Friday, May 5, 2017
I decided to apply the black trim monokote to the GRUMMAN ALBATROSS. I called it quits around 1851 and went in for the evening.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
The wife and I headed out to go to the US Coast Guard Station at the Cape to get some information about the colors of the racing stripe. It was a nice trip and visit to the facility and quite a pleasure speaking to some of the young men stationed there. We took a few photos then when I got home, I came into the workshop and began adding the black monokote to the GRUMMAN ALBATROSS. I messed up on one of the nacelles because I made the black trim stripe too broad and then made a mess of trying to remove it. To avoid getting too frustrated, I quit around 1930 or so and went in for the evening.
Sunday, May 7, 2017
I managed to spend quite a bit of time trying to clean up the mess I made on one side of the nacelle and then, as a brain relief, spent a few minutes applying a strip of black trim to the outboard horizontal stabilizer before getting ready for church. When I returned home, I changed clothes then returned to the workshop and resumed the covering process. Around 1800 or so, I had completed the black monokote trim for the GRUMMAN ALBATROSS. I had to really work to remove the black monokote that I had misapplied on the inboard nacelle but thankfully it worked out and it’s really hard to see where the mistake was made now. I cleaned up all of the joints and seams using some monokote trim solvent and it didn’t look too bad. It’s a shame I can still tell where the seams are but the only way to never have them is to do a complete paint job and that’s not going to happen, at least not any time in the immediate future.
Monday, May 8, 2017
I came into the workshop and resumed the trim work on the GRUMMAN ALBATROSS. By 1215 or so, the basic trim work was complete and looking pretty good. The biggest problem I encountered during this session involved applying the trim around the windscreens. I had to remove the windscreen I had applied earlier because the black edging had gaps and I had small areas where the white trim was showing
. Once this was corrected, it became a rather simple matter to repaint the edges as needed then complete the covering and set up for a reapplication of clear monokote to make the windscreen. I wish I could feel sure that I could get some matching white paint to cover and stick to the aluminum cowls
.
To start this portion of the log, I must open and admit that the moderator of this forum, Charles, made me an incredible offer, that being to provide the graphics for this model
. I was and am truly thankful and appreciative for his offer; it is beyond anything I could have ever expected
. I am truly humbled and thankful for his most gracious offer
but I wanted to try my hand at it. So moving forward, I spent a fair amount of time cutting out the paper graphics for the GRUMMAN ALBATROSS and taping them in place to get an idea of the sizes and placements for each of the graphics and then reprinting as needed. By 1930 or so, I believe I had graphics that look just about right
.
Sunday, May 14, 2017
I took a few minutes to update the log then set my attention towards applying come clear monokote over the graphics on the GRUMMAN ALBATROSS
. I had to print out an additional Coast Guard emblem and some additional graphics to replace the ones I had taped to the model as visual reference. This was a bit slow and tedious
but so far, it looks like it was worth the effort
. I worked steadily until about 1930 when all of the graphics and trim work was completed on the GRUMMAN ALBATROSS
. The only thing left to be done in the workshop is the completion of the lead out connectors and it will be ready for initial engine run-ups. I took a few minutes to update the logs before shutting down for the evening
.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
I added the connectors to the lead-outs for the GRUMMAN ALBATROSS thus completing the build. It is now ready to fly, I hope. I took a few minutes to weigh and check the CG of the GRUMMAN ALBATROSS and the CG is about 2-1/2” aft of the leading edge and it weighs 4.3 pounds
. Now to select a date and time for engine run-ups and flight testing
. Stay tuned
!!