Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

ME 163 Sunshine model

pretty close to a maiden

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

puke tube

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

rudder servo
internal linkages all controls RDS

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

internal pipe and spar arrangement

pipe wrapped in some ceramic felt material used for full scale composite firewalls and taped off in kapton

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

Hats off to I Love Jets for suggesting this model a few months ago.
He has provided a wealth of knowledge on these forums


Time to chase down some Mustangs

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

oh boy!  this is going to be fun to follow.  how was ordering from overseas?

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

Absolutely gorgeous! Hope you get 500 spine tingling flights out of it. No 5 foot passes, OK? ;)

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

freaking kool!!

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

Like a Flea...but OH!!!</p>

The farting Flea...</p>

Did the flea fly?  Has the flea flown?</p>

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

Thanks Guys!

Ordering was pretty simple using the Sunshine Checkout Cart in a split screen with Google translation up in anotherhttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...wink_smile.gif

I ordered 2 kits and they arrived extremely well packaged and shipping seemed reasonable.

The directions while very minimal are adequate for someone who has built before.

I believe the owner runs the company with his wife, so as a small operation it takes a couple of days to get a email reply.

The glass work is very nice and light, wing panels presheeted, and a complete wood/misc. parts bag.

Pretty much built as the manufacturer intended except I built up some carbon on balsa "<span style="font-family: Courier New">I"<span style="font-family: Arial"> beam spars morticed well into the wing panels, with a carbon cap strip top and bottom - call me paranoid.

While I was waiting for the package to arrive, I started making molds for the carbon 9x10 props.

She has not flown but the engine has received extensive bench time sorting out the pipe/ header length, and various prop profiles.

A few more details to complete but this weekend looks promising.</span></span>

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

">

What is the engine, a .91 VRDF? What kind of static rpm are you seeing?

MJD

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

Vid, a must please

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

OS .91VRDF and on the stand suction draw with out exhaust pressure 20,200 rpm static. This was my 3rd mold version. The first two didn't turn up quite as well. I think I am happy with this one so far, lets just see how it reacts to unloading.</p>

Hope to pick up a few more in the plane w/ pipe pressure.</p>

I don't like to try videos on maidens, but once I get her dialed in we should be able to post something.</p>

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

Yeah, they're always nervous the first time [8D].

MJD

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

Got a call from Ray - If he wakes up in time :eek:he will bring out his fancy new HD video machine

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

Got my fingers crossed! I hope you have some fast flights and bring it home intact.

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

You made that prop Rob? WOW I'm impressed.

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

exactly, please make a couple for me.http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...msn/greedy.gif

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

Bad news - didn't get to fly.....

Good news - airplane didn't burn down!

Ran up the engine in the airframe and doing so witnessed some items which need some additional attention.

First I had a fuel leak in a line, then some teething/setup issues with the BVM inflight mixture. As the assembly is pretty stiff as received, I had the friction clamp nut turned out to far which prevented the needle to get lean enough. 1st run around 13k.

Fixed that but still needs some fine tuning and second run got in the 17's but the screw holding the inflight mixture to the firewall started backing off and it got a bit loose.

Finalrun spun well north of 19K and the cowl got loose and started shaking - before Armagedeon broke loose, chopped the throttle.

Post runup, I noticed the puke tube melted and restricted exhaust.

So some minor repairs/upgrades are in order, and by the time Ray showed up it was all over.

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

Props? Thank the Germans!

I seriously doubt I will be offering these on a commercial basis.
I need to see if it stays on the motor at 25K http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f.../omg_smile.gif

I may be premature in saying this but MJD is developing a similar prop which may be made available.Keep youreye's on MikesRC - your one stop shop for Speed Freaks! If not, Imay lend/lease my molds to share the love.

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

No, that's cool. I will say that it is my intention at his point to come up with a prop suitable for 10-15cc high rpm engines, like yer VRDF's, OPS & Picco .60's that sort of thing. And, that I have a lot yet to learn about the art of prop making, but I'm pretty handy with epoxy composites. I don't expect to set the world on fire with the next best thing, but from ILJ and other's reports a properly* trimmed and reworked APC 10x10 makes a pretty decent sport speed prop, and that ME163 for example is capable of 205-210 with a combo like RR has on the go there. I'm sure I'll have to iterate as RR did, but I'll poke away at it.

* that's the trick.. takes some work to get it right.

It takes about an hour to mold one prop once you know what you're up to. So depending how the time is valued such a prop is not a $9.95 affair. They would be kind of an available as I get 'em done kind of thing. And all that depends on coming up with a good master.

There is hope, because I have an ulterior motive to keep me inspired - I need some pronto! I want to have a .65 in the air in something for the NC rally, but time is a wasting and with the focus on getting the kit out I haven't spent as much time as I'd like on the speed project. But I think there is time to get something together.

Also note I just finished the first go-round drawing for the .60 size Screamin Demon.. and if I can't build that in a week of spare time I need serious help. I think I can make it light yet tough enough for anything from sport .60's to DF engines, that's the plan anyhow. So even if I don't get the fancy composite lekkie pylon mutant thing done in time, I'd be ashamed of myself if I didn't have a prototype .60 delta ready.

Good luck on that maiden RR. The big thing on your side is the smooth flying characteristic of that aircraft, assuming you didn't FUBAR the trim or CG :D! It ought to be a riot in the air once you start to breath again..

MikeD aka MJD

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

Yeah maybe "an hour to lay up the mold"http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...wink_smile.gif, but add in a hour to cut and lay out your carbon and wax molds, 12-24 hours in the post heat oven, 15-20 min to pull mold apart and one can spend as long as one wishes on the flashing clean up and prep of LE and TE.:eek:</p>

No, not $9.95 props......</p>

Mike, I'm sure I have something around here if you get short on time before the NC fest.......flashing clean up -on youhttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...ey/msn/lol.gif


Like the man on the corner said, "The first one's free"</p>

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

You did the right thing and call it a day. With so many things wrong, too many times guys push the issue and fly, than it all goes south.http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...sappointed.gif

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

repairs underway

laid up some light kevlar patches and Eglass overlay
under the new .063" 2024 t3tabs bedded in with carbon flock.
tabstapped for 4-40 low profile fasteners

RE: Wie ein Floh..Aber Oho! ME163
 

I've been making up a break-in prop today, and I wish my son was here since he has the only camera that works right now. It looks a bit comical- there were no 11-10 Zingers to be found, but I found a 13-10, and dude if this cut down club comes apart then I'll be impressed. I'll snap a pic tomorrow night, and if I get it to balance I'll be running up one of the .65's on Friday sometime, downpours permitting.

Mike D aka MJD
MikesRC