willig10

All:
I recently purchased a NIB Morrisey Bravo kit. I also bought a NIB Turnigy/FTL 52cc engine to power it. Do any of you have past experience with this build? If so do you by chance have words of wisdom/tips? I would sure love to see some pictures of your plane during construction if you have them available to upload. I am out of town on business currently but cant wait to get home and start this build. I will post pictures as I progress through the build. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Regards
Glenn Williams

TomCrump

I bought my Bravo with the wings already framed. The fuselage was built per plans.

I don't remember any pitfalls.

Mine flies well on a G-38. It required no lead, for balance.

Mine was built before the "Computer Age", so I have no construction pics.

willig10

Tom:
Nice looking bird. Are you still flying her?What type of covering did you use?

Glenn

TomCrump

Thanks !

She's covered in Monokote.

The Bravo was retired for a few years. The pics were taken last Summer. I have her ready to fly again, but RF problems have kept her grounded.

CK1

My Feedback: (60)

willig10 ,
I have built a couple of Morrisey Bravos and rebuilt a few more .
The build is pretty straight forward per plans and instructions with no real suprises .
There are a couple of areas that you need to add a little extra epoxy or actualy add some aircraft ply doublers to.
1) The area of the wing saddle at the trailing edge is a high stress point and a common area to break on a hard landing . I add a doubler of 1/16 aircraft ply over the existing structure on the inside of the fuse extending from midway of the wing saddle to appx 3" behind the trailing edge (into the tail section . This will stiffen the area significantly .
2) This plane was designed around a 120 glow engine . The firewall area needs to be strengthened by adding to the firewall thickness and a though job of epoxying the inside area behind the firewall . Be sure to pin the firewall !!!! . This will strengthen the area for the extra weight of the gas engine and help absorb some of the vibration .
3) The landing gear plate area could used a little help , be sure all parts are a good fit and use 30 minute epoxy in this area for a good strong bond .
4) Use a pull/pull cable setup on the rudder
5) Be sure the push/pull setup for the elevator is free and not binding , also make sure you use the carbon fiber push rod and properly install the pushrod guides along the inside of the tail to reduce any flex that may happen .

The flight control throws are good as shown in the instructions , but be sure to get as much Rudder and aileron throw built in as you can , then adjust throws with endpoint setting on your radio.

The C.G is good as shown on the plans .
I dont have any pics of the builds or rebuilds , I do have the last one built and may be able to get pics of question areas if needed .
Enjoy your Morrisey !!!!

willig10

Started the build last night. I currently have the W-1 - W-3A ribs in place. I also have the W-8 - W-6 ribs in place. I will post pictures later tonight.

Glenn

willig10

Well Here is my progress so far. Will post more pictures later. Been a long day and the left wing is looking pretty good. All the ribs and spars are installed also the webbing is done. Will be cutting out the aileron Tomorrow. I am still contemplating building the flaps. Have any of you used the flaps on this bird?

Glenn

TomCrump

I don't have flaps on mine.

I don't feel that it needs them, but they would be fun to use.

CK1

My Feedback: (60)

No flaps on mine , I don't believe I have ever seen them on a Morissey .I'm sure someone has done it though

willig10

Mine came with the flap addendum. I am seriously considering making them.

Glenn

CK1

My Feedback: (60)

Go for it! , that way you'll have them instead of wishing you had them .

willig10

Too late. After looking at what I have built last night I am too far into the build to retofit the the flap conversion. Oh well, maybe next time.

Glenn

willig10

Well after 3 days of serious work, I am finished with the left wing, (except for servo install, covering etc.) I am going out of town and will not be working on her again for about 6 weeks. Well needless to say I cant wait to get back and finish her up.

Do any of you have any pictures? I am looking for covering schemes.

Thanks
Glenn

CK1

My Feedback: (60)

willlig10 , Most Morrisey's are covered just like Tom Crumps , the colors vary but the look is usualy the same as what was on the kit box .
Hey ! why not supprise us with something different .

willig10

I forgot to post the last picture of the wing before I had to go out of town. The wing needs the hinges installed and the servo.

I covered the aileron with white ultracote, However I have some colors in mind and the white might be coming off.

Time will tell, if I can get the colors I want. I will definitely be going with them for the cover job.

I am looking for ultracote kind of a pearl orange. I looked for it and did not see it so I will have todo some research I think ifI can find this color I will use it as the base and then use the Kevlar (carbon fiber)black they have for leading edges and trim.

Glenn

warbirdmustang

My Feedback: (21)

If a scale model is what you are after, check out this thread I started, and the resulting finds about scale documentation. There is actually only one Morrisey Bravo that ever got built before Bill Morrisey died, and Hazel Sig had it repainted/ recovered to the re/ white/ black scheme from the silver/ white black scheme. Turns out Hazel was an investor in the startup company, and when it went belly up, she got the plane as partial payment for her investment. It's now in a museum in Iowa. Good luck with the build, looks great so far! By the way, the real bird does have flaps.
Bryan
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_29...tm.htm#2961985

Thisstrangeengine

I am currently trying to finish mine as it's been too many years on and off trying to decide which power plant, servos etc. I was originally going to use my O.S. Pegasus 4 cyl but it's been such a long time since starting the build, I decided to go gas (RCG 50CC) and not risk damaging this antique O.S. engine.
I beefed up the firewall originally for the added weight of the O.S. and added ply gussets to all the joints in the rear framework just in case. I also fully sheeted the wing as another way to add strength but not really necessary. I covered the plane with 21st Century fabric and Monokote trim.
Pics are in my photo gallery and a few posts. Good Luck with the build...

Thisstrangeengine

Came across some interesting photos that might be of some help...or not. Thought they were pretty neat.
There are two photos of a single seat version, one of which is polished aluminum although the shot is a bit blurry.
[link]http://vg21squadron.com/various_vargas.htm[/link]

kelthom

Hi Just been reading about your M.bravo's I built one about ten years ago and flew it for ten years in scale comps with a fair amount of success .But it met an untimely end.
I have in the last six months built a new one with fully sheeted wings and flaps power is a 240 Gemini twin It doesn't want to pitch up when flap is lowered they fly great.