Thought I would post a few picts of my new Oriental. I got it all finished up this week and took it out to get the cobwebs off today. perfect day! 70 to 75 degrees,(quite a break from the 40 degree weather we have been having.) slight breeze, perfect day for maiden voyages. To make a long story short, once I got the engine run sorted out, she flew pretty much dead on . I need to play with the rudder a touch, maybe get finicky with the leadout position but all in all, I was flying the pattern on the second flight. Im EXCITED, it flies really well. some of the things I have done to make it different, wing mounted gear instead of fuse mount, LA 46 for power,, 12.2 x 3.6 wood prop with the shape of the blades replicating the APC planform. I moved the wing forward 1 1/8" from the plan position to balance the heavier engine. It worked perfectly thanks Pat!!! It balances in flight very very happy. I am using 63 foot .018 lines and getting right around 5.0 sec laps. shes a sweety to fly, good tension, honest turn, and plenty of it. Oh I guess I mislead, I did adjust my handle bias to adjust the insides and outsides.
It weighs right around 45 oz, wings and tail are covered with Ultracote, the red swishs on the wings and tail  are Monokote. The fuse is epoxy base with catayzed primer. Then base clear Urethane.
The pilot dude was a holdover from the German experimental ranks of test pilots, only guy brave enough to ride in my planes lol,,,,

Mark:
The new Oriental looks GREAT!    

I like the mods you did too.  Definitely will benefit from changing the moments.  GREAT job!

Hi Mark,

That really looks nice!

Of course, since you are going to use this one for Classic, you DID[/i] *verify* all those modifications as being Classic Legal, right??

Wait until next year when you see my *Double Duty* plane.   It will be a Charles Parrott P-47, complete with PA .61 and pipe.  Built of course with Billy's Geo Bolt wing... oopppssss, maybe I shouldn't have admitted that part?

just yanking your chain....

Bill <><

Mark,

The word is fidelity.

Always tricky. My Shoestring is built with modifications endorsed by Bob Hunt (Skylark wing and such). I feel like this one is closer to original that the first one I built that was faithful to the Flying Models plans (despite the slight mod of moving the canopy line rearward to look more like the real plane)

Boy I hope this pilot is covered by that little lizard fron Gieco. Does this guy know how dangerous this is. All kidding aside plane looks good as usual and I am sure you will like the power. Nice job.

lol,, yeah Actually have spoken to several CD for contest around here, if my Oreintal doesnt survive, I will hve my electric Cardinal for backup,, hehe take that
 

Randy,, yeah TMNT are pretty tough unflappable dudes,, doesnt much scare them thats for sure. and if something does, they can just pull the ninja headbanc over their eyes and its all good.
I really wanted a muppets "animal" figure for mine, but all the ones I found were way to big,, way heavy, or well they just didnt look like Animal, I wanted the full on head of animal hair stuffed in the canopy, figured he could cope with the flying style I have,,
alas I settled on the tough looking german dude, when I painted him up I even gave him a 5 oclock shadow to really make him feel tuff enuff.
Also note, I gave him no control stick, or insterments to keep him further in the dark

Ok John, ya caught me, but the dude was mind controlling me and made me,, he was tired of doing all the work and not getting any credit. especially after the first couple flights,, I had to open a vent in the cockpit to let out his perspiration! lol
Hows your project coming, will it make the Regionals? you planning on luxuriating in the canvas castle again this year?

Randy,
if I were smart enough I would probably be insulted by that comment thinking it was a commentary on my flying skill, or lack thereof?
lol
Im gonna be at my personal Quality inn,, the Astro bed and breakfast

Leo, we build at higher than sea level, and lower humidity, so the air trapped inside our planes is lighter than yours is,, Thats why Pats planes are always so light I have figured out, now if you moved to Denver and built your planes there, they would almost weigh nothing,,

Ah yes, I plan on staying in the "canvas castle". I plan on having the new Pathfinder there, but I'm not too sure how much trimming will be done before I get there.

It's in the base coat, "Yellow" and I do mean YELLOW. Trim colors this weekend. Stay tuned.

I am also bringing the "Dutch Ovens" so I expect to eat well at the camp sight each evening.

WOW 

Hey Mark

That is one nice Oriental. Superb paint and detail.

                                                           Bryan

Thanks for the positive feedback guys.
not much to see Steve, pretty standard stuff. I built up the LG blocks from 1/8 ply, two layers, then cut false ribs to fit between the spars supporting the blocks. the blocks tie into the spars as well. then 1/16 ply caps with screws to hold the gear in place.

Very nice Mark. It looks good with the wing forward.

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