Starting to look too good to fly .

I like it.

Try some nylon fishing line.  It's somewhat stretchy and can survive the inevitable handling mishaps.  Another trick is that it will shrink some if heated.

John Witt

Wipe the line with 400 grit sand paper a couple of times and then use a Sharpie on it.  Paint will stay for awhile, but gradually rubs off.  Antennas are usually bare wire and oxidize to black fairly quickly.

Just my thoughts...

John

Wipe the line with 400 grit sand paper a couple of times and then use a Sharpie on it.  Paint will stay for awhile, but gradually rubs off.  Antennas are usually bare wire and oxidize to black fairly quickly.

Just my thoughts...

John

John,
You are the antenna expert.  As I said I had the 50 # test line. Was bought years ago to fix a wind chime.  did the 400 grit sanding as you recommended.  However I was having trouble getting the Sharpie to cover 360.  SO I drilled a 1/16" hole through the Sharpie tip and fed the line through the hole.  Multiple passes back and forth through the hole and I had black fishing line!  Knots didn't look right so I secured the ends by wrapping them with copper wire.  A little white paint and the wrap looks like a insulator (at 15').  Photo attached is at 6" to show detail - however at 15' looks spot-on!  Thanks John!  This BB is the best!

             

Well it's almost ready for the first flight.  Built and installed the Pitot Tube today.  Also have mounted motor, speed controller, and battery.  Appears the CG will be spot on withought adding weight.  Things to do:  Install wheels,  Air brush some exhaust and mud streaks, Build a set of lines, and test fly (not necessarily in that order).

       

Well it looks like I will make the FCM at AMA August 26, 2011.  Flew the LA-5 this morning.  WOW! what a sweet flying airplane.  Also Electric power is wounderfull.  It was a short flight - about 20 laps.  Take off was:  Bring up the throttle slowly and she went airborne at 1/2 throttle.  Flew several laps and landed.  Did this 3 times.  Never did get past 1/2 throttle.  Started to rain so I packed and ran.
What I learned:
1)  The Brodak LA-5 flies great even at 4-1/2 lb. Build it as a sport model at around 3 lb and this would be a fun to stunt scale ship.
2)  Electric power is the only way to.  Absolutely no hassle to set up.  Bad motor runs will be a rare thing of the past.  Don't get me wrong, eclectics can smoke causing a DNF but I have had 3 DNF's with wet engines and they were working well.
3) Ship was a little up-down sensitive.  Need to reduce elevator throw and add a little noise weight.
4) Ship was clean when I landed - No SLIME!
5) I flew at 7 AM next to a bunch of houses - No NOISE - every body was happy.

Am going out of town for a couple of day. Will finish her up and post final pictures, setup, and lap times etc when I get back.

Ty I will give you a call when I return and yes I do want pictures!  - It's great have a good flying scale ship!!

                                     

John
Glad to hear that it flies well, I agree electrics are the way to go. I flew my first contests this year with electrics and I love them.

one word of caution on the motor. Those Gold Turnigy's have a pretty soft prop adapter. it doesn't take much of a prop strike to bend them. I prefer the 5mm shaft motors like the  blue and red 3648. The prop mounts directly on the shaft.  http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=8486  , they are harder to mount but very strong. I use the 3648 on my profile carrier plane, I broke the prop on both flight , (carrier planes can hit hard). The softer type prop adapter would not have survived.

John, great news regarding the first flight. I knew it would be a good flying plane for you, a a great airobatic sport flyer as well. I'm looking forward to more flight reports in the future.

Sounds great, John!  If it is at all possible I would love to make it to FCM this year.  Who knows, if I get medical clearance I might can!   I have not been to the Muncie site since 2004...........    Actually flying in a contest will be icing on the cake!

Big Bear

I'm curious John, I need more flight reprts on your progress.

It is going well.  The biggest problem is the pilot (me).   I have flown very little the last 12 months and I am rusty.  My major problem is over correcting generating a ragged looking flight path. I put in a fairly long flight session yesterday and by the end of it things were looking much better.  The LA5 and it electric motor system seem to be working well.  I dumped all 3 battery packs yesterday and at the end of each flight the motor, battery and speed controller were just warm –prop and motor setup are happy. Line pull was good throughout the throttle range.  Take off was just about a 10 every time.  She rolls out smooth picks up the tail – more smooth roll and a gentle lift off.   Landings were another matter.  At first I was trying to do a little flare at touch down.  But this doesn’t work because she wants to fly – any up and the LA5 is airborne again.  What seem to work best with this aircraft is slightly elevated power and establish a smooth sink rate. Let aircraft touch down.  Apply a small amount of down elevator to keep airplane on ground.  Cut power let tail settle down - full up as LA5 rolls to a stop.  So far it looks like this is going to be fun flying ship.  I love the electric!

Went flying this morning.  Put in some really impressive flights.  The LA5 is a really good flyer.  On each of the three battery packs I first flew the scale pattern that I plan to use.  With the remainder of the pack I practice the maneavers that I executed poorly.  Several more flights and I should be good to go.  The only concern I have now is windy conditions.  Right now north Alabama in under a stationary front.  No wind for the last several days.  All pratice has been hot no wind conditions.

 

Good flight report. The plane is designed for main wheel landings, so they should be very realistic. I'd wager that minor aerobatics, and inverted flight should be possible.

True - but the pilot is chicken!  

Well it's all did and done!    I have about 10 test flights and it flies great.  Did the paint touch up and took photos.  I should make the FCM at AMA Saturday the 27, 2011 ( barring a disaster or bad weather).  This has been a fun project!  Thanks for all the help and advice.  This BB is the best.   

Well it do fly good!     Photo by Grant Hiestand at the FCM @ AMA contest August 27, 2011

I had the privilege of judging John at the FCM on Saturday.  Wow, incredible, accurate, and extensive detail!! This is one super quality airplane obviously built by a very particular modeler.  Very nice, John, very nice.  His flights were really good, he didn't look out of practice to me.
We had only three fewer airplanes at the FCM than what the nats had!  Wonderful turnout, and all the fliers were good pilots.  We didn't get done until nearly 6:00!  I was whipped but happy.  Thanks for coming, John, and to all the rest as well.
Blessings,
Will

What Jim just said.