germrb

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Mike,

Thanks for the kind words. I can't really take too much credit, the AMR kit is really great to build.

About the graphics, the kit is not completely scale, so the graphics need to be adjusted to match the kit. When you contact Cal-Grafx you will need to work out the correct sizing. I have included a table of the corrections.

Good luck with the P40. If you have any questions, let me know.

rcmiker

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Thank you for your time and effort in posting the graphic file and sizing table for the Red Lion, Bob. I have your files safely tucked away in my Red Lion folder, and will be contacting Cal-Grafx one day soon (will let them know that they come well recommended).

I also appreciate your well wishes and offer of help on my P-40 project. Such a generous (and interesting) group, the modeling community.

I look forward to your future posts and following your excellent build progress here. Thank's again,

Mike

germrb

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I haven't abandon the thread or died. I've been stopped waiting for painting weather. Spring is coming, or at least daylight savings time is coming and hopefully things will improve. In the meantime, I have scratch built a 25% version of the racer. (Hey, it keeps me off the streets) It should be ready for some covering shortly. I'm waiting on some glass pieces from Fiberglass Specialties, which should be here this week. Also, I've ordered some more hardware from Hans at Aero Scale Products in Switzerland.

I start messing around with cockpit arrangements from the AMR 38%. I'm making an IP using InZpan instruments. It may not be perfectly scale, but it should impress the novices.

I'll be back when I have more accomplished.

germrb

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Well, Spring has arrived in the Rockies, at least for the moment. It was 72 degrees here on Friday, so I spent the whole day flying. However, winter is moving back in and tomorrow the high is suppose to be 38 and rain/snow, so back to work.

I did take advantage of the weather and got some painting done. I shot the wings and the tail feathers with silver UV primer and then a white undercoat. Haven't quite decided on the final color scheme. I still have to finish the cockpit and install the canopy before I can start painting the fuselage. I have a pilot coming on Tuesday. Hopfully, that will move things along.

germrb

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First of all, I must apologze for being so deliquent in my postings. No real excuses, except that the call of the flying field has been overpowering. We have has some beautiful springs days and its hard to stay home in the shop. Unfortunately, its currently 36 degrees and has been raining/snowing for the last three days.

My other excuse is that it has been an agonizing decision over the powerplant. After communing with all the apporpriate spirits, I have informed my children that their inheritence just got upstaged by a new RCS 250 radial. Troy Built Models has taken over the engines from the now defunct RC Showcase and it offering some very attractive discounts. Life is short, why spoil your children with money? I should have the new engine about mid/late May. Meanwhile, I need to make final decisions about the paint scheme and get to work.

I did fashion a rudimentary cockpit and got the canopy installed. It needs some framing and the rest is masking and better weather.

Later,

michou41a

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Very nice details

Michel

germrb

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Well, great weather and flying are taking up entirely too much of my free time. Come to think of it, all I have is free time.

I did get some painting done over the last couple of weeks. But Istill have a long way to go. Between primer coats, base coats, under coat, and drying time, it takes a lot longer then you might think.
I have attached a few photos of some of the progress. I'm trying to get the fuselage masked for the second color. Artistic brain lock gets getting in the way. Hopfully, that will only take a couple of days. The final graphics are on order at Cal-Grafx and should be here in a couple of weeks.

Ihave to order a lot of internal components for installation after final painting. That's going to tax the budget in the short term. The RCS250 radial arrived the other day and I did manage to get it bench run over the weekend, Its really scary when its wide open.

Later,

Aircraft Modelers Research Inc

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Hello Bob,

The finish will be great, it will be a beatifull Red Lion

Michel

germrb

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Well, I am making some progress. The second color on the fuselage came out pretty good, but I have several small piece parts to finish. Iran out of paint, so it will bea few days before Ican get back to painting.

I did receive batteries, receiver, electronic kill system, and switches. Those should get installed over the weekend. I did get the tanks and ignition hardware installed and ordered a new smoke pump. The graphics should be here in a couple of weeks and after that will be a final clear coat. Lots to do!!

Meanwhile, I usually go flying every weekday morning with my 33% WACO or other planes, so life is pretty damn good.

Later,

dhal22

please keep us posted as often as possible.  and don't forget to include the humor.  i've chuckled several times reading this thread.

germrb

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Spent the last few days installing radio gear and tail feathers and making preliminary control surface adjustments. I also finished the remainder of the piece part painting. Masking takes forever.

The only other major effort is to hang the engine and cowl. Other then that I have just about run out things to do until the graphics and the smoke pump arrive.

Later,

germrb

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It's been a productive couple of days. The smoke pump arrived and spent Wednesday getting it all plumbed in. I ended up with so many tubes I lost track of which was which more then once. Then Ihad to relearn how to couple it with the throttle and set up the radio parameters. When I was much younger, Icould remeber details. Now, I'm lucky if Ican remember which day it is. Then again, I'm retired. What the hell do I care!!

Engine is in and the cowl mounted. Things went pretty smoothly with those items. The only real pain was the starboard exhaust stack. I'd like to shoot the engine designer for that feature. The port stack is a straight shot. As you can see there is very little clearance between it and the firewall.

P.S. Michel: You might have Sebastien take a look at this during the redesign next year. You provided a perfect firewall for the RCS250R, but exhaust stacks are not straight forward.

I still have to complete the throttle linkage and wait for the graphics. When everything is done, the entire plane will be finished in automotive clear coat. Should make it really shine.

Later,

germrb

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For those of you who are fans of western movies, the reference to "Cottonwood" trees should be farly familiar. It usually involoved some poor creature getting his neck stretched. Well, I live in a heavily wooded area along the Weber River in Utah, which is full of cottonwood trees. Every year about thefirstweek in June it starts to "snow" cottonwood seeds. We're talking major Buffalo, NY type blizzard. The damn stuff gets into everything. Needless to say painting outside is out of the question. However, for about 45 minites in the early morning when the air is dead calm, I ran outside, painted airplane parts, and moved everything back into the shop. So, everything is done, except flight testing.

Here are some photos

Aircraft Modelers Research Inc

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Wow, very nice finish,

This week-end we will fly the Red Lion and the Waco at sime time in a fun fly at Montmagny QC.

Gremlin Castle

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That certainly is an outstanding finish I makes my old Wedell Williams look rather drab.

Aircraft Modelers Research Inc

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mine is that one

germrb

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Gremlin,

Hey! Give yourself a break. "Miss Paterson" is a great finish scheme. Besides, it was a real aircraft.

Now that I have this thing built, I spent the day trying to find it a home. It ended up on the ceiling of the garage over the car. I have really run out of storage space. But, all I can think about is "What's next?"

Where did you finally put the CG? I'm thinking of a 1/4" in front of the wing tube, which should be about 27%.

Bob

germrb

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Well, I finally got the nerve and opportunity to fly the racer today. Sorry, no photos. I was so focused on the maiden flight I forgot my camera.
Everything went very well. I have the CG set at 26% MAC with a total weight approximately 53 lbs.

Some post-flight thoughts:

1. The tail has a tendency to come up very quickly on take off. Be ready with elevators, but not too much. Without correction, it will go over on its nose. The elevators are a bit sensitive (even with 20% expo) and powerful. A little up elevator is all thats required to maintain control, but not too much or the wing will start flying and throw the nose up. Its not as bad as it sounds, but be prepared.

2. It only required a minimum of trim. A couple bumps of elevator and rudder. The airfoil is very stable. With just minor adjustment it flew hands off on the first circuit.

3. The RCS 250R that I used is an older engine with some performance loss, but still had plenty of reserve. Flys very scale at about 1/3 throttle. However, the difference between 1/2 & full throttle is not significant. The airplane exhibits significant drag, as you would expect, due to the large cowl and thicker airfoil.

4. Loops - With the large prop, some rudder control is required to maintain a clean line. The elevators can overpower the loop and close it tightly. With sufficient torque nice smooth loops are effortless.

5. Rolls - This is a "real" aircraft. You can't cheat. An axial rolls require full rudder and elevator coordination. Program in as much aileron throw as possible. Rolls are about 2-3 seconds. Not fast, but very scale.

6. Landings require power! Don't try to three point this aircraft. It will stall and bounce. With the narrow gear, you will loose control. A medium to high idle on a flat approach worked best. Once the airplane is level, reduce the throttle one click at a time until you get a nice sink rate and then don't mess with it! It will settle very nice on the mains. Then pull the throttle. One big caution!! When you cut the throttle, be sure to pull in full up elevator to push the tail down and keep it there. Otherwise, with the landing gear so close to the CG, it will go over on its nose before you know it. Props are not cheap! One other point, let the airplane come to almost a complete stop before making any turns. It tips very easily.

I got three flights in today with about 25 minutes total flight time. It is a very easy airplane to get to know and has no surprises or bad flight characteristics. Stalls are very soft with no tendency to snap. I am going to take a little of the throw out of the elevators, but everything else seems about right until I get some more flight time.

I'll try to remember my camera next time.

Later,

Aircraft Modelers Research Inc

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Hello Bob,

Glad you enjoy your flight,

Michel

wiz310

Congratulations on the maiden Bob. great job too. the airplane looks fantastic. it sounds like to me, you are doing your retirement exactly as I plan to do mine.......... in 17 or so years [&o]. Your flying and building the same aircraft and engines I aspire to build and fly.

germrb

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Ok, here are some photos. These were some that a friend took, which I wasn't aware of.

As you can see, we have lots of wide open space on our club owned 50 acre flying site.

dhal22

somehow after following this thread for quite a while i missed the maiden update. went to look for the thread and noticed she has flown. looks great!

germrb

My Feedback: (3)

Although the RCS250 radial really sounds great, it didn't seem to have the power I was looking for. It has great torque, but at only 5000 rpm with a 12" pitch the speed was a little disappointing. So, I pulled the RCS250 and am replacing it with a competition 3W-170iB2TS. The 170 runs closer to 7000 rpm and is rated at 21 bhp. That should do the trick.

With duel ignition systems, the installation is a bit complicated. Also, I'm waiting for the mufflers. Hopefully, they will be here this week.

Aircraft Modelers Research Inc

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Yes Sir!! we did install a 3w150cc with two plugs per cylinder, rear carburator, special order. It is a beast this engine.

germrb

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Michel,

I'm still working on the 3W-170 installation because I have had trouble getting mufflers. Anyway, while designing baffles it occurred to me that a split cowl would be a great improvement. It would allow easy access without having to remove the prop and make baffle designs a lot simpler. You might have Sebastien add that to the list of consideration for a new desgin, since most people will probably be using large twins rather than radials. Aeroworks has recently introduced a new split cowl design and it looks like a tremendous improvement.

Meanwhile, I'm still working on future projects. Would you guys ever consider a DGA-6 (Mr. Mulligan) in 33%? That is such a great Golden Age aircraft.