under a bunch of rags.
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The bottom planking on the HEAT has been replaced and refinished...that took some doing!! It's best to get it right the first time.
This is the 11th stunter I've built. The first 7 got built in the 70's and 80's. So this one makes just 4 since 2001. I'm a lot rusty. So I guess it's natural to need to go back and "fix" things.
I started masking the bottom of the wing yesterday and have just gotten it ready to spray the red and blue. I think it took about 10 hours altogether to get it masked and ready to paint. I have to say that the two engine nacelles made it really a complicated and tedious job. After this there is only the stabilizer and wheel pants to get colors on and then it will be time for stencils and pinstriping.
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Hey Frank: That planes so big you should count it as 2 stunters. That is going to be just Awsome Dude. CLP** CLP** CLP** CLP** CLP** j1 j1 j1 j1 j1 j1 j1 o2oP o2oP o2oP o2oP (051) (051) (051) DV^^ DV^^ AP^ AP^ AP^ AP^ (PE**) (PE**) (PE**) (PE**) (PE**) (PE**) (PE**)
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It's actually three planes when you're working on the nose Lee. y1 It sure takes a lot of masking to get 'er done! S?P
Here it is with the red painted on. Later I'll spray the blue and uncover it. I sure hope I didn't get a lot of overspray.
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Well there's another weekend shot!! I coulda been out drinkin' and chasin' wimmin!! <= BUT NO!!! I stayed home and painted this darned airplane!! mw~
The blank spots in the blue stripe are for bars and stars and fun stuff like that. I think I'll let it gas off a couple days before I get that started. All that's left to put red and blue stripes on is the stabilizer and wheel pants.
Of course there are still panel lines to do. And touch ups. I guess Joe at the Tap Room Bar & Grille will have to count on tips from someone else. y1
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Hi Frank,
Forget the wimmin', Frank! There's more IMPORTANT things to do! **)
You don't know how impressed I am with the job you have done with the Heat! And I know fully well how much masking work you are doing. It takes a LOT of will power to do a job like that! y1
I hope it really really flys great! (and I'm sure it will!)
Bill <><
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Hi Frank,
Forget the wimmin', Frank! There's more IMPORTANT things to do! **)
You don't know how impressed I am with the job you have done with the Heat! And I know fully well how much masking work you are doing. It takes a LOT of will power to do a job like that! y1
I hope it really really flys great! (and I'm sure it will!)
Bill <><
Darn right WILL POWER!! Bill, I had to drag myself into the basement this weekend.........I'm over the hump now though. The rest should be a cakewalk. Thanks for the high compliments..............Now that I know you use opti-visors too I can guarantee that it will look great to you at the circle!! LL~
Now that I have a couple days while it gasses off I guess I'll mosey on back to the 1/2A department and see about getting cought up with Ray.
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Yea but it still will not fit in your truck!!! n~ <= LL~
Looks good Frank! H^^
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Yea but it still will not fit in your truck!!! n~ <= LL~
Looks good Frank! H^^
WELL NO, IT WON"T FIT IN MY TRUCK....................there is always that. I think what I'll do is use a piece of 1/2 inch plywood as large as the foot print of the plane and tie the gear to it and bungie cord the plywood to the truck. If the wings don't fold or if something else bad doesn't happen maybe I'll buy a cap for the truck. I sure hope I built it well enough to take the forces of flying the pattern with it. As I get closer to having it RTF I find myself reviewing how I built it. So far I think I'll have to do something stupid with it to get it to break.
I've got a lot of heart and soul into this one....................................................and fourteen months.......and hundreds of dollars..............and a lifetime of modeling dreams....................this model is well beyond my skill level for building and finishing..............if it works .........I'll probably build another one and doll it up more..........imagine how it's going to feel on the end of the lines with two .40s hauling it around at 53 MPH................and the plane is cool........there have been a lot of other multi engine models at the circle.......built and flown by guys much better at this than I am........but this plane has pizzazz..............Wayne Willie came up with the paint scheme, and I think he really nailed it..............
There will be pictures and video. And you know even without a picture or a minute of video I'll always remember this one.
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You better hope it only does 53 mph, or you better put rocks in your pockets. I imagine much faster and it'd be dragging you all over the circle...the spectators would always remember it too!
You've done an outstanding job on an outstanding design, Frank...my hat's off to you. I've been admiring this thing ever since you first posted pictures of it, and trying to imagine what flying it would be like. It'll be an unforgettable experience all right, and you've earned it. Don't forget the video camera...I want to hear those 2 .40s.
--Ray
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Anyone want to come up with a stooge to hold Frank to the center of the circle? I'm wondering where its gonna be safest, outside the circle watching or in the center holding onto Frank.
Bob
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Get the man a Speed pylon...
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Need to get a chair strapped to a merry go round for him. If I am there for flight #1 and it looks like he needs some anchoring, I will run out and give the softie a big hug. That should keep him in place.
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I'm happy that you fellows are finding so many laughs in this...............But really I'm short and fat. There will be no problem holding onto this plane. <=
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Frank,
The problem is not you holding the airplane, it is you holding your spot on the ground. Sure the lower center of gravity helps when it comes to tipping over, but you can't have good friction unless you have a lot of weight. What size lines can you use with that one? 0.021"?
John
Heavy and there for ya when ya needs me.
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Is Frank tipping going to become a new high school sport?
bob LL~
ps i'll go back to my sanding now HB~>
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John------not to worry, I'll hold my ground. It's gonna be great at the circle--I'll have my man size plane and all you guys will be flying your little girlie girl models. <= #^ <=
Bob--- you guys should be tipping me. For two years I've been entertaining y'all with the Bi-Slob. And now the HEAT--you know I built it just so you guys could get to watch it go.
Tonight I painted the Stars and Bars and the U.S.A.F. on the bottom of the wing. By weeks end I'll have all the stencils painted on. BTW---stencils are great! Back in the old days we cut our numbers and letters by hand. Now with stencils it's a breeze.
Over the weekend I'll paint the stabilizer and start the panel lines. Ya know I think this puppy will be ready to fly next month. Now if Art would just get those engines done......................
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Hi Frank,
You can use .018 solids ,I will be using them with My Stalker .81 . Windy U said that .021 braids use 1 foot
shorter lines . Also I will try to dig up an old VCR tape of the Original LA Heat at a contest in Fresno,Ca
with actual flying footage and close up video of this plane. I am not sure if I still have it but if I do I will send
it to you. Bob Whitley used two OS .35 S engines and 3 blade props. . Walter Hicks
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I'll probably try the solid lines as well as the braided. You know how it is...........once you start flying a model you keep putzing with it.
I'd sure like to see that video. I'll cover whatever costs you incur to get it to me.
Stalker .81. Big engine.
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Frank, Any chance you'll be posting some videos of this bad boys in action on you tube? ;D
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Frank, Any chance you'll be posting some videos of this bad boys in action on you tube? ;D
You betcha Steve............If I can I plan to get video right from the first flight. I'll be sure to share it. y1
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I've started getting panel lines on it. I don't plan to use lots and lots of them. Just a few. So far I have simulated trim tabs on flaps elevator and rudder.
Just a few more stencils to go too. I'm trying to think where to put my AMA license #.
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MAke you AMA number a 1" "outline numbers" (no color, just the outline) on the right flap in a *lightish* gray ink.
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Looking good, Frank. Make sure you have someone in the circle with you when you fly it the first time....to hold onto your belt. That's a BIG plane.
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all this talk bout the plane being big and the chance that I may have trouble flying it isn't damping my desire to fly it. Not even a little bit. In fact I want to fly it even more!! I know it's going to be a lot of fun.
I only have two more stencils to paint on it. And the stab and wheel pants need stripes and then I'm ready to start applying clear. After I get couple coats of clear on it, I'm heding to the circle. Gret timing too, as the weather is starting to turn toward spring. WOO HOOOOOOoooo. #^
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Hi Frank,
Just go to a local low end sporting goods store and get three or four weighted work out vests, and a dozen or so pairs of ankle weights! You will have a hard time getting to the center of the circle, but you WILL be firmly planted there! **)
It looks awesome, I only wish I could see it flyin' person.......
Tell ya what: You bring it to Muncie in July for Classic, and I'll finally finish the Vulcan and fly it in Classic! (uhhh..... I *think* that was a *challenge* ;D )
Bill <><
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Be sure and give it a good pull test before you fly it, Frank...don't want that one getting loose.
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MAke you AMA number a 1" "outline numbers" (no color, just the outline) on the right flap in a *lightish* gray ink.
This means a trip back to the Stencil Shop. But it is too good an idea not to do it. Thanks Bill.
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We're just giving you a bad time Frank. You'll be fine flying it. My buddy, Pat, did in fact give up on 60-65 sized planes for awhile because he thought that he was having to muscle them too much (he's all of 5'3" and a hundred and twenty pounds). But now he's back to somewhat bigger planes and having no problems. It's all in the trim. :)
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I know you guys are just razzin' me Randy.....and.......I'm glad ya'll like me well enough to do it.
I did get to thinking about the size and weight of the plane though. I had one once that weighed 64 ounces and didn't have any problem flying it. The Heat is going to come in around 70 ounces. That's not such a big difference. So far the only down side I see is that it won't fit in my truck.
I just got done painting the last two stencils. I'm getting ready now to get colors on the stab. The stab by the way spans 29 inches.
So far I have six different colors on the model.
Here is where it's at right now and since I have no life I'll spend tonite (SAturday) painting. ......well actually most of the evening will be spent masking.
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I like it Frank, thats a very clean pait scheme, should look nice in the air too!
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Mark, I'm up to steel wool on mine. Remind me never to put pearl in the clear again unless I'm shooting clear dope for topcoat. Man, my shoulder is sore.
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Frank,
When it's ready to go....I'll stop by and we can stick it in my full size truck and I'll meet you at the field......Ha Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha
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I'm finally back to the LA HEAT.................
Today I'm masking the stab which is the last area that needs stripes.
Here is a picture of the masking on the top.
NASCAR is running a new car at Bristol today so it may be tomorrow before I have the colors on it.
How many of you guys are NASCAR fans? Anyway.
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I live for Talladega!!!!
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Bristol and Martinsville,, best tracks on the circuit, though wathing those beasts negotiate the road courses is something spectacular as well
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49 cars doing 130 mph on a one mile track!!.............Kinda like monday morning rush hour traffic on the Ford Freeway here in Detroit.
I have all the stripes taped off on the stab and am pretty breathless. Listening to the race on the radio downstairs and rushing upstairs to the TV to see the cautions.
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Hey Frank: Bristol is a 1/2 mile track.
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So it's 98 cars doing a hundred and thirty on a half mile track. Twice as cool.
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Frank,
Well, they are working on a plan to put a NASCAR track about a mile from where I live. Kitsap County. Haven't decided yet if I like the idea, but no doubt, they won't ask my opinion. It's starting to look that the local legislature is going to pull it's head out of it's collective backsides and move forward on it. Hey, maybe they'll have a parking lot I can fly on. #^
Get going on the Heat. I got in the maiden flights on the Novi today. I'm smiling.
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Randy if they build a NASCAR track they'll have a big parking lot. Maybe they'll let you fly on it.
Hmmmmm.......I wonder what they do with the track when they aren't running NASCAR.
So I got the stab painted today. It took about 6 hours. I put brighter lights up in my shop and I use an Opti-Visor when I work on the plane. The magnification combined with the brighter light showed every little flaw. SHEESH!! I'm not such a great builder.
Anyway here are a few pix. The plane is pretty much the way it will look when I'm done. The canopy is still going to get a painted frame and I plan on adding some panel lines, but other than that it won't look much different than it does now.
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Frank, it's a real work of art.
--Ray
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Frank: It really looks great. The builder always spots all the flaws, someday my planes will look that bad. (I hope) CLP** CLP** CLP** CLP** CLP**
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Thanks Ray------I just gotta get this thing done. It's been 14 months in the doing. And the reason why I've temporarily put the Frankenstone Arrow on the back burner.
Lee your planes already look that bad. I've seen pix of your models, they're nice.
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Frank,
Looks really good here. That is just going to be a kick to fly, I bet.
Isn't it they way? 6 hours of taping for 2 minutes of painting. I'd think long and hard about the canopy frame. It looks really cool right now.
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Frank,
Looks really good here. That is just going to be a kick to fly, I bet.
Isn't it they way? 6 hours of taping for 2 minutes of painting. I'd think long and hard about the canopy frame. It looks really cool right now.
I did think long and hard about the canopy frame. In for a penny in for a pound.
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That's what I like; a man with guts. Go for it. >:D
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Some might say he don't know when to quit...but not me.
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Hey--no guts-no glory.
But consider this.......as soon as this plane is done I'm just going to build another stunter anyway. So there really isn't any reason not to go the whole ten yards on each model. Who knows maybe one day I'll get one perfect. y1
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I've certainly been accused of that. Get some hair-brained idea and instead of building a test plane, going the whole 9 yards with a full boogie competition plane. Some worked, some didn't but I learned a lot from every one. Especially what NOT to do.
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The Plane looks great Frank,I wish you the best on the test flights.It will be some time before any test flying happens here ,we still have about 3 ft of snow left on the ground ,but the good news it has been melting. Best of luck Frank and I hope it trims easy for you. :D
Dennis
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Frank,
At this rate, 14 months, if you keep on going this build may never end n~ . A friend of Mike Schmitt once said, "Sometimes good enough is good enough". I admire your persistence. I would have been burned out loooong ago HB~>.
Hey, I still don't see any engines. What's happening there?
DennisV
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Big Art did some work on the engines. I don't know what he did, or care. They always work good when I get them back from him. Anyway the engines are ready to pick up so I may have this plane done soon.
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Frank,
Remember, no finish (or plane, for that matter) is ever done, only abandoned. It's not if, it's when.
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Frank,
Remember, no finish (or plane, for that matter) is ever done, only abandoned. It's not if, it's when.
When is on it's way.....I guess the next one will need to be the perfect model, cuzz this one ain't.
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Well I spent another day doing touch ups. It's amazing how much I missed first time around. Of course my new and brighter lights are contributing. And the opti-visor.
Hey I'm getting there!!
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>>When is on it's way.....I guess the next one will need to be the perfect model, cuzz this one ain't.<<
No plane ever is. I've seen some that were close. A few that were true masterpieces, but not a one that the builder couldn't find fault and need to improve next time. I think that with every plane. Well, I learned something and will apply it next time.
Corrected for typo
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Hi Randy------After yesterdays' bout of touch ups I'm a bit more pleased with the model. It won't be perfect but I do believe I won't need to make excuses for it either. I have the weekend off so I'll probably be ready for clear coats by Monday.
I discovered on this one that a little lite rubbing with a Venus pencil eraser will tale away overspray, lettuce edging on tape lines and even the thumb print I left on the rudder when I was removing masking that the paint hadn't dried on yet.
So.................
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Frank,
Yep, eventually you decide, that's good enough. Sounds as if you use the same gauge I do. "Will this plane embarrass me at the next contest?"
If the answer is yes, you go back to work. If it's no, then that just became "good enough".
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Frank,
Yep, eventually you decide, that's good enough. Sounds as if you use the same gauge I do. "Will this plane embarrass me at the next contest?"
If the answer is yes, you go back to work. If it's no, then that just became "good enough".
Yup--you're right on the mark Randy. Good enuff is just around the corner.
If you look close you can see that I found a couple spots that need putty. They're close to a red stripe too. On this one everything is close to a red stripe.
I can't possibly figure or explain why making the plane pretty is so important. I know from your models that pretty is important to you too. But why? I mean when you look at contest pictures there are mostly ARFs and profiles or models with a stripe or two.
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Frank, me boy,
"Makin' it purty" is a case of pride in Craftsmanship that was a long time mainstay of the American craftsman. Some of us were raised with that type of teaching. It is just a "part of us".
Bill <><
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Frank, me boy,
"Makin' it purty" is a case of pride in Craftsmanship that was a long time mainstay of the American craftsman. Some of us were raised with that type of teaching. It is just a "part of us".
Bill <><
You know Bill, I've often had people say "you have a lot of patience". That may be so but, I think also it's like you said. Our generation was trained to be craftsmen. It's a part of us and there just isn't any getting away from it. And there is just another plane waiting to get built anyway so why rush through this one and not try to make it better than the last?
The first stunt plane I ever saw was a Gerry Phelps Patriot. I really liked it a lot. I could have bought it but owning the model wasn't good enuff, I had to be able to make one.
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You nailed it Frank! And "PATIENCE" is not a trait that has been taught, on consistent basis, for a long time! Hence, ARF/ARC popularity. Nothing wrong with them since there are many who would not take the time to build........ so they still get to fly.
BUT! Go ahead, finsh what you're doing, and shoot the clear!!!!!! LL~ LL~ H^^
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When the "patience" remark comes up, I always say that it's persistance and anticipation.
I'm willing to persist and do the work in anticipation of rendering an above average project. A lot of guys say I wish I could do that when they should be saying I wish I would do that.
O.K.--just a few more touch ups and some panel lines and I'll call it quits and shoot the clear.
Then I'll start a new plane.
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I get the same comments about patience all the time, I do restoration work on cars, and now do Cad coordination full time, its tedious and paintsaking work. I have NO patience,, I want it done, I suppose thats why I am always looking for more efficient ways to approach a process. to me, someone who does crosstitch or needlepoint, thats patience, when I am building, its focus and persistance, until I give up, then its time to fly the beast,,If I had patience, well I wouldnt ever finish a plane, or a project, I would be willing to keep going on it till it was perfect, which it aint ever gonna be,,,
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well said Mark......
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I get the same comments about patience all the time, I do restoration work on cars, and now do Cad coordination full time, its tedious and paintsaking work. I have NO patience,, I want it done, I suppose thats why I am always looking for more efficient ways to approach a process. to me, someone who does crosstitch or needlepoint, thats patience, when I am building, its focus and persistance, until I give up, then its time to fly the beast,,If I had patience, well I wouldnt ever finish a plane, or a project, I would be willing to keep going on it till it was perfect, which it aint ever gonna be,,,
Hi Mark,
Completely off topic, but you mention needle point. For some odd reason it struck my memory bank that Rosey Grier (all Pro, NFL Hall of Fame) who was a defensive tackle from the LA Rams does needle point. Just ironic to me! ;D
Bill <><
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I did some work on a ladies house last week. Her mom does needlepoint. To perfection. She's got some work there that I would qualify as art. The woman is in her seventies, she has very beautiful hands. You can almost see the artist in them.
As for me.........I seem to have an endless capacity for cutting tape, masking areas, and spraying them. Yesterday I was touching up white spots, but today I thought I'd give myself a treat and touch up blue. I re-did the blue srtipe on the vertical fin. I like it a lot better now. Still have the other side to do. I also did touch ups in some small areas. I've observed that the harder the area is to work on the more likely I will have to do touch ups on that area.
I'm using a Campbell-Hausfeld cordless compressor and a Paasche airbrush with a #5 nozzle. The battery finally ran down so now I get a break while it recharges.
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Someone said we are a generation that was trained to be craftsman and I suppose that's true. I figure, if it makes me happy, that's enough. Luckily, what makes me happy these days is in excess of what the judges will give good scores to. Which is why, I suppose, I'm never really happy with a plane's finish.
I will say that at least some of that tenacity and drive to do a good job must be genetic. My son is a composer and is in a band. I've watched him work endlessly (it seems) on one project or another and slave over what seems to me are the most trifling details or playing the same sequence over a hundred times with the most microscopic changes. When I ask him about it, he says it will be done when he is happy with it...an he ain't happy yet.
I'd like to argue, but what can I say?
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I suppose I'm genetically more easily pleased than you gents...is why my planes look the way they do.
--Ray
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I suppose I'm genetically more easily pleased than you gents...is why my planes look the way they do.
--Ray
That's a blessing Ray..........I'm doing all this work for a few seconds worth of glory.
Your planes are always very well built and finished Ray.
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I'm sure every body already knows this but........................
One of the biggest problems with airbrushing is the nozzle getting clogged. The best way to get around this is to have one bottle filled with thinner and every time you're done spraying a color, immediately run thinner through the brush. The bottle in the picture with the airbrush on it is the thinner bottle.
You also need a board to test spray on before you try it on the plane. This gets the thinner out of the brush and gives you a chance to set the spray width to accomodate the area you want to cover.
Jelly jars make perfect containers that are easier to pour from than the cans the paint comes in.
It's all about having lots of bottles.
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Captain's Log -- Stardate whatever...................
Have wrapped it up for the day. The Heat is nearing completion. Used another 6 yards of masking tape.
Note to self.........Use replicator for next plane.
Plane looks essentially the same as last dozen pictures, but it is cleaner. Tomorrow I will paint the red stripes into the stars and bars insignia and add paint detail to canopy.
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On the craftsmanship comments, I learned an interesting lesson from a close friend a few years back. He and I have both been boat builders for most of our life. We both do work to a very high quality level both for ourselves and for customers. Its that same never ending search for perfection. One of the difficult things to determine as so many on this thread have commented is determining when you are done. My perspective changed dramatically one day when I visited Ron's shop.
He had just finished a custom decked solo canoe for a customer. One of Ron's specialties is taking a clear gel coated carbon fiber & kevlar hull (carbon outside, kevlar inside) and rolling the side of the boat into a deck made of 3 inch wide strips of 150 year old Spanish Cedar. He always places an exterior edge of the board along each seam. The exterior side of the boards have oxidized over the century and a half since they were cut. The wood is bright orange, with dark red widely spaced grain, and the oxidized layer extends about 3/8 inch into the board and looks like it has been airbrushed a darker reddish brown. When its all varnished and the edge the the hull capped with a 1 1/2 wide gold kevlar tape they are breathtaking works. Ron's Varnish skills are consumate with his boatbuilding skills and the boats look dipped. They are obviously highly sought one off works of art to high skill canoeists.
The day I was in his shop the boat he had finished was, well, nice, but definately up to the level of finish in the varnish Ron normally did. I debated asking him about it but since we have been paddling partners for the better part of 15 years at the time and also worked together on a number of building projects I did ask him how come? His answer changed how I view my work. "You have to decide when to finish every project. To know when you are done you have to know your customer." My response was a befuttled "excuse me." He explained that the customer was a deep wilderness paddler whose normal trip was 30 to 45 days thru the Canadian bush. His idea of a portage trail was one he cut with the 24 inch machette he always carried with him. He wanted a decked boat to decrease the effect of wind on large lakes and keep gear dry during the rains he encountered without having to unrig a snap on cloth deck. The boat was going to be bushwacked through some of the roughest terrain in North America and no way would the boat or deck come out unscathed at all. He told me if he had done his normal museum level finish the customer would have been appreciative but would have bemoaned the damage he would do to it and would in all liklihood not take the boat on the trips he had commissioned it for. The way the customer had a very nice boat that would suit his purpose and he would use it as intended. I asked Ron how he felt about it. He was exstatic with how it turned out. He built it to the use and intent of his customer. I spoke with the man years later. The boat had indeed been beaten up pretty good. He was tremendously proud of it and had enjoyed it immensly.
Maybe in our building and finishing we need to decide who the customer is. Us, a judge, someone looking at our plane, the people we fly with? I have found it much easier to decide when I am done ever since this experience, whether its something for a customer, or myself.
Bob Branch
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That's a great story Bob.
I guess my customer would be the guys I'll be flying with. I won't be bushwhacking through the wilderness with it.(Although getting it through doorways and in and out of cars is quite treacherous). And the surface I'll be taking off and landing on will be either concrete, macadam or closely mown turf. I guess I'll go for shiney.
I'd sure like to see a picture of a canoe or two that you built.
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Bob,
In my case, the customer is me. While I certainly want to have a plane that is presentable at a contest, in the end, I'm the only one I have to make happy. I've built several planes that I was more or less pleased with. A couple that were really pretty good finishes and garnered points at contests (my personal high is 19 points). I've yet to build a plane that, when completed, I could say, well, that's as good as I can do. A couple have been close. I feel my Masterpiece (defined as the best work I can do) is yet to come. Hope so, anyway.
As an aside, I find it odd that I sort of know when a plane is going to be a good one when I'm drawing it. Every so often, I get a sort of vision of the plane when it will be completed. Usually comes with a complete finish already visualized. That happened with the plane I just started. I already know exactly how I will paint and how. Even have the paint process (as far as do this and then do this) figured out. This may be The One! <= or not HB~>
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Go Randy Go................I think this next one will be what? The third one for you in the last year??
I'll be watching for pics.
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The new one is sort of a Dangerous on steroids.
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Randy
That's good! You know its you and you have decided what you want as a result. I know that sort of sounds obvious, but it did create a paradigm shift for me. I decided for my recreations I no longer needed perfection. I've spent so many hours working at it I find that now i don't need it for myself. I have changed to more enjoyment of doing rather than creating. My hats off to folks striving for perfection. There are still things I do it in, but they are all in my vocation now. In my recreations now I'm more into a relaxed appreciation. But that is "my" customer. I love to see the work of folks striving for perfection. I remember thinking at one point in my life that I had attained it in my boatbuilding. Then I went to the EAA Oshkosh Flyin and Airshow for the first time and saw the joints in some of the wood aircraft. ... It was humbling. In some of them only way you could identify a joint was by a change in the direction of the grain. Sigh. HB~>
Bob
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Bob,
I know that feeling. I get it every time I go to the NW Regionals and look at the flight line. ~^
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Once a long time ago I had a plane I was really proud of. It wound up in the 13th row at the Nats. I guess in some ponds a person is a trophy fish and in others a bottom feeder. Or worse yet....chum.
Same with the flying.
I am grateful that there are no ugly fish. AND........I can easily live with being thrown back in rather than being mounted on a plaque.
Of course I'm not a fish...........So I'll be spending another weekend working on a model plane and dreaming of being in the front row.
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Bob, Randy, Frank.........
I have enjoyed reading this thread (of late!). It has pointed out what makes us tick as far as how we build and finish.
As far as the "Masterpiece", Randy, that is never done in our lifetime. Like the great artists in history, they are only recognised as such once we are gone!
We will always strive to make the next one better.....
Bill <><
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Three hours in and I'm ready to shoot paint.........
WHY IS IT CALLED - COCKPIT?
Bill---does "of late" mean that you haven't been entertained by the rest of it?
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(snip)
Bill---does "of late" mean that you haven't been entertained by the rest of it?
LOL!!!!!! No Frank, it was just this "twist" about the "workmanship/craftsmanship" that recently peaked my interest in a different way.
The LA Heat has been fascinating to watch develop, it has just been SO LONG a time spread! LL~
I love to see your work, it is top drawer.
Bill <><
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That's a relief.
It's something how each of us has a different notion/reason for doing it.
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That's a relief.
It's something how each of us has a different notion/reason for doing it.
Actually, it's all the same, we love it!
Bill <><
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This really bites the big one!!!! I spent all those hours masking the canopy and getting everything just such and so.........
and the dang paint didn't stick!! HB~>
And now, when I was so close to being done I have a big boo boo to fix. I know you told me so Randy, but I had this vision of the coolest canopy in the history of stuntdom. Dang,Darn,Shoot!!! HB~>
I ain't givin' up!! This little no good ####### isn't going to ##########beat me at my own######game!!### # ## #####and I ######mean it!!!!!!!#####..... HB~>
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Somehow it's comforting to know I'm not the only one that ever has masking/paint problems. Remember this little disappointment?
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Oh yes I remember this one. The Sharpie saved the day and we all learned that there is salvation in even the most dire circumstaces. The outline did the trick. It was a great save on your part.
I puttied up the canopy yesterday evening as I had found that there was a seperation line that became glaringly apparent after I unmasked the canopy. Today I'll take another crack at it.
Doesn't it seem like the bad stuff always happens where it can be seen and always near the end of the project?
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Better to catch it/fix it now, than to be bothered by it every time you look at the plane for the rest of its life. Put out the effort now, and you'll be proud of it every time you look at it instead! And that, by the way, my friend Frank, is a plane to be justly proud of.
--Ray
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Why thank you Ray.............yup I'll just keep putting away at it...at some point it will be ready to fly....I've been sanding the red stuff off of it this morning...today I can mask it off and give it another go......one thing for sure is it will have less flaws than before.......my, my so much fun........
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Frank
You just need to turn down the presurization differential to the cockpit. That way you will not blow it open.
Bob
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in my haste to build this model I did not install pressurization differential module.....I reasoned that since max altitude obtained would be 70 feet I could do without it. In the future precognition and forewarning would be greatfully appreciated.
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Frank,
I assume you're shooting dope. The paint probably didn't stick because you were too diligent in sanding it. You may need to rough up the area of the canopy you are painting and perhaps put a small amount of primer on there.
Good luck. It's this nonsense at the very end that is always frustrating and prompts us to say, that's good enough. I'll just shoot clear on the silly thing and be done. Good on you for hanging in there.
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Hey Randy-----
I've wet sanded the red stuff and the canopy with 400 grit paper. Naturally after I'd sanded it all down smooth there were still a couple spots that demanded more attention and putty. I'm waiting for it to dry and then I'll rub it some more.
I'm really good at doing something over and over and over again, so I'm going to mask it off again and try for the detail I want. I've got all day.
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Frank,
Might want to look at 320 for sanding so that you leave a little tooth for the paint to adhere to.
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That's a good idea. I'd still have to get it down to a much finer grit after it's painted. At 400 it stays foggy even with clear on it.
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That's a good idea. I'd still have to get it down to a much finer grit after it's painted. At 400 it stays foggy even with clear on it.
600-800 on the clear areas has always seemed to do fine before shooting the clear since we "rub out" the clear afterwards. I have gone to 2000 on the clear areas first, but I don't anymore.
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Just got back from a weekend with my parents,, long long weekend, I just quit smoking last week and my dad still smokes, ,grrrrr, wanna talk about patience?
anyway, my perspective is again changed, I need to quit making pretty planes for now, I lost my practice ship to a flameout, now I only have my contest ship to fly, and for a rookie this aint good! so I guess I need to just succumb to logic and throw together a couple well built hashed up monokote planes instead of painting them,, sigh,, its so against my nature but ,, well I guess ,,
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Mark,
This is the reason ARFs were made (in my opinion). Get a Tutor ARF or whatever (Cardinal, Oriental, your choice) and fly the poop out of it. Save those gorgeous paint jobs for when you feel comfortable. Wish you were here (or I was there). We could fly together. Coaching really helps move things along.
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Mark,
This is the reason ARFs were made (in my opinion). Get a Tutor ARF or whatever (Cardinal, Oriental, your choice) and fly the poop out of it. Save those gorgeous paint jobs for when you feel comfortable. Wish you were here (or I was there). We could fly together. Coaching really helps move things along.
Hi Mark,
I agree with Randy! But, then again, that happens a lot. y1 The ARF/ARC is a great tool to get a lot of "comfortable" flights with. The "emotional attachment" just isn't the same.
On the other topic of "COACHING", it is necessary, and I just WISH I had someone to fly with! **)
Bill <><
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Frank,
The heat is looking good, but it still will not fit in your truck!!!! LL~
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It might fit in my truch after I stomp it into the ground Paul.........
For some reason (ineptitude?) I just can't seem to get this right!! I've just gotten done painting the canopy area for the second time. First time I tried to be fancy and the paint came off with the tape. AAaargh!! Had to putty sand etc.
This time I managed to get paint where I didn't want it to go. I'm feeling very much the amateur today.,, HB~>
I didn't even see that the masking had pulled away......not till too late anyway.
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I mean.................just look at that!!! Can it get any worse????????????? HB~>
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Frank: Take a deep breath, take the dog out and run around the block. It won't fix the BOO BOO but now you'll be more worried about breathing again. Or you could do this HB~> HB~> HB~> HB~> HB~> HB~> HB~> HB~> HB~> HB~> HB~> HB~> HB~>
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Oooooopppppsssss...Don't give up now, Frank...
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I mean.................just look at that!!! Can it get any worse????????????? HB~>
If it had happened to the other side the same way, it would be fine! It would look like it belonged there, or something...............
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I finally got a break which wasn't my neck...................I was crying on John Paris's shoulder over the phone.
He said use some 91% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol.
Idid. It worked.
I rubbed a little too hard in one spot and took a little white off but that's an easy touch up. In close to the lettering I rubbed it with a pencil eraser after I swiped some rubbing alcohol on the spot. It worked just fine.
I tried 50% but it wasn't strong enough. You need 91%. So give it a try next time you get overspray.
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Fantastic Frank, Glad to hear it. CLP** CLP** CLP** CLP** CLP** (PE**) (PE**) (PE**) (PE**) (PE**) (PE**) (PE**) (PE**) (PE**)
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BEFORE AND AFTER......................what a relief to have an easy fix!!
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I gave myself a treat and added the red stripe to the stars and bars insignia.
I met Big Art at the Toledo Show..........he gave me the two Brodak .40s he reworked for the LA Heat.
So I'm going to be finished pretty soon. I figure I can shoot clear next week sometime.
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Put one just like it on the other side it'll look like one of them modern gaphics. S?P
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Good idea Mike, but I fixed it. There are before and aafter pix posted a couple replys back. It turned out to be easy to fix.
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I must have missed a whole page on this thread. I'd call it old age but I'm just a pup compaired to most of you guys. HB~>
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I'm closer to being done but there are still miles to go.
A little more painting. Polish canopy. Clear coats. Assembly of parts. Cut spinners to match props. Solder fuel tanks. Run in engines. Paint and balance props. Sheesh!! Still lots of work before I get to fly it.
I put the wheels on it and screwed the engines in. I just weighed it-----62 oz. sans fuel tanks.
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Too cool for words.
--Ray
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Difficult too Ray...........I'm so tired. And the work goes on.
2 1/2 inch nose wheel--2 3/4 inch main gear. It'll take off and land anywhere.
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Too cool for words.
--Ray
15 foot lines, Ray?
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Frank,
shame we can't pass a rule to extend the line length 5 or so feet. You could use it. But then, we've have to expand all the circles. Have a hard enough time finding places to fly as it is. :)
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Frank,
shame we can't pass a rule to extend the line length 5 or so feet. You could use it. But then, we've have to expand all the circles. Have a hard enough time finding places to fly as it is. :)
70 feet will do Randy........but how about that weight? I've seen single engine 46s weigh more. Man I hope I didn't forget to put something in there. <=
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15 foot lines, Ray?
Sure, why not; go for it, Frank...bring it over to my back yard, we'll buzz those tree branches back.
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oh boy......................
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It's almost ready for clear.
I heard that sales for the LA Heat kit have picked up since I started posting about the one I'm building. Who'da thought. Whoever is buying them will have quite a build on their hands. The plane is large.
I took it outside it still won't fit in my truck. Ain't that a shame...........
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Hi Frank,
You're a better man than me!!!!!!!!!! H^^
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Hi Frank,
You're a better man than me!!!!!!!!!! H^^
Anyone could do the same thing Bill. y1
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Anyone could do the same thing Bill. y1
No way I could put that effort into a C/L plane right now................. many can, and I *could*, but I won't! I can't finish up a 1/2A Snapper..............
I salute you! y1
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No way I could put that effort into a C/L plane right now................. many can, and I *could*, but I won't! I can't finish up a 1/2A Snapper..............
I salute you! y1
Could is the key word Bill. You could, I could, anybody could.
You hit it on the nail with effort and time. Put those two things in it and it's a can do.
So far I've gotten a new stunter out every spring for the last four years. I just steal an hour here and an afternoon there.
Tomorrow me, Curt and John are getting together for our first stunt session of the season.
Shoot, you know what? I shouldn't be spending so much time at this myself.
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Tell Curt and John, HI! (as long as it's Nixon and Paris, I know those two scoundrels! **) )
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I'll tell 'em hi for you.
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I'll tell 'em hi for you.
While you're at it......... tell 'em that if they're MAN enogh, they can come on down to Huntersville in June for a butt whoopin'!
LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ H^^
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I'll tell 'em...........Huntersville , what? (state) North dam Carolina?
Ken hukin Tucky?
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I'll tell 'em...........Huntersville , what? (state) North dam Carolina?
Ken hukin Tucky?
North By God Carolina!! The first weekend in June...............CaptCurt knows the place well...... He lived within a couple miles of me and I didn't even know it!
BTW: tell ol' CaptCurt that I haven't forgotten about the BOBFGC match he challenged me to! **)
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Actually MY first stunt session of the season was this morning---Man it was awesome, too bad my flying didn't match the weather!!
I haven't forgotten Bill... Probably wont make June, but am planning on October--I figure you'll need the practice....
Now if its gonna be a team thing, look out.. the Michigan guys have whooped some serious butt in other folks' pumpkin patches for a couple a years now..
See ya soon Big Guy!
Stay healthy--I don't wanna hear no stinkiing excuses!
Curt
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Actually MY first stunt session of the season was this morning---Man it was awesome, too bad my flying didn't match the weather!!
I haven't forgotten Bill... Probably wont make June, but am planning on October--I figure you'll need the practice....
Now if its gonna be a team thing, look out.. the Michigan guys have whooped some serious butt in other folks' pumpkin patches for a couple a years now..
See ya soon Big Guy!
Stay healthy--I don't wanna hear no stinkiing excuses!
Curt
Glad to hear from you! I thought you might be off in hidin' somewheres....
**) **)
Any "limits" on the ships to be used in the "Challenge Match"?? I figured they should at least be some sort of "profile". Engines??
Take REAL GOOD CARE of yourself. ;D
Looking forward to seeing you soon. I am 99.9% positive I will be in Muncie in July. Something going on there ....hmmmm... the NATS??
October it is. y1 LL~ LL~ LL~
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Bill,
The Michigan guys are in tune and look to dominate and have the most fun of any group at any contest. The BOBFGC match sounds good, but we had better get a Texas size center circle or we will have to be hugging while duking it out.
John ;D
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It's almost ready for clear.
I heard that sales for the LA Heat kit have picked up since I started posting about the one I'm building. Who'da thought. Whoever is buying them will have quite a build on their hands. The plane is large.
I took it outside it still won't fit in my truck. Ain't that a shame...........
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Maybe (?) washing it in hot water will shrink it?
Worked on my wool sweater years ago! Also got me fired from "washing duties!" LL~
Roger
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Hey Bill...............
Paris and Nixon delivered. Now you can tell them everything you want without counting on me to remember!
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Hey Bill...............
Paris and Nixon delivered. Now you can tell them everything you want without counting on me to remember!
Just had to flush 'em out! **) **)
Thanks, Buddy!
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I was busy making some room on the mantle....
Curt
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Well Bill, We got in the first session of the year. For me it was a 150 mile round trip 12 hour day with way too much sun. Curt and John are non-stop flyers. I mentioned I was ready to quit and that I was hungry and tired John made a wise remark so I flew till the prop came off my plane.
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I was busy making some room on the mantle....
Curt
Well there, good Buddy......... you lived here so I'm sure you haven't forgotten one of our wise ol' sayin's........"don't you'uns go countin' them thar chickens afor they hatch!"
C'ya soon!
(I'll be in the weight room rehabbing my leg.........)
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Ya know, it was always hard countin them shickens on the old homestead in S pines cause the C-130 and Huey's flying over to the drop zones were back-washin the pine tops!! :)
It'd make the dogs go bonkers.
Curt
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I'm spraying the first coat of clear tomorrow.
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Farnk,
Is it done yet? HB~>
Just about ready to frame the wing on my new plane. :)
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Hi Randy,
Almost done..............I've decided that it's good enough. I'm cleaning the spray gun tomorrow and filling the compressor and mixing clear.
I have two more stencils to get ( my license # and the name) I guess I'll put them between clear coats. I'm going to try airbrushing the letters and numbers in a graduating pattern from yellow on top to red at the bottom. I'll post pics.
This weekend I'll run about 20 oz of fuel through each engine on a test stand.
With luck it'll be ready to fly by the end of next week.
Then I'll start a new plane. That sounds familiar doesn't it?
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Frank,
Outstanding!. I look forward to seeing it.
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O.K.----- I'm an idiot!! I couldn't leave well enough alone. SEE PICTURE.......I'm going to do my license # next.
Man this is some hard stuff to do........no wonder profile and ARF models are so popular!! y1
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Hey Frank, I think you may have misplaced a flap there...
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Hey Frank, I think you may have misplaced a flap there...
Hmmmmmmmmm........ %^
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Ya done really good Frank !!! The job with your last name is fantastic.
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Lookin real sharp Frank,, I like it tons,, cant wait for the flight reports!!!
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thanks guys---I ran the engines together on the bench yesterday ..WAY COOL!! y1
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I got a coat of clear on it today. Added retarder and right now it's kind of rubbery, I guess I put in a little too much.
The clear is showing lots of places I could have done better with the finish. I hope sanding and rubbing it out will make a lot of it go away.
I ran the engines again today. One of them won't hold a needle setting. I swapped for another NIB .40 and after a few runs it seems to be o.k. I've gone through a half gallon of fuel so far and I have one engine that's running great and two that are iffy. I only have 9 or 10 gals of fuel left. At 8 oz. a flight that ain't much.
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I especially like the personal "Carlisle" touch on the fin. Hope Coke doesn't sue for copyright infringement...
--Ray
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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?
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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
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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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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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.
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Hey Frank: I was going to order some Clear and thinner, did you leave any for the rest of us ??? LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~
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There's still aa little dope left at Brodak's Lee. That stash is safe from me for a couple months. y1
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Hi Frank,
I found the VCR tape of the Original LAHeat Is your address the same ? Walter Hicks
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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?
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Frank, I think lots of us are looking forward to the LA Heat's maiden flight as much as you are!
--Ray
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Frank, I think lots of us are looking forward to the LA Heat's maiden flight as much as you are!
--Ray
(PE**) I agree with you, Ray! We are all waiting with baited breath for the initial flight report!
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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.......................................... #^
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I am more than positive that it will be well worth the long process of building and finishing it!
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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
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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. y1
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I smelled the grape at Brodak's one year! It's neat. y1
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Just when you think you've heard it all....can I get some in chocolate?
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sorry Ray..............no chocolate
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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.
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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! LL~ Steve
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Steve, you better be carefull, with Regionals next weekend, you could jinx us,,,, If it rains it will be your fault now!
HB~> n~
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!!
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LOOK NO COWLING
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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.?
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Frank: That is just OUTSTANDING!!! BW@ BW@ BW@ BW@ BW@ BW@ BW@ and your secret is safe with me I won't breath a word of it to anyone LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ honest I won't (PE**) (PE**) (PE**) (PE**) (PE**) (PE**)
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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Frank,
You gotta post everything.... wouldn't be the same any other way!
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Frank, i couldn't,t agree more with Tom. You have saved me much grief, in building mine. Ron. <=
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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."
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So how come I still do?
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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. n~
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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!
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Frank your plane is awesome, y1 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
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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!!
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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.!!
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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.
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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.
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>>If you have hints, advice or comments let's hear 'em.<<
Uh, be careful?
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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........... y1
serves me right. The picture is where it's at right now. There are lots of screws.
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Hey Frank: Will the APC's fit in the spinners ?? or do you have to adjust them ?
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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.
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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. y1
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.
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Frank,
My wife never complains about my hobbies. She figures it keeps me out of the bars. n1
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my wife left a year ago come July..sigh. I'm a rotten husband. Still miss her badly...sigh. DK^ 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.
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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
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No problem Ray..........no bottle for me. And at least Linda didn't up and die. She's out there somewhere and I hope she's having a good life.
But back to modeling.................I ran up the engines a little while ago.
They both hold well enough to the needle that it will be flyable. It started to rain so we didn't have a chance to run the engines together. Right now it looks like I won't get enough run time on 10% nitro. I'll probably have to get some 5%. I have a 4 oz. maximum fuel capacity for each engine. With 10% it takes 4 1/4 oz. to go all the way to a 6:45 fuel run. 5% will give me the run time required and for now I can run the 10% for initial flight tests.
On the down side----A prop flew off on start up on the inboard engine ( flooded condition with low charge on ignitor) and instead of sticking in Jan it stuck in the wing. It's an overnight fix though. Like I said before modeling is cheap entertainment. A fix is just more play time. Still a bummer though. I must say it was exciting, stuff flew everywhere. After a 20 minute search we retrieved all the pieces and went on to a couple of successful runs.
OOOOooooo...........I'm getting close to being able to fly this bugger.
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http://www.rsmdistribution.com/index-2.htm
follow the link above---when the page comes up----click cl kits---then click full fuselage kits----then scroll down to LA HEAT.
I think it's really cool that Eric would use a picture of my kit built LA HEAT for his web site. I'm honored.
This kit is great as are all of the other kits and goodies RSM has to offer. While you're there give yourself a treat and check out the whole line. I bet you'll find three models you'd like to build.
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On the down side----A prop flew off on start up on the inboard engine ( flooded condition with low charge on ignitor) and instead of sticking in Jan it stuck in the wing. It's an overnight fix though. Like I said before modeling is cheap entertainment. A fix is just more play time. Still a bummer though. I must say it was exciting, stuff flew everywhere. After a 20 minute search we retrieved all the pieces and went on to a couple of successful runs.
On the other hand, if it had stuck in Jan he'd heal all by himself, no effort from you necessary! (You don't have to tell Jan I said that.)
You're getting really good at repairs...
--Ray
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On the other hand, if it had stuck in Jan he'd heal all by himself, no effort from you necessary! (You don't have to tell Jan I said that.)
You're getting really good at repairs...
--Ray
Yes exactly.....Jan would heal up all by himself and he'd even look a little more cavalier with a nice jagged scar. But the plane? No such luck I gotta do it myself. Like you say Ray---I am getting good at making repairs.
And speaking of repairs----here is the next one I'll be making. As soon as I get back from Brodak I'm going to get to work on this.
I was just heading into the second loop of the cloverleaf when TWAAAANG!! a line broke and the plane did too. It sucked big time. It happened about 3 weeks ago and I'm just now starting to consider how I'm going to get it back together. The loss is much more significant than if it had been an ARF. Yup I like high stakes when it comes to flying model planes. I've been keeping this one a secret till I knew for sure that I could repair it to like new condition. I see another long thread in my future. And a big plus is the plane is already paid for and now I get to build it a second time. Now that's what I call getting a lot of value out of your entertainment dollar.
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Looks kinda like my LittleAxe; I didn't have the stomach to take photos. Be sure to go deep enough to find every bit of damage...the more covering I stripped off, the more balsa pieces fell out. I finally have tackled the rebuild and have the wing back on, new ribs, tip, flap replaced, ready for LE sheeting. Then I gotta tackle the fuselage, shattered over and behind the wing. A lot of it stayed with the wing when it folded forward.
My philosophy as developed through the years is, If you're gonna fly, you're gonna crash; just get your mind set for it. If you don't want to crash, build display models. Now I can add your excellent attitude about getting yet more building enjoyment out of a wreck! Just think, in my earlier days I could entertain myself for practically nothing/hour! Combat will do that...
--Ray
--Ray
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I'm going to dig deep Ray. Haven't quite worked out the procedure for the rebuild yet but it's coming.
On rainy days I sleep a lot. So I've been sleeping off and on for the last 18 hours. I'm rested. And when I'm rested I can see things from a different angle.
A thought I had a little while ago is that each man's destiny requires a certain amount of loss and heartache. Call it a necessary excercise to temper the soul. The loss of a plane that we slaved over to get built just right and spent huge amounts of our limited time here on the planet to accomplish probably registers high on the universres richter scale of human folly and disaster. Hence when one of our models crashes we are spared some other form of tragedy.
And when we rebuild and repair our crashes the universe likely accepts this as a penance we are paying to atone for our folly. Which then results in a state of grace which further insulates us from the trickery of a cruel and treacherous world.
The moral of the story is hold nothing back. Spare no effort in the accomplishment of getting something right.
Amen. Go in peace. And may all your crashes be attributable to something other than pilot error. #^
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I get it...a zero-sum game. If only.
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I gotta make a box to carry the Heat in before I can fly it.
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H-e-y-y-y-y-y-y.....that's not your truck!!
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Frank,
I know how you feel on the crash. I splatted the Novi at the Regionals last weekend. Repairable, but still, I hardly got to fly it. It will take rebuilding the outboard wing. I may do it eventually.
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Randy I'm sorry to hear you splatted............. SH^....I knew there'd be a use for this emoticon. It's sad to crash. A lot of time and work gets lost.
I'm starting to look at Victory more closely now after 3 or 4 weeks since the incident. Only guys who build their own know what it's like to lose a plane for any reason.
I have a new bummer happening right now-------misery does love company doesn't it? ANYWAY .......the bummer is this.
I definitely can't carry the LA Heat in my truck. A cap won't do the trick because I think it needs to be transported sitting on it's wheels and even with a cap I'd have to rest it on it's nose and a wing tip. The nose is balsa and too soft I think to take the knocking around.
I have a box half built that I could fasten to the bed of my truck but the box has gotten huge. I'm having a problem trying to come up with a solution to create a roof for it. I had thought I'd use 1/4" luann but it would sag too much in the middle.
I just now quit working on it till I can think something up.
So now I have a new plane RTF and I can't get it to the circle.
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HOw about that corrugated plastic stuff, an inch or more from top of coorugation to bottom. Fiberglass I think.
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Frank, my friend, 1/2 inch ply for the bottom with anchors to tether the LG in place. With all the braces between your runners 1/4" luann can't really sag on the sides or tops. Line it with a bed pad of egg crate foam, hinge the top at the "front" (where it is near the truck cab) and put a small hasp on the rear (a dog clip will work to keep it closed), and apply some thick self stick weatherstripping where it's going to contact the trucks fenders. I think you could probably ship it ups made like that. Your structure has plenty of supports in it and the "skin" is just to keep stuff off the plane. Personally, I would screw everything together in stead of nails.
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Ray, Bill, I went to Home Depot to browse for ideas. I like your ideas well enuff but there are a couple of considerations I need to point out.
The box is 58x 68 inches by 16 inches tall.
First -- I'll have to slide the plane into the box ( picture a pizza oven) because it's a hard reach up on top of the truck. I'd have to take a step ladder. And how could you possibly support a lid that's nearly 60 x 70 inches? If it was a take off lid where would you put it? And I'd run the risk of dropping the lid on the plane.
If I made the thing entirely of ply wood it would be a real chore to lift it onto the truck. It would be heavy and it's size would be awkward to handle. And this needs to be a job I can do by myself.
I used finishing nails because screws would split the wood. I'm going to make ply gussets for the corners.
I found some very cool looking 3/4" X 4ft. X 8ft. rigid styrofoam construction insulation. It is coated with shiny silver on one side and clear plastic film on the other. So the box would be waterproof and cool ( as in temperature wise). I think I'll use two sided carpet tape and pan head screws to fasten it to the sides of the box--ON THE INSIDE. It will provide a bumper fpr the plane. And stiffen the structure.
1/4" luaun for the floor backed up with 1x2 pine beams will give n me a solid bottom.
!x2 beams across the top and the styro sheeting for skin.
I have metal L-brackets that I can fasten to the tonneau cover frame and screw to the sides of the box to keep it there.
I think the styro will stop road debris from penetrating to the interior of the box.
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To make it easy to put it in the box. Hinge the back panel as a door, and use a second sheet of ply on the bottom that you can pull out and push in after attaching the airplane to it.
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Excellent idea Don. I'll use it. Thankyou. I can always use a latch and padlock to secure it.
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Sorry, Frank, I didn't realize you wouldn't be able to reach up there and put it in the box. I wasn't hinking about that. But then, again, I wouldn't have a problem putting it in the box, and if it was under 200 lbs, It would be a piece of cake for me. I guess I need to consider things first. My Bad. ;D
H^^
Bill <><
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If we were neighbors Bill I'd build a box big enough for both of our planes.......because you'd be there to get them in and out.
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Frank,
Hmmm, aluminum arches and canvas?
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If we were neighbors Bill I'd build a box big enough for both of our planes.......because you'd be there to get them in and out.
Hi Brother Frank,
If we were neighbors, I would be more than happy to do that task for you! There are some advantages to being an ex-powerlifter even if I do suffer from post concussion syndrome! ** (sadly, it's true.......)
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Post Concussion Syndrome?
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Post Concussion Syndrome?
Yeah, it seems I had way too many concussions back when I was playing ball. The last ten years of playing I had what Doctor's consider a concussion almost daily, sometimes more than once a day..... Supposedly my total lack of any kind of headache in the past 30 odd years is one possible good side effect! The fact that my short term memory can have MAJOR glitches (way more so than "the aging effect") is one of the down sides. I had to have a cat scan of my pea pickin' brain, and the Doctor said (quote) well we couldn't find anything significant (end quote). So's I told her, "well many folk have said I was empty headed sometimes!" (true story).
There is a medical team doing a study on ex (and current) NFL players who sufferd repeated concussions....... some "Altzheimer's" types of conditions seem to show up in post mortem examinations...... it has been linked to the suicides of several ex-players by some of these neuologists. Not much is really known about the long term effects because no one really complains about it. One thing is certain: getting your bell rung, isn't as minor as it was once believed.
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That explains a lot........ y1.....I like that line "get your bell rung".......Don't know what else to say.....you seem to be o.k. to me.
I haven't worked on the box yet today. I'm feeling real lazy. I plan to paint the frame later. Then I'll go get the rest of the materials to finish it. My club field is 60 miles round trip. In the old days I could have taken a cab compared to what it costs for gas to get there today.
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Well Bill your experience sounds like what happened to old time great pitcher Dizzy Dean. He suffered a head injury and went to the hospital, the next days headlines " Exray of Deans head shows nothing" LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~
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Well Bill your experience sounds like what happened to old time great pitcher Dizzy Dean. He suffered a head injury and went to the hospital, the next days headlines " Exray of Deans head shows nothing" LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~
Yeah, I kinda feel that way sometimes! **) **) **)
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I'm finally having a little good luck. A few weeks ago I lost my one only stunt plane "VICTORY" when a line broke. I fell back on my three year old Pathfinder to get me along till I could get the Heat up and flying. About two weeks ago the engine on the Pathfinder started getting sick. Turns out the bushing in the con rod where it connects to the wrist pin was worn out. At first I thought it could be the fuel, so I wasted time messing with oil content. Finally the engine started to bind up when I hand rotated it. The binding prompted me to disassemble the engine and that's how I discovered the con rod problem.
I took one of the engines out of the LA Heat and put it on the Pathfinder so I would be able to use the Pathfinder at Brodak. It's very disheartening to fly expert stunt with a profile but that is a story for another time. I had nothing but problems with the new engine. The run times were sporadic and varied and it quit at inopportune times. Needless to say I faired poorly at Brodak. Oh I had a lot of fun but my scores were the pits.
Gary Tultz got involved with the PF engine (B-40) at Brodak's and we got quite a few issues resolved, but it still wasn't quite where it needed to be. I got in my official flights at least.
I've had the PF out a few times this week and tried different glow plugs. No help. I shimmed the back end of the fuel tank out an 1/8 of an inch and the cut off improved dramatically.
Yesterday I got all the paint off the fuel tank and was seriously suspecting that there was something wrong with it. I figured I'd fly it one more time before I opened up the tank. I put that flight in this morning. Right away I noticed that the vent tube was syphoning a lot of fuel out while the engine was running. Hence the varied run times and inopportune quits.
I installed a 6/32 pressure fitting onto the tube muffler and connected it to the vent tube. I took the plane out a little while ago to test it and it ran perfectly. I wanted to put up some more flights but some kids were around and I was flying with a stooge line so I rolled everything up and came home.
The worste of all this and certainly the most depressing was having trouble with an engine that was destined to provide the grunt for my twin.
I like the way the new engine is running---Now I'm going to put it back in the twin and take the other engine out of the twin and put it in the PF far some flights.
As for the bad con rod bushing goes I can use a con rod and wrist pin from anothe B-40 . I can order replacement parts later.
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I forgot to post a picture..........
So here is how the engine is set-up.
Big Art wedge head button insert ( stock Brodak head will work fine).
One Brodak 40 head shim.
APC 10/4 prop.
Muffler pressure.
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Looks good to me. That's one well-used muffler.
Good idea, to put the other LA engine in the Pathfinder for a few flights, get it ironed out too; same time on both.
We're sure looking forward to the LA Heat's first flight!
--Ray
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That muffler has been around Ray. Maybe I'll get Jan to sandblast it soon.
The engine thing is finally starting to work out. I got 3 more flights on it today. 3 3/4 oz. gives me a 6:45 run at 10K. I was concerned about fuel consumption because the Heat has a maximum fuel capacity of 4 oz. per engine. So far so good.
I'm going to put the other Heat engine on the Pathfinder and fly it for the next few days till I have it dialed in as good as the first one.
We just started flying at a new park that is only a half mile from my house. This morning was our fourth outing to this park and so far it looks like we can use it regularly. We're being nice to the people we meet there and we're explaining the planes in such a way as to impart to them that their safety is a paramount concern. We are also keeping track of traffic and use patterns there so as not to interfere with it's regular use. Again so far so good.
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Good approach. I fly on an old softball practice field. Police have come by a few times when I fly to just observe, I don't know if someone calls them or what, but they've never issued a complaint or "cease" order. I'm always careful to point out to them it's a tethered airplane flying in a stationary circle. As with you, it's "so far so good".
--Ray
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I got out to the park again this morning Ray. 8 A.M. The were 4 kids and an adult a ways off tossing a football and doing calisthetics. They were close but not dangerously so. I went over and described to them what we'd be doing and they moved off a bit. They were friendly.
Anyway I put up 3 flights on that engine and deemed it ready to go into the twin. Tonight I am heading back to fly the other engine on the Pathfinder. Same set up so I'll see how it goes.
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Good luck with it, Frank! I am sure it will all come together, and how sweet that will be!
I went out one morning this week to the school about a 1/2 mile away or so. The football/soccer/softball field is not in use until evening, it's fenced in and decent. There seems to be a day camp or something going on right now at the school (Elementary/old High School) and I flew to th cheers and clapping of about 100 or so kids and the adults who came outside to the playground after we started. They were behind the fence up on the hill. Only trouble we ever have there is evenings and weekend afternoons. The latino soccer players just flood the place. When they start to arrive, I roll up the lines. The Cops even stop by and discuss flying! A couple do R/C, but so far, they have not shown a great interest in C/L. :(
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Hi Bill, It's great to have someplace nearby to fly isn't it? I went out twice yesterday and twice today. 3 flights per session. I think I can clean up my act with all this flying.
Tonite was the first time with this new Brodak .40 on a plane. I have about an hour and a half run time on a test stand and it still isn't enough break in. I tacked it at 10k on the first flight ( normal stunt run) and it leaned out some and quit about 3 mins. into what should have been a 6:45 run. I flew it two more times tacked at 9400 and it ran steady, held the needle and ran the tank dry. It wasn't enough oomph to fly a pattern but lazy 8s and inside/outside loops were doable. Duration was 5:40.
I'm really glad I didn't try to fly the Heat with these engines before I ran them on the Pathfinder. I don't think I'd have crashed but the flights and the ensuing trouble shooting would have been a huge headache.
The great George Aldrich once said " break it in on the plane".
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That's generally what I do, a few runs on the ground to loosen it up a little, then set it rich and put it in the air. At least you know for sure when it finally "comes in". But I guess it does make for some headaches at the flying field, setting the needle and putting up with bad runs, floodouts, etc. I just could never start an engine and then sit there and watch it run--always seemed like I was wasting flying time.
Only bad thing that ever happened was a new Norvel getting up too lean once and seizing up in the air. But after it cooled down we were able to break it loose again, and it runs fine today...probably shortened its life, but then half of infinity is still infinity, right?? Anyone ever wear out one of these things yet?
Still, I'm trying to be better, really I am...I recently mounted half a dozen engines on a test stand and ran them several times, till I couldn't stand it any more and put them all in airplanes.
--Ray
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There is benefit in putting the engine on the plane for the break in. I usually just run them on the bench. I get started with a new engine just as soon as I've fit it for the model I'm building. During the course of the build I take the engine out and run it off to the side during flying sessions. The difference now is that we're flying on this baseball diamond and I don't want to irritate the folks that are in or live near the park with incessant engine running.
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Bill,
Yea, one of the consequences of being a college athelete. You wouldn't believe the fallout now, some 30 years later, of the surgeries I had as a kid.
So Frank, are ya gonna fly it soon? H^^
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Hi Randy,
Yeah I think maybe next week I can start flying it. Engine #2 is being a real bear for the break in. It's coming in though.
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As you may recall I was having a problem transporting the LA Heat because it wouldn't fit in my truck.
PROBLEM SOLVED....see pictures..................
I was making a box but that was getting awfully big. I priced trailers but a little one starts off at $1100 bucks.
Today as I was headed out to fly I saw a for sale sign on the trailer I just bought. It's used and needs to be refreshed but the Heat will fit in it.
I tried to get a hitch for my truck but I have to wait till Wednesday for that as it is on order.
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Aw, man, Frank, now you can build one a WHOLE LOT bigger than that puny LA Heat!!!!! And just live at the flying site to boot...very cool.
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Yeah Ray. It was pretty serendipitous that it appeared at a price I could handle just when I needed it most. It has a toilet, shower, 3 burner stove, sink and a heater. It will sleep six (cramped tight) so now I can take several planes and gear. And slleep in it too.
I'm trying to think of a good paint scheme.........................
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I'm trying to think of a good paint scheme.........................
S?P Don't forget the Stars my man!!! S?P
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Stars for sure. I'm thinking blue background with white stars on the whole front and wrapping around the sides about two feet then the rest red and white stripes.
Then maybe a zillion lights around the top. I mean enough lights to draw every moth for a 3 mile radius. AMA and PAMPA stickers in every window.
Fold out building table under the awning. Generator and some bench top tools like drill press, band saw, scroll saw.
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Frank,
You should talk to Pat Johnston. He just built a trailer. Bought some wreak of the trailer and stripped it down to the frame and built a new top. He calls it the Canned Ham because it looks sorta like the old trailers from the 50s. Really delux with parque floors, nice woodwork inside. Painted cream and red with black trim, it is very slick looking. And a plane will fit in it easily. #^
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Hey Frank, you could live in that thing, just travel around from contest to contest, flying site to flying site, all over the nation...just think of all the plane stuff you could buy by selling your house! You could even travel to MN...
--Ray
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Tomorrow is D-Day y1 It's finally come down to flying the LA Heat. I'm taking it to Flint tomorrow. Most of the guys will be there to witness it. I'm taking a still camera and a camcorder. Other guys will be taking pictures too. It will be nearly as well documented as a rocket launch at Cape Kennedy. I've taken pains to set it up for a crashless first day at the circle.
I just got done making new handles the one on the left is a third generation model the one on the right is generation two.
I'll be using the one on the left for the Heat. The tip weight box is loaded and the lead out rake is far enough back that the plane won't come in at me.
I'm going to put the engines in tomorrow morning. That'll be a no brainer because I've already had them in and out dozens of times.
Well the time for squawking is past and no it's time to put 'er to the test. #^
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Eagerly awaiting results...we'll be there with you in spirit.
--Ray
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Framk,
May the force be with you,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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Frank, it's going to be fine. Eat about a dozen extra pancakes for breakfast, you'll need them! ;D
Glad to hear it is going to finally take flight and I am eagerly awaiting the raving flight reports. y1
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Thanks Bill.........I'm reactivating my putfile account tonite so tomorrow I can post a link to the video of the Heat in the air.
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Can't wait to see the pictures, Frank. Go get 'em.
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It flies. Here are pix.
Film later.
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I like the second picture. The sky really set it off. :)
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Video? Video? I wanna HEAR those twins...
--Ray
P.S. congratulations...I know it was a thrill.
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I posted a link in the open forum Ray.
Yup it was a thrill. There's nothing like flying a plane you spent $800 and a year and a half building for the first time. I call it putting it all on the line. How's that for a pun?
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Frank,
I had a good time shooting video, tweaking needles, removing batteries, fueling tanks and releasing the airplane yesterday. Although there is a sweet sound to two engines running in sync, I think there is less work in getting 2 airplanes ready to fly. Congrats on the success and I would think about getting a better looking work crew..... LL~
John
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"Putting it all on the line(s)..." yeah, pretty good.
As I said somewhere else, the difficulty factor increases as to the square of the number of engines involved...
I didn't fly my long-lost twin very many times, because the central fuselage was snub-nosed, NOTHING between the engines at all. R-e-a-l-l-y easy to get into the first while starting the second. At least the Heat has a fuselage there to deflect the errant hand.
Something's wrong with my video viewer software I guess; I just get a black screen with sound. The sound is very cool, however...
So when you taking it through the whole pattern? Huh? Huh?
--Ray
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Frank,
I had a good time shooting video, tweaking needles, removing batteries, fueling tanks and releasing the airplane yesterday. Although there is a sweet sound to two engines running in sync, I think there is less work in getting 2 airplanes ready to fly. Congrats on the success and I would think about getting a better looking work crew..... LL~
John
I'm glad you had fun John. And thanks for the great commentary you did in the video and all the help.
Don't be disrespecting my crew though. They're the best. y1
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The trailer I picked up weighed 700 pounds more than the tow limit on my truck. I decided to strip everything out of the trailer and use it for cargo only. I've taken 440 pounds of debris to the dump so far and it looks like I'll hit close to a thousand pounds in weight reduction. I discovered that some of the substructure is rotted out so later I'll do some rebuilding. Right now I'm going to finish stripping it and start using it ti haul airplanes. First trip will be to the club field 30 miles away. This'll be the shake down cruise and I can get a feel for how it's going to behave. Next week I'll run it up to Flint. That will be about 170 miles round trip. If all goes well I'll grag it to Muncie for the FCM conyest.
The inboard engine quit on all four flights I put up on the Heat the other day. Upon inspection when I got it home I found a bb size chunk of solder floating around in the fuel tank. I think this may have been shutting the engine down. I've got that fixed and the Heat is nearly ready for a second round of test flights.
Flying on the outboard engine alone does not destabilize the plane enough to make it crash. Also the pull on the lines is significantly less than what everyone predicted. Actually at 75 oz. it's light.
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The inboard engine still quit early even after removing debris from tank.
I swapped the engines out, putting the inboard engine on the outboard nacelle and moving the outboard engine to the inboard nacelle. Took it out yesterday for a test and the inboard engine quit early again.
Now I'm thinking it could be a fuel tank issue so I'm going to leave the engines where they are since they both run great in the outboard nacelle. This time I'll swap the tanks back and forth and see what happens. I suspect that the inboard engine will quit early again. If it does it will be time to make a new fuel tank that will have the fuel pick up wider than the front of the tank.
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I've just finished removing both engines and fuel tanks. It takes about 10 minutes to do both sides.
In the pictures you will see that I chose to build this model without detachable cowlings. The tanks slide into the nacelles from the front. They are held in place by a 4/40 screw in front. I wedge a wad of foam between the tank and tank cieling to hold the rear of the tank in place.
To get the engines out, the needdle valve and muffler have to be removed first. I know it sounds like a hassle but it goes very quickly.
My next step is to reverse the position of the tanks by putting the one that was in the inboard nacelle into the outboard nacelle and vice versa for the second tank. Then I'll stuff the engines back in and take it out for a test flight.
If it does the same as the last flight and the inboard engine quits running prematurely I'll know that it is the position of the tank in the nacelle and that the tail end of the tank isn't kicked far enough to the outboard. I'll need to make a new tank. If it all works I'll leave it alone and start flying some patterns.
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SOOooooo..............the tanks have been swapped and it's all back together and ready for another test.
Now I'll call Jan and see if he'll come launch for me.
This test will make flight number 10. A nice thing about a twin engine model is if an engine quits you still get to get in a whole flight.
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Switching the tanks seems to have solved the problem. I took the Heat out a little while ago and put up the first flight where both the engines drained the tanks for a full flight.
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Huh...so the problem didn't "follow the tank", but neither did it stay at the inboard. Weird. More of those capricious gremlins I guess.
Anyhow, congrats on a vexing problem solved.
--Ray
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According to John Paris --- once the plane gets settled into the flight the fuel travels at the same speed as the plane and does not tend to be pushed to the back of the tank so much as it pools in the outboard most area of the tank. Think about chicken hopper tanks. The hopper is usually in the middle of the tank and the fuel pools there because the hopper is the most outboard part of the tank.
I think that the shape of the tank was just enough out of square to keep the fuel pick up from being in the outermost area. The tank has more offset to the rear in the outboard nacelle. Plus it's traveling faster than the inboard tank.
I THINK.................
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Or, it's gremlins.
I had a plane that would surge out of the corners. Bad. Did it for 10 or 12 flights while I tried the usual stuff. I took it apart, pulled the back off the tank and cleaned it, cleaned the NVA...again, changed fuel filters and fuel line. I figured that if that didn't do it, I'd go to a new tank or something. The thing flew fine after that. For many, many flights. I didn't really do anything, but it sort of fixed itself. I suppose there could have been an undetected hole in the tank that was fixed when I put the back of the tank back on, but who knows.
I went with the theory that I had trapped a gremlin in the tank and taking the back off let him out.
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Could been the tank, mighta been the fuel, coulda been a gremmlin I don't know, but look at the fix I'm in.
It seems darned strange that something rights itself just because I moved it.
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Frank,
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Just keep an eye on it. LL~
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O.K. Randy........now that I'm getting a whole run I'm starting to think about actually flying a pattern with it. Man when it goes into a wingover those engines sound really sweet.
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It's been a couple weeks since I messed with the LA Heat. I took it out this morning and put in two flights with it. On the second run both engines stayed lit for the whole run. The inboard engine quit first and the outboard engine quit 4 laps later.
It goes pretty fast with the APC 10X5s----I'm going to run it with APC 10X4s tomorrow.
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Glad to hear that the gremlin has went somewhere else. As you stated it could have been a pin hole that could only be seen with pressure under water. I had an engine start giving me fits. It turned out to be the metal fuel filter had a leak that only pressure revealed. A couple of wrenches fixed that one. Have fun, DOC Holliday
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I took the Heat out yesterday......put in 3 1/2 oz. of fuel for each tank and got to the overheads before I ran out of fuel.
I have 15 flights on it now.
It turns very tight.....there are tongue mufflers on it now but I plan to try the stock mufflers next. I'm thinking a little nose weight will tame down the corners.
I still don't trust the plane and I'm having issues with getting both engines started quickly. Seems the needles need to be turned out about an eighth of a turn for each start.
It flies a little too fast with the 10X5 props. The LHS doesn't have any 10X4s in stock so I'll order a few from Brodak.
All in all a twin is a real headache to get dialed in just right.
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Two questions:
You want to "tame the corners"?? (is it stable and tracks well?)
Have you tried the 10 1/2 X 4 1/2 APC?
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Hi Bill,.....It's stable and tracks well, but is a little on the twitchy side.
I haven't tried the 10 1/2 X 4 1/2 APC props but I'll add a couple to my list for Brodak.
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Just personal, but I wouldn't want to throw nose weight at it unless closing down the line spacing didn't work. A hard corner is hard enough to get! LOL!!
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I have lots of time--I'll try both.
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Frank, on speed: What length lines are you using? Any chance of lengthening them?
And, on "twitchy": I agree, I'd try narrowing line spacing first. It always makes a dramatic difference to me.
--Ray
P.S. My knee hurts.
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I'll try a narrower handle spacing. Bill Gruby is making me a couple handles that have that feature.
I'm all the way out to 70 feet on line length.
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I'll try a narrower handle spacing. Bill Gruby is making me a couple handles that have that feature.
I'm all the way out to 70 feet on line length.
Handle spacing is a GREAT trimming tool, Frank................
I also believe that once you relax with the plane, you will see a dramatic improvement! y1
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We got rained out Sunday so I didn't fly the LA Heat after all. I now have a handle that I can get narrower line spacing with and I also have a couple of 10X4 APC props to put on it.
This coming Sunday is the next scheduled session with the HEAT. I'll be meeting some of the fellows out at RCCD.
In the meantime I've been flying that profile Mustang. The judges at two contests have told me I need to make my pattern about 30% smaller so I'll be working at shrinking loops and squares. Intersections and shapes are good though.
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As planned I flew the LA Heat today. The out board engine went kinda lean the first couple of flights so I ran it a little richer than the inboard engine ( that was John Paris' idea) that settled the one engine conking out issue. I used a handle with closer line spacing and that helped out tremendously. (thanks Bill and Ray).
I'm getting 7 minute runs, fast starts, and managing to get in a full pattern under full power.
The last flight of the day was near orgasmic when both engines quit at the same time (after a complete pattern). y1
Here is a picture of the Heat on the flight line.
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Congradulations Frankie! Now you're gonna have some fun.
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Hey Randy!! You're right--it's time to start having fun with this plane. It takes a little while to get it fueled up and it takes a little longer to dial in two engines. I'm getting used to the sound and the way the plane looks in the air, that was throwing me off at first. Plus there is the fact that this one was a long and difficult build and I'm scared of busting it.
It turns a real tight corner. Almost looks like a magic trick it transitions so quickly.
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I might just take the Heat to Aurora, Il. this weekend for it's first contest. John Paris does wonders as a pitman. I start the engines and he needles them while I head for the handle. At first it was taking two minutes to tune the engines. With John pitting the time is down to about 45 seconds.
I think it will be worth the 5 hour hour drive to get to fly this plane some more with John pitting.
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Plus there is the fact that this one was a long and difficult build and I'm scared of busting it.
Frank, you really have to get over that......... and quick...........
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Frank, you really have to get over that......... and quick...........
I'm working on that Bill.........Right now I'm about 80% sure about going to the Tree Town contest this weekend. It'll be the first event I enter the Heat in.
I really like this plane. There are a lot of multi-engine planes around but not many full fuselage models. It's great to have one of them. And the fact that I built it makes the whole thing that much cooler. And those two .40s sound so gooooood.
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We both know that if you're scared of busting it, you will never fly it real well............. ;D
An real "old timer" told me years ago that if his plane was in one piece after the flight, he was happy, but don't EXPECT it to be!
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I took the HEAT to Aurora Illinois yesterday and flew it in the contest there. I put up my two official flights and overran by half a minute on both runs. I lost out on landing and pattern points and secured my position in last place. I don't feel bad about that at all. Both flights qualified, the engines ran like good clocks and I got to fly it in a safe place with plenty of qualified guys around to help out. I think those two flights made it 21 flights total with only the most recent 4 or five being complete stunt patterns. So I left the contest pretty happy about getting to visit with old friends and new. The plane was in one piece and everything was great with the exception of my fuel management issue.
I bought a plane (motor and all) from Crist Rigotti for a gratifyingly low price and brought it home and gave it to Jan. He reimbursed me for what I paid. Jan's interest in flying has perked up since he picked up the plane this morning and around one o'clock he called to see if I wanted to go out to the RCCD circle and put up some flights. That seemed like a good idea to me, so by two o'clock we were at the circle.
Jan really likes his new plane and since Crist built the plane it was trimmed very well and the Brodak .40 on the nose well tuned. So now my buddy Jan is flying again which means I can count on him to come out and help me handle the L A HEAT.
And of course I took the L A HEAT with me to meet Jan at the circle.
I got in three flights--the first run went over by 9 seconds, it took 42 seconds from the signal to start to the time Jan let the plane go.
9 seconds isn't much time to take off of a run so rather than take out fuel I decided to run the engines richer. On the second flight the pit time was 52 seconds ( it took two attempts to start up engine two) and the total time was 7 mins. 40 seconds with the inboard engine conking first and the out board engine taking the plane an additional 10 laps before it quit. That ten extra laps cost about a minute I didn't need.
Last week John Paris came down to RCCD so we could get in a session of flying and we discovered that the engines ran much better when the outboard one was a little richer than the inboard. So that's how I've run them for the contest and for today.
For the third flight today I richened the inbourd engine about an eighth of a turn and the outboard was opened nearly half a turn. Pit time was back to the low 40's, total run time was 7 mins 20 secs. and the out board engine carried the plane 5 additional laps after the inboard engine went out.
I'm pretty comfortable with the numbers from that last flight. I'll continue to shoot for both engines quitting at the same time. I've left the needles where they were and that's where I'll start up with them on the next session.
As for flying the plane.................I'm getting used to the sound it makes. That was confusing the first dozen times I flew it and it was hard to think. It corners great, it doesn't have any trim issues ( at least at this point) and it looks like I've got a pretty darn good plane.
I'm a happy camper.
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Hi Frank,
Are you filling th tanks and taking out measured amount? That is the safest way to make sure how much fuel you are actually removing. You can afford to take almost a minute off you flight time. 6:45 to 7 minutes is really a pretty safe time if you're in the 5.2 to 5.4 lap time. FAI only allows 7 minutes, you know. y1
I always shoot for a 6:45 to 7 minute flight time, as do a good many of the guys I fly in the contests with. I get bored as heck REAL FAST if I have to fly a minute or so after the pattern! LOL!!
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I've been filling the 4 ounce tanks to capacity and using the needles to adjust fuel consumption. So far I can predictably set the run time to stay within the eight minute time limit. As I get more flights on the model I'll fine tune to trim a few more seconds off the 7:20 run I am currently getting.
Flying this plane is getting to be a lot of fun.
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I took the Heat to the Kilsdonk Fly-In up in Flint today. Only got in a couple of flights. I'm still getting it tuned in.
Rick Sawicki got a couple good pictures. The captions on picture bottoms explain what's going on.
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V-e-r-r-r-r-y interesting...you're a leftie, Frank! So am I...but I generally fly right-handed. That, and cut with scissors, is about all I do right-handed.
Inboard wing looks a little low on takeoff...is that just shadows creating one of them optical illusion thangs?
--Ray
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The take off surface isn't building table straight so what you see is the shadow passing over a low section.
I eat and write and fly with my left hand. When I play baseball or bowl I'm right handed.
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The engine runs are getting more predictable. The engines usually shut off about 10 seconds after each other.
I'm taking it to Cleveland tomorrow. It's still a crap shoot if I'll run under or over. I'm hoping for just right tomorrow.
I have about 29 flights on it now. And I'm still learning how to fly it. I'm still not used to the two engines going at once.
I'm told that it presents well. Curt calls it the "Beast" And sounds awesome going through the pattern.
It takes about 40 seconds from signalling the judges to airborne.
There are some urban myths about twins that so far as I've witnessed are just not true.
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You are running Brodak .40's, Are you using .021 lines? As required by the rules..
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Yes Bob, I'm using .021 lines at 70'. The heavier lines don't seem to be taking away from the performance much.
The plane flies good.