Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

I laid glass on the other side of the wingtips earlier this evening, and after trimming and some light sanding, they were ready for a little bit of touch up work. I hate to glass over a void like this, but it's lighter than carving a solid tip and then glassing. For touch ups like this I like to use my own homebrew filler, and yes, I am well aware of what it resembles.

Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

Near the end of the night and I had pretty much everything set up and drying glass on it. I was planning to lay the bottom of the fuse, but I ran out of epoxy brushes. Probably won't post anything over the weekend because we have a home game this Saturday and I play in the marching band, but expect more on Monday.

Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

Sorry for the delay in updates, I have been cramming for mid-terms all this week. More progress soon to come- I promise.

WMB

My Feedback: (1)

Hey L D, Hope the midterms are going well. Any progress on the Dom?
MikeB

Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

Midterms went extraordinarily well, thanks for asking. I didn't get anything done last week, but made some headway tonight. I'm going to have to pick up the pace, though, because our club has a fly-in and combat event this Saturday (8th) and I would love nothing more than to maiden this bird Friday before the crowd gets there. I have no classes Friday of this week, and no game this Saturday, so I may be able to head out early Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. Pictures below are where I left the thread several days ago after filling and shaping the tips, and then final coating with resin to seal it.

Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

I read and studied a lot about seemless hinges, but on a plane this small, I decided it would be too much of a pain for such a marginal gain, so I decided to go with CA type hinges. I ALWAYS pin this type of hinge with toothpicks, and these were no exception. Mounted elevators, but still had a little work to do on the wing, so ailerons have to wait another day.

Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

Finnally got around to laying glass on both sides of the wing. I only took pictures of one side of the wing, but a little imagination can probably help you picture the other side.

Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

The part of the kit which, like all other Lanier kits, that I find a little irritating is that they make no recomendations for radio instalation. I have plenty of experience with this type of thing, and I know I am stretching the limits of this slightly bashed kit, but I would really appreciate if they had at least drawn suggestions for pushrod routing, torque rod, etc. You're kind of on your own for this, and it's really the only part of the kit that I would say might intimidate a first-time builder. I decided to run two Hitec HS-81MGs for the elevators -mixed on different channels, courtesy of my 9CAP TX of course- pushing on 2-56 carbon-fibre reinforced semiflexible pushrods from Sullivan. After I set that up, I closed the top of the rear fuselage and glassed the sides and deck of the fuse. This leaves only minor glass touch ups to do- very exciting. I imagine I wll begin painting it tomorrow. That's all for now, but I promise I won't go so long between updates this time.

Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

No, seriously, I HATE installing torque rods! Mainly because no matter how many times I've done it, or how many times I measure and align and adjust and carve, they NEVER set up symmetrical, and they always end up binding or having HUGE gaps. Grrrr. On a larger sport plane I would have chunked the rods and run dual aileron servos farther out in the wing bays. Seeing that this is a weight sensitve application and I would like to keep drag to a minimum, I suffered through the instalation.

Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

I began painting with the fuselage. I am doing a White with black tiger stripes scheme. I Started by priming and painting the fuselage black, then masking the stripes. after that I sprayed the fuselage white, removed the maskings, and applied clear coat. I Primed the wing, and Sprayeed the bottim black. I plan later to do straight stripes on the bottom of the wing, and tiger stripes on the top. The Fuselage was done in Top-Flight Lusterkote, and the wing in Rust-oleum. I have noted that the Rust-oleum takes a LOT longer to dry, but applies much smother, and gives a much prettier finish.

Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

Started off tonight with striping of the bottom of the wing. The bottom of all the surfaces are going to be done in straight stripes, and the top in tiger stripes. I know this sounds like it won't have good visibility, but I promise- it works. After the bottom had dried, I put on the first color for the top of the wing. Also pictured is a close-up of the instalation of the aileron servo, a Hitec HS-85MG.

Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

I told you the engine was a tight fit. "Tight" doesn't begin to describe the radio instalation. I am running the throttle servo outside of the fuselage, and there isn't a bit of extra space inside. The space you think you see is where the aileron servo hangs. There's still something missing- can you guess? So, guess what else will be strapped to the outside...[:'(]

daven

My Feedback: (1)

Fuel tank?

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

Aw shucks, all that work and you gotta hang stuff out in the breeze! Shame...

Maybe I can't see well in the pictures or didn't look hard enough, but is there nowhere in the rear of the fuse for example you can hide a micro servo for throttle?

What prop are you planning to run? And if you're spinning it real fast, are you going to keep that plastic spinner[sm=thumbdown.gif] on it ? Maybe smaller diamter are okay, but man I detest plastic spinners in general and especially on high rpm applications. Shake rattle and roll!

Sounds like flight tests are imminent, eh? Best of luck!

MJD

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

Looking at the picture in post 33, what about tucking a micro servo on its side under the elevator pushrod guides? You'd need to get at it from a belly hatch, but it almost looks like it would fit.

MJD

ptulmer

My Feedback: (5)

You're probably gonna need a smaller receiver. And get it outta the fuel tank compartment! Throttle? What's that?

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXLBY7&P=7

The berg is a good example. Hitec 555 is another.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXN533&P=ML

Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

Ptulmuer, I have installed the Hitec electron 6. I looked at the 555, but it really isn't signifigantly smaller than the 6, and the 555 was backordered. (Besides that, I already had the 6, and cost effectivity was a major factor). I may take your advice, and move the throttle to the rear, and maybe ever the reciever. the reason it is currently in the tank area is because there isn't anywhere else in the fuselage, but I didn't thinik about putting it in the back.

ptulmer

My Feedback: (5)

The Berg (not yet back in production) would serve your purpose. Small receivers are normally single conversion and not good for your airplane. A friend has one of these and I scratched something out based on it. Mine had a .15la on it, his an .049 TD. Mine was easier to balance and required no lead. I think he made a new fuse to move the wing back. Tail heavy doesn't begin to describe the 1/2a version. The stupid AMA 1/2a pylon rules say a minimum weight of 20oz's. Lanier just made it easy by doubling everything. I can make a 1/2a pylon ship come in at 8-9oz! You're on the right track! You'll want at least a 2oz tank to get about 6-8 minutes in the air.
It looks very, very nice so far! Once the guts are all inside you should love this thang!

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

Wow, 20 oz minimum for 1/2A? That's totally stunned IMHO. Sounds like it is supposed to be an entry class, or the rules hark back to when people had trouble getting 1/2A planes light due to equipment and battery availability. Some years ago I was building relatively light 1/2A airplanes at 11,12 oz, but I saw many people show up at our club field with 16,20, 24 oz 1/2 A sport aircraft. Not surprisingly they flew like it too, with the exception of old timers or powered sailplanes which of course are a different animal.

MJD

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

The FMA M5 is a favorite of mine, I have three of them in assorted small aircraft.

MJD

Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

I attempted shoe-horn the rx or the throttle sx in the rear to no avail. I think you may not understand fully the tiny size of this thing. The throttle servo is a HItec HS-55. Compare it to my thumb in the second picture, and the pen in the third. Flight tests this saturday, and results posted on Monday! Wish me luck.

Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

I broke in the engine on Friday- what a wonderful little engine! I tuned the Mac's pipe, and with a 7x7 APC prop and on 15% cool power, it turns out 15,000 RPM. This is where the real fun begins- flying it! Below I have attached pics of the finished plane at the field modeled by my wonderful girlfriend, Erica, and myself.

Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

I started off the day on a great note by winning the combat event unscathed. RIP the two planes that went on to the great flying field in the sky Then time for the maiden. YEHAA! The first flight was a little scary, as the plane was a bit tail heavy and I had the elevator throws set WAY too high. I would like a little more aileron throw, but I can make do with what I have. The second flight proved to be much more enjoyable, and it was time to explore full throttle. Yup. It's pretty quick. I imagine it would keep up with my last Viper/.46FX combo. All around a pretty stable machine, but I think it could be faster. It never really unloaded in the air, and I think I might get a little more speed from a smaller prop. The plane also has this really strange tendancy to "shake" in the air. I know that's not a very technical term, but that's what it does. It kinda shakes from side to side, like it's nervous or something. Seems to relax when it slows down. I will definately be taking it back to the field soon. Below are pictures of my not-so-secret combat weapon (Sky-Dart w/.32sx designed and sold by Ron Davis, [email protected]). I guess I had a little advantage in the combat event, as I have been the test pilot throught the design and evolution of this plane. And of course the one who is really resonsible for all my flight success. Looks like I'll have to upload pictures of my Dart later, I'm haveing computer troubles again.

willflyforfood

What do you play in the band? I am also college student / starving pilot / band nerd ( trumpet ), got games every weekend and havent been able to go home and get my stuff. GEEZ!

Lomcevak Duck

My Feedback: (14)

Complicated question, actually. Right now I march tuba, but in the past I have played French Horn and mellophone, and I have also played on the drumline. What school are you attending? Not LSU, right? Oh, anything but LSU... Just kidding.