Build log for classic Q-Tee and other vintage 1/2a designs from plans
10-23-2015, 12:36 PM
#26
While you are doing the carpentry on the plane you can keep asking yourself how you would go about staining certain parts of the plane.
For example, you could choose to just stain the surfaces that come in contact with the covering instead of painstakingly stain ribs, sides of spars, etc.
Being quick with a dry rag or dry brush to sop up excess stain and spread it out will help control weight build up.
I'm not sure if oil base or water base stain is preferred, but it seems that water base would not affect adhesion of the Doculam. Beware that stain could buckle large expanses of sheeting. A rag that is dampened with stain ought to work well as an applicator, with dry rags handy to have on hand.
For example, you could choose to just stain the surfaces that come in contact with the covering instead of painstakingly stain ribs, sides of spars, etc.
Being quick with a dry rag or dry brush to sop up excess stain and spread it out will help control weight build up.
I'm not sure if oil base or water base stain is preferred, but it seems that water base would not affect adhesion of the Doculam. Beware that stain could buckle large expanses of sheeting. A rag that is dampened with stain ought to work well as an applicator, with dry rags handy to have on hand.
10-23-2015, 01:24 PM
#28
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Hey gang,
C-pigg, yeah, I was worried about using a wet rag or brush or whichever wet applicator, with the possibility of getting things to wet, and which surfaces to color or not color.... coloring intricate framework seems like it would take a fair amount of time, especially compared to just ironing on a colored plastic layer.
Fizzwater, what a fabulous idea!!!!! I can use colored markers to ink the wood!!! hmmmmm, I will grab a few diff brands of colored markers and test on some scrap balsa, covering with doculam and see how it turns out.
Thanks guys!
C-pigg, yeah, I was worried about using a wet rag or brush or whichever wet applicator, with the possibility of getting things to wet, and which surfaces to color or not color.... coloring intricate framework seems like it would take a fair amount of time, especially compared to just ironing on a colored plastic layer.
Fizzwater, what a fabulous idea!!!!! I can use colored markers to ink the wood!!! hmmmmm, I will grab a few diff brands of colored markers and test on some scrap balsa, covering with doculam and see how it turns out.
Thanks guys!
10-23-2015, 03:44 PM
#29
Going through the old RCM 1/2 A plans with electric power and light weight radio gear is a great way to relive the Golden Years of DIY designs without the hassles of building fuel proof planes.
You have also a good eye for what looks unnecessarily heavy, so you'll be able to show what these old designs COULD have flown like with better engineering.
You have also a good eye for what looks unnecessarily heavy, so you'll be able to show what these old designs COULD have flown like with better engineering.
10-23-2015, 03:50 PM
#30
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that, and modern radio gear can be so much lighter than it used to be. I remember 1/2a pylon racing with 20 plus ounce planes, and the 500mah battery I used in all my planes, it was what I could afford. kps12 servo mechanics with heathkit innards, great big am receivers...
10-23-2015, 04:53 PM
#31
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Hey all,
C-pigg, yeah that was pretty much my plan, however I do intend to use IC engine on a couple, just cause that's where my heart is, 1/2a from the start, but mainly, most will be 1/2a vintage designs lightened, and converted to electric.
Fizz, yeah I can find 4g servos for $2.25, and digital ball bearing 6g servo for under $5, 9g receivers for $8.99 all of which the 25 year ago versions would of been triple-quintuple the weight and hundreds of dollars.
The potential of all these vintage airplane designs has risen exponentially with this new, cheap tech pouring out all over the markets of the world, cheap enough so, (with research)that a few hundred bucks spent in raw materials and bulk electronics can net you 15-30 planes, especially when built frugally and using less wood, although labor intensive, the build process is very enjoyable.
C-pigg, I don't know if you remember, but I (we, my bro and I) participated in the 2004 RCU design contest (wow, 11 years...), we built the foam B-25 with fiberglass and WPU, camo colored with 2 norvel .061's.
C-pigg, yeah that was pretty much my plan, however I do intend to use IC engine on a couple, just cause that's where my heart is, 1/2a from the start, but mainly, most will be 1/2a vintage designs lightened, and converted to electric.
Fizz, yeah I can find 4g servos for $2.25, and digital ball bearing 6g servo for under $5, 9g receivers for $8.99 all of which the 25 year ago versions would of been triple-quintuple the weight and hundreds of dollars.
The potential of all these vintage airplane designs has risen exponentially with this new, cheap tech pouring out all over the markets of the world, cheap enough so, (with research)that a few hundred bucks spent in raw materials and bulk electronics can net you 15-30 planes, especially when built frugally and using less wood, although labor intensive, the build process is very enjoyable.
C-pigg, I don't know if you remember, but I (we, my bro and I) participated in the 2004 RCU design contest (wow, 11 years...), we built the foam B-25 with fiberglass and WPU, camo colored with 2 norvel .061's.
10-24-2015, 12:05 AM
#34
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Pond Skipper, no go on vid, I looked and could not find any, it was along time ago, I think i only posted pics of flying it, it was long before I had a cell phone camera, I still have the model, suffered a little hanger rash here and there but can be made airworthy again if needed. I am planning on building so many models, I was thinking of giving away a bunch of my old ones to anyone who would take them locally.
10-28-2015, 03:40 AM
#37
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Build update
Hey all,
got some build time in on the RCM Scooter,
Fuse and formers going together, both sides on fuse, detail of the carved out section for tail boom,
Landing gear install with a walnut hardwood block epoxied in place, haven't decided if it's going to free pivot, or be hooked up to a servo,
Gluing tail boom to main fuse body, and a digitized and printed copy of the MAN pullout plans for the Gnat.
got some build time in on the RCM Scooter,
Fuse and formers going together, both sides on fuse, detail of the carved out section for tail boom,
Landing gear install with a walnut hardwood block epoxied in place, haven't decided if it's going to free pivot, or be hooked up to a servo,
Gluing tail boom to main fuse body, and a digitized and printed copy of the MAN pullout plans for the Gnat.
10-28-2015, 08:46 AM
#39
My Feedback: (11)
Cool thread! I have an original Airtronics Q-Tee kit that the first owner had only started building the tail feathers on. I was thinking of building it up and powering it with either a TD or more likely a PAW .061 diesel. I also recently picked up an E-Qtee from HangarCats that should build up much lighter, and I'll use electric power on it.
I just remembered why not use the Windex method that could be used for decorating a plane covered Doculam. I've used it with MonoKote before, so don't know why it wouldn't work on Doculam. Apparently MonoKote is the only covering that Windex will activate the adhesive on. I've used it on MonoKote to MonoKote, Monokote to UltraCote, and Monokote to ChinaKote.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to these builds!
I just remembered why not use the Windex method that could be used for decorating a plane covered Doculam. I've used it with MonoKote before, so don't know why it wouldn't work on Doculam. Apparently MonoKote is the only covering that Windex will activate the adhesive on. I've used it on MonoKote to MonoKote, Monokote to UltraCote, and Monokote to ChinaKote.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to these builds!
10-29-2015, 01:04 AM
#41
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got a lil bit done on the scooter
Hey Gang,
Tewitt, I did not maiden the Q-Tee yet, waiting on radio module and receivers from overseas hobby store, ordered 13 days ago, went to website, hasn't even shipped yet........
I built the rear cabin structure, sanded the fuse a bit, sheeted the front section and started doing the truss setup on the boom section.
Tewitt, I did not maiden the Q-Tee yet, waiting on radio module and receivers from overseas hobby store, ordered 13 days ago, went to website, hasn't even shipped yet........
I built the rear cabin structure, sanded the fuse a bit, sheeted the front section and started doing the truss setup on the boom section.
10-30-2015, 02:21 AM
#43
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little bit more on the Scooter
Heyas,
TY CPigg!
Finished truss on tail boom, cut out H&V stabs, rudder and elevator, redesigned wing spars, and rib layout, cut out rib template from aluminum flashing.
TY CPigg!
Finished truss on tail boom, cut out H&V stabs, rudder and elevator, redesigned wing spars, and rib layout, cut out rib template from aluminum flashing.
10-31-2015, 08:18 AM
#44
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Scooter build update
Hey peeps,
Got a fair amount done on scooter, cut out wing tips, cut out all the ribs, stripped all the wood for wing construction, will try and build wing today possibly.
Got a fair amount done on scooter, cut out wing tips, cut out all the ribs, stripped all the wood for wing construction, will try and build wing today possibly.
11-02-2015, 12:40 AM
#46
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Wing servos installed
Hey all,
I installed the pockets for the wing servos, still need to cut slots for the servo arm, cut and started carving front nose block, hollowed on the inside.
I installed the pockets for the wing servos, still need to cut slots for the servo arm, cut and started carving front nose block, hollowed on the inside.
11-16-2015, 04:02 AM
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Q-Tee update, it's maidened!
Hiyas Gang!
So finally after 39 days, my order arrived with all the little bits needed for the Q-Tee, yesterday was the last nice day we'll see for awhile, so i spent a few hours installing, checking, and balancing it, my brother dropped by, and we headed off to the local cemetery at the end of my block, drove to the back and set up. Had a few batteries of differing sizes, started with the smallest (1000 mah 3s) balanced it up, set her down, double checked it all, i signaled, and he took off, 6 foot roll and airborne, flew couple circuts, he reported CG should be adjusted forward, he landed gently, adjusted, up again in 4 feet, couple clicks of elevator trim, and flew the pack out, landed softly, swapped larger 1300 pack in, cg check, of the ground in 4 feet, tracking very straight flew around, testing CG, dual rates, aerobatics, pilot reported turns with rudder suffered little to no elevation loss, where as aileron banking cause fair pitch down while banking. he turned off dual rates and the plane loops/turns in like ten feet at full throttle, i was worried about snapping the spar so i told him to keep low rates on, landed flawlessly, but my hot glue "wheel collars" popped off, along with the wheels, so landing gear removed, recheck CG, hand launched and belly landed in the grass a few times, aircraft performance highly increase when L/G removed. All in all it was a very enjoyable flying session, lasted about 45 mins , about hour before sunset, on nice paved back path of cemetery with large fields on 2 sides of site.
So finally after 39 days, my order arrived with all the little bits needed for the Q-Tee, yesterday was the last nice day we'll see for awhile, so i spent a few hours installing, checking, and balancing it, my brother dropped by, and we headed off to the local cemetery at the end of my block, drove to the back and set up. Had a few batteries of differing sizes, started with the smallest (1000 mah 3s) balanced it up, set her down, double checked it all, i signaled, and he took off, 6 foot roll and airborne, flew couple circuts, he reported CG should be adjusted forward, he landed gently, adjusted, up again in 4 feet, couple clicks of elevator trim, and flew the pack out, landed softly, swapped larger 1300 pack in, cg check, of the ground in 4 feet, tracking very straight flew around, testing CG, dual rates, aerobatics, pilot reported turns with rudder suffered little to no elevation loss, where as aileron banking cause fair pitch down while banking. he turned off dual rates and the plane loops/turns in like ten feet at full throttle, i was worried about snapping the spar so i told him to keep low rates on, landed flawlessly, but my hot glue "wheel collars" popped off, along with the wheels, so landing gear removed, recheck CG, hand launched and belly landed in the grass a few times, aircraft performance highly increase when L/G removed. All in all it was a very enjoyable flying session, lasted about 45 mins , about hour before sunset, on nice paved back path of cemetery with large fields on 2 sides of site.