SeamusG

mesaflyer - I hear ya about the split wing TE with hinge blocks. Nice 'n light but ... Did you consider just doing a 1 piece TE?

LargeScale88

Any progress? I'm excited to compare notes on building!!!!!!!



Jason

mesaflyer

No, but I suppose that if you cut the tail off ribs R2, R3, and R4, and re-attached them, you could do that. Probably not a bad idea. That would also help with the beveled end up against R1. It would be one nice solid piece.
If I had to do it over again (and I did not try the 1 piece TE), I would try installing the top rear spar first (which is the one on the bottom) and then making and installing the blocks before installing to bottom rear spar. I would make them run from rib to rib (longer than the 3" one they tell you to install) which should help with getting the shape correct. I just did not spend enough time making them "the best I could" so a few were a little off shape.

The other thing I did was install the wing dowels before sheeting the top of the wing. I wanted to make sure that I got them installed nice and tight, with epoxy in the rear holes.

SeamusG

I wrote the very same idea in big bold letters on my instructions!!! Ican see buggering the insertion of the dowels ... Now, just wait for the comments from the incredibly experienced peanut gallery

partisan

My Feedback: (1)

I would definately do the dowels early as possible to ensure plenty of epoxy got into the right places...I haven't built an Extra 300...yet.

So have you decided on the engine? I plan on getting this kit and starting on it when Christmas passes.

I already have a DLE 20 for it. I was planning on doing a dual elevator servo set up and a pull-pull rudder. Wasn't sure about the weight of the engine versus making it all balance so I thought of putting the elevator and rudder servos in the tail on a servo rail and making a hatch to access the servos if needed. I was also going to try to full enclose the servos in the wing with hatch covers... I just really hate the look of exposed servos. I just want to see the little bit of the control rod and horn that is necessary to fly.

Also have you thought of any color schemes yet?

mesaflyer

Yep, and maybe I'll learn something.

SeamusG

Simple engine selection:YS1.10 - Ihave it hooked up on the front of my 4Star60 mule - runs very nicely (really, really big grin on my face!)

This may be my first stolen scheme as I'm considering using Michael Goulian's Extra 330SC scheme. Ihave Ultracote white, true red and I'm sure that I can score some green. I'll need to outsource the graphics. If Iwant to better mimic the 330SC I'll also need to reduce the size of the canopy - single seater rather than the two seater long cowl. Have to adjust the foredeck accordingly.

Anybody find an appropriate sized pilot? The manual used a (beta)1/4 scale character. What "really"works?

SeamusG

Follow up to the scheme ...

I may well add a 1 1/2" wide piece of Ultracote bright yellow to wrap around the wing's leading edge from fuse to tip. Our field's "90% of the time" final approach has the Rocky Mtn Front Range as a back drop. Planes frequently disappear when they transition from blue sky to multi-colored hills. Anything to help insure the survivability.

mesaflyer

I know you were not asking me, but thought I would throw in a pic of what I'm planning. Going to do a variant Patty Wagstaff's plane from a few years ago. If you go to airliners.net and search for "extra 300' you will find lots of ideas. Maybe too many!

mrshea

My Feedback: (2)

i plan on using this one graphics are in the mail. Phil

SeamusG

mr - where's the Gecco gona sit?

jimm

My Feedback: (1)

Has anyone ever made a new canopy for it to convert it into an L model (two seat version)?

I got to thinking about that this morning. Might consider trying that on my build. I am going to run a Thundertiger 91 4 stroke in mine.

SeamusG

Here's the manufacturer's pics for the 300L, 330LC, 330LT and the 330SC. Ididn't realize that there was a difference in the 2-seater and the single seater.

Ya think the RCUtechs can fix the software by January 1 (2012)????

LargeScale88

That would be pretty cool and funny to have the Gecco sitting in the pilot seat. He can drive a car in the commercials, maybe he can fly an airplane to!!

mrshea

My Feedback: (2)

hadn't thought about that but that would be funny. Think they'll insure it? Phil

SeamusG

Just a thought Jim ...

It looks like the side view of a large soda bottle. How about taking the one of the profiles that Iposted earlier - crop it for the canopy - print the cropped picture and use it for a profile template and check out your local grocery store to see if any product nearly matches both shape and size. Size may be an issue unless you're comfortable messing with editting jpg files.

jimm

My Feedback: (1)

Working up the drawings is not a problem as I work with graphics for my job.

I am a Technical Illustrator, actually work on art for aircraft maintenance manuals.

I took the pdf files from the online instruction manual for the Extra 300 brought it into Adobe Illustrator and drew up the new canopy on the plans that were in it.

Looks like the upper part of the fuse at the front of the canopy would need to be reworked and the servo tray lowered to expand the cokpit area with the new canopy.

I tried to upload a jpeg of the drawing but it seems like the problems here on RCU need to be resolved first.

Well I tried posting the drawing again, hopefully it will show up this time.

SeamusG

Well, I've interupted myself (again).

I have an Epson Stylus Photo printer that uses 13" wide roll paper. I'm planning on printing actual size workbench plans for the modified elevator and rudder. More because I want to see how useful the printer is - so - please don't hack on me that I don't have to the trouble - than doing things easier. See, if Ifigure this out then maybe I can start creating my own plans for the "build"phase.

Cheers,

LargeScale88

Has anyone ever though about doing an airfoil for the tail? I'm sure it couldn't be to hard????????

Hey SeamusG: What program are you using to draw up your plans? I'm thinking of purchasing autocad. The Autocad freestyle to be exact.


Jason

SeamusG

Jason - I use a 2D tool - Microsoft's Visio. Seems that Rhinocerous 3D has a pretty good following here on RCU. AutoCAD 2010 has a following as well. You might start a thread in "aerodyamics" sub-forum - I'm guessing that that's where the typical 3D drawing tool users can be found.

On converting the stab/elevator and fin/rudder to an airfoil - they would basically be sheeted wings. Design & fab the ribs, spars, leading & trailing edges - badda boom badda bing ... The Hanger 9 ShowTime 50 uses that approach. The biggest pain is the complex sheeting where the turtle deck of the fuse merges in with the base leading edges of the fin and stab. Hanger 9 uses ABS or fiberglass inserts that have some serious compound curves. Better suited to painting than film covering.

LargeScale88

SeamusG: I downloaded the free version of google sketch, and I don't think its great for designing model airplane stuff. Yes, it does draw straight lines, curves, ect, but overall, its just not that great for designing your owns plans lets say. Designing an airfoil or just a whole stab alone would be a nightmare on there.

I was looking at Autocad. What version is the best? The cheap $150.00 option, or the more expensive $4,000.00 option?

Jason

LargeScale88

Hey SeamusG, I just read in the aerodynamics forum, you had a thread and it said cancelled, lack of interest. You quitting on this project?

SeamusG

Nah - just don't like a thread that asked a simple question get's read but no replys - so, I nuc'd the post ... Must not have been interesting enough for comments.

I'm in the midst of re-reading the Extra instructions for the 3rd of 4th time. I'm making changes to the instructions that will affect the following changes: counter balances on longer ailerons; counter balances on the elevators; re-proportioning the fin / rudder assembly. Also researching necessary structural upgrades to the firewall & its support structure - don't want to lose the YS 1.10 mid-flight.

Waiting on an order for new ink cartridges for my Epson Stylus 1280 (13" wide roll paper) so that I can print full size plans for the proposed mods.

LargeScale88

Sounds like you got it all figured out. It will be fun to watch the changes that you are making.

I've finally decided on my winter project. Its a Don Smith P-51. I'm doing a build thread on this forum, so check it out sometime. Noone has responded to the forum yet, I'm thinking people may not be interested?????


Jason

SeamusG