Tee Bee

After finishing the Scalpel project, I dove straight into another SMALL build. This time I'm working from an Early RC laser cut kit. I plan to make a few minor mods along the way and install a steerable tailwheel. It will be powered by a Surestart with one of Bernie's intake throttles. I won't go into all the "build thread" details on this one. Just thought I'd share it with fellow fans of the Minnie Mambo.

Andrew

Boy, Tee Bee, that's old school landing gear. I haven't seen rubber banded gear for some time. Build is looking good.

combatpigg

My Feedback: (3)

I've never noticed rubberbanded gear before. Totally unbreakable..!
I sho' do luvs dem V-tails, too...!
It looks like a very well engineered kit....loookin' good.

Tee Bee

Oops. This isn't a V tail. That background bit snuck into the pic. It is from skaliwag's Scalpel plans showing that option. I was too skeered to build mine with it.

I almost didn't post this model due to fear of being pummeled by the single channel, rudder only crowd. Ya see, this one is gonna have an elevator. Gasp! On a Minnie Mambo? Yep.

Rubbernecker

My Feedback: (22)

Say it ain’t soooooo Tee Bee! Next thing ya know you will go and mak’em ‘letric. Do what ever floats ya boat, it’s a hobby. I have started on my Page Boy for the anniversary flight. It will be ‘letric, but single channel. The last one whipped my butt, but this one won’t. I hope. There is an art to flying single channel. She is looking good. Bob Harris sent me the plans to his Micro Mambo.

John

skaliwag

My Feedback: (1)

Movin' along.. Maiden this coming week end?

gene6029

GREAT CHOICE guys! I have one, ( Mini Mambo ) on the board being built myself. Keep up the pics......Gene

Tee Bee

Thanks, guys. It Won't be ready for maiden this weekend, Steve. Hopefully by the end of next month.

Rubbernecker

My Feedback: (22)

Tee Bee, can you give me a quick explanation on how to construct the tail. I have seen that design on a few plans and wonder how you get it straight. If the leading edge and trailing edge are thinner that the spar and if you shim them up, how do you hold it to the board for proper alignment? I think I would end up with a banana!

John

Didn't update.

Tee Bee

Good question, Rubbernecker. I'm working on the wing now. Hopefully I'll get it done and tackle the tail this weekend. My plans are taped to the table with the tail facing down right now. Maybe another MM builder will chime in with some tips?

Andrew

OK, here's mine. I hadn't posted it before because I didn't want to poach Tee Bee's build thread.

The frame is made up from 3/16" stock - I built the frame complete with 3/16" sq. spar and center filler flat on the board. With the tips and center section, the frame is pretty stiff. I didn't think I could hold and glue the bowed ribs accurately, so I added a shelf to the LE and TE that's 1/16" x 1/4". I cut several spacers from 1/16" stock and pinned against the LE. Then I placed the shelf on the spacers - since the spacers are 1/16" and the shelf is 1/16", the shelf is centered on the LE. I tacked the shelf all along the LE between the spacers, slid the spacers out and finished gluing the shelf. Did the same for the TE.

With the shelf in place, I glued a rib to the LE while holding the rib against the spar. After it set, I pulled the rib down to the TE and glued it to the shelf and spar. Since the shelf is centered, the ribs are now flush with the tops of the LE and TE. After the top ribs are in place, I unpinned the frame. The ribs don't apply much force, so the frame remained true. I flipped it over, blocked it to the board and finished the ribs on the bottom.

Hope this helps out some.

andrew

Rubbernecker

My Feedback: (22)

It helps very much, thank you. BTW she is looking good!

John

Tee Bee

That's good stuff, Andrew. Thanks! Feel free to "poach" my threads anytime. I love the exchange of info on this forum. Makes the hobby so much more enjoyable to many.

Andrew

Here's a pic of how the scrap spacers were used. The spacer is in darker blue and is only used to center and hold the shelf flat while it is tacked to the LE.

In the pics of the plane, the stab was only stuffed into the slot in the fuselage - I must confess that after I get several parts built, I have to put them together to see how the plane will "look". But, notice that the slot was cut straight and only 3/16" wide to mate with the center section of the frame. As it stands, there is no way to stick any covering to the stab where it meets the fuselage. After the stab was aligned and glued in place, I added 3/8" wide rib bows that butted up against the fuselage - these have the same curvature as the other bows and support the covering where the stab and fuselage are mated.

Rubbernecker

My Feedback: (22)

I noticed the lack of having anything to attach covering to in your pictures. I found out on my Jr Falcon the hard way since I glued the stab on insted of rubber banding it.

John

ZoomZoom-RCU

Nice lookin machine! I got to thinking while reviewing your build pics that if this bird was built just the same but with fanfold foam, it might be 1/4 to 1/3 lighter still. Hmmmmmm.

ZZ.

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Well guys, the stab should have a wide sheet center section bent to the same curve as the ribs. The key is to cover the tail before installing it. The original Minnie Mambo actually was set up where you could shim the tail for glide testing before gluing it on permanent.

The Sure Start .049 is a good match. I fly my current one with an OK Cub .049 and Ace single channel pulser. I did built one with a Black Widow .049 and throttle sleeve. It also had 3 channels with 600 mah standard Futaba pack and 3 Futaba 3004 servos. Just wanted to prove to the guys that the weight carrying capacity of these older designs were outstanding!!!

Bob Harris

Tee Bee

Thanks, Bob. I was thinking the same thing about the center sheeting. Guess there's more than one way to skin a cat. Finished framing up the 2nd wing panel today, so I should be able to take a look at the other side of the plans tomorrow.

What happened to Early RC? I've sent them a couple of inquiries in the last couple of months and never got a response. I've heard the same from others. Hope everything is alright in Michigan.

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Tee Bee, I don't know the fate of Early RC. Last I heard Dan was moving to Arizona? and setting up shop out there. I have not heard from Dan in over a year. Hope he is doing well. My work has not taken me back up to Michigan lately so I have not stopped by his shop.

I've had several E-mail about people trying to get in touch with him but no luck.

Bob Harris

skaliwag

My Feedback: (1)

The site still comes up so a bill must still be being paid.

http://earlyrcmodels.com/

gene6029

Tee Bee, Andrew, you got me motivated with your pics of your Mini Mambo builds to get back on mine. I put my radio in today, an Ace pulser. (Thank you Bob HH ).Heres a few pics of where im at with mine......Gene

vauxhall

That looks great. I'm ALMOST inspired to build one.
Don't you love lazer cut kits?.....John.

Tee Bee

My progress has slowed but I've been picking away at it when I can. Gotta finish shaping the leading edges then I can join the wing panels. Hope to have it as far along as Gene's in a few days.

Andrew

Good go, Gene. It's looking really good.

Today, at the LHS, some of us old guys were talking about reed sets, galloping ghost and Adams actuators. My first R/C plane had a rubber band escapement and Citizenship tube TX - I was never very successful with it. Later, in college, I joined a club, built probably the uglest plane in the world and learned to fly with a Rand galloping ghost actuator and World Engines TX. Seeing your installation brings back a lot of memories.

andrew

gene6029

Hey guys, what are you planning on covering your Mini Mambos with? I'm going with Monokote on mine, only reason to do so is to replicate my first Mini Mambo. I cant do silk & dope in the house, & garage isnt heated well enough.....Gene