Author Topic: Katana done, and flown, some pic's etc. (Read 5719 times)

Eric Viglione · « **on:** April 29, 2013, 09:21:58 AM »

Well, here's my new bird. An Aeroproducts Katana. Basically same design as my last Rapier, with a turtle deck with some minor size mod's to fit a PA 75. (longer pipe tunnel, wider motor beams etc.)

This is my first try at an asymmetrical paint scheme. I hope you like it.

It's all KlassKote colors, KlassKote Urethane clear. All up weight 64 ounces with tip weight... Big thanks once again to Derek Barry for taking my Photoshop drawings and making them a reality in stencils he cut for me. Those have to be the biggest letters I've ever done! If you have never pulled a big piece of vinyl off of a wing, even low tack, you just can't imagine what it’s like, even with a hair dryer.

First flight: On the way to the field, I saw the guys on the causeway parachute-surfing and I knew the weather guy lied again. I got to the field, and the wind seemed OK and I thought "let’s get a quick trim flight in before it gets nasty"... well, the PA75 is a big pussy cat and started on the first spinner back flip... then the wind got nasty coming over the big Oaks about 1 lap after I took off, and of course I misjudged the new PA75 needle and got a rather slow 6.10 lap. The cool thing is that the 75 still had it hung out there pretty darn good.. The wind kept popping the outboard tip up in level flight, and almost never popped the inboard tip up, hence why I'll probably be adding a little more tip weight.

Needless to say, I didn't do much the first flight, The turbulence was so bad when the wind came up I was just hoping it would die down long enough so I could land it in one piece. What little I did, I could see it’s got a good groove, turns snappy, and the CG per plans is comfortable. Fortunately, the tank ran out just up wind enough that I was able to drive it down quickly down wind.

I won't know more until I get a day I can really put her through the paces but I think I'm really going to like this one!

EricV

Randy Powell · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2013, 09:35:03 AM »

Looks great, Eric. You'd fit right in at a European contest. Something about the canopy or something reminds me vaguely of Russian design. It really neat.

RandySmith · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2013, 09:53:30 AM »

Hi Eric

Looks Great , and you will fit right in at the NATs or other American contest with the U.S. Designed ship !! (NO Russian influence )

Randy

PS sorta reminds me a little of this one :-) A scheme I have thought about

RC Storick · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2013, 10:06:55 AM »

Looks Good Eric good job!

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2013, 10:14:19 AM »

Look in' great Eric! That one should show up against the trees.

Dave

Bradley Walker · « **Reply #5 on:** April 29, 2013, 11:15:48 AM »

Very sexy rig there Big Vig...

Dude you look lean!!!

You need a new hat... HAHAHAHA

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #6 on:** April 29, 2013, 11:52:20 AM »

Very Kewl!

Derek Barry · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2013, 12:00:22 PM »

AWESOME!!!!

Derek

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #8 on:** April 29, 2013, 12:40:24 PM »

Dude, that looks outstanding! It will be an awesome flyer at that weight.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #9 on:** April 29, 2013, 12:43:33 PM »

Looks wonderful Eric!!! Should be a real winner at that weight!

Randy Powell · « **Reply #10 on:** April 29, 2013, 12:51:41 PM »

Randy,

I thought you would comment. And no, I don't think there is any Russian influence. It just suggested it to me. As I said, probably the canopy.

Very cool in any case.

RandySmith · « **Reply #11 on:** April 29, 2013, 01:12:44 PM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on April 29, 2013, 12:51:41 PM

Randy,

I thought you would comment. And no, I don't think there is any Russian influence. It just suggested it to me. As I said, probably the canopy.

Very cool in any case.

As you know I was just poking you.. you did see all the smiley faces didn;t you ? :-) .. actually the canopy is my version of the " Malcolm hood " that the Brits developed in WW2. I also use it on the Dreadnought , VECTRA , and The Cutlass

Regards
Randy

another with the MH canopy

Doug Moon · « **Reply #12 on:** April 29, 2013, 01:19:12 PM »

I really like that assymetrical paint scheme!!

The plane looks great!!!

Bill Little · « **Reply #13 on:** April 29, 2013, 01:20:30 PM »

Really looks unique, Eric! I am sure it will be a great flying model for you.

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #14 on:** April 29, 2013, 01:34:53 PM »

Thanks guys, I'm tickled to see it so well received. Sometimes you have a vision in your minds eye and try to bring it to life, but you’re not sure anyone else will see it the same way you do or "get it" the same way.

Randy P. - I knew the Canopy might draw some attention. I actually modeled it off the plans, and it's within as close a tolerance as you can get with wood to the plans. Randy S. explained to me way back that the Dreadnought etc. canopy on the plans were based on a Malcolm Hood high visibility design, which makes it a bit bulbous like that. (fun to do in wood, with convex and concave curves and still have it blend to the fuse sides!)
I saved the paper templates for side and top view I made so I can band saw out a block again if need be on a future build. The other thing that may make you think eastern block is the thin Mejlick landing gear, and my hand carved wood wheel pants, along with the unconventional paint scheme which might add to the over all effect of looking more like a full scale aerobatic plane, at least that's what I was going for.

Steve, Matt - I'm cautiously optomistic as they say. I was really suprised at the assembled weight, because in my previous estimates I had rounded up a little on all the accesories to cover my butt, and I panicked about my estimated weight. So...there's hardly any paint on the thing, I was really stingy with the stuff. The paint job from bare balsa up to final clear is in the 6.5 ounce range. From the primer up it is like 3.5 ounces including the primer and the clear! When I weighed it, I was almost thinking it might be too light for that big of a plane. If I learned anything landing in that wind Sunday, is that the weight is just fine, and not a floater. I was able to drive it down and stay down to roll out.

I think you get a trade-off of sorts when they come out reasonably light, and that is that the CG is forward by default on a lighter plane, because that's where all the metal is, and a reasonably forward CG can make for decent ground handling. Well, then again, when I say forward CG, I guess what I really mean is not tail heavy, because actually the CG is spot on per plans at this weight.

EricV

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #15 on:** April 29, 2013, 01:38:53 PM »

Woops, I see Randy S. already replied about the canopy. Heh. The only other thing I'll add about that is that I think most people cut the canopy down a little more than the plans show or than I did, and then you tend to mask, fillet, and paint over the bottom edge on a plastic canopy a fair bit, making it look smaller too.

EricV

Randy Powell · « **Reply #16 on:** April 29, 2013, 02:07:55 PM »

Eric,

I think it's terrific. I've done my share of asymmetrical paint school and your execution is really very good. Should present well in the air.

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #17 on:** April 29, 2013, 02:56:41 PM »

Thanks Bradley, heh. Oh I've been on a mission since around December to reach my goal weight. I hit it a few weeks ago, looked in the mirror, and then made a new goal. LOL! Now I can pump up a little while flying the new PA75 too.

Hey, I'll have you know my 2010 Nat's hat works magic, and I still have those sox I wore somewhere too... I just need to see if they work on the big trophy next. Ahahahahahahahah!

EricV

Quote from: Bradley Walker on April 29, 2013, 11:15:48 AM

Very sexy rig there Big Vig...

Dude you look lean!!!

You need a new hat... HAHAHAHA

Gene Martine · « **Reply #18 on:** April 29, 2013, 03:50:44 PM »

Looks good Eric, hope to see you soon.
Gene

john e. holliday · « **Reply #19 on:** April 29, 2013, 06:42:04 PM »

Well Ty am I the one you are referring to? Hey Eric I really truely like the paint scheme. It is different enough it should wake the judges up. Also I thought the canopy was put on backwards, but why. You answered that very well. Now with a good coach and you now know the plane is capable, go whip up on the big guys. Did I mention I like that paint scheme?

Bradley Walker · « **Reply #20 on:** May 01, 2013, 10:53:11 AM »

I have a hat for you...

EddyR · « **Reply #21 on:** May 01, 2013, 12:12:37 PM »

I case no one noticed that is the new trimmed down Eric. -30 pounds and dropping. I never let up on you do I Eric.
Ed

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #22 on:** May 01, 2013, 07:34:18 PM »

Thanks Eddy, I think...

What else are friends for, right?

EricV

Ward Van Duzer · « **Reply #23 on:** May 06, 2013, 09:32:50 AM »

Shucks, I miss all the touchdowns!

Love the asymetric flames...I did some asymetric stripes on a black

Hunt Prowler years ago and Randy read the riot act to me!!

OH well...Kool.

Ward-O

Bradley Walker · « **Reply #24 on:** May 08, 2013, 03:47:06 PM »

Quote from: Ed Ruane on May 01, 2013, 12:12:37 PM

I case no one noticed that is the new trimmed down Eric. -30 pounds and dropping. I never let up on you do I Eric.
Ed

I got him beat by 20 pounds... but he is Italian so he is mucho sexy...

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #25 on:** May 18, 2013, 01:57:38 PM »

Finally getting a break in the weather around here to do some flying! Yes!

Got another session in on Katana today, I think thats a dozen or so flights now, plus the bench time I had on the new PA75. The fuel economy is coming up and I'm getting 6:38 on a 7.5 ounce tank now. PA75 is stock, running a T-Bolt Big Bore plug, Randy's quiet pipe and a Mejlik 13.75x4.5 flat back prop on 5% Nitro Sig fuel. (The fuel is actually a mix of 1/2 sig champ, and 1/2 sig full synth, I think it burns a little cleaner, and the plugs last longer)

This is truly a bolt it in, follow the instructions and fly package. Silky smooth. I was a little afraid it would be a thumper, turns out that was not a problem. I did make sure the front end was paid close attention to, but I didn't do anything I don't normally do, I just made sure I didn't skimp either.

Oh wait, I take that back, I did do one little thing different, but I don't think it has anything to do with the run, just longevity of the front end. I put a tiny fillet on the front and back of F1 when I had my syringe full of superfil anyways and was doing the wing and stab. Not the full length of F1, just the last little 1/2" up F1 to the cowl seam. For some reason I've had them pull away there in the past, and I thought what the heck, why not. (probably from jamming in tank shims too hard, heh, who knows.)

Couldn't be happier with the run. 1 bump starts, and 5.35 - 5.4 lap range depending on ambients. Bumped up the tip weight last week like I mentioned I would in the first post, and today I made a small handle adjustment. I haven't touched anything else since.

Just as a trim test to , I did 7 hourglasses back to back, no level laps in between, and it never backed off for a second, never sped up or slowed down, just chugged along. Woot!

Now if only the guy behind the handle could get his act together... oh well, still have some time to practice before the biggun in July.

EricV

MarcusCordeiro · « **Reply #26 on:** May 18, 2013, 03:59:12 PM »

Very nice paintjob!! Love it!!

Marcus

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #27 on:** May 20, 2013, 07:19:19 AM »

I can't wait to see it fly in person! Sounds great and the plane looks like your best yet.

My old dog with the teeny 61 was working very well yesterday. Finally having some warm conditions really made the motor/plane combo happy.

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #28 on:** May 20, 2013, 07:58:09 AM »

Thanks Steve! - I've had my butt handed to me by plenty of those teeny .61's, yours included, so I wouldn't knock it ...heh. Although, I will mention on other nice thing I'm finding about the .75... it's got so much torque you can miss the needle by a country mile, and still do a solid pattern at 5.8 laps, and I do mean solid, not wallowing through it... you just crawl along thinking, this shouldn't be working... yet, it does.

I wouldn't want to do that when the wind starts howling, but on a nice day, at least you don't have to throw away a flight. This was also true with the PA65, just not quite to the extent of the 75. Put a big torque'ey engine in a reasonably light airframe and it becomes a pretty forgiving package. I guess that's why they say the cube's are addictive. You do reach a point where you have to change the design around the package, and I'm not sure they could build a .90 as compact and light as the 75, plus the extra fuel to carry, but then, we used to say that about the 75 until it came out...

EricV

Derek Barry · « **Reply #29 on:** May 20, 2013, 08:38:02 AM »

I noticed the same thing with my new plane. When you build them light you have a much bigger window to fly in. I flew flights ranging from 5.5 sec laps to 5.1 sec. All were very flyable and the engine was not even working hard. I had a range of a couple hundred rpm where on the heavy planes I have to be very critical about setting the needle. The stock PA 65 was just chugging along making tons of power and barely breaking into a 2 cycle, Loved it!!! The new plane made me remember how good a plane can fly and I can't wait to get to the Nats to kick some a$$!

Derek

peabody · « **Reply #30 on:** May 20, 2013, 08:40:27 AM »

I watched Eric fly yesterday....the combo is impressive!

Doug Moon · « **Reply #31 on:** May 20, 2013, 02:25:43 PM »

Quote from: Eric Viglione on May 20, 2013, 07:58:09 AM

you just crawl along thinking, this shouldn't be working... yet, it does.

EricV

Now you dont have to think that way anymore.

All the conventional stunt wisdom and lore that has been thrown around throughout the years is not always correct...no matter how many times they say it is.

Years ago when I got on my first big plane I worked so hard to fly it at the "gospel" 5.4 lap time. Many said if it doesnt go "X" speed it wont fly. But at that speed it was crap and I had to work so hard to fly a half decent pattern. At 5.65 it was real nice. After a couple of weeks of the nonsense at 5.4 I was like "F it" I am going with the 5.65 and see what happens. It worked out well that year, 1996. Then later graduated to 5.8 and love it there. "The Man" told me in a phone conversation not long after the 5.8 plane made it on the scene, "You dont listen to anyone else says about speeds and stuff, what you have works now get out there and show it off!" Last years cant go that slow as it is heavier at 65oz. I am working to get back there though, or at least to have that option.

Derek is correct, and you are finding out as well. The lighter the plane is the larger your window of operation. You can actually run your engine with less on off cycle for a more steady run and it wont "settle"or "slide" out of the corners. I think you will be on this plane for a long time.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #32 on:** May 21, 2013, 08:42:26 AM »

I have stated this in the past and still state it. Each and every plane/engine combo has a sweet spot that the pilot likes. Take the stop watch and leave it in the pit box until you can get several consistent flights. Then time your laps and use that as a reference to what your combo is doing. Each plane/engine is different and not every one flies on the same length lines.