bob418

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it is a 1:5 scale fleet with about a 62" wing span, it was built in 1992 from plans, and I have the plans, but no idea where he got the cowl I will call FS on Friday, I have the old cowl, but it went down in a old corn field due to a bad elevator servo. (I almost cried, she is a beautiful bird)

Jb Stearman

My Feedback: (8)

bob418

Very nice pictures

It's good that you have the cowl.There is an easy way to fix your cowl. I used this method on my Goldberg Super Decathlon when it went in hard.It takes a little time but is well the effort.
First realign the broken edges of the cowl.Using medium CA and kicker,spot glue the cowl back together to restore its shape.Do this from the inside. Then go back and fill in all the cracks again from the inside with the CA.Take some light glass cloth strips and CA them over these joints. This should give you a pretty strong but still ugly cowl to work with. You may want to check the fit with the fire wall at this time.

Working from the outside-
You are going to have areas that will still need filling in.Cut a strip of the light glass cloth just a tad longer and wider than the area you are working with.Lay it on that area and saturate it with THIN CA. When dry and cured ,lightly sand the edges and repeat the process until the area is completely filled in and flush and smooth with the surface.Work with small areas at a time until the whole cowl is done.When satisifed,wet sand the cowl smooth to get it ready for priming and painting.Rework any areas you don't like.For really small areas,you can use a body filler.

When completely satisfied,you can then prime, paint and add cylinders and details.

Bob, I hope this gives you encoragement for an alternate solution.

Jim

retransit

My Feedback: (18)

Or,..................you can use the above method using epoxy (West System epoxy works great) and fiberglass instead of CA.

Bob

Jb Stearman

My Feedback: (8)

retransit,

What wheels did you use on your Fleet PT-6? They have a nice scale look.

JIM

retransit

My Feedback: (18)

They are Dubro wheels:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXD787&P=SM

They are secured with a cotter pin pushed through a drilled hole in a piece of brass tubing. The brass tubing is cut longer then the landing gear axle leg and soldered to it. I use a washer up against the outside of the wheel and install the cotter pin through the drilled hole.

Bob

retransit

My Feedback: (18)

Here's a diagram showing the brass tube installation to hold the wheel on the axle. The brass tube must be long enough to allow for the drilled hole to pass the cotter pin through without drilling into the hard music wire.

Bob

dabrown

First flight yesterday...

Way out of trim and I know it was because of the wing rigging. Also, power was marginal with my Quadra running so-so.

So I have things to work on. Then on to finish cockpit seats, pilot, windscreens, etc.

Dave

knucklebutt

Dave whats your weight ??? Mine is 22 lbs with a quadra, and I only use about 1/2 to 1/3 throttle for 90 % of my flying , including take off. Anything more dosen't make for very good scale speed.



Denis


Wheres your flying field ????

smkrcflyer

What is a good flying weight rang for this plane?

smkrcflyer

I found it 18 to 22 lbs. Mines at 22 now and still needs some stuff added. So I'm thinking it will be around 23.

retransit

My Feedback: (18)

At 2,000 sq. in. the range is quite wide. My Fleet weighs 25 lbs. 6.5 oz., almost 2.5 lbs. heavier than my first one. Check the numbers below to see where it fits.

Span - 84
Area - 2000
Weight 406.5 oz.
Wing Load. - 29.27
Cube Load. - 7.85

Typical WCL Values for Models
Slow flyers and thermal gliders under 4
Trainers, park flyers, 3D 5 to 7
General sport and scale aerobatics 7 to 10
Sport and scale models 10 to 13
Warbirds and racers 13 and over

You can see that it is on the low end of General sport and aerobatic aircraft. It has absolutely no bad habits. One time I lost cylinders on takeoff and it was barely moving with a positive angle of attack to get above some trees. I thought it would drop a wing and go in. Nope.........it just kept slogging along.

Bob

dabrown

I haven't weighed mine but just guessing it's in the 20 to 23 lb. range. My issue was with the engine not putting out full then right after takeoff having to deal with the pronounced out of trim situation. I also need to get used to an airplane that won't accelerate going straight up like the Drastik with Saito 180 I've been flying lately!

Dave

dabrown

Knucklebutt,

Our field is South of Folsom, California which is East of Sacramento. More specifically South of Whiterock Rd. on Payen Rd. Follow the railroad tracks.

Don't you have a G-38 Zenoah on yours? If so, that engine is much stronger than the old Quadra 35 I have. I looked at possibly pulling my G-38 out of my Dynaflite Super Decathlon, but the G-38 is 3/4" longer from the firewall to prop and would mean a lot of work.

Dave

smkrcflyer

The problem I'm having is the one I have needs 1.63lbs added to the tail to balance it. I'm not sure how you add that much to a plane that's already done.

knucklebutt

Dave: Mine is the old "World Engines" Quadra 35, had it forever, only adjusted it twice:




Denis

Jb Stearman

My Feedback: (8)

Retransit,

Sorry I havn't gotten back to you sooner.The Dubro wheels and your diagram look like a good scale addition. I'm going to start out with the 6" Dubro balloon tires until I work out the "kinks"and the dumb thumbs and then switch to the more scale wheels. A friend gave me the Fleet in a basket case condition,torn and broken. I ended up restoring it to replicate the N2Y-1 that was used by the Navy for testing with the airships USS Akron and USS Macon. It weighs in right at 21lbs with the US 35 gasser hung up front.
Can't seem to upload any pics. But they are in my gallery


Jim

Jb Stearman

My Feedback: (8)

Bob418,

Did you have any luck with your cowl?

Jim

Kinner

Like this one?

Ray W.

Jb Stearman

My Feedback: (8)

Ray,

Yes, the Navy purchased several Fleets and experimented with the "flying aircraft carrier" concept. They would be lowered out of a bay on a trapeze from inside the airship. The "hanger bay" was about 60 by 75 feet and held 4 aircraft.The idea was to use the aircraft for scouting purposes.On return, the pilot would snag the hook and be hauled into the bay. The aviators were called "Skyhook" pilots. In 1933 the USS Akron crashed off the New Jersy coast.The concept began to fade out after that.
If you go on line to the Naval Aviation museum in Pensacola Fl. there is a Fleet bipe hanging on display. My Fleet replicates this airplane.

Jim

Kinner

Most interesting aspect of naval aviation.

My Dad saw them fly in and out of the Akron or Macon that was on a National Goodwill tour of the US. The Sparrow Hawk eventually became the go to plane that was dedicated to the task. 20 foot wingspan. The only surviving one is in Udvar Hazy in Chantilli, VA.

Slung from the gondolla of a M ship, an NE-1 was suspended so as to fly back with important photos or intel without any radio interception.

Ray W.

Jb Stearman

My Feedback: (8)

Ray,

I'm only an hour from the Udvar Hazy museum. Have been there a couple of times with our club. The place is awesome!One could spend days there and still not see everything. It's like a Dizney World for airlpane guys. I hope my Fleet does justice to the full scale Fleet.
Question-How do I upload pictures from my files or gallery to this forum?

Thanks,

Jim

Kinner

First step is to respond via the "Reply" icon at the top of any post. Doing so will provide a different place to put your reply that will include some additional goodies to add to your post that the usual response block won't provide.

Second, if you get the correct post look to the bottom and you'll see some verbage that says "Click here to upload image/files". Click that and a box will appear that allows you to search your files for the pix you want to add. When you add an image or images, be sure to wait until the box says "download complete". It will add your photo to your link automaticaly so punch OK . A little proctice and you'll get the hang of it.

Ray W.

cubluver

My Feedback: (3)

I have just read all 26 pages of posts regarding the Concept Models Fleet biplane. It is a wonderful thread with a lot of very helpful information. Several posts wondered about Concept Models not being around any more. Romey Buckholt was a member of the Madison Area Radio Control Society club of which I am also a member. Sadly, Romey passed away on June 7th 2012. Evidently, his wife decided not to continue the business.

retransit

My Feedback: (18)

Sorry to hear that. He had a very good design in the Fleet as evidenced by the amount of Concept Fleets around. It doesn't have one bad habit except make you want to fly it constantly.

Bob

retransit

My Feedback: (18)

Is this the one, Jim?

Bob