thom25

Still flying mine. Simla #4

rg1911

My Feedback: (1)

Jeff's website is out of commission (404 Not Found). Is there a way to let him know that he has at least one customer if he offers the Simla again?

Thanks,
Richard

redball8

My Feedback: (128)

My apologies, I don't normally check my RCU private messages and so missed a couple of folks who were interested in the Simla kit I have. So I'll post a few photos and send replies to those who expressed interest.

To reiterate, I used the kit as a pattern to cut my own kit, so can assure that it's all there. I'll also include the 1/4" music wire rods I used to align the ribs - I build on an old steel door using magnets, and the rods worked well. If you use the ribs in the kit, you'll need to use some spacers as the kit rib holes are 5/16".

Box is 8"x8"x48" and weighs 12# 3oz, so figure a 13# shipping weight, shipping from zip 60540. Happy to answer any questions - promise to keep an eye on my PM's this time!

Bill

Update 30-December ... kit is sold.

redball8

My Feedback: (128)

Finally completed my plans-built Simla, and I'm stoked - it came in at 8.04 lb!

It's a clipped wing version (96" span), with a Super Tigre G60 Blue Head ABC engine. Covered it in Coverite Microlite, used mostly contest balsa throughout and pushed everything up front as far as possible. Unfortunately it turned out very nose-heavy (first time that's happened), so I figured out a way to mount the battery in the tail, and CG is now just a bit nose-heavy at 7-5/16" (3/16" ahead of plan). I think I'll maiden it like that, before adding any weight to the tail.

kingaltair

My Feedback: (4)

Dear Redball;

Great to see another Simla out the door. Yours is the first one with blue other than black, but (of course) still very pretty.

The 96" Simla is the version Ed flew at the 1965 NATs. Ed thought nothing of taking a saw to his airplane if he thought it would improve performance. I haven't seen one of those (96") fly yet. That's one of the questions I would have liked to ask Ed if I knew then what I know now...does the 96" span roll or otherwise perform better than the original 108" version? I'd also be very interested on knowing how the plane performs with that engine--I had an OS 90 in the original prototype, (the one in the article). I have toyed with the idea of building a Simla as a two-meter plane with a modified fin and vertical rudder line. Maybe someday after all the other projects on my list.

I'm very happy to see you build and fly one of our Simla models, (I assume the plans were the ones published by Model Aviation.) A weight just over 8 pounds is great. I used contest balsa on the wing sheeting, but then the Radio South paint I used caused it to come in at over ten pounds, and needing a .90 2 stroke. Attached is a picture from 2013 of the prototype in the article being displayed for Beppe Fascione of VR/CS at a cook-out on our deck.

The plane is mostly retired because of it being in the 2011 article, but I will keep it serviced, (like the Spruce Goose I suppose), and it may fly again someday.

redball8

My Feedback: (128)

Thanks for the kind comments. I used one of Jeff's kits as a pattern, but modified it a bit - light ply sides and inner ribs, carbon fiber wing tube, and very light radio components crammed into the first fuselage bay.

I wrestled a bit with the blue instead of black, and in the end decided the dark blue would be a little different. Same with the film - have enough Silkspan and dope to do it up right and especially like sewn hinges, but thought I could never match the weight of the Microlite and really needed to keep the weight down with the Super Tigre G60. In the end I settled for a Cap'n Eddie pilot as a nod to Kazmirski.

I'll wait for calm winds for the maiden - wouldn't be surprised if the wind pushes it around a bit. Should be able to report back by end of May!

Bill

kingaltair

My Feedback: (4)

I needed the painted, authentic look for the magazine article, but I'm wasn't all that experienced with epoxy paint, and it added a lot of weight, (but looked great--especially from a distance. As far as sewn hinges etc goes, Ed was past that by the time the Simla was designed. I'm pretty sure he sued some kind of plastic Mylar or sheet material the same as he did on his later Taurus that was built earlier. That plane didn't have sewn hinges, so I'm sure the Simla didn't as well.

For the prototype I used a CF tube. Jeff couldn't afford to put one of those into the kit, so that is the prerogative of the builder, and I consider it a good idea to use one. Although the wood of the kit is pretty good quality and lightness, I didn't use the wing sheeting in the kit and substituted it with contest balsa in an attempt to save weight.


As for flying, I don't remember wind being much of a factor because of the plane's size, (although I never flew it when it was excessively windy.) The Simla flys "simla" to a Taurus, (as Ed used to say.) The thing I noticed most was that it was a bit slow in rolling maneuvers--largely because I was in such a hurry to finish it that I didn't seal the ailerons. The Model Aviation editor pointed out the gaps in the ailerons, (and even mentioned it in his comments if you read the article.) Be sure to seal up those gaps--especially those in the ailerons which are almost four feet long in the 108" version. Once I sealed them the plane responded much more quickly and the roll rate was much more predictable.

The Simla has many qualities of a "motorized glider", as Burkhard used to say. The plane will float, and glide a long way-even at over 10 pounds as mine is. The engine quit on me once in the hands of an expert pilot I let fly it. The first thing he said to me was that he wouldn't be able to get it back to the runway as my heart sank. A couple minutes later it managed to touch down just inside the cement pad we used as a runway with a nosewheel high attitude, (see attached.) Those last few yards were exciting!!It looks like a big airliner coming in on final approach.

I'm sure you'll love the way it flies. Please get some pictures in the air, and let us know how it goes
.

redball8

My Feedback: (128)

I guess I saw the picture of Ed with his Taurus on the cover of Model Airplane News and just assumed the Simla also had sewn hinges. With film, I just cover the wing & aileron with a single piece on both sides, automatically sealing the gap - same with the rudder & elevator. When I think about how rapidly RC technology evolved back then, one has to be amazed. Things like a heavy radio with low-torque servos (he was multi by then, wasn't he?) and all of 500 mah battery. Not to mention tin fuel tanks, heavier wheels with rubber tires, and all the other components we now take as commodities (fuel line, pushrod connectors, even zip ties!).

"Motorized glider" sounds about right. I plotted various alternatives to the Simla build on a loading chart (attached), and they all came out in the "excellent" region - about where you'd expect to see a fun-fly plane or 3D foamy. Because of this I could see this Simla getting blown around a bit, and traditionally our winds don't die down until mid-May or even June. Will definitely update you on how it flies once the maiden happens.

redball8

My Feedback: (128)

Maidened the Simla today, 96" span with Super Tigre 60 ABC Blue Head. Engine turned 12,000 rpm static with APC 11x6 prop, 11,000 rpm with APC 11x7. Fuel is my own "60" blend (10% nitro, 16% lube, 11% of which is castor). Initial flight a bit too rich and she needed a lot of down trim, but that was easily sorted out. Flies really well with 11x6; 11x7 a bit too much load on the motor - will likely try 11x5 or 11.5x4 next.

Club mate helped measure roll rate - one full roll took 2.3 seconds at low rates, and 1.2 seconds at high rates, this with the 11x7 prop fitted.

thom25

Congratulations Redball! Great looking Simla. Nice to see one flying on a .60. I fly mine at our club's field in northwest Indiana (midwestsundowners.com). Not really too far from Naperville. We should fly our Simlas together sometime this summer. You are welcome at our field anytime.
Thom

kingaltair

My Feedback: (4)

Congrats on your Simla--you have joined a select fraternity of Simla pilots, and I hope you will be happy with it.
I flew the original Simla in the Model Aviation article on an OS .90 2-stroke, and it is very happy on that engine. The mounting holes are the same for the OS .60 but so far I don't want to tempt fate. The original hasn't flown in quite a while. The picture was taken the last time out at a VR/CS event in North Carolina.

All the best and I know Jeff Petrosky feels the same way
Sincerely
Duane Wilson
Simla Development Team 2009-2010

anox1246

I am attempting my first post and photos of a new Simla build. RCU says I need 10 posts before I can post a URL. Does that mean that I need to make 10 plain text posts before submitting pictures? RCU won't allow the pics to go through.

kenh3497

You are correct. Over on the left side there is your
post count. It says you have "1" so far. I assume the post count restriction is to slow down the spammers.

Ken

anox1246

Please excuse the next 9 posts, but I need to up my posting count to 10 in order to post photos.

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anox1246

New Simla under construction in East Tennessee. YS 81 ST with Macs XL header and Rossi 50400 pipe. 12x8 Master Airscrew Scimitar. 14k RPM on 15% Cool Power. I am using this set-up on a Kaos and Dirty Birdy with good results. Figured I'd try it out on Simla as well. Wing build to start this week. Canopy is a cut down U-Can-Do.

pimmnz

Cool! Nice to see a few more Simla flying...Still flying mine Duane, the OS 120 is nearly run in...obviously doen't need to be working very hard...!! I can report that the 96" wing doesn't make much difference to the handling, it's a very ladylike model to fly...
Evan.

Dave Swanson