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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Randy Powell on November 30, 2020, 01:15:15 PM
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Started an electric version for the RMD. Should be fun.
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Cool! o2oP
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Randy better watch out this might be the best flying plane EVER...........................
y1 y1 y1
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What's RMD?
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What's RMD?
Randy Powell's Ringmaster Deluxe.
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What's RMD?
Your next project. ;D
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Started an electric version for the RMD. Should be fun.
Randy, this is one of the coolest airplanes ever! will start mine next year, i plan to do a full body, electric ship
what have you used as a landing gear?
cool design man, will follow here!
regards from Brazil
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Fred,
I designed and built a carbon fiber gear. Unfortunately, the mold was made from a prototyping material and I was able to pull about 5 legs from it before it sort of crumbled. I still have the plug and am planning to make a new mold. I'll post a picture later.
Never thought about doing a full fuselage version. Maybe I'll draw up a Super Ringmaster version. Hmmm....
Last one looked like this. OS .40VF and pipe. This is the canted engine mount setup.
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Randy I did it to the 526 RM made it a Super
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Thanks Randy, really looking forward to watching this one, a great way to start forgetting 2020.
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I'm still having fun. Fuse is about 75% done. Tail plane is cut out and ribbed, the hinge pockets installed but not shaped. Built the rudder and ribbed it. Also not shaped. Next up is to start the wing. I usually do that first but for some reason, I did the other stuff this time.
Edit: the battery box in the one picture was just sitting in there to set spacing correctly. It will be in line with the motor.
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Hope this one has all the problems solved you had with past planes. D>K
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Looking good! What's the framed up bird hanging above the Cobra?
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Curious about the motor mount. Are you using a shaft extension?
Ken
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Doc, no more problems than anyone else. This plane is being built from the original templates. There is no plan, per se. Pat Johnston drew up plans that are very similar, but not the same. Close though.
Motorman, It's about 630 square inches and Pat Johnston has plans. patsplans@yahoo.com
WWWarbird, That is another plane awaiting me getting around to it. It was the Slider V.3. Due to an argument with a bat, the finish, ah, had problems and the plane came out way, way too heavy. mostly due to paint. It was stripped and the nose and some other areas reworked. I'll finish it at some point.
Ken, It's front mount electric this time. I'm sort of freelancing the nose construction.
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Due to an argument with a bat
Ken, It's front mount electric this time. I'm sort of freelancing the nose construction.
I thought I was the only bat victim. In my 20's I lived in an old "plantation" house with a belfry. We had bats. My shop was in the basement next to the old coal furnace that no longer had a door. They would get into the chimney and pop out into my shop. Tissue and silkspan had no chance, I feel your pain.
This ship is looking great.
Ken
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I had just shot catalyzed polyurethane and it was curing in the shop. It was late summer and the shop door was left open. Apparently the bat flew in, was overcome by the fumes, fell out of the air and rolled down the top of the plane. I found him dead on the floor of the shop a couple of hours later and the entire top of the plane had little holes and smudges and crap. Had to be sanded, repaired and reshot with clear. That's why the finish was way overweight. Next plan I built had bat wings on it was was called, privately, the Batplane.
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WWWarbird, That is another plane awaiting me getting around to it. It was the Slider V.3. Due to an argument with a bat, the finish, ah, had problems and the plane came out way, way too heavy. mostly due to paint. It was stripped and the nose and some other areas reworked. I'll finish it at some point.
Looks cool, another one to keep an eye out for here, thanks for the scoop!
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A note on the RMD. Not sure if I made this clear. Pat Johnston has a set of plans for it and they are very close to the original bird. I never really did plans for the plane. I drew up enough so that I could build it, I know what I was thinking when I drew it, then cut up that "plan" into templates. I sent the original templates to Pat and he drew it up. That plan is very close but there are a couple of differences. Nothing that really changes the look or how it flies. I endorse Pat's plan. Besides, he can laser cut it into a kit.
I'm really freelancing with this new RMD. It's going to be electric and I'm sort of making it up as I go along. I've already had to back track a couple of times, had a couple of "well, that's not going to work" moments, but that's all part of the fun.
Hope that's clear.
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I'm really freelancing with this new RMD. It's going to be electric and I'm sort of making it up as I go along. I've already had to back track a couple of times, had a couple of "well, that's not going to work" moments, but that's all part of the fun.
Hope that's clear.
Yep, seems normal to me. :)
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Randy, before Allan Perret passed away, i got with him and thought the one he built was beautiful and flew excellent. I got the plans from him and built one. A member in my club made me an offer that I could not refuse and I never got to fly it. If I ever decide to build and fly again, the RMD would be the one i would build but I doubt that day will ever come. It is a wonderful design Randy.
Mike
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So, a bit more progress. Still figuring some stuff out. I should have just ordered Pat's electric front end.
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It's an I-beamer? The original design is for a sheeted L/E or "D-tube", right?
I love the I-beam look but I've never had the guts to do one. Also, I thought you had to start with the main spar and then build around that. Hmm.
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If still available get Billy's video on building I beam wing plane. If I remember right it starts with the fuselage, then spar, leading edge and trailing edge. Much easier to do than it looks. D>K
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Not an I-Beam. Based (loosely) on the Millennium wing design. Drop rib strips on one side, Flip it over, drop the top of the spar on, do the rib strips, flip it back over, drop the other spar top on then put in the truss between the spar tops. Put in the control system, then put sheeting and cap strips on.
The first RMD was done this way. The second one was done with laser cut ribs from Pat Johnston. I like this better.
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Not an I-Beam. Based (loosely) on the Millennium wing design. Drop rib strips on one side, Flip it over, drop the top of the spar on, do the rib strips, flip it back over, drop the other spar top on then put in the truss between the spar tops. Put in the control system, then put sheeting and cap strips on.
The first RMD was done this way. The second one was done with laser cut ribs from Pat Johnston. I like this better.
Wow. I recall hearing of the Millennium wing design now but don't recall ever knowing or seeing a step by step, please keep us updated with some pics as you progress.
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Tom Morris designed the system. He uses a solid plank spar in the middle. They way I do the spar is simpler and works pretty well.
He's a pic that may make it clearer. This is as far as I've gotten.
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Coming along.
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This is pretty cool, looks really fragile to me though unless shear webs are in the plan? You must have removed it from the jig to flip it over?
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I used magic to flip the wing. ;D
Here's the answer to that other thing.
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So, "RMD" does NOT stand for "Ringmaster (of) Mass Destruction"? @@^ Steve
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Steve,
Not yet. Maybe later considering my luck.
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Here's how far I got last night.
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Randy, what's the stuff covering the rear of the fuselage sides? It looks like balsa, but maybe 1/64" plywood? I remember Mark's Profile Impact being covered with balsa and light fiberglass (or CF?) and how it was proven to flex with Howard's mini-camera dingus. In that case, I suspect that having the pushrod & horns enclosed and on the fuselage centerline would have reduced the problem, but not totally eliminated it.
I used 1/64" plywood on one, and it made it stiff as a pine plank. Haven't heard anything from Mark lately...I hope he's ok. y1 Steve
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in the previous pics, you'll see the internal structure that includes carbon fiber bracing. That's 1/8" balsa mounted diagonally and reversed on each side in opposition to prop rotation. We'll see what happens. It's how the first RMD was built.
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I used magic to flip the wing. ;D
Here's the answer to that other thing.
Making sense now, looks great. I see too now that it gets sheeted like a "normal" wing.
Not saying you should have but just curious, do you think the design would be strong enough to skip the sheeting and go right to covering, to have it end up looking like a regular I-Beamer?
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Hi Randy,
Quick question here - I like the jigs you're using......where can I get those slotted, aluminum angles that are in the pictures? Those look like the ticket!
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Wayne, I've built this same wing without sheeting or with much less sheeting. Works fine. I would probably run carbon fiber down the spar caps if I didn't use sheeting.
Angelo, Well, I made them. I picked up some aluminum angle stock, cut 1" pieces. I have a benchtop mill and cut the slots myself. I have a bunch of different cleats that I use depending on the sort of leading and trailing edges the wing has. The base is a piece of melamine I got from Lowe's Home Center and used a router to cut the slots. It's a simple but effective system.
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Thanks Randy. Guess it's time to get a benchtop mill and router!
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Angelo, I use the mill all the time to make various parts. If you see the bellcrank, I machined that from a chunk of aluminum. Once you get used to using the thing, there are all kinds of stuff you can make.
And now, I get to make the landing gear. That will be fun.
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Angelo, I use the mill all the time to make various parts. If you see the bellcrank, I machined that from a chunk of aluminum. Once you get used to using the thing, there are all kinds of stuff you can make.
And now, I get to make the landing gear. That will be fun.
What kind of mill do you have? I was a machinist in my youth but most of my experience is with lathes and screw machines. Limited millwork but I have done some. If you have a decadent mill do you need a router?
I am about to embark on making some logarithmic horns just using a Dremel and some files. I love to tinker.
Ken
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Mine is a Taig mill with Morse taper head, though I have a standard chuck for it. I've had it for a very long time. I've accumulated a lot of tooling over time. That helps a lot. I've got a lot of tooling from Sherline.
The router was for cutting slots in the melamine board for the base.
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Wayne, I've built this same wing without sheeting or with much less sheeting. Works fine. I would probably run carbon fiber down the spar caps if I didn't use sheeting.
Cool, I suppose that trussed spar ends up being pretty sturdy.
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So, here we are. The nose is rough as I left a lot of meat on so I can block it down with his assembled.
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Here's the tail with machined aluminum horn.
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More pictures of the original
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Yep, the original edition. ;D
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For anyone interested, couple more pics.
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Not true to design I know, but the more I watch here it looks like building a full-fuse would have been easier.
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Yea, wish I'd done the nose differently. But hey, we'll see how it comes out.
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Yeah, I hear ya. Seems every build has it's own learning experiences, especially when scratch-building. I don't think I've ever built a plane where I wouldn't do a few things differently if I was to do the same one again.
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The method I used has the benefit that it is lighter than the two previous iterations, but is a lot more work intensive.
Oh well, keep on keeping on.
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This side is done. Just have to mount the gear. And I had to break the mold to get this gear leg out. Oh well, it was about done anyway.
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This side is done. Just have to mount the gear. And I had to break the mold to get this gear leg out. Oh well, it was about done anyway.
Love the louvers!
Ken
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So, the gear is mounted. Took a lot longer than I thought it would. I'll sand and polish the gear legs eventually.
I think I'm going to relocate the battery plug site. Looks kinda bad where it's at.
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Randy, could you share how you are doing the tip weight tube?
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So, the gear is mounted. Took a lot longer than I thought it would. I'll sand and polish the gear legs eventually.
I think I'm going to relocate the battery plug site. Looks kinda bad where it's at.
I had a similar issue a while back. What I rationalized is that nobody would see it in the air so I used a flush mounted female Deans. With it out, like it is when anybody is looking at it, there were just two little slits.
Just a thought - Ken
PS: that is a really sharp profile front end.
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Page, It's a piece of Carbon Fiber tube with a piece of aluminum on the end to reinforce it. I tap the end and use a hex head insert bolt to close. The other end is plugged. I cut some 1/4" steel rod to various lengths and machine the end with a little loop (I'll try to remember to take a picture) and use a weights. Take out the screw, fish out the current weight and put in another one. The fit pretty tight so they don't tend to move around. Look back on this thread, there's a close up picture of how the tube is mounted.
Ken, Yea, the idea was better in my head than what came out. I'll probably relocate it to below the battery box. Sigh...
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I think I'm going to relocate the battery plug site. Looks kinda bad where it's at.
Good call. Can it go down in front of the gear?
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Here's where it went. Due to where I mounted stuff inside, this was about the only option. The other one could have been below the box and forward, but I went with this. Also, a couple of pics for Page.
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Thanks for the pictures and details of weight tube!
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Sheesh, if one is feeling insecure about his building skills, this is not the place to come! LL~ Terrific work! Thanks for sharing.
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;D
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So, here it is in mostly one piece. Need to build flaps and shape the elevator. Then final sand and begin finishing. Funny how one minute you have a stack of parts and the next, gee look, an airplane is suddenly on the bench.
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Cool. y1
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Randy, what's the stuff covering the rear of the fuselage sides? It looks like balsa, but maybe 1/64" plywood? I remember Mark's Profile Impact being covered with balsa and light fiberglass (or CF?) and how it was proven to flex with Howard's mini-camera dingus. In that case, I suspect that having the pushrod & horns enclosed and on the fuselage centerline would have reduced the problem, but not totally eliminated it.
I used 1/64" plywood on one, and it made it stiff as a pine plank. Haven't heard anything from Mark lately...I hope he's ok. y1 Steve
ah yes the Impact profile you love to hate LOL,, yes the fuse was the wiggly sort, which I remidied with Flap strakes,, really really long flap strakes,,
Steve, Im still kicking, assuming contests are held, I will be there, I am finally getting caught up financially and physically after all the doctors are done doing their ,, well they are done, so, on we go..
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Nice to see ya back here Mark! y1
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Hey Mark. Glad to hear from you.
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OK, last pics until it's done.
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Looks awesome Randy, anxious to see what's up your sleeve for the paintwork.
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OK, two more. Then that's it.
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Too bad you have to cover all that great work with a simple paint scheme. LL~ LL~ LL~
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How about some more pics of that hinge slotting jig and the adjustment mechanism (I assume it is adjustable for slot heights)?That looks pretty slick.
Thanks,
Bruce
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It's a Slot Machine with a base and adjustable plastic screws on the bottom for height and angle. In this case, I made two cuts then inserted hinge pockets made from plywood. I'll take a close up pic and details.
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It's a Slot Machine with a base and adjustable plastic screws on the bottom for height and angle.
What is the payout percentage? LL~
Ken
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Thank you, Randy.
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Bruce, hopefully this makes it clear.
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Yes Randy, thank you. I had assumed the slotting tool was attached to the wood jig. I see now it rests in the three nylon bolt heads. Very simple.
Do you anchor the control surface and move the tool to cut the slot or do you anchor the tool and move the control surface surface? Or is it a combination of the two. It sure looks like an easy way to make consistent, repeatable hinge slots.
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Derek Moran's original how-to article for his slot machine fixture is in the June 2006 issue of Model Aviation magazine. That issue is available in the MA archives on AMA's web site.
Jack
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Jack, buddy! Haven't heard from you in a long while. Nice to see you here.
As Jack noted, It's a Derek Moran fixture. Modified somewhat by me. I usually clamp the tool in the jig and move the control surface.
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Perfect. Thanks.
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The Slot Machine works OK, I just wish it mad a wider slot. I tried gluing sand paper to the sides but that doesn't last very long. Next time I use it I'll see if it's possible to stack up blades for a wider slot, or has somebody figured out something else?
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee
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#^
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The Slot Machine works OK, I just wish it mad a wider slot. I tried gluing sand paper to the sides but that doesn't last very long. Next time I use it I'll see if it's possible to stack up blades for a wider slot, or has somebody figured out something else?
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee
Posts #62 and 63. You get the idea.
https://stunthanger.com/smf/gettin-all-amp'ed-up!/2016-electric-stunter-build-log/msg431948/#msg431948
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How's it going out there?
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Any progress Randy?
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Any progress Randy?
You'll have to go to facebook to see Randy's progress. It's looking great!
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You'll have to go to facebook to see Randy's progress. It's looking great!
That sucks, I don't do facebook, and won't. :(
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That sucks, I don't do facebook, and won't. :(
y1 y1
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Here is a progress picture of Randy's Ringmaster Deluxe.
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Here is a progress picture of Randy's Ringmaster Deluxe.
Work of art. I love the faring over the controls and the large fillets for the flaps. That adds so much strength to the fuselage and not many people do it.
Ken
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Here is a progress picture of Randy's Ringmaster Deluxe.
Thanks for the photo Brent, it's looking good.
Did Randy ditch the forum? ???
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Also note the sophisticated dust cover for the bandsaw! 🥸
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Here's the latest. Ultracote transparent orange.
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I'm generally not a fan of Monokote birds but that does look pretty cool, really shows off Randy's gazillion piece wing structure. Thanks for the update!
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So...where'd Randy go? ???
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Sheesh, if one is feeling insecure about his building skills, this is not the place to come! LL~ Terrific work! Thanks for sharing.
U R RIGHT ABOUT THAT TCL!!!
DOUG
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Is anyone going to fill us in on where Randy went? ???
MAJOR loss to the forum if he's abandoned SH.
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Randy decided to take a break from Stunthanger (and politics. )
He is posting progress pictures regularly on the various facebook control line pages. Here's the latest update.
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Randy decided to take a break from Stunthanger (and politics. )
He is posting progress pictures regularly on the various facebook control line pages. Here's the latest update.
Thanks for the update, I miss Randy's postings and I don't do facebook for exactly the same reason!
Ken
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Randy decided to take a break from Stunthanger (and politics. )
Pretty much what I figured, and as much as it sucks I can't say I blame him. Especially during this past year there's been waaay too much political crap being posted and argued here with not nearly enough administrative consequence. It's definitely soured a lot of us. Even though I agree with the often used "turn the channel" suggestion that response is long past worn out. Anyway, it really shouldn't have to come to that, this is a MODEL AIRPLANE forum. As far as Randy's decision, it's a huge loss to now be missing one of the best and most active builders on this forum.
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Pretty much what I figured, and as much as it sucks I can't say I blame him. Especially during this past year there's been waaay too much political crap being posted and argued here with not nearly enough administrative consequence. It's definitely soured a lot of us. Even though I agree with the often used "turn the channel" suggestion that response is long past worn out. Anyway, it really shouldn't have to come to that, this is a MODEL AIRPLANE forum. As far as Randy's decision, it's a huge loss to now be missing one of the best and most active builders on this forum.
You talk like you never trolled or bullied? You were a big part of it. And yes, the moderators don't do their job enforcing the rules.
I know many people who have left the Forum even though I begged them to stay.
There's still jealous trolling.
Hey! LEARN TO BUILD AND FINISH BETTER AND YOU WON"T FEEL LIKE TROLLING OTHERS!
Do this and you'll have a better feeling about yourself and your models.
The "politics?" Everyone should be bright enough to not pick on others for their political differences.
Conversations without argumentation. There's nothing difficult about this.
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WOW, it just doesn't stop, does it.
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WOW, it just doesn't stop, does it.
Jerry,
Put up a photo or two of your models.
I enjoy looking at models painted with dope.
Dope is not all that easy to work with. Which is why I don't use it.
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For the millionth time Charles proves to us all how completely clueless he is to any sort of reality or reason.
Go away Charles, for years now you've only continued to prove that you just don't "get it" and never will. Your mind is screwed up and there are a LOT of people on this forum who are way beyond sick of your false accusations and insults. This reply is absolutely NOT trolling, it's an honest and legitimate request that you knock your s--t off. Of course you won't figure that out either, and I'm certain you'll only reply with just another of your false accusations.
Do yourself a favor and seek mental help, you need it.
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WOW, it just doesn't stop, does it.
Sadly it doesn't Jerry, and this mindless drivel has gone on since the day Charles showed up here. The guy is wacko, should have been banned from the forum years ago, and everyone here knows it. y1
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Sadly it doesn't Jerry, and this mindless drivel has gone on since the day Charles showed up here. The guy is wacko, should have been banned from the forum years ago, and everyone here knows it. y1
Tell you what Cowboy Stunt. Show the entire Forum where "I" started this mindless drivel.
You people trolled and bullied me beyond belief for years and are hypocrites to boot. And disgustingly, you all stick together defending each other.
When called out on your pathetic tactics, you all do the same mouthing,"Charles is at fault."
"Blame someone else for what it is you do." We've seen a lot of this haven't we.
Charles, BTW, did nothing to anyone in this Forum. There's a Thread where I get trolled and I never Posted in it. All of you always draw first blood.
I came into this Forum like everyone else, It's not my fault I had previous experience and talent in many areas.
But you didn't address my abilities like true modelers interested in sharing, you immediately trolled and bullied instead.
Bring it on!
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This thread is for Randy's Ringmaster.
n1 Knock it off! n1
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This thread is for Randy's Ringmaster.
n1 Knock it off! n1
Gee, where were when every one of my Threads went sideways? Well, all of them. LL~ LL~ LL~
Does this mean next time my Thread gets attacked, you'll be backing me up?
I'll look and wait for this, and either thank you or remind you.
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Gee, where were when every one of my Threads went sideways? Well, all of them. LL~ LL~ LL~
Does this mean next time my Thread gets attacked, you'll be backing me up?
I'll look and wait for this, and either thank you or remind you.
I'm on nobody's side.
This is about seeing Randy's Ringmaster.
Period.
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This thread is for Randy's Ringmaster.
n1 Knock it off! n1
I agree Brent, and all would be fine if you-know-who wouldn't have showed up. :(
I'd love to be watching Randy's progress but I've always been adamantly against joining facebook. Too bad Randy left here, leaves a big hole IMO.
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Randy's Ringmaster is progressing nicely.
Looking great!
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Looks really good, thanks Brent.
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THAT, is a beautiful airplane...
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Typical Randy finish! Gorgeous. (I'll miss him, too.) :-[
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Fantastic! Randy does amazing work.
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Deluxe to say the least, typical Randy cool. y1