Well, go get them.  Hope you all have a good turn out.  By the way, the plane looks great.

Looks great, Bill. Did you hide the pushrod in the fuselage? Looks partially hidden!!

-Chris

Most Clowns I have seen look like that since they are not using spinners. The PDQ plans show a rounded/tapered nose. Since I don't have a 2"-3" micrometer handy, I measured the fuse height at the wing LE with a ruler as 2 7/8". Your slow rats must look a lot different than mine.

Hi Bill

Nice Rig!

Having looked at your engine/tank setup, I offer up these suggestions from the pain of experience...
 
1. Build an exhaust deflector that bolts to the engine backplate. It's a bit of work, but the result is better than gluing some sort of insulating material to the tank. We had problems with erratic engine runs when the exhaust was allowed to blast against the outer tank wall, thus heating the fuel.

2. Your .290 venturi diameter with 5/32 spraybar through middle produces a choke area of around 15sq mm. which is about where most everyone I know who runs the O.S. .18 ends up.

3. If you're not using an APC 6.5x5.5, then try one.
We found that to be the best of the APC's for the .18 engine. If you have a selection of 6.5x5.5's, then test as many as you can, paying particular attention to lap counts. Some are better than others...The closer you can get to 50 laps per tank the better.

You'll know that your speed and lap counts are optimized when at the 15 minute "stop counting" command of the final, your airplane runs out of fuel a lap or two later.

Les

Hi Tim

I have not measured any APC prop for variances in pitch. Usually, I just file the trailing edge a bit to lessen the "Ginsu Knife" effect when flipping. 

As MM pointed out, they likely come out of a variety of molds, and the injection material used might be slightly different in consistency as well from batch to batch, and as such may flex differently when running. Actually, I'd just be happy if all the holes were drilled on center! They apparently use a jig of some sort, and still can't get it centered on many of them. For the most part they all run similarly (when the holes are on center), but once in awhile you find one that is a real standout, sometimes you also get a real dud.

After years of using Fiberglass and Carbon props, I find myself favoring the injection molded commercial variety because some of our events require it, but mostly because I'm tired of investing untold hours into hand layup composite props that eventually break. Usually at the most inopportune time.

There may be better props for Clown Racing, but I haven't done any serious testing...

Les

Nice plane Bill and Congratulations a on your excellent showing at the Nats! 

60' lines, 7.5 min, 3 pit stops. First race for this airplane and engine.