ludfleet

My Feedback: (10)

Hey Bob, I will admit , I made the same mistake. I put the servo mount one bay off on my second wing. I did fix my screw-up, don't know what I was thinking. It get's worse when your 75. Joe

Bobt2

My Feedback: (4)

the wing mount would be easy to fix, but ripping the aileron open to get to the horn mount would be a royal pain.it will stay as is.

tflyrc

My Feedback: (9)

Look on the bright side. At least you build it to have a servo in each wing! It could have been worse.

Bobt2

My Feedback: (4)

true,true. just looked at the calender, guess this will not get finished anytime soon. i have to go over all my birds before flying starts in a few weeks.still have not started the outdoor sandy clean-up and the garden will need planting soon. and lastly, i,m in the middle of replacing one of the reef tanks..oh yea, did i mention a 40 hr work week .plus, the wife needs her" time" too!

tflyrc

My Feedback: (9)

I wont tell you how long I have been building mine. Lets just say it has been thru three houses and about 4 other plane interruptions.

ludfleet

My Feedback: (10)

Hi John, Have been looking at your Decathlon and like the appearance of your windshied. Could you tell me how you got the look. It appears that the lower and side edges are painted with either fake rivets or screws. Can't really tell from the picture. Any help appreciated. Joe

John La Belle

My Feedback: (52)

Hi Joe; I attached the plastic windshield as normal with 560 canopy glue. Then to make the comming between the plastic winshield and the cowl I use microbaloons and slow epoxy ( make the mixture real thick lots of micro ballons makes the sanding easier and less running of mixture) I use about 5 layers of tape to give the thickness and outline of the comming above the windshield and cowl. This also gives a thickness gage to sand the microballons down to. You can work and form the microballons with a spoon your fingers etc dipped in denatured alcohol as the mixture starts to set up. once set up and sanded then prime and paint. I then use #1 pan head screws 3/8 long thru the mictr - the plastic and cowl or side pieces for appearance and might even help hold windscreen in place. Hope this is what you are refering to in above cheers John

ludfleet

My Feedback: (10)

John, Did you use any other material other than the balsa along lower edge of windshield for the screws to go into? Otherwise I understand the other steps and would like to thank you for your help. Joe

John La Belle

My Feedback: (52)

Hi Joe; I did not add any ply to the top of cowl area as the screws are only for scale looks and are not needed for strength. I used longer than necessary as they are easier to work with than the very short ones. The longer ones do go thru into the wood and may add some strength. You could always put the screws in and remove them, thin super glue the threads but I think this is unnecessary and not needed. The screws and microballon comming is really for looks only cheers John

Bobt2

My Feedback: (4)

I,m back. weather is cooling,flying season is winding down slowly. bench is clear. 1st project is to make a quick release for the door.it will not be scale, but it will give quick access for battery install and removal. [ I take my lipos out every day] and to get to the radio.

RickP

My Feedback: (2)

Okay Bob, We are standing by for pictures!!
RP

StanDouglas

This thread is over whelming! Lot's of good information not necessarily for the Decathlon. I bought some 1/4 scale plans off of Ebay that appear to also be Hostetler plans, but are listed as "Custom Miniature Aircraft Design". The specs are Span: 96", Length: 68, Weight: 12 - 18 lbs, Scale: 1/4, Power: 23 - 35CC gas. After studying the plans for several hours trying to decide how to proceed I still had several areas of confusion. Then I found this thread. I'm sure this is the same plan as for the 33% and the 30%, just scaled down a bit for those of us a little less ambitious. I was especially unable to figure out the wing mounting system and was thinking of reinventing and using wing tubes. There are the same issues with F13, and F14. I also spent close to an hour figuring out what Fb and Fa were all about. Any way I will be using as much on this thread as I can to assist in building my whimpy 1/4 scale version.
If you're interested here's the Ebay listings.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Giant-1-4-Sc...item53fef8f9a0

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Giant-1-3-Sc...item53fec0b8af

33% = 126.72
30% = 115
25% = 95.83

Bobt2

My Feedback: (4)

they sound close, but I don't think they are the same. the weight on the Hostetler is greater, the power is higher and the plans, if I remember were over $50. the wing mount does seam to work, just remember the struts are functional. no struts= no wings left. welcome aboard.

StanDouglas

One of the things missing in my plans is the details on how the box sections of the wing is secured to the stub spars. I have seen some posts talking about installing a 6-32 brass insert and brass filler. Is there more detail available some where on the strut and jury strut connections? I am looking at the 30% version, but the move up of 5% doesn't apply to the delta in dollars
edit:
I did an advanced search and found a ton of pictures and discussion on the spars and boxes. On one of them I can see the plans and the location of the brass insert, minor detail missing from my plans.
edit:
Oops, not missing on my plans. The brass inserts are for the struts. My plans look identical to the detail I can see in the plans pictured in #313. I still don't see how the wing boxes are secured to F13 and F14. What am I missing? Here's what my plans look like.

Bobt2

My Feedback: (4)

sure looks similar. the 6-32 inserts are put in the bottom of w13 &14. when the wings slip on, a screw goes thru the wing spar into the insert

ludfleet

My Feedback: (10)

Stan, There are two wire forms that go down through the cabin post F-16 and 17.and across the spar apuds+9those are what aecures the spud to the cabin. the wires are glued in to the cabin posts and fastened to the spu8ds with J bolts. I hope; that is what you are refering to. Joe

ludfleet

My Feedback: (10)

Wow I did a terrible job with the keyboard.

StanDouglas

Thanks for the replies,
I think Bob answered what I was looking for. There is no reference to 6-32 inserts in my plans in F13 and F14. On my Extra 260 there is a 4-40 bolt that goes through a 1/2" dowel imbedded in the wing, through the phenolic tube, and into a taped hole in the aluminum wing tube. This prevents the wing from coming out in flight. I was surprised this detail wasn't present in the SD plans.

Bobt2

My Feedback: (4)

if you want some close up photos. i could shoot a few over the weekend

StanDouglas

Thanks Bob, That would help a lot. I have been thinking about some of the strut mods posted here and believe I will use carbon fiber rods sandwiched in the balsa. I have used these for years as push rods in airplanes. You can use black CA to secure wire in the ends and the result is strong enough to hang your full body weight on.
http://www.darrolcady.com/Carbon_Fib...arbon_faq.html

I can see one other detail missing on my plans from some posted here; the head on view of the landing gear does not show the wheel pants or the wheel. The side view does. Plus there appears to be a paragraph of text to left of that view that my plans don't have.

Update: OK, I now have 3 sets of plans; 1/4 scale, 30% from Hostetler and 33%, decisions decisions....

StanDouglas

Has anybody used the Hobbyking 53cc (3.2 cu") twin in the 30% SD?

ludfleet

My Feedback: (10)

Don't know anybody that has used that combination, would suspect it to be under powered. I do know a guy that has a G62 in his 30% and he's happy with it. The 53cc would probably fly the one your talking about,
with limited performance. Just plain flying with simple manuvers might be OK.

Bobt2

My Feedback: (4)

finally back on.[hard drive let go]. for struts, i used a set of balsa usa struts for their 1/3 super cub. they are preshapped bass and just needed to be cut to size and slotted for the brass inserts

StanDouglas

After some consideration and taking inventory of available materials in the shop, I've decided to go with the 25% Super Decathlon. I have reworked the plans a little and will be using blue foam ribs and wing tubes and sockets. Currently building a jig to make a carbon fiber landing gear.

Bobt2

My Feedback: (4)

i never got to take the pics, sorry. i guess you don't need them now.i have been lost in other building projects and getting to the field as much as possible before the cold sets in.