blove3

My Feedback: (1)

Hi Rob,
Looks like you are just blasting through this build and it looks great. Too bad about the cowl, I also hate to have to hack them up. Keep up the good work.

Bruce

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

Hi Bruce. Yea this kit builds pretty fast. I will probably be ready to start covering in about a week if you want to stop by and take a look. Then you can avoid the mistakes that I made.

Hows that 4 star coming, got the painting done or started?

blove3

My Feedback: (1)

Just got the fuse primed. That new water based epoxy primer sure goes on thick, fills the fiberglass weave very well. If I wasn't trying to fill with it, I would probably stick with auto primer. How about if Gerry and I stop by, I will send you an email to confirm the time.

Bruce

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

Hi all. A little more work done. I finished the bottom formers and sheeting aft of the gear. I also got the main gear and tail wheel mounted. Just getting ready to start on my cowl.

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

Well I hope it fits after mucking with that sticky epoxy for a few hours. It will probably take another couple of hours and lots of spot putty to sand and fill if its ok.

fiffer

Hey Rob C, Cowl looks good. What type of hinges are going with? (CA, pinned, or robart)

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

Hi fiffer. The hinges that I'm using are the 1/8 robart's. Just finished digging out the foam out of the cowl. I have to fill some thin spots and do some filling on the outside. Also I have to lift the engine by about 1/4" or so, but that should give more room for the spark plug. It looks a little bulky now but once its all finished and painted it should be better. ( not scale I know but I'm not too worried about that)

fiffer

The Cowls going to look real good when you get it painted.

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

Hi all. A little more work done. I got my motor bolted in, and my cowl mounted to the plane. It came out pretty good. I happy with the results. I think it looks better than the original cowl all hacked up,even though its squared off much more. Also it will be much stronger. Now I have to build the gear forward bottom formers and sheeting. I will make it in one piece and removable to have a spot to put my ignition and battey. I also have to do more filling on the cowl before primer.
Bruce this is were than system three primer would work well if it goes on thick.

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

Hi all. I made my hatch for motor electronics. I will probably glass it. It still needs a fastner for it.

blove3

My Feedback: (1)

Hi Rob,
Wow, you are really moving along. Looks real good and I like how the cowl turned out. The system 3 primer sands nice, goes on thick, and works well for filling the weave in glassed areas. Finally finished the 4-Star, minus paint. So now I can start my next project.

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

The four star looks good Bruce. Now just needs a nice paint job to finish it off. Did you get you 120 kit yet?

blove3

My Feedback: (1)

Hi Rob,
Just in the process of figuring out my order, so should have the 4 Star 120 next week. I am going to go with the G-26 and a fiberglass cowl similar to the 60. I am looking forward to how your decathlon turns out. Decided on a color scheme yet?

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

Hey Bruce. I see you browsing online. That sounds like a good plan on the cowl. I painted some primer on the cowl to highlight a few more spots that need to be filled. Also I glass the hatch cover and the firewall area. Also doing some small little things to get ready to start covering.

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

A little more progress on the Decathlon. I got one wing panel covered. I am using Super Coverite. Normally I would use Worldtex but I had a roll of this. Its a very shiny smooth surface, so I hope the paint trim sticks alright.

pcshark

Hey guys, Looks like a lot of experience here with the Decathlon. Just a quick question, what do you thank of the saito fa-180 on this aircraft?

fiffer

I had one, It's a real gas hog...

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

Hi pcshark. Should have lots of power with the 180. The only thing is you will have to add a bunch of weight to the nose. Most are using the G38 which is quite a bit heavier.

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

Hi all. I got my stab and fin glued into place. Just need the stringers on that run along the top. Also I am pinning the stab down to a plywood piece I have installed under the sheeting between the stringers. Ive just started to do some covering on the fuselage. I will do it in pieces to make it easier to handle.

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

Just a couple of photo's on pinning the stab down. I am not using the tri stock under the stab. It should be easier to cover with out it.

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

I was waiting for the filler to dry on the fuse before more covering so I decided to paint the wing. Just doing one panel at a time, the acrylic apple red is applied directly over the fabric, with system three clear coat just over the red. The white fabric already has a nice shiney smooth surface. I'm not following any pattern from any plane. I am just winging it, deciding what to paint as I go.

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

Hi all. I spent some time covering the stab and back half of the fuse. Man you really have to do some tugging and use high heat when you want to shrink that concave surface across the top. I checked my c of g with the control surfaces on but not covered and I don't think I'll have to worry about being tail heavy. I was nose heavy without the cowl and prop, but I still need to do some covering on the tail.

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

Hi all. I did a bit more painting on the fuse today. It gives the plane a bit of color. Also it hides a bit of the not so good covering job where the fin meets the dorsal fin. I will do some kind of strip down the side of the fuse after its covered and possibly on the stab too. I got to say one thing about that super coverite. The nice smooth finish allows a nice clean edge without applying a clear coat underneath.

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

I finished covering one front side of the fuselage. The joint is not that noticeable. After doing the other side, that will be the end of a 15 ft roll. Also I mounted a dowl in the cheeks and ran some 4/40 wire rod to give a bit more scale. I will probably paint that area inside black.

Rob C

My Feedback: (4)

I finished covering the other side of the fuse. Now there is a small spot on the bottom and the stab to be covered. Then the control surfaces. The cowl is fixed up not too bad now and primered. It still has to to be painted white with some red trim.