vertical grimmace

My Feedback: (1)

2 years! is it still legal? lol

GSJames

Lookin' good! I hope the wing design works out, cause I want one....someday.

diggs_74

Actually, I gave Jim Allen the cross-section hoop at the Nats this past summer.. Got the thumbs up on that and got the go ahead on the design last spring...

Thanks Gary, I'm sure the wing will be fine. Hopefully I can get the engine mounted this weekend and make sure everything fits..

D.E.

Looks good glad you are back at it again... now if we can just get the guy with the Invictum going again...

DE

Scorpion Racing

Dang it, I had a feeling you would get yours in the air first Lee! Mine is painted and awaiting some funds to finish it. I did get all the polishing tools, compounds and semi-permanent release agents for the molds during Christmas though! Should be sooner than later for me.

Looks good man, I hope she flies good on the test flights.

diggs_74

Invictum, thanks for that one Dave, I had almost forgot about it.. Get that thing done Scott, I want to fly it

Got the engine opening cut out tonight.. I really need to make a template for that, what a pain in the ass.. I haven't even thought about the firewall install yet, I'm sure that will be fun..

Lee

D.E.

Easy way to make firewall for the first time is to make a hoop in your molds about where the firewall will be. After dry remove and lay it on some ply and trace around inside.

DE

fizzwater2

My Feedback: (61)

I used to do this with heavy solder, like you'd find in the plumbing section. Form the solder around the outside of the fuse right where the firewall is to go, getting it to fit as closely as possible. Slide it off the front, mark around the inside, and use that as an initial pattern.

diggs_74

Good idea... I was planning on just using some thicker cardboard to start with then trace off that.. I'll post some pics of the process, good or bad

diggs_74

After much cussing and a few beers I mangaged to get the firewall in and zero'd.. At least now I can start on the easy stuff.

D.E.

Where are the pics? What you dont want to give away any speed secrets??

diggs_74

Ha, no speed secrets here Dave, just not much to look at.. The before and after shots only differ because there isn't any tape holding the engine in place

diggs_74

Since Dave asked so nice I figured the least I could do is post a couple pics.. A long way to go yet but it won't be too long.. It always takes longer on the first one, making templates and just all around screwing stuff up the first time..

D.E.

NICE! oh yes and thanks....I think

diggs_74

Just laid down some Super-Fil on the wing saddle to pot the wing in.. It fit pretty well right out of the mold but it's something I like to do and it doesn't take much time.


Next is to get the h-stab and rudder on and a servo tray.. I didn't do a skinned hinge on this rudder but will probably try it on the next one..

diggs_74

Now it's all in primer.. I wonder how these fly with skis...

diggs_74

So after 2 years of working on this thing, the first one is ready to fly.. Hopefully doing testing on Saturday.. I am going to try and get a video of the flight.. Of course I will only post it if all goes well and I don't stuff it in the ground Don't look too close at the paint job, it was a little to cold to be painting and I wasn't too worried about it on a "test" plane.

The weight came in at 4# 1oz ready to go.. Not too bad for a first try.

GSJames

Scorpion Racing

Awesome job Lee, I hope she flies great for you! Can't wait to see the video.

diggs_74

Well, no test flight yet.. The wind is still gusting to 30mph. I'm not afraid of the wind but first flight on an unproven airplane, I think I'm going to wait.. Maybe it will settle down a bit this afternoon..

diggs_74

Despite the wind, I took it up anyway.. First thing I noticed was the CG was a little far forward.. Not a bad thing on the first flight.. Took a bit of aileron trim so I'll have to address that with the heat gun and some weight (ala Lyle Larson).. All in all it was a successful flight and after it was trimmed it grooved pretty well..

No video yet as the person running the camera lost the plane as soon as it left the ground..

I will say, the thing floats like a trainer, really easy to land with pretty good control right up to the stall.. I wouldn't normally stall a Q40 but I was trying to make it back to the runway (township road in the middle of nowhere )

I will continue this thread until I get everything sorted out.. Next weekend, should have the radar gun out to see what it will do.

s-10promod

Am I on the list for one of these Lee?
Looks like it will be a winner for sure!
Eddie

GSJames

CONGRATULATIONS! What I need to know about it for future design work is: did it seem to come through the turns without slowing down too much?. I am intending to use the same airfoil on the September Fury but before I commit myself (some people say that I SHOULD be committed...) I need some feedback on the turning performance. Your comment that it was controllable right up to the stall tends to make me think that I don't need to add any washout, and that the dihedral angle is sufficient. let me know how it handles so that I can incorporate that information into the future airplanes.

diggs_74

The only real way to know is to get the thing on the poles but that wont happen up here until the end of next month. Also, getting the CG correct will make a difference on how it goes into and comes out of the turns.. When we get the radar gun out next weekend, and the CG ironed out, that should start telling us something.

diggs_74

You bet Eddie.. Not sure on the lead time yet though, still have to get the wing molded.. Other than that, I'm starting on another fuse and tail today..