Tee Bee

The smaller bits have been fitted, shaped, beveled, and fine sanded to 400 grit followed by cleaning with a tack cloth to remove the dust. Control horn mounting holes were drilled and then strengthened with CA. Once the holes are cleaned out again with a drill bit, I'll start covering them. Maybe tomorrow? Who knows.

Tee Bee

I applied Ultracote to the ailerons and tail pieces. To me, the smaller parts are the most tedious and time consuming to cover. This plane's colors, Safety Yellow and Flourescent Blue, should show well in the air.

Pond Skipper

Yes that was 12 sides to do lol but looks great!

Tee Bee

Some more small tasks done today that don't really show. Reinforced the wing dowel with fiberglass, installed a power switch, Dremeled holes in the wings to route the servo extensions, CA'd some wood bolt threads, etc. Still inching along. I've built more than a handful of model planes over the years and I can't figure out for the life of me how some guys can knock out a build like this in a couple of weekends.

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

LOL I hear you on that one! I think my biggest problem is obsessing over details and always looking for some way to do something different or in a new way. Now, that is only a problem in the sense of taking a stupid long time to build relatively simple models. But the flip side of it is, that I really enjoy that process as well. So it all works out except for impatient fellow modellers ragging on me (rightfully so!) for taking 9 months to build a 1/2A sport model..

Tee Bee

Well put. I really enjoy the process but tend to tinker a lot while building which slows the process down. Seems like every time I complete a task, I feel compelled to mock up the bird again, take pics, post on RCU, and take a youtube break.

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

e.g. Pond Skipper is probably about to drive up here in a parka, fully armed, ready to stand over me while I finish the .010 Scat Cat. It's real close, but my covering on the wings pissed me off and now I want to redo it.

On the bright side, the Mrs. actually said to me regards SMALL "you should go!"... Could this be the pressure I need?

Tee Bee

Come join the fun in the Arkansas sun!

Pond Skipper

Lol Mike!!

The Nano did inspire your creative side for a TD .010 micro which is good.
So....after a few months of Nano prop testing posting vids to inspire you to maiden your's I
designed and built the next level Nano II to shame you into finishing the Skittish Kitty aka Skat Rat!
No luck still collecting dust mites...

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

At least I can let you do all the screwing around to figure out the best prop, then capitalize on your efforts. All part of the master plan..

Tee Bee

My work bench has been busy and messy lately. Besides tinkering with models, I've been working about 60hrs a week as well as getting an old motorcycle running that had been mothballed for years so that I could sell it. Wing covering is underway.

Pond Skipper

Ha Mike this year we get to see that sucker fly

Tee Bee has a proper work bench plenty stuff all over it lol
8 pannel job when counting the ailerons whew tasky bit of covering for sure.

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

It looks normal to me. I've been cleaning for weeks and that's about what my bench looks like now in the good spots.

Cool lookit the Simple 400. I never had more fun with an electric than I did with mine, at least before stuffing it into a tree at high speed.Was running it on about 260-270W.

I drew up a plan set for the tapered wing in 12% BTW, cut and built one for the Baby Birdie. Sometime I'll do another Simple 400 with the new wing, the tail group from the last one is still intact.

Tee Bee

The Simple 400 look-alike is actually a Scalpel built a few years back from a pre-production kit from Skaliwag at Select Hobbies. It's very similar to the Ace design and mine actually has Ace foam wings. It was originally flown with a rear-rotary intake .049 that I bought from Tim Wiltse about 10yrs ago. I never was able to get that engine to scream as well as it should have but it was a pretty unique and beautifully modded Cox engine. At SMALL 2015, the customised crankshaft snapped. That was a shame since Tim mysteriously disappeared from the 1/2A world and a new crank couldn't be found. I recently replaced the engine with a throttled TD .049 and the little plane is flying again. I remember seeing your Ace 400 video on the tube when I was building the plane. Mine is nowhere near as fast!

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

I had the equivalent of about a .15 in it, no wonder! Great little no BS well mannered and aerobatic sport flyer.

Tee Bee

Nothing very exciting to report on the Shark XV. Today, I tinkered with my Spektrum radio a bit and bound the receiver to it. It came out of a foam park flyer that met it's demise on a highline wire a few years ago. The foam airframe was trashed but the radio bits were unharmed. Also checked out the new Dymond wing servos to make sure they work properly. Need some days off work before I can get in some good sessions on the build.

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

Are they Dymond D-47's or D-60's? Sorry if that is 5 pages back.. I don't always reread entire threads before posting. Anyhow I've used them and they are pretty solid in my books.

Tee Bee

Dymond 4.7s on each aileron. Will use D60s on the tail surfaces.

Tee Bee

Still knocking it out. Made some cowl cheek cutouts to clear the needle valve and fuel line. Fuel and vent line fittings have been installed in the firewall. Did a little fuel-proofing with epoxy resin around the firewall, etc. Today I've been cutting out some CA hinges and slotting everything. My thin CA has gone bad and is getting goopy, but Tower is coming to the rescue with a box tomorrow that will also include a 2oz tank and an assortment of props to play with. I hope to get the fuse covered tonight.

Tee Bee

I've got an ARF now! The covering is Flourescent Blue and Safety Yellow Ultracote. I made the tigershark graphics from Monokote. The engine is a Cox TD .09 with an exhaust sleeve throttle. It was a gift from Little Rock. It once belonged to the modeling legend, Joe Wagner. Still lots to do. Make pushrods, install control horns, fuel tank, mount radio equipment, more fuel-proofing, balancing, etc. I do see the light at the end of the tunnel though.

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

With those colors you need some Ukranian Air Force emblems on there!

Looks real good. Nothing to it, you'll be done before you know it.

cbaker65

Oooo...that's gorgeous ,nice job!....

Pond Skipper

Nice bright colors Troy will help on the back stretch for sure, shark mouth turned out
great!!

What are you going to do about grass grabber?

Tee Bee

Good eye, Pond Skipper. Like I said, not quite done yet. Gonna add a rear ventral fin to take care of that.

Tee Bee

Pond Skipper's ventral fin has been added. While installing all the innerds, I had interference issues with the tank, throttle pushrod, and servos. I got frustrated with it, cut it all back out, and walked away. Now I'm working tons of OT again instead of working on models. I ordered a flexible 2oz tank which may help and I'll make another stab at it next weekend when I get some time off. Looks like my original estimate of an April maiden flight was spot on.