okieloco48

My Feedback: (8)

Hey Guys, I have the same 33% SD but it has Custom Miniature Aircraft Designs on the plans. Must be a copy of Hostetler's plans. Anyway I was wondering if you guys have ran into all the problems I have? There is ssssooooo many mistakes that I almost tossed the whole fuse and plans in the trash!!! Instead, I have started going through a very pains taking process of correcting all the mistakes. To mention a few, the fire wall is too wide, the stringers top and bottom are wrong and no where near prototypical. The rear, side window is wrong, the rear spar slide is wrong, etc, etc, etc. I have built full scale aircraft for the last 25 years and am a stickler for things being pretty much scale. Joe

Kellermann

Joe welcome aboard!
Yes, this has been the subject of discussion many times over the years this thread is online...
I suggest you to read the full thread before continuing - to save you a lot of stress, either by tossing the actual building or going all the way thru with the previous builder´s solutions on hand.
Most of them didn´t care about the scale-infidelity (!) and just built a beautiful, stand-off-in-the-next-county scale and good flying model. Those who cared did a few mods to make it closer to scale. The main issue is about the front end, which is totally wrong.
I am posting here a couple of pix of an acquaintance who did change the firewall (and cowl etc to match) to give it a closer to scale look.
If you want to scale it all the way out, you better choose another set of plans or kit.

Marcus

okieloco48

My Feedback: (8)

Hi Marcus, I admitt I haven't read the whole thread but intend to do so. In the mean time, I thought I might share some photos of my project with you Guys to maybe give some useful ideas. I have made a lot of changes to better match the prototype but none of them are hard to do.

Kellermann

As you may already know, I haven´t built the WH but an own design, which I market under www dot marcusmodelfactory dot com, take a look.
Otherwise, feel free to ask whatever it is - it´s important to keep the thread alive.

Marcus

balsa brain

Joe, I may have plans that are from the same guy. They are without a doubt copies of Wendall's. Mine is the quarter scale size that I got from a dealer on the auction site that sells a lot of plans. There were so many mistakes that I took the old saying of "measure twice and cut once" to heart, lol. The rays on the wing was even drawn in backwards, pointing forward. It was a PITA to work with them.

Bill

okieloco48

My Feedback: (8)

Hi Bill, you mentioned the "rays" on the wings were backward. I am not sure I understand the term "rays"? Maybe you could explain. At any rate, I think the overall 3 view is quite accurate but the construction is not at all accurate. As a result, I have completely redesigned the structure to match the prototype. After I get a little further, I will post some photos. Joe

Kellermann

Maybe he´s talking about the starburst scheme?

okieloco48

My Feedback: (8)

You may be right! I never thought about the color scheme although the star burst on my plans are very prototypical of early 80s star burst used on Super Decathlons. This is my favorite version on the sun burst/star burst. I have searched in vaine for the cover photo used on an issue of RCM during 1980 that shows a large model of a Super Decathlon being held by a hot chick. The colors were Curtiss blue, Cub yellow, black and white. To me, this is the ultimate color combination ever used on a Citabria/ Super Decathlon. The problem is I don't remember exactly what color was used where although I have a good idea.

Kellermann

Bill and Joe, I think help is on the way...search Airliners.net or even google images for Super Decathlons and you will find tons of pix.
The starburst scheme is the standard Decathlon scheme since forever, with invasion stripes under the wing. After 2003 or so, they replaced the invasion stripes with the same top wing scheme. They also introduced the sunray scheme, which is simpler and some 15,000 bucks less expensive when buying a factory new airplane.
also goto my site marcusmodelfactory dot com and check the galleries, all models have a different scheme, and one of them is blue and yellow.

Marcus

balsa brain

My bad. I was talking about the starburst trim on the wing. I also maybe need to tone down the "PITA" part of my statement. After I found a few mistakes and thereafter was allert to the fact that things needed to be double checked before doing something, it was a very enjoyable build. This build was my second plans built project so by no means am I an expert.

Kellermann

Do you have pix of that model? post them here

okieloco48

My Feedback: (8)

Hi Bill and Marcus! I have always been a fan of the Citabria, Decathlon and Super Decathlon and have over 100 hours in a Citabria. The Star Burst paint scheme has had subtle changes over the years. The wheel pants have changed, the stripes down the fuse and the placement of the stars has changed. The color combination I was refering to, I have never found in any current photos listed on the enternet. I was also refering to the scheme where the stars overlap and they are the same on the wheel pants as on the wing. Anyway, I have changed the rear bulk heads and stringers on my plane to match the prototype. I also have narrowed the firewall to match the prototype. I am currently fretting over the rear window as to how to get it closer to the top of the fuse (in the rear) without changing it's shape

Kellermann

Joe, yes the starburst design has had small variations over the years, but mainly in color combination and pinstripping width. As you may know the pinstripes are not painted, they´re tape to seal the paint edges of the stars and tails. The tape width has changed a little over the years, but the actual OEM overlapping starburst design and placement has not. Whenever you see a different, although very close, starburst design, you´ll be problably seeing a rebuilt and/or re-covered/repainted aircraft.
Yes, the fuselage stripes and the wheelpants shape and paint style have changed. So has the landing gear leg thickness and shape too. And on Citabrias they put fibreglass tips lately, which distorted the original Citabria wingtip shape. I just hope they never change the cowl again, as it has evolved and slightly changed in shape too. IMHO, the most recognizeable feature of any of the Champ descendants lineage is the cowl, and that´s where most modelmakers do their worst mistake. Fortunately I have been able to keep it right on mine.

As for the specific paint scheme you´re looking for, I have a pic which may come very close to what you´re looking for.

Marcus

Bobbo_ZA

Hi All, been lurking for the last few pages of the thread, have not really had too much to contribute, awesome builds Marcus, you have probably done 6-7 in the time I have almost done 1, :-).

After nearly 2 years my 30% WH is about 95% from ARF, all that’s left now is to clearcote the Fuz and Wings and make the struts. I'm hoping to Maiden her next weekend if the weather here is decent.

P.s. Just noticed these dont have the wing stars on, will try update tonight, :-)

Reg will be G-WIZZ (based on G-IZZZ but slightly modified)

Kellermann

BoBBo_ZA that is one beautiful model...be sure to post pix of her ready to go and flying as well.
Nice Job.

Marcus

ludfleet

My Feedback: (10)

Hey Bobbo ZA, Beautiful job. What did you use for covering? and are the graphics cut vynil or painted on or what. Been working on my 33% again, hopefully will be done by the end of summer. Great job. Joe

Bobbo_ZA

yeah, its taken a really long time, much longer than anticipated but hey, we did have a new addition to the family in the interim which of course knocked the finances as well as the free time available, :-)

Its covered in a combination of "Solartex" and "Oratex", both very similar types of woven iron on covering, I bought rolls when i could afford it and when i could get good deals on it, in total it took around 11m of covering.

Cowl has been clear coated, the blue although it does not show in the pics is a stunning dark metalic blue, photo of the paint can's lid, looks stunning in the sun.

Bobbo_ZA

Sorry, graphics are vinal masked and then painted on, the whole airframe was first done with MS Primer, then 2k White, then we masked the bottom and the wings and did the 2k light grey and from there we masked the rest to do the starts and strips in basecoat metalic blue, took hours to mask but turned out real nice.

Once its all the pinstriping has been done we will clear the whole plane to seal it all off, even though Gas gives off loads less junk than a nitro motor its still nice to have a easy to clean plane.

These builds are always a case of the first 80% only takes 20% of the time, the remaining 15% takes 80% of the time, :-), get stuck into it, even just the small jobs show progress, :-)

P.s. that missing 5% never gets done, :-)

Kellermann

Bobbo_ZA I guess that metallic blue will shine nicely in the sun. Well done. I used to use Oratex on my Decathlons, switched to Oracover as most of the customers didn´t care about the scale(er) look of the fabric.

Keep the px coming, and know what, those 5% are the best part! you always have to do something on your plane...

Marcus

Bobbo_ZA

All sprayed, busy with final assembly now, hoping to fly this weekend, :-)

Question, what’s the best material to use for windows? and what thickness?

Kellermann

I use PVC, 0,6mm for windshield and 0,3mm for side windows
Marcus

Bobbo_ZA

Managed to get a sheet of 1.0mm Polycarb locally, looksquite flexible, think the windscreen will be a challenge but should be doable, :-)

Started final assembly last night, got the pull-pull ruddersetup done, working quite nice, very happy with it now.

Was hoping to maiden this weekend but it dawned on me just how many small jobs actually remainand how little time i have to complete them (day job getting in the way).

Photo of it with clear coat complete attached.

Kellermann

It really looks nice from that angle. Yes, the small jobs before you actually are ready to maiden will take up a lot o ftime...but patience pays. Double check everything.
did you do the wing struts already? I haven´t seen them yet. Don´t forget the jury struts as they are important to avoid flexing.

The paint job looks fantanstic!

About the windshield: if I can give you a little piece of advice, go all the way and build a mock-up of that specific area, and buildup the windshield of balsasheet , fill and sand to make a nice mold. It must not be as smooth as a glass mold.
Cut your Polycarb oversize (make a paper pattern first) and lay it over the mold, get some form of attaching weights to all 3 edges: top and side posts. Use a heat gun set to mid temp and wrk slowly over the corners, the weight will pull it over the curves. Protect the areas not to be affected by the heat with some piles of old magazines or any other form of heavy yet flexible material. You don´t want the front area to get "wavy"...you just want to get the corners rounded off smoothly.

After cooling down you can take everything off and cut to size. Voilá, you´ll have a nice windshield - and if something happens, you can make another one to replace the first one.

Look at the pix, this is the way I do it.
Marcus

Bobbo_ZA

Nearly there, got a few small jobs left - Glue in windows, tighten switch block and tank shelfscrews, fit spats and it will be ready for maiden, was planning for this coming Saturday but the forecast is looking rather bad so it may or may not happen.

And important to license it, :-), reg number printed and ready but I'll only put it on once all the checks have been completed.

The 55cc is swinging the 20x10 @around 6400rpm, I have not weighed her yet, all i know is that she feels heavy, hope its got enough power.

Kellermann

She looks VERY GOOD Bobbo, nice job. Congratulations.

Marcus