Author Topic: Impact ARC prototype finished (Read 4543 times)

SteveMoon · « **on:** October 21, 2009, 06:09:17 AM »

I finished the Impact ARC prototype yesterday, and I am more than
happy with the results. The plane was incredibly easy to build, and
required very few changes for the production run.

The prototype is covered with SLC film that was then painted. Man,
is this an easy method! Power comes from a Discovery Retro 60.
Total weight: 59 oz. Yes, that's what I have come up with after
repeatedly weighing the plane. I couldn't believe it. I knew it was
going to be light, but 59 oz. for an Impact, I'm ecstatic with that.

The production kits for the Ultra Hobby Products Impact ARC should
be arriving in late Spring 2010 and sell for $250.00 plus shipping.
You can send an e-mail to: ultrahobby@cs.com if you want to add
your name to the notification list.

Thanks, Steve

Allan Perret · « **Reply #1 on:** October 21, 2009, 07:11:09 AM »

Can you tell us a little about the process you used to paint the SLC ??
Mostly wondering if you used any primer or substrate..

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #2 on:** October 21, 2009, 07:32:00 AM »

Steve:
Wow that is really awesome. That you can produce an ARC at that weight - in paint - is quite an accomplishment. You did your homeowork on this one for sure!

Test flights???

Matt Colan · « **Reply #3 on:** October 21, 2009, 02:24:58 PM »

Looks nice. 59 ounces as an ARC is really something, and if it is an Impact.

phil c · « **Reply #4 on:** October 21, 2009, 02:36:12 PM »

Quote from: Allan Perret on October 21, 2009, 07:11:09 AM

Can you tell us a little about the process you used to paint the SLC ??
Mostly wondering if you used any primer or substrate..

I'm not sure exactly what Doug does, but basically a single coat of auto primer, mostly sanded off is all that is needed for a base. Over that you can apply 2 coat auto paint systems, butyrate dope, or enamels such as Rust-O-Leum Gloss paints.

Bradley Walker · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2009, 03:23:51 PM »

Quote from: phil c on October 21, 2009, 02:36:12 PM

I'm not sure exactly what Doug does, but basically a single coat of auto primer, mostly sanded off is all that is needed for a base. Over that you can apply 2 coat auto paint systems, butyrate dope, or enamels such as Rust-O-Leum Gloss paints.

I found that lacquer based primers were iffy at best. Pulling tape was scary.

I made my primer with auto clear, a little color, and talc. It stuck like iron and sanded like butter.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2009, 04:34:31 PM »

Bradley
just out of curiousity, why would you not just use catalyzed primer instead of creating your own concoction?

Do I understand that you used two part auto clear, as in Urethane?

Rudy Taube · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2009, 06:01:01 PM »

Hi Steve,

Your ARC plane looks great and at a very good low weight. It will be perfect for E power.

Is your Impact ARC a "Take-apart" model?

I think I remember a link somewhere that talked about your nice Impact ARC, but I can't find it. Is there one?

TIA for your reply. :-)

Regards,

Bradley Walker · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2009, 06:27:07 PM »

Quote from: Mark Scarborough on October 21, 2009, 04:34:31 PM

Bradley
just out of curiousity, why would you not just use catalyzed primer instead of creating your own concoction?

Do I understand that you used two part auto clear, as in Urethane?

Too heavy and brittle.

very little primer is needed. Only in fillets, rough spots etc. The rest is just for stick. The plane is already smooth and filled.

I used standard Omni clear with fast hardener with accelerator. It was ready to sand in 3 hours. Then basecoat over that, and back to clear.

Bradley Walker · « **Reply #9 on:** October 21, 2009, 06:30:13 PM »

Quote from: SteveMoon on October 21, 2009, 06:09:17 AM

Total weight: 59 oz. Yes, that's what I have come up with after
repeatedly weighing the plane. I couldn't believe it. I knew it was
going to be light, but 59 oz. for an Impact, I'm ecstatic with that.

I think your scale is broke.

John Paris · « **Reply #10 on:** October 21, 2009, 07:09:34 PM »

Brad,
His scale is not broke, it only goes to 59 ozs. Ever notice how all his larger airplanes come in at that magic number?

Actually Steve, that is a very respectable weight. Standing by attentively for the flight reports.
John

SteveMoon · « **Reply #11 on:** October 21, 2009, 07:54:58 PM »

As far as the finishing process goes, it's pretty darn short. I scuff the
SLC film with 600 grit sandpaper. Then, and this is important, wipe down
the entire plane with acetone or something similar. I then use sandable
rattle can auto primer on the nose and on the fillets, the tips and any
noticeable seams. That's the only areas I used primer. Sand this with
400 grit paper, wipe off with tack cloth and paint. I used less than half
a can of primer. I used OMNI autopaint. To remove any tape
without 'paint pull-ups' I used a heat gun and worked slowly to
help the tape release. I had only two pull-ups, one
on the cowl and one on the curve on the fuselage.

I'm going to take the plane over to Doug's to weigh it there when I
get a chance. I want to see what his scale reads. I have weighed the
finished plane several times and keep getting 59 oz.

Later, Steve

Rudy Taube · « **Reply #12 on:** October 21, 2009, 09:57:51 PM »

Hi Steve,

Is your Impact ARC a "Take-apart" model?

SteveMoon · « **Reply #13 on:** October 22, 2009, 06:05:29 AM »

This Impact is not a take-apart model.

Steve

Derek Barry · « **Reply #14 on:** October 22, 2009, 06:22:24 AM »

Looks good Steve! If I remember right, you could make it a take apart with some small modifications to the wing...right? Make it similar to a R/C style one piece wing, with bolts through the trailing edge and something to lock in the L.E.?

Bradley Walker · « **Reply #15 on:** October 22, 2009, 06:38:29 AM »

Quote from: SteveMoon on October 21, 2009, 07:54:58 PM

As far as the finishing process goes, it's pretty darn short. I scuff the
SLC film with 600 grit sandpaper. Then, and this is important, wipe down
the entire plane with acetone or something similar. I then use sandable
rattle can auto primer on the nose and on the fillets, the tips and any
noticeable seams. That's the only areas I used primer. Sand this with
400 grit paper, wipe off with tack cloth and paint. I used less than half
a can of primer. I used OMNI autopaint. To remove any tape
without 'paint pull-ups' I used a heat gunand worked slowly to
help the tape release. I had only two pull-ups, one
on the cowl and one on the curve on the fuselage.

I'm going to take the plane over to Doug's to weigh it there when I
get a chance. I want to see what his scale reads. I have weighed the
finished several times and keep getting 59 oz.

Later, Steve

That is the way to do it... next one I do I am going to do that. Just prime the millwork, but do not touch the rest of the plane. It is already perfect.

Rudy Taube · « **Reply #16 on:** October 22, 2009, 01:22:20 PM »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Impact is not a take-apart model. ...... Steve

Quote from: Derek Barry on October 22, 2009, 06:22:24 AM

Looks good Steve! If I remember right, you could make it a take apart with some small modifications to the wing...right? Make it similar to a R/C style one piece wing, with bolts through the trailing edge and something to lock in the L.E.?

Thanks for the ans. Steve .... Bummer. I was hoping that one of the new excellent 3rd generation ARCs like yours and Bradley's would be a take-apart right out of the box. Maybe the 4th generation will have it?

Derek, your right. It can be done with some effort and time. It would just be a lot easier, and probably lighter, if done from the beginning as part of the ARC plane design. I don't think it would add much to the cost. ..... Even if it was done like the SCORE did it, using the old fashion RC way of dowels and two bolts it would be better than having it in one piece. (there are better ways now ;-).

In the ERC world "every" plane is a take-apart, into two wing parts. It is not just for airline shipping, it is for shop storage, and auto transport. It allows the use of smaller cars and/or more pilots per car to a contest hundreds of miles away. It is relatively easy to do at the design/manufacturing stage but it sort of defeats the main benefit of the ARC idea, saving the customer valuable time, if the customer has to do the mod after buying an ARC.

Please don't misunderstand me, you both (Steve and Brad) have done an outstanding job bringing modern, high quality, ARCs to the CL world. I know how much work it takes to go from idea to production, and there are very few who have both the energy and talent to complete the process. So I am very grateful for your efforts on our behalf.

I have one of Bradley's excellent T-Rex ARCs and I hope to have it flying soon. (as a take-apart, both wing and tail). It has taken me almost as long to modify the take-apart part than to assemble and cover the whole ARC. ....... Not hard to do, just tedious and time consuming.

I wish I had the time and the energy, it would be nice to bring the modern, light, convenient, ERC designs to the CL world. CF tube spars and modern very light CF/ply fuselages with CL size wings. For a host of reasons, none of our ERC planes convert well to CL as is. We need to use the modern RC technology with a CL design from scratch.

I do understand that we are a very small market and it may not be worth the effort financially for the low volume of sales. So, again, I would like to thank Steve and Brad for their outstanding efforts bringing us two excellent world class competition CL planes in an ARC form. They are fine as is, the only change I would request is the take-apart feature on the next generation. (ARFs would be nice if we could use them, but that is a VERY LARGE can a worms that I don't want to open here!

). We are all very lucky to have these two designers bring their outstanding products to market for us. It is a LOT of work to do this and the whole CL world will benefit from their efforts.

Regards,

john e. holliday · « **Reply #17 on:** October 22, 2009, 01:23:06 PM »

Just remember to scuff the SLC as I learned. Have fun, DOC Holliday

SteveMoon · « **Reply #18 on:** October 22, 2009, 03:16:28 PM »

Rudy: You're right, the plane could be converted to take-apart, but
the reason you buy and ARC/ARF is so you don't have to do that. I also
agree with you about bringing modern designs/buliding methods/materials/etc
to CL. Brad and I both have been batting these ideas around in our heads
for quite awhile now. Brad has really progressed in this area with the
T-Rex. The nose construciton and the wing construction are both new
CL.

I am sure that UHP will do a full take-apart plane in the future. I just have
to decide on the plane, the method, the construction, etc. That's all.

Steve

SteveMoon · « **Reply #19 on:** October 24, 2009, 10:02:54 AM »

Here's a couple of more photos of the Impact ARC showing the nose
with the Discovery Retro 60.

Steve