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Balsa USA Brotherhood

Old 11-15-2016, 11:32 AM
  #1426  
Big Stikflyer
 
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I've never built a Dumas kit but I can tell you if you get the Phaeton II kit, you'll love it. The BUSA kits are very strong, I stalled my Phaeton II on landing when I was first learning to fly it and all I had to replace was the covering on the top wing. It landed upside down on an asphalt runway, didn't brake any of the balsa wood at all. Oh forgot, I had to replace the cowling as well. Pretty cheap considering she dropped like a rock from about 8ft up.
Good luck which ever way you decide to go.
Old 11-23-2016, 08:38 PM
  #1427  
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Since this IS the Balsa USA thread, and since I am trying to resuscitate a mangled 1/4 Camel this winter... I thought I might as well bump the thread. Road kill WW1 fighters should be given a second chance I say ! Although its only the outer wings and tail that survived this dance with danger !

Rebuild them or pass them on !!! hahahahah
Old 11-23-2016, 10:30 PM
  #1428  
jwrich
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Lance if you still have the plans, you can rebuild it. I have done it and I am sure you have as well. Every time I rebuild one, I remarked that, it was easier than I thought. Once you get it down to the bones and start piecing it back together, soon it is ready to cover. I never toss one in the trash at the field, I take home. Strip it down, then decide if it will fly again.
You should post your progress here as a learning project that will help others. Think about it, the only crashed airplanes you see at the field are ARF's. A lot of guys just don't know how to build an airplane, repair or rebuild it. Maybe this would help them.
Put your crashed airplane in a pile and take a picture, then document the rebuilding process with pictures. What do you think, is it worth rebuilding? Sometimes we have to admit a new kit is the best answer. But if you think it can be done, I think the project like this would help many of us.
Waiting for your thoughts.

Rich
Old 11-24-2016, 03:42 AM
  #1429  
OldScaleGuy
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Please sign me up.
Here is a picture of my BUSA Eindecker 90. Finished it late March, 2016 and now has 83 flights on it. Was hoping for 100 for the year but it doesn't look like that is going to happen. Darn winter.
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Old 11-24-2016, 08:22 AM
  #1430  
jwrich
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We have a new member to the Brotherhood, Steve ask to joint our group. Welcome Steve! I never thought about logging the number of flights I put on an aircraft a year. We all have our special Sunday Flyer that get more time in the air than the others. Looks like the BUSA Eindecker is yours. I have several in my hanger and the BUSA Sopwith Pup is my go to flyer.
Steve, do you have a winter project in mind for your next plane? I am still building the BUSA Dr-1, all my planes are 1/4 scale. We would like to hear about your flying history and experiences. Again Welcome to the Brotherhood.
Here is the Sopwith Pup




It would be helpful for me if all BUSA Brothers would post their BUSA Brotherhood number in their signature. If I have missed anyone please let me know.
BUSA brothers

#1 jwrich, Enid, OK, USA
#2 Jeffo New Baltimore, MI, USA
#3 ARUP KY USA
#4 RCKen Lawton, OK, USA (RCU Forum Manager/Admin)
#5 mattnew, Haverhill, MA, USA
#6 surmovik60 VA USA
#7 GerKonig, Levittown, PA, USA
#8 Granpooba, Queensbury, NY, USA
#9 radfordc (Charlie), Lansing, KS, USA
#10 balsa brain, Jacksonville, FL, USA
#11 3136 Victoria Austrialia **
#12 wwoneguy, Beltsville, MD, USA
#13 vertical grimmace, Ft. Collins, CO, USA
#14 rcmiket, El Paso, TX, USA
#15 bpoates25, Riverview, FL, USA
#16 PiperDriver, Rolling Meadows, IL, USA
#17 68goat Alabaster, AL, USA
#18 jlsimon, Long Valley, NJ, USA
#19 pat s, Candor, NC, USA
#20 pending IN USA
#21 Steve Percifield, Noblesville, IN, USA (Sir Percy)
#22 opol, Two Harbors, MN, USA
#23 Zero, Houston, TX, USA
#24 tonyos, Madison Heights, VA, USA
#25 b206, Opdyke, IL, USA
#26 LonnieMcc, Carriere, MS, USA
#27 eindecer3, McMinnville, TN, USA
#28 flyer35, Ilion, NY, USA
#29 jeffEE, Farnington, NM, USA
#30 s3nfo, San Diego, CA, USA
#31 Kwikfli, Winfield, KS, USA
#32 JDHammer, Slippery Rock, PA, USA
#33 Ikruse, Lawton, OK, USA
#34 bobbailey, Chesapeake, VA, USA
#35 Vampire, Bath, PA, USA
#36 zemkes_wolfpack, Winamac, IN, USA
#37 triumphman49, Decatur, AL, USA
#38 SRQFlyer, Sarasota, FL, USA
#39 Daniel-EL, Maumee, OH, USA
#40 hairy46, Sinclair, WY' USA
#41 pettit, Durham, NC, USA
#42 Hrannar, Patrekfjordur, Iceland **
#43 lowbubba, Miamisburg, OH, USA
#45 FokkerD7, Cable, OH, USA
#44 FireBee, Chesapeake, VA, USA
#46 iampilot2, Middletown, OH, USA
#47 Wagon1,Penscola, FL, USA
#48 darren 4, Eau Claire, WI, USA
#49 Luxuswaffe, Hialeah, FL, USA
#50 dryverman, West Rutland, VT, USA
#51 otterrc FL USA
#52 cooper998, Newark, DE, USA
#53 lazyace, Buffalo, NY, USA
#54 wings2an3 Monroe, NY, USA
#55 The Pamster, Dallas, TX, USA
#56 lucasar15, Pottsville, PA, USA
#57 AMA74894, Spicer, MN, USA (Moderator Jim Buzzeo)
#58 squidman, Waco, TX, USA
#59 M_Callahan, South Lebanon, OH, USA
#60 Karp050555, Philadelphia, PA, USA
#61 optech, San Diego, CA, USA
#62 ashby NSW Australia **
#63 R/C Art, Shelbyville, IN, USA
#64 on_your_six MD USA
#65 Highflyer2, Alpharetta, GA, USA
#66 dddaviddean NJ USA
#67 Quagmire, Costa Mesa, CA, USA
#68 pending CA USA
#69 ratshooter, Burleson, TX, USA
#70 TXAG96, Augusta, MI, USA
#71 R/C Ray, Valley Cottage, NY, USA
#72 feep, Pelham, NH, USA
#73 sdcranford, Willard, MO, USA
#74 buzzard bait, Ithaca, NY, USA
#75 chadasmus, Freedom WI, USA, (BUSA Team Pilot, Builder and Designer)
#76 fokv25, Westfield, IN, USA
#77 Dynamic, Stratford, WI, USA
#78 WinterHawke, Waukesha, WI, USA
#79 t6racer NSW Australia **
#80 NM2K, Ringgold, GA, USA
#81 rcjunky67, Belleview, FL, USA
#82 AndyF Ft. Wayne, IN, USA
#83 freefall2907, Ottumwa, IA, USA
#84 a65l, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
#85 Grimracer, Urbana, IL, USA
#86 Corsair2013, Granytsville, UT, USA
#87 Chevelle NY USA
#88 eagledancer, Orlando, FL, USA
#89 Leroy Gardner ID USA
#90 ANZAC Australia **
#91 Spadsriver09, Southbend, IN, USA
#92 PSB, Malven, OH, USA
#93 bradpaul, Apopka, FL, USA
#94 MRadu, Los Gatos, CA, USA
#95 HorsePowerAviation, Cincinnati, OH, USA
#96 Shoestring, Granite, MN, USA
#97 David Gladwin, CookhamBerkshire, United Kingdom **
#98 Rich6170, Springfield, OH, USA
#99 Wildbills21, Menominee, MI, USA, (Team BUSA, pilot, builder,& chief mechanic)
#100 Rickj, Akron, OH, USA
#101 Geezeraviation (Doc), Houston, TX, USA
#102 Flyboy077, Uniontown, OH, USA
#103 Shelstrm. The other Doc), Lancaster, WI, USA
#104 Drude, North Port, FL, USA
#105 bschatz, West Hills, CA, USA
#106 RCDuffer, Valley Center, CA, USA
#107 capnpaul, Orillia, ON, Canada **
#108 p38nut, Indianapolis, IN, USA
#109 yoda64, Bloxon, VA, USA
#110 Jaybird, Hallowell, ME, USA
#111 mbnt, IL, USA
#112 Foodstick (Lance), Ankeny, IA, USA
#113 adec, Perthaustralra, Australia **
#114 Navy, Orange Park, FL, USA
#115 RD Jeff, Anchorage, AK, USA
#116 Mistral 12, Granbury, TX, USA
#117 JKEpps, Greenbelt, MD, USA
#118 FlyerInOKC, Okla, City, OK, USA
#119 PT19, Buna, TX, USA
#120 Jim Scott, ?
#121 Srecker, Erie, PA, USA
#122 bigbird3, Williamstown, VT, USA
#123 Monsour, Fisherville, KY, USA
#124 Marksp (Mark), Redmond, WA, USA
#125 Quidleywins , Kyneton Victoria, Australia**
#126 M.Casper (Michael), Perry, IO, USA
#127 Twin_Flyer (Bill), Westhampton Beach, NY, USA
#128 Big Stikflyer (Jay), Machesney, IL, USA
#129 SkinnyBob (Bob), Park Falls, WI, USA
#130 Jetset, (Myles), Picton, ON, Canada**
#131 John Taylor, Macedon, NY, USA
#132 dwreel (Dick), Southern Pines, NC, USA
#133 jimbrock (Jim), Houston. TX, USA
#134 Bandit59, Irmo. SC, USA
#135 Check6, (Fred), N.Scituate, RI, USA
#136 OldScaleGuy, (Steve), Seymour, IN, USA

Fair Winds & Happy Flyin'
Rich

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Old 11-24-2016, 09:51 AM
  #1431  
flyboy2610
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Originally Posted by OldScaleGuy
Please sign me up.
Here is a picture of my BUSA Eindecker 90. Finished it late March, 2016 and now has 83 flights on it. Was hoping for 100 for the year but it doesn't look like that is going to happen. Darn winter.
Nice Eindecker! I like these WWI monoplanes. After finishing the Great Planes PT60, I'm working on, my next project will be a Top Flite Elder 40. I had hoped that after that would be a BUSA 1/4 Spad XIII, but I'm thinking that may get bumped in favor of the Junkers D-1.
So many planes, so little lifetime.
Old 11-24-2016, 01:03 PM
  #1432  
OldScaleGuy
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Thanks fella's and thank you for adding me.. I am finishing up a Ziroli Hellcat that has taken way too long to build. After that i am kicking the tires on a BUSA DH-4. My CFO and much better half has given me the green light but haven't ordered the kit just yet. Most of my many years in RC has been dedicated to scale building and scale competition. Just in the past one year or so i am having more interest in the WWI aircraft.
Old 11-24-2016, 01:23 PM
  #1433  
R/C Art
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.....hey "Old Scale Guy". FYI scale building/flying and WW1 are not mutually exclusive...........remember me - Fokker Eindecker, Sopwith Pup, Nieuport 11, Fokker Triplane.......the list could go on.

It is good that you have ventured away from the "Dark Side" and all that heavy metal stuff for a while and have finally found the way to "flying enrichment".

Welcome aboard, Steve!
Old 11-24-2016, 01:28 PM
  #1434  
OldScaleGuy
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How could i forget my buddy Art? Happy Thanksgiving to you and Rhonda. I would say Happy Birthday too but that would open a whole other can of creeping crawling little critters.
You gotta be careful on the "Dark side" ya know, you run into guys like John H and Al K.
Thanks for having me.
Old 11-25-2016, 03:19 PM
  #1435  
jeffEE
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Welcome to the Brotherhood. A person with scale competition under his/her belt is a good person to have in a group. And its never too late to build real airplanes.
Old 11-26-2016, 12:10 PM
  #1436  
marksp
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I'm in the final stages of completion of my BUSA Stearman project.



I've already picked up the Nicopress system from BUSA, but I'm now second guessing going that route. Question - is anyone using the Aero Scale flying wire system? http://www.flying-wires.ch/flying-wires/index.html

I'm the type the favors a balance between scale and practicality, meaning field setup/teardown is equally important as scale looks. The time from field arrival to flying, no "special" tools, etc. all considerations.

Any guidance is appreciated

Cheers
Old 11-26-2016, 01:59 PM
  #1437  
R/C Art
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Have you priced the Aero Scale flying wires? Based on price alone its Busa every time! If I were doing a super scale, once in a life time project then maybe I would use Aero Scale - but I would have to think long and hard first.

I have used Busa's flying wires for years and have never had a problem - they work great. From what I have seen at the field over the years, the nicropress system is easier at the field, too.

Just one man's opinion here........

....by the way, more pictures please. Looks like a nice project you're working on.

Last edited by R/C Art; 11-26-2016 at 02:03 PM.
Old 11-26-2016, 04:45 PM
  #1438  
marksp
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Really appreciate the input!

To answer your question, I haven't priced it out because the web site is so bloody confusing my simple mind can't sort out the various build components. As I indicated, the primary reason for even considering the Aero Scale wires was on the assumption of ease of field setup...sounds like that may not be correct. Having said that, I'd rather spend a few bucks, than struggle at the field so much that I end up flying a different plane. Many days, I can only budget a few hours so burning 30 minutes to setup and 30 minutes to pack up influences my model choice.

Again - thanks for your comment. I'll post up some pics of the Steaman soon.

Cheers
Old 12-08-2016, 07:21 AM
  #1439  
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TA DA!!!





It took a little longer than I expected, (old age I guess), but she's done. Waiting for spring to go fly and see how she does.
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Old 12-08-2016, 07:40 AM
  #1440  
FlyerInOKC
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Nice! I think you should name it. How about "Twiggy" or "Kate Moss"?
Old 12-08-2016, 08:09 AM
  #1441  
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Yes but since I was in the military, it should have a military name.
Like: B 1 R D, or C G U 11.
Old 12-08-2016, 08:14 AM
  #1442  
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Looks great, nice work Jay!!!
Old 12-08-2016, 08:22 AM
  #1443  
Big Stikflyer
 
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No names, just time to fly.

Now I can move onto my Phaeton II rebuild/recover. I have the wings stripped already and I'm thinking of stripping down the fuselage and covering with monokote this time. I originally covered it with Sig Koverall and painted it. I don't like the way it looks now after all these years. I think it's best to do the work now during non-fly season so I can get it flying sometime next summer.
What's the best way to remove the old covering? The wings was done in econocote. It didn't stick very well and basically just pulled right off. I won't use that stuff again, only monokote for me.
Old 12-08-2016, 08:25 AM
  #1444  
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Thank you Twin Flyer, it was a fun build. First plane I've done completely from plans, no kit.
Old 12-08-2016, 09:26 AM
  #1445  
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If anyone is interested I saw a .40 Balsa USA Bristol M1 kit posted on this board for $ 70.00. Link below

http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/ite...itemId=1091644
Old 12-09-2016, 04:47 PM
  #1446  
jwrich
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In conversation with another modeler, I mentioned that I had a couple of BUSA kits to build that I bought off the classified section of some of our RC web sites, RCU, RCG and RCSB. Lance asked that I pass on my experience buying RC related itemed. I review these areas daily and I have bought several engines, Kits and airplanes at very good prices. I always look for new in box engines and kits new in box. Completed airplanes, I have found that I consider airplanes that are within reasonable driving distance and the price is really good. Shipping completed airplanes can be difficult and expensive. I have bought Zenoah 26 & 38's for NIB for $200.00 or less, $350+ kits NIB for $200.00 to $300.00. I hate to pass up a deal and it does help other modeler sell unwanted items. I do check out the items I am looking at and the seller just to be safe. So far I have found 98% of the modelers are honest folks. See something you like, make an offer.

Fair Winds & Happy Flyin'
Rich
Old 12-09-2016, 07:14 PM
  #1447  
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Originally Posted by Big Stikflyer
No names, just time to fly.

Now I can move onto my Phaeton II rebuild/recover. I have the wings stripped already and I'm thinking of stripping down the fuselage and covering with monokote this time. I originally covered it with Sig Koverall and painted it. I don't like the way it looks now after all these years. I think it's best to do the work now during non-fly season so I can get it flying sometime next summer.
What's the best way to remove the old covering? The wings was done in econocote. It didn't stick very well and basically just pulled right off. I won't use that stuff again, only monokote for me.
Hi Guys, just passing through. Big Stik, use a heat gun to remove the cocering. It makes it easier, use a dull used #11 blade to lift edges. Many coverings leave color behind especially light heat coverings, then sand it off.
I love re-doing a model, seems to come out better second time around! Rotsa ruk.
bird.
P.S BIRD's a nice name for a plane!

Check out my gallery, the Stearman and Astro hog were rebuilt and recovered. Lots os new wood in the hog, firewall, complete wing sheeting, cap strips, L.E., T.E. and top decks! Might have been quicker to build a new one but where's the fun in that?

Last edited by bigbird3; 12-09-2016 at 07:23 PM.
Old 12-10-2016, 09:55 AM
  #1448  
Big Stikflyer
 
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BigBird3, thanks for the info. I saw the heat gun method to remove plastic film covering, I wasn't sure it would work on painted fabric covering as well. I'll give that a shot, then I'll recover using monokote.
Old 12-10-2016, 07:00 PM
  #1449  
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Yes Big Stik, it will work as long as it is iron on even with paint.
Let us know how it goes.
All best.
bird.
Old 12-11-2016, 08:37 AM
  #1450  
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Originally Posted by Big Stikflyer
BigBird3, thanks for the info. I saw the heat gun method to remove plastic film covering, I wasn't sure it would work on painted fabric covering as well. I'll give that a shot, then I'll recover using monokote.
In the beginning I used and liked Monokote. Then I discovered Solartex and did not look back...until I decided to try it again a few years ago. Although "they" say it has not changed from the beginning, it does not work well for me anymore. Doesn''t stick as well, doesn't shrink as well, doesn't work around wingtips, etc. as well, as the original. I suggest before you commit to the whole plane covered with Monokote, that you try it on a trial piece. You may not like it anymore, either. Just sayin'. Good luck.

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