Author Topic: 2013 Electric Stunter - A Build Log (Read 23713 times)

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #50 on:** October 18, 2012, 10:51:22 AM »

Quote from: Allan Perret on October 18, 2012, 09:51:09 AM

On an electric profile, it would be easy enough to center the motor/spinner on the fuse (top view).
Just wondering why you choose to stay with offset to outside as if it was a glow engine.

I personally don't like a lot of spinner "overhang" on the inboard side. Plus it is traditional to have the thrustline on the outboard side on most profiles. Bottom line......personal preference.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #51 on:** October 18, 2012, 09:16:56 PM »

Tonight I finished up the elevators. I made the horn clips just like the flap clips. I located them the same way as the flaps. I included a picture of the right elevator root cap made from 2 pieces of 1/16 basswood. The small notch is for the Rabe horn. The weight of the stab, elevators, and elevator control horn is about 3 grams under budget. So far so good.

I started to assemble the fuselage tonight. Tomorrow I'll finish building it and then sand it down and glue on the first (outboard) 1/64 ply skin.

Allan Perret · « **Reply #52 on:** October 19, 2012, 06:36:23 AM »

Quote from: Crist Rigotti on October 18, 2012, 09:16:56 PM

Tonight I finished up the elevators. I made the horn clips just like the flap clips. I located them the same way as the flaps. I included a picture of the right elevator root cap made from 2 pieces of 1/16 basswood. The small notch is for the Rabe horn.

Have you used the Rabe Rudder on any of your previous electrics, and to good effect ?
I was thinking the advantages of the pusher props would take care of the line tension issues the Rabe Rudder addresses.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #53 on:** October 19, 2012, 08:04:53 AM »

Quote from: Allan Perret on October 19, 2012, 06:36:23 AM

Have you used the Rabe Rudder on any of your previous electrics, and to good effect ?
I was thinking the advantages of the pusher props would take care of the line tension issues the Rabe Rudder addresses.

Allan,
Yeah, I used them on all my airplanes. Even with the pusher props I like the feel the Rabe rudder gives on those hard outside corners.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #54 on:** October 19, 2012, 11:05:45 PM »

Tonight I finished building the core of the fuselage. I used 1/8 6# balsa for the truss work. I wanted to keep the width of the fuselage at 3/4 inches wide. So I had to sand down the total width by 1/32 to accommodate the 1/64 sides. I made up a jig from 2 pieces of "U" channel 1/8 x 7/8h x 1w. I shimmed up the fuselage using some 1/8 and 1/32 balsa that I had. I made up a sanding tool by using some clear duct tape where the tool would rest on the U channel and taped some 80 grit sandpaper in between. At first I started with just the 1/8 shims to get the core even at 3/4. The I added 1/32 and sanded till the sanding tool quit cutting wood. Worked like a champ. 1/32 less than 3/4 and nice and straight.

I then have the outboard 1/64 ply skin glued on and weighted down overnight. I used my MGS L-285 epoxy for this and used an acid brush and a small cheap touch up brush to put the epoxy on the truss.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #55 on:** October 20, 2012, 11:46:30 AM »

This morning I trimmed and cut out the outboard 1/64 ply and glued on the inboard 1/64 using epoxy.

I then made up my 2 landing gear spats. I was feeling frisky this morning so I decided to laminate them instead of using 1 piece of 1/16 ply. They are made up from 2 pieces of 1/64 ply (I love the stuff!), 1/32 ply, and 1/32 balsa. The 1/32 ply is located where the attach brackets will be.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #56 on:** October 20, 2012, 10:27:50 PM »

The fuselage is pretty much done with the exception of the canopy. I'm running a poll on it's location on the main forum. Please vote for your preference.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #57 on:** October 20, 2012, 10:37:26 PM »

The LG spats are done and came out to 9 grams for both of them. Plenty stiff enough.

I trimmed the inboard 1/64 ply, cut out for the wing and stab. I used a paper template that I cover with several layers of packing tape on both side. As usual the cutout was a little big. I lined the cutout with 1/32 balsa and closed the gap with several layers of 1/32 as needed. Now it fits just right.

I then tapered the aft end to flair into the rudder. I added the tail skid mounting screw holder too. It is a piece of yellow Ny-Rod epoxied into the fuselage. I put in a 2-56 screw that will serve 2 purposes. The first will be a tail skid, and the second it will be the retainer for the rudder hinge pin.

Tomorrow the canopy and the fuselage will be done. As it sits, it is 2 ounces below my budget! Yeah!

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #58 on:** October 21, 2012, 06:17:34 PM »

I dry assembled the model. Here is a picture of a fwd. mid, and aft canopy.

Jason Greer · « **Reply #59 on:** October 21, 2012, 06:53:51 PM »

Really nice job Crist! My apologies if I missed it, but what is the weight of the fuselage with the 1/64" plywood skins? That looks like a really bulletproof way to go.

Jason

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #60 on:** October 21, 2012, 07:30:26 PM »

Quote from: Jason Greer on October 21, 2012, 06:53:51 PM

Really nice job Crist! My apologies if I missed it, but what is the weight of the fuselage with the 1/64" plywood skins? That looks like a really bulletproof way to go.

Jason

Jason,
The fuselage with the canopy weighs 6.3 ounces. And yes, it is bulletproof.

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #61 on:** October 21, 2012, 07:55:14 PM »

Just great. I like how you tweaked the wing fit, I usually do something like that but only as a FIX! With the bird assembled the forward canopy location really stands out as the best.

Sheesz, you got time to build ANOTHER new bird!

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #62 on:** October 21, 2012, 10:17:13 PM »

Quote from: Dennis Adamisin on October 21, 2012, 07:55:14 PM

Just great. I like how you tweaked the wing fit, I usually do something like that but only as a FIX! With the bird assembled the forward canopy location really stands out as the best.

Sheesz, you got time to build ANOTHER new bird!

Thanks Dennis. I think I'll sleep on the canopy location. I'm thinking of the mid location. The aft location is out. I'm kicking around the fwd location, but with a different shaped canopy. Trying to make the canopy more like Talon, All American Eagle, Novi, Formula S like. We'll see.

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #63 on:** October 22, 2012, 09:42:45 PM »

Quote from: Crist Rigotti on October 21, 2012, 10:17:13 PM

Thanks Dennis. I think I'll sleep on the canopy location. I'm thinking of the mid location. The aft location is out. I'm kicking around the fwd location, but with a different shaped canopy. Trying to make the canopy more like Talon, All American Eagle, Novi, Formula S like. We'll see.

Along those lines you might also consider a long low dorsal fin or ridgeback - even all the way to the canopy.

John Rist · « **Reply #64 on:** October 23, 2012, 06:33:44 AM »

I realize the canopy weighs 0 but could canopy location help CG?

John Hammonds · « **Reply #65 on:** October 23, 2012, 06:48:25 AM »

Quote from: John Rist on October 23, 2012, 06:33:44 AM

I realize the canopy weighs 0 but could canopy location help CG?

Depends on how many pies the Pilot ate.

TTFN
John

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #66 on:** October 23, 2012, 08:03:17 AM »

Quote from: John Rist on October 23, 2012, 06:33:44 AM

I realize the canopy weighs 0 but could canopy location help CG?

John,
I think my canopy weighs like 6 grams. While every little bit does have an effect on CG, this one will be placed for looks and the shift in CG will not be considered.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #67 on:** October 24, 2012, 08:50:46 PM »

The fuselage is done. I cut out for the motor clearance, rounded the edges, slotted for the battery straps, and finished shaping the fuselage nose area. As it sits with the canopy and motor mount is 6 ounces. 2 ounces under budget. I think everything is now built. Some detail sanding the entire model and then on to the Monokote.

To make the slots I laid out the holes about 5/32 apart and on each end of the slot. Then I used my 1/16 drill, then larger and larger then finally a 5/32 drill. I "connected" the holes with a pointed hacksaw blade, then used carborundum file to shape the slot. Took about 20 minutes.

Oh, I decided on almost the forward most canopy location. Probably very close to picture # 3 from above.

25 days from when I started it's almost ready for finishing.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #68 on:** October 24, 2012, 09:50:51 PM »

Just a picture of the motor and the motor mount. The mount will be glued in after the carbon veil has been applied.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #69 on:** October 29, 2012, 07:42:53 PM »

Update:
All the detail sanding is finished. The plane is ready to cover/finish. I started 1 month ago. Overall I'm about 1 1/2 ounces below my budgeted weight. My guess when I'm all done, I'll hit my weight. Here are the wieghts ready to cover or finish. All weights in grams.

Wing with weight box cover and screw - 267
LT Flap - 25
RT Flap - 30
Stab - 33
LT Ele - 16
RT Ele - 16
Fuse with canopy and motor mount - 169
Fin - 9
Rudder - 3
Spats - 9
Nose Wheel with clip and screws - 16
Main Gear with clips and screws - 50
Flap Horn - 8
Ele Horn - 7
Flap Pushrod - 10
Ele Pushrod - 15

Total - 683 24.05 ounces

On to cutting Monokote for the wing and stab.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #70 on:** October 30, 2012, 08:35:24 PM »

Tonight I cut out the Monokote pieces and covered the stab in white. Tomorrow I'll do the wing. Thursday the trim and letters. Friday or at least this weekend I start doping the fuselage, fin, and rudder.

No pictures tonight.

Leester · « **Reply #71 on:** October 31, 2012, 05:13:25 PM »

Did Jan take you Trick or Treating

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #72 on:** October 31, 2012, 06:03:59 PM »

Quote from: Leester on October 31, 2012, 05:13:25 PM

Did Jan take you Trick or Treating

Nope, I stayed home and help pass out the candy and see all the costumes.

How about Helga?

Leester · « **Reply #73 on:** October 31, 2012, 07:21:49 PM »

She bought a ton of candy, then turned all the lights off so the kids wouldn't come to the door and sat and ate all the candy

uh oh

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #74 on:** October 31, 2012, 09:02:05 PM »

That's funny Lee. I did the same thing!

OK, tonights progress saw the wing get covered in white. Turned out real good. Tomorrow is the trim and letters. It'll take a couple of days to do that.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #75 on:** November 01, 2012, 08:34:50 PM »

I put on the chrome LE and the tip stripes on both the wing and stab.

I use the "Windex" method. I put center tick marks on the chrome Monokote ends and tick marks on the center of the LE. I spray the area with Windex and peel off the Monokote backing and spray the backside of the Monokote too. I position it in place on the wing LE and rub out the excess Windex with a soft clean rag. I them align the tick marks and rub down the chrome Monokote a few times getting as much Windex and air bubbles out as I can. After it sets about an hour, I use my Top Flite sealing iron set on 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 and gently run it down the edges to flatten them down where the stripes will go. Man, that chrome is shiny!

I put on the stripes pretty much the same way. After aligning them on the wing I use the sealing iron on the LE and TE to get it to lay down nice and good, then I trim the stripe. I do the bottom first and over lap the LE and TE with the top piece. I'll let them "dry" overnight and then carefully run the sealing iron over them set at 1 3/4.

On to the numbers and letters tomorrow.

Dave Denison · « **Reply #76 on:** November 02, 2012, 07:42:30 PM »

Crist.

That's a great clean looking hi-vis trim scheme, simple and neet. Nice. Keep the pictures coming please.

Regards.
Dave.

ama 41041

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #77 on:** November 02, 2012, 09:40:59 PM »

Dave,
As you wish!

Letters and numbers applied.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #78 on:** November 02, 2012, 09:47:20 PM »

Quote from: Crist Rigotti on October 01, 2012, 07:18:12 PM

Lee,
I have plenty of dope. It's the thinner I need. Dupont 3608S.

Scorpion's have gone up a lot in price and the Cobra motors have much larger ball bearings.

Picked up a gallon of the 3608S locally for $28.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #79 on:** November 03, 2012, 12:28:34 PM »

Battery compartment modification!

Laying out the color scheme I realized that the motor cutout and the battery straps will "interfer" with the color scheme. Hmm.... So I decided to make a modification the the nose area. I cut slots for the battery straps down into the battery compartment. Then cutout the 1/64 plywood from the entire battery compartment. I then glued on another piece of 1/64 ply to the nose area after tapering the aft edge. I then glued in strips of basswood in the battery compartment for the battery to rest on when held tight by the straps. The whole modification cost me 10 grams. It was worth hiding the battery straps. Oh, it also added some stiffness to the nose.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #80 on:** November 04, 2012, 06:15:17 PM »

Managed to apply the CF to the fuselage, fin, rudder, and canopy today. They are drying right now. Pictures later tonight.

Dan Bregar · « **Reply #81 on:** November 04, 2012, 06:39:23 PM »

Crist

Do you use the 0.2 oz. tissue stuff from CST?

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #82 on:** November 04, 2012, 07:58:42 PM »

Dan,
Yes, it's 2/10 CF veil (tissue). I don't remember where I got it but probably from CST or ACP.

I brushed on 2 coats of 75/25 SIG nitrate to the bare wood. I only use SIG dope. Lightly sanded and applied the 2/10 carbon fiber veil. Some sanding then another coat of nitrate. Let dry then some agressive sanding. Then 1 more coat of nitrate. I'll let it dry over night then sand it and then it's on to assembling the airplane. Total weight of doping so far is 14 grams.

Dan Bregar · « **Reply #83 on:** November 05, 2012, 04:09:27 AM »

Crist

You do good work ! Looking good.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #84 on:** November 05, 2012, 10:16:07 PM »

Glued in the wing, stab, and fin tonight. On to the fillets!

Curare · « **Reply #85 on:** November 06, 2012, 12:16:27 AM »

740kv? I take it you're running a 4s pack?

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #86 on:** November 06, 2012, 05:51:34 AM »

Quote from: Curare on November 06, 2012, 12:16:27 AM

740kv? I take it you're running a 4s pack?

760Kv and a 5S battery. See reply #7.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #87 on:** November 07, 2012, 08:06:42 PM »

Well, my Aeropoxy Light went bad after about 6 years. I've ordered another qt of the stuff from PTM&W. About $37 for 1.5 qt size delivered.

http://store.ptm-w.com/c-2-aeropoxy.aspx

AEROPOXY LIGHT LIGHTWEIGHT FILLER: Qt. Kit

SKU:WAPLTE - Net Wt: 1.5 lb. Net Vol: 1.47 Qt.

Price: $28.90

Quantity:

It'll be a few days till I can get back to the model. I'll look for some misc. things to do on it.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #88 on:** November 08, 2012, 07:47:42 PM »

Tonight I glued in the firewall using 30 minute epoxy. I made up and glued in the rudder control horn. Set my pushrods to length and polished up the aluminum ferrules using "Mother's" aluminum polish. They look like chrome! I made up and covered the flap pushrod cover with 2/10 CF veil. It is ready to glue on after the fillets go on the wing. No pictures tonight.

Allan Perret · « **Reply #89 on:** November 09, 2012, 07:23:48 AM »

Quote from: Crist Rigotti on November 05, 2012, 10:16:07 PM

Glued in the wing, stab, and fin tonight. On to the fillets!

I never glue the wing and stab at the same time. I feel much more comfortable from an alignment standpoint that it will be more accurate by first gluing wing into the fuse, and then later gluing the stab. So I am just curious about how you handle the alignment issue when gluing both at the same time.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #90 on:** November 09, 2012, 08:20:37 AM »

Quote from: Allan Perret on November 09, 2012, 07:23:48 AM

I never glue the wing and stab at the same time. I feel much more comfortable from an alignment standpoint that it will be more accurate by first gluing wing into the fuse, and then later gluing the stab. So I am just curious about how you handle the alignment issue when gluing both at the same time.

I glue the wing in first, then I glue the stab in. Not done at the same time.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #91 on:** November 09, 2012, 08:35:12 AM »

Isn't that the way it is supposed to be done??? I don't think I have ever built/assembled a plane without the wing going in first. Then align the stab with the wing.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #92 on:** November 09, 2012, 10:37:18 AM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on November 09, 2012, 08:35:12 AM

Isn't that the way it is supposed to be done??? I don't think I have ever built/assembled a plane without the wing going in first. Then align the stab with the wing.

Yep doc, that's how I've always did it.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #93 on:** November 09, 2012, 09:24:15 PM »

Tonight I made up the ESC mount. It is made from 1/16 ply. It is 1 3/4 long and 1 high.

I also prepped the ESC and timer. I also updated the software and programmed it.

Hurry up Aeropoxy!

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #94 on:** November 11, 2012, 06:11:19 PM »

Today I finished up my handle. It is a Ted Fancher small Precision Pro handle.

I also "cored" my elevators to save some tail weight. I saved 13 grams.

Waiting on the Aeropoxy Light.

Bob Hudak · « **Reply #95 on:** November 11, 2012, 06:25:29 PM »

What a neat idea of mounting the timer to the ESC. And talk about shaving wire weight, I like the direct plug connections on the ESC for the motor. I'll bet you lost about 1/2 oz. with the wire elimination on the ESC.
Bob

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #96 on:** November 11, 2012, 07:19:50 PM »

Quote from: Bob Hudak on November 11, 2012, 06:25:29 PM

What a neat idea of mounting the timer to the ESC. And talk about shaving wire weight, I like the direct plug connections on the ESC for the motor. I'll bet you lost about 1/2 oz. with the wire elimination on the ESC.
Bob

Bob,
I use 3M SJ4570 Dual Lock to hold the timer to the ESC. It sure beats velcro. There is no "rocking" with Dual Lock. Here is a link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0045A182K/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #97 on:** November 15, 2012, 08:19:24 PM »

Still no Aeropoxy! I'll call them tomorrow. In the meantime I made up my master to make my decals. They will be printed on clear decal paper with a color laser printer then coated with Testor's decal bonder.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #98 on:** November 15, 2012, 09:16:46 PM »

Been a while since I stopped by here, lookin' good Christ!

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #99 on:** November 19, 2012, 05:25:20 PM »

I called PTM&W (Aeropoxy) Friday. The gal who does web orders was out sick all last week and got my order shipped today. Maybe, by some chance, I'll have it Friday, maybe.