Author Topic: OK, here some pictures (Read 2571 times)

Randy Powell · « **on:** June 10, 2011, 10:41:03 PM »

So, it's not really ready to fly yet. Have to wrap the leadouts, fix a boo-boo on the tip box (tube, whatever) and still need to make the landing gear clips. Overall, it's OK, Not the greatest finish in the world, but not bad. It's overweight, but I'm beginning to think that I'll never build another plane that comes in under my expectation. Power is a RO-Jett .65 and Randy pipe. and it's right at 626 square inches.

ash · « **Reply #1 on:** June 11, 2011, 01:02:46 AM »

Top stuff, Randy!

It definitely has that El Camino vibe with the low forward canopy and no big central fin.

I do like the Stunt Machine style. Remind us of your powerplant/exhaust/prop choice, please.

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #2 on:** June 11, 2011, 03:15:33 AM »

*Hi Fives Randy *

We got there in the end mate - Good stuff. - You know what I think of it - So Once again Sweeeet

Let me know when you start a new one and we can do it again ! HAHAH
I feel like Im waving a child off to school....... weird..

Matt Colan · « **Reply #3 on:** June 11, 2011, 05:28:49 AM »

Fantastic Randy!!! Looks like a winner from over here!

Claudio Chacon · « **Reply #4 on:** June 11, 2011, 06:24:31 AM »

GORGEOUS Randy, as usual!!!
Beautiful canopy treatment as well...LOVE IT. Can you take a closer pic of it, please?

Final weight??

Congrats Randy. Another AWESOME ship to add to your list of achievements.

Regards,
Claudio.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #5 on:** June 11, 2011, 09:39:44 AM »

Jeesh Randy such a beautful plane in such a messy shop.

It really is gorgeous and I want to see pics of it flying in the sun light.

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2011, 11:24:38 AM »

Wowsers! It was a long winding road, but worth the jorney. I like the figure 8 effect you get when viewing straight on looking at the scoop/spinner ring.
Great work!
EricV

Will Hinton · « **Reply #7 on:** June 11, 2011, 01:11:13 PM »

Masterful my friend, simply masterful. The base color was worth the struggle and the trim scheme is so very tasteful!
Well done.

ash · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2011, 06:03:37 PM »

I look forward to daylight pics of that metallic colour!

Bill Allen · « **Reply #9 on:** June 11, 2011, 08:09:54 PM »

Randy: your sense of style treatments, paint schemes take the "standard" stunt aircraft to a new level. Your designs add a definite sense of sex appeal! Keep up the great work!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bill Allen

Randy Powell · « **Reply #10 on:** June 11, 2011, 08:34:47 PM »

The power is a RO-Jett 65. The prop is just one I stuck on for the photo-op. I think is a Mejlik 12.5 x 4. I plan to use a 12.5 3 blade on it, but it's sitting on the bench waiting to be pitched and balanced. The weight is, well, she's a pretty lady and doesn't disclose such things. But she's, ah voluptuous let's say.

The color is weird in the sun. Looks a LOT more yellow than under the fluorescent lights.

Yea, Doc, it's messy. I have a shot of the canopy/cockpit treatment, but the plane was a bit dusty and I didn't notice, so I'll post it here, but keep that in mind. It's just dust.

PerttiMe · « **Reply #11 on:** June 12, 2011, 01:05:20 AM »

It looks great.

I particularly like the canopy/cockpit. Obviously the paint finish is wonderful too but I feel that the strong red and blue areas in the nose may be drawing the attention away from the sleek canopy. Just don't ask me to come up with something better

Ward Van Duzer · « **Reply #12 on:** June 12, 2011, 02:01:12 PM »

Slick!

So what is (was) the canopy. Every time I look to cut down a canopy like that, it's too wide...

W.

Bill Little · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2011, 02:39:59 PM »

Love it, good luck!

Big Bear

wwwarbird · « **Reply #14 on:** June 12, 2011, 05:19:32 PM »

Looks great Randy, another Powell Insta-Classic!

It must be a relief to finally have this one done. It really presents a lot like one of the stylish magazine cover sixties designs, especially with how it appears as gold in the photos. Those have to be the longest wheelpants your side of the Mississippi.

It will be interesting to hear how it handles with so little vertical fin area, might be a little sketchy in the wind?. What magazine is on the turtledeck and what do the tags in the cockpit say?

Randy Powell · « **Reply #15 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:55:31 PM »

Ward,

The canopy is cut down from a 18" bubble canopy job from Tower. It's quite narrow for the length and it works well.

Wayne,

The little black on says something about how to fuel the thing up. The two white jobs say Oxygen, I think (or First Aid - whatever). From an RC canopy detail kit I got about a hundred years ago. The magazine is, of course, Low Rider. Although it doesn't look it, the fuse is very deep. A Randy Smith 65-75 pipe (really big around) not only fits, you'll notice that the exhaust deflector is barely long enough to exit the bottom of the fuse. There's more than a half inch between the bottom of the pipe and the bottom of the fuse. With the twin rudders I'm actually getting a bit more overall side area aft of the CG than my last plane with a regular rudder. Should work pretty well, but we'll see.

This thing actually as quite a few minor aerodynamic ideas that either will or won't work. And if they don't it may be that they REALLY won't work. If so, it will make a nice wall decoration. But if they do, could be a really terrific plane. BTW, the big wheelpants are actually that size for a reason other than just looking cool.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #16 on:** June 12, 2011, 08:25:18 PM »

Thanks Randy, just curious, I wondered if it wasn't the Lowrider mag. I'm not trying to be negative at all here, but what is the reason then for the extra long wheel pants then? Sounds like you might have an aerodynamic thought up your sleeve?

Bill Little · « **Reply #17 on:** June 12, 2011, 08:58:22 PM »

Hi Randy,

OK, you opened the can of worms so you gots some 'splain' to do! LOL!!

Really long and super thin wheel pants........ hmmmmm.... doesn't "look" like it is a vertical CG issue....... so what's up?

(and I really do love it!)
Big Bear

Randy Powell · « **Reply #18 on:** June 13, 2011, 09:41:52 AM »

Bill and Wayne,

Two things, really. Just adds more side area and secondly, it helps with some directional stability. Particularly up wind.

Several years ago, after reading Bob Hunt's article on the Saturn, I did a series of experiments with wheel pants. I build a plane with just a wing mounted gear and naked wire. Flew it then started cutting out temporary wheel pants that were tacked on. The wheel pants were of various sizes. If straight, you tended to aid in directional stability the longer they were (to a point, of course). This is (weirdly) about the lightest gear I've ever built so I wasn't all that concerned about vertical CG, but I wanted some additional side area around the CG and this seemed like the ticket. Problem is, it's side area substantially below the CG so we will have to see how that comes out.

There are several very minor ideas like this with this plane (BTW, I have another set of gear built but not finished for this plane just in case - at least this is something I can change if it doesn't work out).

wwwarbird · « **Reply #19 on:** June 13, 2011, 02:12:23 PM »

Well there we have it, if it works out you could call your next plane "Bigfoot".

jim gilmore · « **Reply #20 on:** June 13, 2011, 02:42:42 PM »

not sure I missed it but what size engine and prop...how does it compare to a stunt machine....wing mounted landing gear aside...bigger ?

Randy Powell · « **Reply #21 on:** June 13, 2011, 05:15:57 PM »

It shares nothing with a Stunt Machine except that it also have twin rudders so it doesn't really compare at all. Engine, as noted at the top is a RO-Jett 65 and about 626 square inches. Prop yet to be determined.

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #22 on:** June 14, 2011, 02:35:14 AM »

Prop yet to be determined.

Randy - I know you like to try new things but my advice is you should run one.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #23 on:** June 14, 2011, 03:05:03 PM »

Gee, PJ, thanks. I'll do that.

jim gilmore · « **Reply #24 on:** June 15, 2011, 12:11:47 AM »

Rndy I did not mean to take anything away from your design..just meant that the rudders and low canopy made it look to me like the stunt machine which if I remember was on the small size...

Randy Powell · « **Reply #25 on:** June 15, 2011, 11:13:41 AM »

Jim,

No worries. When I designed it, was actually thinking I wanted to keep a low profile. Hard to do when the fuse is as deep as this one is. It wasn't until I was done framing it up that someone pointed out that it looked a bit like a Stunt Machine with bubble canopy. Sort of. I suppose any twin rudder plane will get at comparison.

Several years ago, I built a plane that was intentionally modeled on the aesthetics of a USA-1. Didn't really look like one, but you could see the similarities. No one seemed to see it but it was actually quite close in looks when compared directly. This one really doesn't look much like a Stunt Machine at all other than having twin rudders and a bubble canopy, but most people seem to think it is one. It's interesting.

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #26 on:** June 15, 2011, 04:24:47 PM »

GREAT job Randy - well out of the box thinking and execution.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #27 on:** June 16, 2011, 09:24:01 AM »

Dennis,

Yea, it looks pretty good live, too. I just hope the thing flies worth a darn.

Howard Rush · « **Reply #28 on:** June 16, 2011, 02:04:04 PM »

I think the trousers will contribute to directional stability, but, having their quarter chord forward of the CG, not in the direction you want.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #29 on:** June 16, 2011, 03:32:06 PM »

Howard,

You're assuming the CG is where you think it is.

But yea, it was about directional stability. Might be some yaw issues in wind which is why there is a backup set of gear.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #30 on:** June 18, 2011, 02:35:06 PM »

First flight report: it needs a lot of work. Sigh...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #31 on:** June 18, 2011, 09:39:24 PM »

Uh-oh. Like..?

John Miller · « **Reply #32 on:** June 19, 2011, 10:29:58 AM »

Well, that's not really going to be a big problem, you have some of the best help in the country nearby. The plane apparently is just too cool to not stunt well, though it may have an ATITUDE that needs adjusting

Randy Powell · « **Reply #33 on:** June 19, 2011, 10:52:15 AM »

It's overweight and tail heavy. I'll get it going eventually, but right now I'm concentrating on other stuff. So it will sit in the rack while I cogitate.

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #34 on:** June 21, 2011, 12:34:18 PM »

Well, tail heavy is one thing, overweight AND tail heavy, though typical, is another story. The standard reply is just to add nose weight and deal with the consequences, BUT... and you can call me crazy if you want... I'm pretty sure you can scavenge a few grams off the back end, because I've done it and know others who have.

1 - Just looking at the plane's stance, I'd bet you could chop 5/8" of tail wire off and re-bend it. It almost looks like it's nose down, if not quite dead level.
2 - Dump the metal hub tail wheel and put a plastic hub foam tail wheel (Yes, I've weighed them both, if memory serves, yours is something like 7 grams, the foam is like 2 grams, or something like that)
3 - wet sand some clear off and re-buff, if you feel comfortable doing so. Only you will know if this is possible, but if there's a bunch of clear on the aft fuse, stab & elev, you'd be surprised how you can shed a few grams there.
4 - shot in the dark - hard to tell in the pic's, if it's overly long, trim your silicon pipe coupler down to minimum length needed for zip ties, etc. I was suprised myself how much an extra inch of coupler weighs.)

Those grams add up quick, between those 3 or 4 things If you pull a 1/2 to 3/4 ounce off the aft end, that's like adding 2 or 3 ounces to the nose. In the end, you may still have to add some balast up front, but if any of these tricks are possible, then maybe you can at least get away with adding less up front to get it where you want.

I know you know all this Randy, mostly covering the bases for any newbies who might be reading, and maybe hit an idea you missed or forgot, so take it for what it's worth.

Let us know how she progresses, she's too pretty to be left a hangar queen indefinitely!
EricV

Randy Powell · « **Reply #35 on:** June 21, 2011, 04:06:29 PM »

Eric,

Yea, I need to first figure out how much it's going to take. If it's a couple of ounces, then I'll start into some of the stuff you're noting. It's likely sanding will be involved along with lightening components. If it's more (and I don't think it will be - it was flyable as is, just touchy) then I'll have to come up with other alternatives the will probably involve cutting. Good news is, the weight (less than a pig luckily) doesn't seem to be effecting it overly much. No sliding around turns or sinking at the bottoms of corners, so I'm less concerned than I was. She's a Diva, but a fairly graceful one. Just need to spend some time with it. I'll do that later in the year. Right now, I've finally gotten the white plane from last year flying pretty well after a lot of trim issues so I'm concentrating on that.

Author Topic: OK, here some pictures (Read 2571 times)

Eric Viglione

Eric Viglione