KaP2011

My Feedback: (17)

That's a good idea, I'm not a great graphic artist but it's a simple design. It should be an easy project.
From what I understand MinnFlyer was a graphic artist by trade.

I did the maiden flight on my US 40+ today and it went well. It's a great flying plane though underpowered with the Saito .56. Tonite I plan to swap out the .56 with a Saito .72 and try that out tomorrow. The .56 and .72 have the same dimentions so it should be a quick swap.

Fliegerboy

KaP2011:

Glad to hear the maiden flight went well. Let us know how it went with the .72 engine.

adamle

I've been busy with a few things this summer so I haven't posted any progress photos in a while. My US60 is complete and I'vehad three good flights on it two weeks ago. Here are two photos with just paint and no clear.

adamle

Here are some photos of itfinished.

adamle

Here it is during maiden flight and after. It flew great. Two clicks of aileron trim and two on the elevator. Very smooth flyer, retracts and flaps worked flawlessly. The motor is new so I flew it very rich. I'm excited to see what happens as the engine picks up power. On the first landing I went a little long and rolled into the weeds at the end of the runway. Not a scratch. Flew it again that evening and once the following day.

Adam

Quikturn

My Feedback: (12)

What a fantastic job you did on your one of a kind US.

Glad your maiden went well.

Enjoy!

KaP2011

My Feedback: (17)

Wow, I'm impressed! It looks really cool. What engine are you running? Mechanical retracts? I've ordered the Eflite 60-120 retracts for mine. They should be here tomorrow. I'm excited to get back to the build, it's gone on too long.

I'm happy that the maiden went well. Long live the Ultra Sport.

adamle

KaP2011

I'm running an OS 65 ax with a 12-6 prop. Next time out I will try a 13-6 and a 12-7. I put in the Robart 90 degree mechanical rectracts with a hitect retract servo. Orginally I had ordered the Dave Brown mechanicals but they were on back order for a long while. Those eflite retracts should work very well. There are fewer parts to assemble with the eflights so hopefully less can go wrong. I ordered the plane Jan 17th and had it in the air on July 14th.

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

I think you may have the best looking US I have seen in a very long time. What did you finally use as a clear coat? Mike and I had a lot of conversations about the US and I still find it the Ugliest of all the old school pattern planes. That canopy just looks wrong way up front like that. I will be building my 1000 kit this winter and plan on moving it back a bit just to suit my taste. I will be glassing and painting so this plane has given me something to strive for. I have the Swoose I'm building right now that is also getting glassed and painted so it will be something to practice on and try to get my air brushing skills up a notch or two.
Without me going back 45 pages I would like to know what type and size retract gears other people have used on there US 1000. I have a couple of sets of Air/Air I don't trust and I have a set of Spring Airs I have used in a couple of 60 size Kaos type of planes. I don't know if they are strong enough for the 1000 or not yet. I'm sending them in for a rebuild and will ask. I can bend bigger gear legs for them.
I really like the way this plane came out!!! As a totally color blind person it even sticks out so I can see it in the air!! Love it!!

KaP2011

My Feedback: (17)

The Horror! Bite your tounge! GB, I hate to point this out but I think your blindness extends past color. LOL

Just kidding

adamle

Gray Beard

That comment made me laugh. I actually moved the canopy back 2 inches to avoid some of that 'dolphin' look. Maybe 2 more inches would have been better. Honestly, I've always thought the US was a bit ugly too. Maybe its so ugly its pretty, like those wrinkled dogs. This thread and everyone saying how great of a flyer it was is why I built it.

For the clear I ended up using Top Flight clear out of the rattle can. I had some ordering difficulties with the product I was planning onusing. I most likelywill try a different clear next time. TheTop Flight didn't giveme the perfect look Iwanted but it is still decent.

As far as color goes, most people think of color instead of contrast. Think Dark/Light, not color.

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

I had the 40 a long time ago, the plane flew great and every other trainee wanted to fly it too. I just thought with the cowl so far forward it just looked nasty. Minn and I went around about this more then once. then again, if I wanted another real pretty pattern plane I could always build another Dirty Birdy!! One thing Minn and I both agreed on, the grandson of Kaos flys very well no mater where you install the canopy!

mechdrew

I moved my canopy back to avoid the Dolphin look as well. I think it was around 5".

smkrcflyer

That looks way better then the stock location.

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

Much much better. I wish Mike could have seen your plane, I would have won the argument!!!

Red_Jeepster

MECHDREW - That is one great covering scheme! I am thinking of using that idea for my latest US60. With one exception... since I am a huge MICHIGAN Wolverine fan, I will relace the green with the "Maize" (cub yellow to those non-fans) of U of M!
It is about ready for covering, just final sanding and getting those darn fillets smoothed out.

mechdrew

Mike did see it and commented on it in the Ultrasport brotherhood thread. I had first posted pics of it there.

Thanks for the compliments on my covering scheme.

hrrcflyer

Adamle,

I wil definitely second that comment. Your US looks INCREDIBLE ! ! ! ! !

I have a US60 that I was given and I stripped the covering because it was getting brittle (due to age). I plan on re-gluing everything I can reach because when it is finished, I'm going to put my NIB 5 port Rossi 61 FIRE in it with a tuned pipe. So I have to ask, how can I talk you into painting my US?...................LMAO

David

adamle

I switched props from a 12x6 to a 13x6 for the past few flights and it seems to be a better match for the os 65 ax. Good speed, decent vertical. Although I am curious to know what the 75 ax would have done.

maynardrupp

I had a 75AX on both of mine. It was about right for power, I thought. Good vertyical, but not crazy.

KaP2011

My Feedback: (17)

 I would have to agree with maynardrupp, I've got a 7.5lb Extra 300 with a .75 and 13 X 6 pro zinger on it. It does pretty good but it does not have unlimited vertical. It pulls good for about 200 ft straight up. Since my US 60 weighs about the same I've decided to put a Saito 100 on it, I've even thought of ordering a .95AX for it.

rglgatortail

My Feedback: (7)

I hope it is ok that i can post a few pictures of my build progress but this build maybe the same from which you all know but there is one tiny difference so my question to all of you is can you guess what the differece is? A little hint is that Tower Hobbies sold this in a kit form but not as a Ultra Sport although it is a US in the build and appearance. Second hint is that Tower Hobbies also sold this kit in a fourty and sixty size just like the current fourty and sixty size US. If you was to look at my last picture that might give you another clue.

KaP2011

My Feedback: (17)

The only thing I can think would be the Tower Hobbies Kaos which is only sold as an ARF now. They look the same in the tail section.

adamle

The only difference I see is that Tower Hobbies is written on the plan.

hrrcflyer

If I remember correctly, either Tower Hobbies or Great Planes sold a 40 and 60 size Kaos kit that included the canopy and formers for the turtle deck so the builder could build an Ultrasport if they wanted to. Other than that, I don't believe there was any difference in the two planes.

David