Author Topic: Starfire II done! (And flew today!) (Read 2948 times)

Eric Viglione · « **on:** May 02, 2010, 08:55:36 PM »

Can't believe this one took just over a year (looked back at first build pic's dating April 09).

Took her to the field today to show her off a little, and set up to fly. Too windy today to test a new bird, but I got my new handle and lines ball parked, and ran the motor some in the plane. Takes a lot of self control not to just "go for it" no matter what the conditions. Even as it was, just having the plane in my stand it almost ground looped on me and I just caught it. Got to start the hangar rash sometime I guess...

Anyways, here she is, hope to fly soon as the weather cleans up a bit and start trimming and get ready for the Nats.

EricV

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2010, 10:10:36 PM »

Awesome! That totally ROCKS!

Randy Powell · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2010, 11:07:30 PM »

I especially like the flames on the bottom. Very slick.

Larrys4227 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 03, 2010, 04:41:41 AM »

Nice lookin' plane eric! I also like the flames on the bottom ... no wonder it took ya a year! :-)

See ya soon, Larry

Derek Barry · « **Reply #4 on:** May 03, 2010, 05:03:33 AM »

Awesome Eric! Hope it flies as good as it looks!

Robert W · « **Reply #5 on:** May 03, 2010, 06:11:57 AM »

Eric, I like the way it turned out, hope it flies good also.

SteveMoon · « **Reply #6 on:** May 03, 2010, 07:07:15 AM »

Looks great Eric!

Gene O'Keefe · « **Reply #7 on:** May 03, 2010, 07:20:31 AM »

Eric...as Billy Crystal would say....LOOKING MAHVELUS ! .....a little info plz, I see PA 65.....what prop? ....is that a Randy Smith spinner?....built up wing or foam? ....what type of finish? ...ETC !
Geno

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #8 on:** May 03, 2010, 08:21:24 AM »

Thanks guyz, I really appreciate it. It's ok for one of mine...they all look good in pictures, heh. I really can't wait to fly her, but even the long range forecast looks iffy. What's with the weather this year? All the good flying days are during the week when I'm at work!

Gene - Some quick and dirty spec's:

Randy Smith AeroProducts kit, foam wing, PA 65, Quiet Pipe at 18.5", Mejlik 13.75 x 4.5 prop cut to 13" (this is nearly a Bolly clone Randy had done up and stretched the diameter, so just cut to length you want and go), Randy's NeedleNose spinner, Bolly carbon gear, glass wheel pants.

Nitrate base and silkspan. Certified butyrate w/zinc stearate filler coats. Finish is KlassKote Epoxy from the primer to clear, total finish weight 4 ounces. Yup, I said 4 ounces... that epoxy stuff covers like mad, you just have to remember its not dope and don't go laying it on like crazy. (that's KlassKote gray primer, KlassKote "aluminum" base and KlassKote trim colors with satin catalyst to keep weight down, and then KlassKote gloss clear)

Final trimmed weight undetermined as I haven't flown it yet, but depending on how much tip/tail/nose weight it may need, anywhere from 63 to ?? ounces ready to fly. If I really wanted it to be a feather weight, I could loose the wheel pants and save a couple ounces, switch from the needle nose to the classic spinner, etc. but it would probably not be worth the effort (as well as changing the appearance). The thing is nearly 700 squares, and I don't think I'd want it much if any lighter. As it is, I've shaved about 4 or 5 ounces off this one compared to my first StarFire.
Just have to fly it and see what I get...

Thanks,
EricV

Derek Barry · « **Reply #9 on:** May 03, 2010, 09:23:49 AM »

63 oz!! that is great. This one should be a killer!

Phil Coopy · « **Reply #10 on:** May 03, 2010, 03:19:17 PM »

Super job Eric! Can't wait to hear howyou like it..gotta be a winner.

Phil

Matt Colan · « **Reply #11 on:** May 03, 2010, 03:19:22 PM »

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RandySmith · « **Reply #12 on:** May 03, 2010, 03:26:53 PM »

Quote from: Eric Viglione on May 02, 2010, 08:55:36 PM

Can't believe this one took just over a year (looked back at first build pic's dating April 09).

Took her to the field today to show her off a little, and set up to fly. Too windy today to test a new bird, but I got my new handle and lines ball parked, and ran the motor some in the plane. Takes a lot of self control not to just "go for it" no matter what the conditions. Even as it was, just having the plane in my stand it almost ground looped on me and I just caught it. Got to start the hangar rash sometime I guess...

Anyways, here she is, hope to fly soon as the weather cleans up a bit and start trimming and get ready for the Nats.

EricV

You Da Man !!!!

Monty Summach · « **Reply #13 on:** May 03, 2010, 08:07:26 PM »

Hi Eric,
From a fellow Starfire driver - that looks really sharp.
Regards,
Monty

Bryan Higgins · « **Reply #14 on:** May 03, 2010, 08:35:43 PM »

WARNING Eric's Stunt Plane is on Fire WARNING[/font]

Ward Van Duzer · « **Reply #15 on:** May 04, 2010, 11:39:32 AM »

Eric,

Gorgeous! (You know me and flames)!

Comments from Ward-O in Vancouver, B.C. (Mitchell graduated....Yipeeeeeeee)!

Bill Little · « **Reply #16 on:** May 05, 2010, 01:35:34 AM »

Hi Eric,

That really really looks cherry! I like it. 63 oz at this stage is gravy. It should be awesome in the air!

I hope we get together soon, it's been a while!

Bill

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #17 on:** May 05, 2010, 07:26:12 AM »

Wow, I really appreciate the kudo's y'all, thanks... Some credit must go to Derek Barry, who did my stencils. Derek has started a side line of doing custom stencils, and he did my lettering, and we came up with my flames together, and he made my vision come to life. I just sent him some cad files of the flame I liked, and he replicated and stitched and sized them for my wings. All I had to do was paint them, and air-brush in the tips. Made me almost look smart, heh heh. Derek has the correct low tack vinyl too that most sign shops don't, so you won't tear your paint up.

Big thanks to Derek for all his help!

As long as I'm at it, here's a pictorial of masking my Starfire, and using Derek's stencils. I tend to mask the whole plane at once, and paint, then cover up what's painted. I also use some reverse masking too, like on the rudder numbers, or little vinyl stars, to let the base color show through when you peel them off.

Give Derek a call, he'll hook you up with some great product and service!!!

EricV

Derek Barry · « **Reply #18 on:** May 05, 2010, 09:17:43 AM »

Thanks Eric! I rellly enjoyed doing this, and the plane does look great if I don't say so myself

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #19 on:** May 08, 2010, 09:21:33 PM »

Yeehaw! It's officially a bird of flight now. Adrenaline probably covers a multitude of trim sin's on a new plane, but I'm pretty happy so far. Did everything except the RWO on it's maiden flight, so it can't be too horrible.

Second flight I dialed one turn of wedge on the threaded trim tab to level the wings a little better. This might have been just to get the trim tab level, with the fine threads, you can hardly see it move with one rotation.

Third flight I widened the handle spacing one set of holes from the very conservative setting I started out with "just in case" and will probably move them out a little further still, just to see what happens, then move them back once I hit a point I don't like.

The PA65 runs great. (Thanks Randy!

) My lap times are a tick slow, but the motor is breaking in the right spots, so tonight I pitched up the tips just a hair, barely measurable, just less than 1/4", at the very last station and if we get more good weather I'll try her out tomorrow and see what I get.

As far as the plane goes, it's got nice flat pull outs, and tracks good in the rounds. Grooves good too. Nothing like a new plane to get the juices flowing again and start the season. I'm stoked!

EricV

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #20 on:** May 08, 2010, 09:45:54 PM »

I'll second that: YEEHAW!

Derek Barry · « **Reply #21 on:** May 10, 2010, 11:29:12 AM »

Great news Eric! I am sure that you will be in good form for the NATS this year.

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #22 on:** May 10, 2010, 01:39:11 PM »

Time to practice hard so you can back up all those big and bad text messages about the new plane!

Glad its flying, and flying well. I can't wait to finish mine...

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #23 on:** May 10, 2010, 01:57:55 PM »

Hey Steve, you know the cycle, I even warned you in advance last week that I would rave about the plane after the first few flights, and in about a week or two I'll be complaining about what a huge heap of crap it is...

Isn't that the natural progression of new stunt ships?

EricV

Matt Colan · « **Reply #24 on:** May 10, 2010, 07:43:11 PM »

Quote from: Eric Viglione on May 10, 2010, 01:57:55 PM

Hey Steve, you know the cycle, I even warned you in advance last week that I would rave about the plane after the first few flights, and in about a week or two I'll be complaining about what a huge heap of crap it is...

Isn't that the natural progression of new stunt ships?

EricV

Mine almost wound up being that, but it is in one piece again, and is ready for silkspan again! glad the new plane flies well for ya. Now get practicing!!!