Author Topic: VECTOR 40 ARRIVED ( construction still continues) (Read 5726 times)

Phil Coopy · « **on:** January 24, 2008, 02:59:28 PM »

Can't believe it...I ordered a Vector 40 and some hardware from Brodak Monday and it arrived this morning (Thurdsay, same week)...great service. Anyway I'll be starting it this week so any advice from those experienced building this kit is certainly welcome. I plan to use and LA 40 or 46, dope on the fuse and $kote on the wings.

Phil

peabody · « **Reply #1 on:** January 24, 2008, 03:40:15 PM »

Hi Phil....
You'll be real happy with the Vector 40....I suggest a 4" bellcrank and upgrade on the horns, ala Tom Morris...it's a great flyer and the investment is worthwhile....
Have fun!

Wynn Robins · « **Reply #2 on:** January 24, 2008, 04:03:16 PM »

one thing I change on all mine is the stab construction - if you cut it as shown on the plans - it is pretty weak at the fuse. Basically I take the thickness down a little, then sheet wtih 1/16th along the entire length

go with the LA46 - it is more powerful and lighter then the 40 - I run muffler pressure on mine with sintered brass clunk (yep, sullivan 4oz plastic tank) 11 x 6 RSM prop. 5% nitro......seems to go real well

Alan Buck · « **Reply #3 on:** January 24, 2008, 05:35:53 PM »

PHIL I use a 4.5Oz's magnum tank ,la46,11x5 prop,stock muffler w/pressure stock controls from arc kit with balllink on elevator weights 46Oz's .good luck with yours ALAN

Roger Vizioli · « **Reply #4 on:** January 24, 2008, 11:13:52 PM »

Phil,
Looks like you are motivating me to finally build the Vector 40 I won at the KOI a couple of years ago.
Roger

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #5 on:** January 24, 2008, 11:34:25 PM »

La .46 with an APC 12.25 x 3.75 prop. under 4 oz of fuel. more power than you could need, IOW just right!
I have flown mine with an FP 40 as well with good results and mine is a tank. good flying plane

Leo Mehl · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2008, 12:07:54 AM »

I have new laser cut kit and am going to run a Enya xz40 in it. I will use 4 1/2 oz. tank seeing we are closer to sea level in Portland.

Phil Coopy · « **Reply #7 on:** January 25, 2008, 10:00:48 AM »

Roger,

Hope to have it ready before I turn 70.

Missed you at KOI but I understand...weather and everthing. How's your field coming?

Phil

Roger Vizioli · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2008, 10:20:49 AM »

Phil,

I missed that milestone (ie 70 completion).

"Dedicated CL Field" is looking good, have a few bare spots we are nurturing before we start to use it.
We do fly in the parking area (which is as good as the previous grass field we had in Palm Bay), when the RC flyers are finished.
R....

Dennis Moritz · « **Reply #9 on:** January 25, 2008, 01:35:03 PM »

I didn't notice this post until after I posted in the building section. Just received a Vector 40 kit. Laser cut. Excellent value. Cheap for what it is. Carbon push rod, 4" crank, (might use a Tom Morris anyway), even some carbon veil.

Warren Leadbeatter · « **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2008, 06:40:19 PM »

I built my Vector 40 about a year and a half ago. I followed the plans and didnt change anything. I've tried both LA40 and LA46 engines with various setups. (I found I needed 4.5oz for the 46) I found that both engines would run away in hot weather so I did a lot of fiddling to sort it out.

I finally settled on the LA40 with a 10.5 x 4.5 APC prop, 4 oz uniflow tank running tongue muffler pressure on 60' lines. My engine has had the porting changed slightly to tame it down to prevent runaway plus I use at least 22% oil and 10% nitro. It 4-2-4s very nicely and a full tank runs just on 6 min 40 sec.

I have put a lot of time into it and it's my favourite plane to fly. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.

Cheers

Terry Bolin · « **Reply #11 on:** January 26, 2008, 06:41:31 AM »

I had a new one ready right at the end of 2007 season. Wow What a great flier. I am very happy with the LA 40 and there was more than enough power but I too had to tame the motor down. I got the help I needed on that from Jim Lee's Machine Shop in the vender's links. I Told him what was going on and he sent a different NVA and Venturi. INSTANTLY the motor ran right and was very friendly. It was a Funny thing, That same motor had run perfect on a profile Nobler for break in but totally different mounted inverted. But I am very happy with the plane and now the motor. Post pictures as you go !
Good Luck, Terry

Phil Coopy · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2008, 04:34:30 PM »

So far, so good. I was elated to see that this kit is laser cut since I expected die cut judging form the description in my catalog (must get a new one). The balsa is excellent and the parts just fall together. Shud be a fun project till I get to the sanding.

Phil

sadams714441 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 28, 2008, 05:34:20 PM »

I also got one under way, great kit. Have wing framed and fuse almost framed.

Leo Mehl · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2008, 05:56:49 PM »

I built one a few years ago before they were lazer cut. The half spar did not fit the ribs as well as the new kits, but with a little extra work the wing built very strait. Mine weighed 54 ounces so I put a Super Tigre 46 in mine. It really flew good. I used it for practice because it flew almost as good as my Grinder.

Phil Coopy · « **Reply #15 on:** January 30, 2008, 06:54:35 PM »

Li'l bit more...been busy with honey do's.. $:-\$

Phil

Leo Mehl · « **Reply #16 on:** January 30, 2008, 07:23:32 PM »

Quote from: PHIL COOPY on January 30, 2008, 06:54:35 PM

Li'l bit more...been busy with honey do's.. $:-\$

Phil

Aw wingtips and control system and flaps all the time consuming stuff it takes to frame a plane or should I say wing. Its looking first class. Good Job.

Harleyman · « **Reply #17 on:** January 30, 2008, 07:54:35 PM »

Looking good Phil!

Warren Leadbeatter · « **Reply #18 on:** January 30, 2008, 11:56:35 PM »

Thats what I like to see... a good, fast build. Looking Good!

Robert W · « **Reply #19 on:** January 31, 2008, 05:38:04 AM »

Looking good Phil, You are wasting no time on this one. Please keep posting the progress pictures to help inspire those of us who do not build so fast.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #20 on:** January 31, 2008, 03:59:12 PM »

Phil that is looking good and you are mucho faster than I am at building. Spent first day setting up my CLC wing jig for the "Cardinette". This is scratch build and no laser cutting. Getting ready to go get paint for the "Spitfire". Later, DOC Holliday

Phil Coopy · « **Reply #21 on:** February 03, 2008, 07:16:09 PM »

Question for those of you who have built one. Working on the fuse, Step 38 sez do not glue the two fuse sides together at the tail. I'm up to Step 52 now ready to fit the top block for the turtle deck and it still has not said to glue the fuse together at the tail. Did I miss something?

Phil

Phil Coopy · « **Reply #22 on:** February 03, 2008, 07:32:22 PM »

Sorry..false alarm...found tha answer way up in Step 74....

Glad I'm not flyin' a jet......

Phil

Leo Mehl · « **Reply #23 on:** February 03, 2008, 09:13:19 PM »

Quote from: PHIL COOPY on February 03, 2008, 07:32:22 PM

Sorry..false alarm...found tha answer way up in Step 74....

Glad I'm not flyin' a jet......

Phil

Didn't you know you are a guy and we don't read Insructions because we are. You are doin just fine. Anyone that can build a wing that looks that clean is doing great thing. You are a good craftsman. Keep up the good work.

Phil Coopy · « **Reply #24 on:** February 04, 2008, 03:03:32 PM »

Ok Leo, got my wife to read the instructions and I'm doin' much better now.

Second picture .... after couple glasses of grapes.

Phil

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #25 on:** February 04, 2008, 09:43:15 PM »

Looks really nice Phil! Your as far along on this one as mine I started 3 years ago before I got side tracked
into another long project!

You are actually inspiring me to get back on track with it!

Thanks Bro!

Leo Mehl · « **Reply #26 on:** February 04, 2008, 10:12:08 PM »

Quote from: PHIL COOPY on February 04, 2008, 03:03:32 PM

Ok Leo, got my wife to read the instructions and I'm doin' much better now.

Second picture .... after couple glasses of grapes.

Phil

Really good job. I noticed you did your cowl exactly like I did mine. That works really good because you can get index finger in there to prime it. Again good craftsmanship. Leo

Phil Coopy · « **Reply #27 on:** February 05, 2008, 06:22:54 PM »

Thanks for the compliment Leo. Now a question for you who have completed the kit.

When I set up the control linkage according to the plan, I don't have one to one flap to elevator movement unless I change the elevator control rod to the top hole. Is that right? Or should I not have 1:1 elevator flap ratio with this plane. What setup are you guys using? I want to get right because once I close the fuse up it's a done deal.

Phil

RandySmith · « **Reply #28 on:** February 05, 2008, 06:31:30 PM »

Quote from: PHIL COOPY on February 05, 2008, 06:22:54 PM

Thanks for the compliment Leo. Now a question for you who have completed the kit.

When I set up the control linkage according to the plan, I don't have one to one flap to elevator movement unless I change the elevator control rod to the top hole. Is that right? Or should I not have 1:1 elevator flap ratio with this plane. What setup are you guys using? I want to get right because once I close the fuse up it's a done deal.

Phil

Hi Phil

You need a 1 to 1 control setup in this plane, ie: 3/4 to 3/4 inch from pivot or 1 inch to 1 inch make sure that you have this ratio.
check after setup to make sure you have the same amount of degrees movement in both

Regards
Randy

Phil Coopy · « **Reply #29 on:** February 05, 2008, 06:51:37 PM »

Thanks Randy....

Phil

Leo Mehl · « **Reply #30 on:** February 06, 2008, 10:00:13 AM »

Yes, one to one is the set up. Randy being the designer knows best. thats the way mine was set up and it flew real good.

Phil Coopy · « **Reply #31 on:** February 10, 2008, 04:33:11 PM »

Still at it.....funny thing what you can forget over the years.....I forgot that when you invert the engine you also have to reverse the NVA...so I drilled the needle valve hole and installed F1 with the fuel tubing hole on the wrong side.

All fixed now. Now I need to sand, fill, and give her some nitrate..

Phil

Leo Mehl · « **Reply #32 on:** February 10, 2008, 05:53:41 PM »

Quote from: PHIL COOPY on February 10, 2008, 04:33:11 PM

Still at it.....funny thing what you can forget over the years.....I forgot that when you invert the engine you also have to reverse the NVA...so I drilled the needle valve hole and installed F1 with the fuel tubing hole on the wrong side. All fixed now. Now I need to sand, fill, and give her some nitrate..

Phil

I still do this once in awhile. I have more to change than you do because I fly clockwise. So basically I have to build the wing upside down with controls coming out the right wing. All the fuel tanks I use unless I build them myself have to be converted. If the rudder has an airfoil I have to make sure the flat side is on the inside of the circle Or on the left side of the airplane. Most of the motors you buy are setup for counterclockwise so I have to change the needle valve to go the other direction. With all of these changes It is easy for this old worn out mind of mine to get realy confused or sometimes it just blows from overload. Your Vector looks really good . Really nice job framing this. I think you will enjoy flying this plane. Now that you have it framed the work is about to begin. Go out and get a lot of sandpaper.