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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Randy Powell on July 06, 2008, 09:39:26 PM

Title: Not a toad
Post by: Randy Powell on July 06, 2008, 09:39:26 PM
Well, I finished the fillets up today and got primer shot on the new ship. I'll let it dry overnight then hit the low spots with some darker gray primer and then the fun will begin. I just love sanding primer. It's a Zen thing.

I'll post some pics after I get the darker primer shot on. Should look like a leprous monster then. Or a really weird Dalmatian.
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Randy Powell on July 10, 2008, 10:28:05 AM
An interesting note. When I got on all the primer, I noticed that I had developed a bit of twist in the rudder. Looking at the plane from the nose back, it seemed that I had picked up a newly airfoiled surface. Hey, at least it was going the right way. After cogitating a bit, I decided to try just putting some high shrink dope on one surface to pull it back into shape. Well, that didn't do anything. So next step was a bit more drastic. If this didn't work, I could be faced with cutting the rudder off and doing another. Sigh...

So, I jigged the rudder up so that it was pulled back to the original position. This cause several wrinkles to form in the silkspan (the rudder is an open bay affair). I then took my heat gun and started going after it just like I was shrinking iron on plastic. Amazingly, the wrinkles pulled out as the silkspan was over shrank. A lot of dope fumes came up as the dope was desiccated and ˇViola!, the thing is straight. Check the next day and it's still straight. Weirdly, I never tried this trick before, but you can, as it turns out, shrink silkspan just like iron on plastic. Wouldn't work as well on a solid surface (I tried this trick on the twisted stab on the Shoestring to little effect). But on a spidery, open framework rudder, it worked like a charm (do charms really work?)

So, it's on to sanding primer.
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: john e. holliday on July 10, 2008, 12:14:45 PM
Randy, I didn't think you were supposed to lift any thing heavy.  DOC Holliday
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Mark Scarborough on July 10, 2008, 02:51:44 PM
Sheesh Randy, pictures in Primer,, do we really have to beg,,
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Randy Powell on July 10, 2008, 04:25:38 PM
Sorry Mark, I'll take some tonight. I didn't touch the thing last night. Some post op infection has laid me low. But I'm doing better today.

Doc, I didn't. The plane is hanging in the air and the heat gun only weighs about 3 lbs.  :)

My doc seems to think I should just go to sleep for 6 months and wait for it to heal, but I'm more proactive.
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Will Hinton on July 10, 2008, 05:42:20 PM
Randy,
That's a great piece of information to have, thanks.  As far as your doc's orders, I'm sure you know your body better than he does as far as recupe time, but the OTHER doc, as in Holliday is a big dude, so I'd listen to him if I were you.
Blessings & healing,
Will
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Randy Powell on July 10, 2008, 10:09:41 PM
Will,

Trust me, I'm careful. I'm just not willing to do nothing. Not in my nature. But no lifting of any significance. Heck, I'm concerned about going flying because I have to lift my flight box.   ;D

Here's the promised picture. It's, uh, well, gray. There's is a lot more filler coat on it than might first appear. I didn't get enough pigment in the first, fairly heavy coat, the second was a bit lighter. Mostly a guide coat. Should be ready for an 80% thinned seal coat of clear by Sunday.
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Mark Scarborough on July 10, 2008, 11:18:46 PM
Hmm are you sure your not slipping a picture of the slider off trying to say its the new one?
oh yeah, there brothers arent they
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Randy Powell on July 11, 2008, 08:23:58 AM
Mark,

As I like to say, it's the same aerodynamically...with some, uh, corrections. I did some stuff with the Slider that just didn't work out like I'd planned. So those things are gone in this rendition and some other stuff added. Nothing really new here, just some refinement of what worked.

I've had second thoughts about the original paint scheme I had planned. Right now, I'm not sure what I will do except to say it will be some color.
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Will Hinton on July 11, 2008, 02:02:04 PM
Randy,
I like it.  A LOT!!  Great modern lines that make it look like a hundred mph settin' still.  Now THAT'S cool.
Will
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Randy Powell on July 11, 2008, 08:49:11 PM
Will and Ty,

Well, I started sanding tonight. I can say that I put way, way too much primer on it. I will be sanding for awhile and leave quite a pile of dust on the floor.

No rush. I still haven't really decided on a paint scheme. Maybe I'll just paint the whole thing candy apple red and call it good.
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: John Miller on July 12, 2008, 10:55:49 AM
Check with Pete, there seems to be a rash of YELLOW going around. #^
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Randy Powell on July 12, 2008, 02:46:14 PM
John,

Nope, not this time. I have had plenty of yellow planes recently. Hmmm, maybe pearl green.   HB~>
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Mark Scarborough on July 12, 2008, 03:35:36 PM
Lollipop pearl green I think, yeah thats it,, nice bright green, then you could use chartruese for trim! maybe some neon blue for further accent.
OH OH I got it, how about neon plaid!~ y1
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Will Hinton on July 12, 2008, 05:31:34 PM
Randy,
If you do the neon plaid, give me time to go buy stock in 3M's tape manufacturing division!

All packed up and ready to depart in the morning for Muncie!  (Flying a 7 year old airplane!) (That was campaigned 4 years.)

Will
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Randy Powell on July 12, 2008, 09:13:14 PM
Mark,

 na#

Will,

Good luck.
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Randy Powell on July 15, 2008, 12:08:55 PM
Well, I got a bit sidetracked and only have the thing about a quarter sanded. Also, I ran into some more problems with silkspan that has been overshrunk. I'm contemplating what to do with that now. So I've been speding time building an new computer instead. Sigh...
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Mark Scarborough on July 15, 2008, 09:17:36 PM
didnt you just build a new computer Randy? sheesh, make up your mind, if you didnt mess with that computer,, you could 1# build another 2 or three stunters 2# finish the ones you have built 3# fix the Novi, 4# fix the shoe,, 5# come out here and fly with me for a weekend
I here Dell sells brand new boxes that are already built! LL~ LL~
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Steve Helmick on July 15, 2008, 09:46:30 PM
Mark...But that would be an ARF Computer, and you know Randy would never go for that!  LL~ Steve
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Randy Powell on July 16, 2008, 01:54:51 PM
Mark,

Yea, trust me, it's cheaper this way. The previous computer was for my son and was set up to do sound stuff (the sound/mixing card cost twice as much as the rest of the computer). This is mine. And it's a rocket. The rest of the stuff will get done, but I still can't stand up for all that long. I am getting better at least.

Steve,

Of course not. What's the fun in a ARF computer.
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Randy Powell on July 28, 2008, 09:55:37 PM
Just to show that I have been working on it, here's a pic of the main airframe all sanded of primer. Just need to go over it once more with some 600 and it will be ready for a sealer coat (80% thinned clear). Then it's on to base/blocking coat and the fun stuff. should be an interesting paint scheme, whatever it is. I've changed my mind about 10 times since I started sanding the primer.

I will add that I will need to wipe it down first. Man that thing is dusty ... as am I.
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Randy Powell on August 02, 2008, 03:42:16 PM
Well, toad lips is finally ready for paint. Will start when I get back from a week at a lake resort with family. That gives me a whole week to perseverate over colors and paint scheme. Man, I didn't think I would ever get through all that primer. I really need to go easier next time.

Tracking all up weight of the airframe, I've added about 1.75 ounces so far. WhooHoo!
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Jim Oliver on August 02, 2008, 07:49:22 PM
Randy,

"Perseverate"???  Please 'splain that to this country boy....... n~

Cheers,
Jim
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Randy Powell on August 03, 2008, 11:21:05 PM
Ty,

I'll have you know, son, that I was born south of the Mason-Dixon line and my whole family lives in the buckle of the bible belt. Tarnation, I got me rel'tives that never heard of no big wurds.

Jim,

Perseverate:

1) to repeat something insistently or redundantly: to perseverate in reminding children of their responsibilities.

2) Psychiatry : the pathological, persistent repetition of a word, gesture, or act, often associated with brain damage or schizophrenia.

Hey, that fits.    ;D

I'm just trying to decide if I can get away with painting some white trim over black base. It would make taping a lot easier by eliminating a ton of back-masking.
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Leo Mehl on August 04, 2008, 03:37:52 PM
Ty,

I'll have you know, son, that I was born south of the Mason-Dixon line and my whole family lives in the buckle of the bible belt. Tarnation, I got me rel'tives that never heard of no big wurds.

Jim,

Perseverate:

1) to repeat something insistently or redundantly: to perseverate in reminding children of their responsibilities.

2) Psychiatry : the pathological, persistent repetition of a word, gesture, or act, often associated with brain damage or schizophrenia.

Hey, that fits.    ;D

I'm just trying to decide if I can get away with painting some white trim over black base. It would make taping a lot easier by eliminating a ton of back-masking.
I always knowed yo wus a Hillbilly sort a guy. You ain't a foolin me hare. LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ LL~ HB~>
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Jim Oliver on August 04, 2008, 06:29:06 PM
Randy,
You must have your own private, family dixienary---I can't find that "persev--whatever" in mine. n~

Cheers,
Jim
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Steve Helmick on August 04, 2008, 08:37:14 PM
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/perseverate (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/perseverate)

Bookmark "dictionary.com"....very useful for this weird English language. Lots of words spelled different but sound the same. What word changes meaning and pronunciation by changing one letter to upper case?  "polish"  It's not my fault!   :-[ Steve

Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Jim Oliver on August 04, 2008, 08:43:56 PM
Randy,

I used to tell the guys at work: "Its not your fault and I know it---but you're gonna get the blame for it anyway!!"

Sooo.............you can take it from here.... H^^

Cheers,
Jim
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Randy Powell on August 05, 2008, 04:17:27 PM
That's OK. I'm now sitting here in the mountains in Idaho, staring at clear, blue lake in the midst of severe perseveration.
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: John Miller on August 05, 2008, 05:36:48 PM
Well Randy, you're close enough to take a day trip down to see us, that is if you can relieve yourself of your parsimonius nature... S?P LL~ LL~
Title: Re: Not a toad
Post by: Randy Powell on August 05, 2008, 10:30:11 PM
John,

par·si·mo·ny
 
–noun: extreme or excessive economy or frugality; stinginess.

Hey, I'm a generous guy. I plan to go down to Boise to see Pat later this week.

Ty,

I tried to look Eddie up today. He's on vacation. Lives in the middle of a lake resort and goes on vacation. Go figure.