Kellermann

Guys

I updated my homepage with an English page, go to marcusmodelfactory dot com and on the left side button bar the last one is a link to the english description of my model - and prices - kits only, no ARFs. I now accept pay pal.

I am currenty finishing the 1st of a batch of 4 SD still at the 30% scale, the next ones will be at 35% scale.
Posting only one pic since there is no much difference from all the others...

Marcus

Big_Bird

My Feedback: (1)

That is a very nice website Marcus. The English Page is a very good addition. The galleries are excellent. You might want to change the target text on the home page to "English Page" instead of "Page Ingles".
More ice and snow today. When I went to bed it was 48 degrees F and when I woke up it was 16 degrees F.

Kellermann

Ken thanks
I wonder where do you read "page ingles"?
I put the header as "English Page" as well as the button on the link bar on the left, same text...
please advise so I can check what happened...

Marcus

Big_Bird

My Feedback: (1)

Marcus, the first screen print shows the bottom left side of the Home page. The second screen print shows the bottom left side of the English page.

Kellermann

The funny thing is I never made the opening page in English. Your browser must have some sort of translator activated and then it reverse translates the last link to something close to portuguese/spanish...
When I open my HP it appears just in portuguese as originally done when edited, with the last link in English.

Do me a favor, take a screen print of the whole page and send it to me PM...

Thanks
Marcus

Kellermann

Just wanted to share a few pix of the SD one of my customers is building from the 30% kit, based on the G-IZZZ design...starting to look beautiful. He has built flaps (scrilege!!) but he needs them as he tows gliders and they have a short runway.
Nevertheless, it is looking good.

Enjoy
Marcus

Kellermann

A small udpate on the 35% scale projetct: as told it will be an exact copy of the 30%.

But I have to build new molds, and that´s a time consuming job...and you know me, I accept nothing short of exact, after all, the overall look can be spoiled of the cowl isn´t done right. Therefore, here are the first pix of the first attempt to make a 35% scale male mold. There are subtle details which tell me this is not the final shape, yet. The one in front is the 30% scale - the photo angle makes it look the same size as the bigger one, that´s intentional for comparison.

Will keep you all posted.

Marcus

GYANZ

Marcus,
Looks like the SD is going to be use as a sailplane tug. I have a few of those and was something I was considering to use the 35% SD for. Since here you need a tow to get to thermal country. Not much for slopong here in the corn fields of the midwest.

GYANZ

Marcus,
BTW, I would be interested in how your customer anchored the tow attachment into the airframe. Does he have a picture or two for reference?

Kellermann

Greg
I don´t have details on his set-up but it seems to be pretty similar to one I used a while ago when another customer asked for it.
Here are the pics:

Kellermann

Here´s another bunch from another SD I built. It was hidden into an Antenna, but I later cut it off as the rough glider tug operation would not allow for much care and it would break in no time...and it proved to be reliable even tugging 20 Kg gliders

Marcus

Kellermann

As there is little movement around here, I am placing a few more pics from my customers.

Here´s what another guy is doing, he´s bashing the kit into a competition plane, and here are 2 mods he made (yet):
1) He´s replacing F2 with a soldered, real aluminum structure, and the wing tube is being replaced with a front and back blade-style stub spar similar to the ones I used on my 1st Decathlon. Everything soldered together, no way it will come loose...and the look will be fantastic. No wing tube through the sun roof to spoil the scale look.
2) He´s placing the Elevator Servo(s) inboard, and will build an enclosed horn and cable system, with a plug-in socket for the Elevator halves. He´ll also do that triangular shaped inspection window on the rudder post, see the slanted longeron that starts on the post and goes all the way down to the lower edge. There is some wood to be removed there, yet.

More later.

Enjoy
Marcus

Big_Bird

My Feedback: (1)

Marcus, great customer photos. Hope mine looks as good. Saturday is the big day.

Kellermann

Thanks, I am sure yours will be looking even better, I know how you build.

Big day huh? getting nervous?

Big_Bird

My Feedback: (1)

Yup, big day, nope, not a bit nervous. I'll send you some photos.

gordon_mcln

My Feedback: (2)

Newflee...Are you still making cowls available for the 33% version?

If so, I'd be interested.

Regards,

Gordon

Kellermann

Guys
the plugs for the 35% Decathlons are ready now, taking them tomorrow to my glass maker for the rest of the job.
The landing gear legs will be of reinforced fiberglass too, and split, like the original.
A few shots show the size comparison between the 30% and the 35%...the new cowl is even more scale than the previous one. It has now all the details molded in, like the recesses for the screw holes, the separation line, and the louvers on the left hand side, as well as the oil inspection door on the right hand side.

The kits will become available somewhere towards the end of March/2011. Will cut the first 2 next week, as one model is already pre-sold.
Check the website. I am accepting paypal now.

See ya
Marcus

Big_Bird

My Feedback: (1)

It is looking very good Marcus.

Kellermann

A little update on the 35% SD build...

With a couple of weeks delay, the first 35% kit was now delivered from the lasercutter, and assembly started last friday.
Progressed a little on the fuselage...

I didn´t realize how much bigger it really is until I started assemblying it...
Enjoy

Marcus

Big_Bird

My Feedback: (1)

Yea Marcus, it is amazing how much bigger a 42% is than a 33%.

Got back from 10 days in paradise last night. Over 10,000 airline miles and over 1,000 miles on the ship. We had a wonderful time.

Good progress on your 35%.

Kellermann

Thanks Ken - I imagine your trip must have been wonderful. Wish you and Joyce all the best.

I have taken a few pix with the bigger fuselage along with a 30% at about the same building stagium, for the sake of size comparison. It is really a big difference, although the measurements are only 16,67% bigger.
BTW, my new model is 36% of an actual full scale Super Decathlon. But for size-class categorization, it´s roughly a 35% scale.

The sad news are that someone plagiated my design, reducing it a little to actual 1/4 scale and is selling it on a website at a far lower price than mine. It´s easy to see that the design has been plagiated because of a few little engineering details that are singular to my design. He copied also a design flaw that I always correct when assemblying/building the kit.
The funny things is he hasn´t yet published pix of any FG parts on his plane, only pix of the built-up wooden proto airframe. I wonder how close to correct outline he´ll get when doing his molds. Experience tells that most kit makers don´t got the extra mile to do it right, they just do a lookalike - and spoil the entire airplane. Let´s see.

Actually, it doesn´t bother me that much because I have decided - even before learning about him - not to do any downsizing on my design. There are too much SD lookalikes on the market to compete with in that size range.
But what really pisses me off is his opening page header: "finally, what you´ve been waiting for - at a FAIR price"...

2 comments:
a) my SD has been around for 5 years now, so it´s no news and no one had to wait for it - and fortunately I can account a 100% satisfaction rate from my customers, with not one single crash report. A few of them resold their models but the new owners are happy too.
b) I have chosen to target a premium customer with a high-end product. And the 2 prime assets - expertise and craftsmanship - DO have a price. Period.

But going public and suggesting that the price is unfair, that IS unfair - pun intended!

Nuff said.

Enjoy the pix.

Marcus

tflyrc

My Feedback: (9)

You 35% is looking great Marcus. Hey, flattery is when someone copies your work. I have not really done much on my SD, but, I did receive my coverning today so I am still spending $$ on it! Decided to dump the solertex/paint and go w/ Ultracote. Essentially to get it done faster...not that it really matters now! I did put one of the RC-Guys SDs together and have flown it. I got some ideas from it on finishing out the cabin that I am going to do on my Hostetler. Good luck w/ your 35%. Looking forward to seeing the final project.

Kellermann

Thanks guys.

Here are a few more pix of the 35% SD.

Fuselage about ready to paint the interior and start covering.
Right wing half done.

Nothing unusual here - except for the size:
Boys, that thing is huge...

Marcus

Kellermann

Quick update on the 35% scale SD proto

Fuse done, empennage done, wings on the way.

Enjoy
Marcus

Big_Bird

My Feedback: (1)

Looking great Marcus. I really like how the wind screen is done. Is that paint or film covering or......?