Author Topic: "38 Special" is ready for flight!-----> IT FLIES!!! (Read 6019 times)

Larrys4227 · « **on:** March 28, 2009, 05:59:06 PM »

It seems like its been a long 6 months of building, but I finally finished my 38Special. I'm pretty happy with it ... its my first complete plane build in about 25 years. Its powered by an Evolution36 and will maiden with an 11x5 prop. It weighs 41oz, so I'll be on 60' .015 lines. Highlights include an intergrated stooge loop, adjustable rudder and leadouts, tip weight box with the first 1/2 ounce permanent, Dave Brown carbon-fiber pushrod with ball links, and a 4" Brodak bellcrank with bronze bushings for the leadout wires. The wings are Ultracote, and the fuse/tailfeathers are rattle can Lustercote. Fuse graphics are locked in with a coat of Lustercote Clear. The photo below showing the plane on the CG stand is just as it came off the bench. There has been no weight added .... bet I cant build again and do that again! The CG is in place per plans, and the leadout guide is set according to LineIII.

I got a couple runs on the motor today to break it in abit ..... it fired right up without the need for an electric starter. Alittle thirsty but I'm sure it will get better. 10% fuel at 18%oil, bumped to 23% with additional castor.

I hope she flies good!! We'll find out as soon as this front moves through the southeast ..... wind was about 30mph today.

Enjoy! FlySafe! Larry (Larrys4227)

steve pagano · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2009, 06:01:39 PM »

This is one SWEET looking 38 If she flies as good as she looks it'll be a killer in the circle!

John Stiles · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2009, 06:02:43 PM »

AWWWW Man! I like that...she's a beaut!! What ya gonna do with yer plans???

Phil Coopy · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2009, 06:46:16 PM »

Really great job Larry! Hope to see it soon......not this weekend for sure with the wind predicions. Got my Vector all fixed maybe we can get together next week.

Phil

Warren Leadbeatter · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2009, 06:47:56 PM »

That 38 looks totally awesome! Well done Larry! You will find that the Evo 36 has plenty of power too.

Leester · « **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2009, 07:29:44 PM »

That really looks great Larry. Be sure and send John Brodak a picture, he'll appreciate it.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #6 on:** March 28, 2009, 07:39:47 PM »

THat looks great Larry. I bet she'll fly well.

Gene O'Keefe · « **Reply #7 on:** March 28, 2009, 07:58:32 PM »

Excellent workmanship - you may want to consider giving that brand new engine 6 - 10 bench tanks of fuel first - wouldn't want it to go lean in the first couple of flights. JMHO

Gene

Roger Vizioli · « **Reply #8 on:** March 28, 2009, 08:17:20 PM »

Larry,
Really looks great!
Hope you plan to bring it to our 4/19 Fly In.
Roger

Russell Shaffer · « **Reply #9 on:** March 28, 2009, 08:27:53 PM »

That is one pretty airplane. Something about a bipe, but this one is especially nice.

ray copeland · « **Reply #10 on:** March 28, 2009, 08:48:42 PM »

Wow Larry,, you done good bud!!! Very nice looking you should be very proud!! if yu get time give a report on the evo and the prop, i have one ready to go on my Twister if i ever get it done. Way to go,,, Ray

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #11 on:** March 29, 2009, 02:01:34 AM »

Outstanding craftsmanship, Larry. She sure is easy on the eyes! Give us a flight report, will ya?

Larrys4227 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 29, 2009, 06:57:59 AM »

Thanks guys for the comments!

I've always had a thing for bi-planes ... they are just sooo cool. The one thing I did NOT have fun with was mounting the upper and lower wings. It took me forever and alot of cussing to get those wings properly aligned. Just when I'd get one aspect trued/aligned, I'd find another that was out of whack ... fix it, and go back to find the one that was right, was now wrong. Arrrgghh .... I remember it vividly.

The EVO36 got 5 bench runs yesterday. I'm using the medium venturi, and the first 4 runs were with a 10x6 @ 9400rpm. The motor wasnt too happy with the first 3oz of fuel. Kept quiting every 15-20 seconds. Runs after that were fine. The last run was with the 11x5 @ 9500 and it just purred along.

Phil Coopy - Glad to hear your Vector is back together! Yup, we'll have to get together soon! Not sure about this upcoming weekend .... Saturday is 'Family Day' at our field. I'm hoping for a calm evening this week to get the plane down the field. I dont want to have the 1st flights on saturday in front of a bazillion people!

Leester - Ya really think John B would be interested? I'm just a lowly sport pilot that hacks away in my garage.

Gene O'Keefe - Yup, I may run the motor a couple more times just to be sure. It was real steady with the 11x5, so I believe its almost there.

Roger Vizioli - Your April 19 Fly-In is a must do! Yup, I'll have the plane with me and hopefully will have a dozen flights or so on it. April 19th was a date I was shooting for to complete the plane ... thanks for putting the pressure on me! LOL!

Richard Grogan - I'll give a flight report, success or failure, as soon as it happens. I'm pretty scared though ....

My wife doesnt want me flying it at all!!! She had a hand in helping me when I needed it, so she feels an attachment to it. Not sure if thats a good thing or not!!

Theres quite a few here that enjoy building pictures. You can see a few that I took here:
http://www.pbase.com/lakebiker/38special_build

FlySafe! Larry (Larrys4227)

Leester · « **Reply #13 on:** March 29, 2009, 07:35:28 AM »

Larry: John keeps a scrap book and keeps the pictures in it. I sent him one and he replyed thanking me, so it probobly doesn't matter who you are your a customer.

Bryan Higgins · « **Reply #14 on:** March 29, 2009, 02:30:46 PM »

Larry

"WOW" What a looker.

That is the best looking 38 i have ever seen. Great Job.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #15 on:** March 29, 2009, 03:25:50 PM »

Larry, you have put my 38 Special to shame. That is gorgeous. As Leester says John is another modeler who loves model planes. Even after all my bad mouthing about him he is still a gentleman. I still have the trophy for the highest placing Brodak kit in Int at the NATS he gave me a couple of years ago. Hope your 38 Special flies as well as it looks. Having fun, DOC Holliday

Randy Ryan · « **Reply #16 on:** March 29, 2009, 03:51:12 PM »

Beautiful little bipe there Larry. I always wanted to do a full fuse version of it.

Robert W · « **Reply #17 on:** March 30, 2009, 05:41:09 AM »

Hi Larry

Your 38 special came out nice, Let us know how it flies.

I send John a picture of all the planes I build from his kits and he has always sent a kind word in response. I enjoy looking at models that others have built.

Regards
Robert

Larrys4227 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 30, 2009, 06:45:49 AM »

Hey Robert! Good to hear from ya! Yesterday I sent a couple pics to John .... used the generic email flyin@brodak.com

The winds are supposed to be way down today, so I'm hoping I can get a flight or two on the 38 this evening. Would have gone this morning, but this work-thing has got in the way again!!!

Hope all is well with you? Getting any flying done? Hope to see you the 19th!!

FlySafe! Larry (Larrys4227)

Michael Floerchinger · « **Reply #19 on:** March 30, 2009, 07:24:49 AM »

Great looking plane! I really liked mine and I am sure you will like the way yours flies!

Dalton Hammett · « **Reply #20 on:** March 30, 2009, 10:51:37 AM »

***************************************
Super nice looking plane - always like to see the two wingers

Dalton H.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #21 on:** March 30, 2009, 12:12:13 PM »

Great looking bipe, love them biplanes too!
I know everybody has to say something right? I just happened to notice that the prop is touching ( or so it appears) the cutout in the spinner? you may want to clearnace that, it can lead to some unpleasantness in the spinner working against the prop.
I really like the orange trim on the white, really stands out without being gaudy

Larrys4227 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 31, 2009, 05:01:14 AM »

Couldn't resist a beautiful evening with very low winds, so after work I loaded the plane and down the field we went! After 5 flights, I can safely say that I'm gonna enjoy this plane! The first couple flights were simply level flight getting the handle set, but the last couple had me flying non-reverse wingovers, outside and inside loops, inverted and lazy-8's. Line tension seemed great everywhere! A very small amount of tip weight may be needed, but I'll wait till more experienced eyes can have a look-see. After the engine quits, it has a great glide and the landings were smooth --- for me anyway! I do have an issue with the gear though .... it bends quite easily. Control inputs seemed outstanding to me! Very smooth and stable. Not once in all 5 flights did I feel to be flying on the edge of some problem.

The EVO36 ran pretty good too with an 11x5 and medium venturi, but I think an 11x4, or 11x4.5 will be the ticket. Laptimes were 4.8 - 5 seconds @ 93-9500 Take-Off RPM. The faster laptimes were toward the end of each flight and couldnt get a 4-2-4 break... too much prop load? Also was getting alittle bit of engine sagging during multiple loops. On 3.5oz of fuel, I was getting 4m30s run times. Hopefully that will improve. The tank may need a minor adjustment too ... slight increase in RPM when inverted. The engine needs more run time as I had to reset the needle a click or two on every flight. A slightly lower pitch prop is the first thing to do though .... and they should arrive by the end of the week.

Overall, very satisfied with this plane! It felt good to get it in the air! Woohoo!

FlySafe! Larry (Larrys4227)

Warren Leadbeatter · « **Reply #23 on:** April 01, 2009, 03:21:32 AM »

Gday Larry,

Well done... you pretty much described how my 38 Special flies too. The jury is still out on the Evo 36 - plenty of power but oh what a gas guzzler.

Enjoy!

Terry Bolin · « **Reply #24 on:** April 03, 2009, 06:29:40 AM »

VERY NICE, thanks for the pictures. I have one of those kits that I hope to build it soon. I too love those bipes. Yours looks good and thanks for the good report of how it flew!We have a flier who has one almost complete. The flying surfaces are even finished but not the fuse.

Keep us up to date! and more pics

Jerry Reider · « **Reply #25 on:** April 03, 2009, 03:52:58 PM »

I agree with the hassle getting the wings aligned for gluing. I had the same problem. If I remember correctly, I trimmed some more from the wing struts where they joined with the wings. That seemed to make them less likely to move at other places when adjusted elsewhere.

I love the way mine flies. I pretty much agree with what you said about the way it flies. I feel I could do anything with my 38 that I can do with any of my single wing stunters, and maybe then some. It's smooth, stable and does right what I tell it to do.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #26 on:** April 03, 2009, 06:18:15 PM »

Guess I may have to pull mine down and take it to Springfield. Having fun, DOC Holliday

Larrys4227 · « **Reply #27 on:** April 04, 2009, 04:52:05 AM »

Mounting the lower wing was just as difficult as the top, for me. The lower didnt fit the fuse too well, and once it was close, the chore of making it square/perpendicular/incidence to the fuse frustrated me. The center strut for the top wing is what I had to work on quite abit. Much of that is because of a slight TE bow in the top wing. It was alot worse than it is now, but less than a 1/16 gap is still there looking with a straight-edge.

If this building thing continues for me, there will be a small investment in laser levels and incidence meters. Bubble levels, squares and straightedges got the job done, but I could save alot of setup time and lower my frustration with the better tools. It flies good, so the painstaking effort was worthwhile.

All part of the learning process I guess ... the next one will be easier.... I hope!

Getting packed up to go fly it again now. I've got a bunch of new props to try, that arrived yesterday. Gonna be a great day! 80 degrees with max winds of 7-8mph.

FlySafe! Larry (Larrys4227)