Mike,
Nice looking. Have you flown it yet? I like the battery compartment.
What kind of motor are you using? What's the source? I was just about to order a couple of the combo's at United Hobbies in Hong Kong. I have been playing with a couple of 1/2E (I like that tag you used) the last two weekends. I'll take some pics this week and post them. They are both depron foamies but one has a built up semi-symetrical airfoil. I had a couple of guys that are better flyers than me have a turn and they all said they flew very well. I want to see if I can improve them and get a reasonably price package. I have been using Thunder Power batteries but want to try some cheaper ones.
Bob
Thanks - no haven't yet flown it (see the picture that Alan posted -- the one of the snow? That is also my world, at this time. With more predicted on the way.) So it hangs it the basement, for now. I do have it sketched up, so if it flies OK, I can e-mail .dxf or .dwg plans.
I've been dealing with lightflightrc.com - he carries the same line of cheap outrunners that BP (and others) carry, with excellent prices. (I think he is near you, Bob. Belmont, CA?) These motors are mediocre in consistency and quality, and according to Dave at Lightflight they are prone to have one batch be good, then the next batch will have things like wrong screws. But for the prices, it is something to play with. But, frankly, I like the ESC's that he lists as "Suppo" brand - they have enough features for control line - and they are bringing out some with governors. In fact, he lists a 30Amp helicopter version for $19 - but it's out of stock at present. I'm still in the mode of "Let's see what we can fly" so absolute Contest Performance is nowhere near the top of the list. If I like what this does, I can always get a Scorpion to put on it.
For motors, I got one of his "Cheap combo's" - listed as a 2208-14 w/ an 18Amp ESC- $16. How can you NOT buy something like that? I also got a 2208-12 (the gold motor in one photo) which weighs the same and fits the same mounting holes - has a higher Kv than the "cheap" -14. But both, when running with props that are reasonable for their Kv are obviously going to fly the plane. Beyond that, I just don't know yet. The -12 turns a 7-6 Taipan, cut to 6-6 at 11000 RPM, drawing about 8 amps (IIRC). The -14 seems to like an 8-3 Master Airscrew, turns it about 8500 @ 8 amp. For a motor that would work with the "6 inch rule", look at the 2208-6 or the 2212-10 on 3 cells.
If you order from United, watch the "in stock quantity numbers" - right now they are out of almost everything that I considered buying. I broke down and ordered some LiPos, Props and hardware from Hobbycity/United Hobby - that was just before all of Hong Kong shut down for the Chinese New Year - latest word is that my stuff has left the Hong Kong post office, so that is encouraging. The 2-cell packs I ordered from dealextreme.com - also a Hong Kong mail order house - that were under $7 each in qty's of 3 and have free shipping. Then THEY also went on vacation, and I've had a couple of "in process" notifications from them, but no batteries yet. No hurry though, based on the weather forecasts. If they aren't absolute garbage (and they have pretty fair reviews if the reviews are real), I'd consider getting half a dozen or so, and making up 2s2p and/or 3s1p packs with them. I may make up some charging harnesses so that I can fool the FMA CellPro into charging more than one at a time, too. Well, that about covers the trailing edge of technology here in the frozen Midwest.