Cobra, the project begins

[Matt Colan]

At Brodak, I got a Cobra short kit.  After a couple of days, I have a completed stab and elevator assembly minus the horn, and tapered the rudder.  I don't speed build like sparky, and I'm still learning, but I am a lot better than I was when I built the Ares, I can tell you that.

We are going to try something different when I build the wing.  I'm going to make two more templates for where the wing root would be, and then build the wing outside the body, then put the wing into the fuselage.

Later today I'm going to laminate the doublers onto the fuselage sides.  I plan on putting an OS 35S in this plane.

The Oriental Plus project has been suspended until I get a motor for it (PA 40UL), so for the time being, I'll start working on the cobra

[proparc]

Matt,
I am in love with your shop. I can't see all of it, but what I can see, I REALLY want to be there lol.

[Matt Colan]

Matt,
I am in love with your shop. I can't see all of it, but what I can see, I REALLY want to be there lol.

Here is a pic of the rest of the shop.  This was taken a couple of years ago because right now, our shop is a mess.  Grandpa is building a new fuselage for his big job that crashed, I'm working on my stuff, plus having pretzels and drinks in there doesn't help any.  It is actually a little bit too small for the both of us.  When my grandparents moved in, I helped grandpa put in a wall and helped him make shelves for paint, tools, spinners, handles, a tv etc.  We are actually putting plans in the ceiling, along with extra wood to clear it out a little bit.  We also have a closet for other junk.

IN the pic that you see, the profile is mine and is finished now, it was my first kit build.  THe Nering on the table was a rebuild for Mike Chiodo.  Also some planes have been moved around.  Some planes are in the boiler room, some in the garage and a couple are in my grandparent's loft

[Randy Powell]

Matt,

If you build the wing outside of the fuselage, just make sure you don't compromise structural integrity. They are designed to use the fuselage in the overall integrity of the wing layout. the spar is design to lock into the fuse sides. It can be done without that (I've done it enough times), but you have to be careful of fits and insure that the thing is well locked to the fuse sides once the wing is in. I pin mine through the spar and lock it to the fuse doubler.

[Bradley Walker]

Who makes a Cobra short kit?

[Robert Zambelli]

Hey, Matt - great choice on the Cobra. In my opinion, Steve's designs were some of the very best of the classics.

I've only seen one Cobra fly and it's really stunning in the air. As I recall, Paul Walker flew it to victory at VSC in 1999. Powered by a Fox 35(?)

It appears very close in design to the Argus, which is my all-time favorite.

What powerplant to you plan to use?

Bob Z.

[PatRobinson]

Hi Bradley,
I believe that Matt picked up his kit at Brodak. The hobby shop had several in stock and I saw more Cobra short kits on the factory tour. I also believe that Pat Johnson also produces a laser cut Cobra short kit.
                                                                                        Pat Robinson

[john e. holliday]

Matt, you and your grandpa are way way to neat looking at those pics. 

That OS 35S will make for a power house in the plane. 

Now why would you build an I-Beamer outside of the fuse?   If you had Bobby Hunts video on building I-Beams you will see that is where the strength comes in on the fuse to wing joint.   It is not that hard to do and in reality does not take up that much room. 

Anyway, good luck on your build.  DOC Holliday

[Robert Zambelli]

OOPS!!!! I posted "What powerplant to you plan to use?"

Then I read OS 35. PERFECT CHOICE!


Bob Z.

[Matt Colan]

Hi Bradley,
I believe that Matt picked up his kit at Brodak. The hobby shop had several in stock and I saw more Cobra short kits on the factory tour. I also believe that Pat Johnson also produces a laser cut Cobra short kit.
                                                                                        Pat Robinson

Yep, got it at Brodak's hobby shop.  There were only two when I got mine and about a half dozen in the factory.

[Bill Morell]

Matt, the Cobra is a beautiful plane. I think you are really wrong to build the wing as you have mentioned. If it was meant to built as you are intending then it wouldn't have been designed as a "I" beam. Just my opinion.

[Ralph Wenzel (d)]

Got mine from SSHobbies  . . .