Author Topic: Uh-Oh (Read 5259 times)

Matt Colan · « **on:** March 09, 2009, 02:08:51 PM »

Warning: a little venting going on here

Today, I found out that the wing on my Oriental Plus is waaaayyyy off. My grandfather called Bob Hunt and he is going to cut a foam wing for it. Since he is going to VSC, it won't be available for 3-4 weeks. Now I still have to build the Fuse on it. I am worried that I'm not going to get this done in time for the Nats. Here is how my schedule works. I have school from Monday to Friday, After school, I usually have something to do, like Baseball and a club called Model UN. I can only work on the plane on the weekends. By the time the foam wing shows up, it will take a while to get right, and put a finish on it, with the controls in it and everything. I don't know now if I can go to the Nats since that plane was going to fly in advanced and junior. I want it to be done by Mother's day the latest, which now I think that is way out of reach. If I have it done by June, school ends I think the 2-3 week, leaving only half a month to have it trimmed out, and have me comfortable enough flying it.

Any advice on what I should do??? I still have my Ares and my Smoothie.

catdaddy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2009, 02:30:06 PM »

Matt
First off don't neglect your school work, I'm sure you wouldn't do that, but no harm in a friendly reminder. I would dedicate my weekends to what I wanted to accomplish, but don't comprimise on anything. We've all seen what you are capable of and I think with a little Mountain Dew, (that was my drink of choice at your age) you might be able to streach the work hours a little bit more on the weekends. Any spare time at all during the week even if it's just an hour get something done. I'm pretty sure you can do it. You've got lots of drive and talent. Oh yeah stay away from girls...unless it's Gracie, I've seen her at Brodaks and she's way kewl.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2009, 02:32:29 PM »

Quote from: catdaddy on March 09, 2009, 02:30:06 PM

Matt
First off don't neglect you school work, I'm sure you wouldn't do that, but no harm in a friendly reminder. I would dedicate my weekends to what I wanted to accomplish, but don't comprimise on anything. We've all seen what you are capable of and I think with a little Mountain Dew, (that's was my drink of choice at your age) you might be able to streach the work hours a little bit more on the weekends. Any spare time at all during the week even if it's just an hour get something done. I'm pretty sure you can do it. You've got lots of drive and talent. Oh yeah stay away from girls...unless it's Gracie, I've seen her at Brodaks and she's way kewl.

Grace and I have been emailing each other back and forth for a week.

Slacking off on my school work is a big NO-NO in my family. Maybe I will have to start to chug 2 liter Mountain Dews before building, and trying to stretch it.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2009, 02:41:24 PM »

Matt,
there is something to be said for flying ONE airplane for all events. There probably isnt any good reason that you couldnt fly the Ares for all of your events, classic, and PA. More time on the airplane and better trim not to mention getting to know the airplane better. Just a thought, now if I would take my own advice!!

catdaddy · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2009, 02:42:24 PM »

Hey Matt
One other thought. What is wrong with the wing you have? Is it not fixable in the 2-3 week wait on Mr. Hunt?

Matt Colan · « **Reply #5 on:** March 09, 2009, 02:44:50 PM »

Quote from: catdaddy on March 09, 2009, 02:42:24 PM

Hey Matt
One other thought. What is wrong with the wing you have? Is it not fixable in the 2-3 week wait on Mr. Hunt?

The planking has a gap in in it. All the capstrips are lined up to it, and every centerline is off by 1/8 inch. Also my grandfather already cut the wing to send the center rib and end rib for templates for the foam wing.

Quote from: Mark Scarborough on March 09, 2009, 02:41:24 PM

Matt,
there is something to be said for flying ONE airplane for all events. There probably isnt any good reason that you couldnt fly the Ares for all of your events, classic, and PA. More time on the airplane and better trim not to mention getting to know the airplane better. Just a thought, now if I would take my own advice!!

Mark, I was just thinking about flying that instead of the Oriental Plus

Randy Ryan · « **Reply #6 on:** March 09, 2009, 03:25:55 PM »

Matt,

Why don't you get ahold of Crist Rigotti, he does really nice cores and he's pretty fast too.

Peter Ferguson · « **Reply #7 on:** March 09, 2009, 03:41:26 PM »

I'm with Mark on this one . Spend the time trimming and practicing with your existing plane. Plan on using it.

Balance your time. If you get time to finish the new plane great, but if pushing to finish your new plane sucks up all of your spare time, your practice and your other activities will suffer.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #8 on:** March 09, 2009, 04:08:37 PM »

Matt, I agree with several who have posted on here already. Stay with one plane and practice. When the weather does not permit flying then work on the new plane. I too have a tendency to fly too meny different airplanes during the year instead of staying with one. When I had the "Doctor" a Fancher design, it was the only plane I flew that year. I wound up taking a first in Topeka with it that year. No matter how good a builder you are each plane flies different. You stated you have two planes ready to go, so I suggest you stay with them. DOC Holliday

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #9 on:** March 09, 2009, 04:28:08 PM »

Matt,
I can cut the cores you need for the Oriental Plus without a 3 week delay.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #10 on:** March 09, 2009, 07:01:08 PM »

Quote from: Crist Rigotti on March 09, 2009, 04:28:08 PM

Matt,
I can cut the cores you need for the Oriental Plus without a 3 week delay.

Thanks for the offer Crist, but my grandfather already sent the ribs and plans out to Bob Hunt.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #11 on:** March 09, 2009, 07:06:38 PM »

Matt,
I don't need the ribs. I already have the templates and dimensions to cut cores. I have cut these cores before. Check out my website. The link is just below my name.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #12 on:** March 09, 2009, 09:26:56 PM »

I owe Bob an apology. I didn't mean to steer any of his customers away. I was just offering Matt a solution to his quandary of having to wait for his cores from Bob. Glad to see that Bob can get them to Matt sooner and thus help him out with his project. Again, I'm sorry Bob I didn't mean to steer a customer from you.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #13 on:** March 10, 2009, 10:00:00 AM »

Quote from: Bob Hunt on March 09, 2009, 08:08:29 PM

Hi Matt:

If I get the plans and the templates by Wednesday I can have the wing cores cut and out to you before I leave for Tucson on Friday. In any case it won't be a three week delay; I'll be home from Tucson a week from Monday and can get right on it then - if I don't get it done before I leave for VSC.

To the others who have posted on this: Don ordered the cores cut with rounded leading edges to prevent the inaccuracies that very, very often result from trying to carve and sand a balsa block type leading edge to a perfect shape. He also ordered a set of leading edge mold bucks to allow him to produce perfect fitting leading edge caps. To my knowledge I'm the only custom foam wing cutter who is offering these particular items.

My heartiest thanks go out to all those who tried to lighten my workload...

Bob Hunt

Bob, as I said when I sent you the PM, thanks. Grandpa sent the ribs out today, and should be there by Thursday. Without a 3-4 week delay, I firmly believe I can have the plane done in time for the Nats, and it is all trimmed out, and I will feel comfortable with it.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #14 on:** March 10, 2009, 06:36:59 PM »

When I'm building, I do try to multi task, everything goes by faster when you do. When I was waiting for the lowsy planking job to dry, I made the rudder, and the elevator.

What did you and Billy build that made you drop??? Grandpa has told me that sometimes if he wakes up in the middle of the night, he will go downstairs and build to relax himself and go back to bed.

Thanks again Bob

Matt Colan · « **Reply #15 on:** March 11, 2009, 11:43:49 AM »

I read his USA-1 article, his P-47 article and his Vulcan article. I haven't read his GeoXL article or his Ares article, because I wasn't a member of AMA then.

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #16 on:** March 11, 2009, 12:04:17 PM »

Matt: Give yourself and "Atta-Boy" for identifying and dealing with the Oriental wing issues prior to assembling, covering painting and finishing the model and then having a whole bunch of trim issues that are never entirely resolved...been there, done that, more than once. If you can finish the new plane before the Nats, go for it, if not, don't sweat it, the Ares will present real well, it looks great!

Matt Colan · « **Reply #17 on:** March 11, 2009, 02:31:02 PM »

Quote from: Pete Cunha on March 11, 2009, 12:04:17 PM

Matt: Give yourself and "Atta-Boy" for identifying and dealing with the Oriental wing issues prior to assembling, covering painting and finishing the model and then having a whole bunch of trim issues that are never entirely resolved...been there, done that, more than once. If you can finish the new plane before the Nats, go for it, if not, don't sweat it, the Ares will present real well, it looks great!

I was going to post pics of the Oriental, but now I guess I'll wait a little bit on it. I still have to start the fuse, but the stab, and the rudder is all done. I guess I could still post pics of it. The Ares should present well in the air. I like it's profile, even just sitting on the ground.

John Miller · « **Reply #18 on:** March 12, 2009, 12:57:36 PM »

Way ta go Bob.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #19 on:** March 12, 2009, 01:03:40 PM »

Matt,
Looks like Bob just took all your excuses away now,,, lol

Matt Colan · « **Reply #20 on:** March 12, 2009, 02:14:32 PM »

Quote from: Mark Scarborough on March 12, 2009, 01:03:40 PM

Matt,
Looks like Bob just took all your excuses away now,,, lol

Oh yes he did!!!!!! I was worried today that it wasn't going to get to you today. But no excuses now, I gotta get building.

Thanks Bob

Matt Colan · « **Reply #21 on:** March 12, 2009, 02:27:24 PM »

That's great.