Yea, theory is just that. Yea, I'm vacillating between a really cool scheme I had an idea for and something very simple (and scale). It's a time factor, really. I'd like to have it done for the Regionals. Guess we'll see.

Dennis,

We'll see. If I have the time, I may go with something more interesting. But truth is, I may just go simple.

I did discover something that I will use in the future. I had shot primer on the plane, but I felt it was kinda thin. So I mixed up some more and shot a second coat. Interesting part is. The gray of the first coat was quite a bit darker than the gray of the second. Consequently, when I started sanding last night, I discovered that as the primer came off, the low spots were highlight with the lighter gray primer. Very easy to see. It's a pretty neat trick. It will allow me to go back and hit those spots again when I'm done sanding. They really stand out.

Hi Randy,

I know you have used that trick (different colors when sanding) before............

I am really looking forward to seeing this model when finished!

Bill <><

John,

Nope, no hole in the tank, but man that engine can suck fuel. 7 1/8oz for a 46? Yikes!  I may go back to the .40 just on fuel economy.

A 46 what. OS, st orwhatever.

Bill,

Yea, that's it. I took it apart the other night and put in a slightly smaller venturi (from a .275 to a .270) and put a filter on ... and lost almost an ounce to get 6:30 flight. The first flight with the setup ran over 8 minutes! So I backed off to 6oz and got about 6:30 out of it. Hmm ... That is odd. But still seems to have plenty of power.

Yeah Leo, I do, I sure do,, some old short guy who keeps talkin all the time, thats where the hot air comes from 

This .46VF is the one you were wondering about the funny bearing noise? And the fuel consumption is that high? I'd call PW and ask for his advise, but maybe the high fuel burn is from the bearing being bad? That's supposed to be a clue, but I really don't understand why bad bearings cause radically low MPG. Even new parts can be bad. Steve

Steve,

The noise went away. The engine had sat for a long time in the box. Maybe 3 years before I pulled it out to try it at the end of last year. Then it sat again all winter. Could just be excess gunk in the low end. At any rate, it seems fine now. The bearing always felt free, it was just the noise. I noted that the slight change in venturi and a filter seems to have had a large change in fuel mileage. At any rate, we are flying tomorrow at the Narrows, weather permitting, and I'll get a chance to do some more experimentation. Sure like the power output.

BTW, the primer is almost sanded. One wing surface and the open bays on one other then I can clean up the foot of dust on the shop floor, wipe down and shoot a clear seal coat. Hope to shoot some base color tomorrow.