mRqS

Hi Cruz,

Vibrations... possible, because this is quite big (80ccm) single-cylinder engine.
I had really symiliar effect in my previous "small" Decathlon (GP Decathlon) with 10ccm Magnum 2-stroke engine.
It's just a fuselage resonance (it's mostly empty). You're right.. it sounds really strange

Dowels

Main dowel: 5mm (ab. 0.2'')
Thin dowels: 2.5mm (0.1'')


Struts
It's possible, that I'll stay with "factory" wing struts. I just didn't installed additional wooden blocks to mount additional strut's parts.

cruzmissile

Marek,

With the factory wing design, the wooden struts provide would be fine however, my altered design would need these extra supports so I kept that in mind and made the upgraded wing strut versions to accomidate the revised wing I built. Hopefully my design would help keep the wings together when I finally get this thing flying.

mRqS

Cruzmissile,

Sure, but your struts will looks much better
A scale-like

btw, started to make "upholstery" in cockpit

cruzmissile

Ok, finally got around to do some photos and such. I was busy all day yesterday with shopping and I went to a wonderful Christmas dinner at our Church. Anyways, I used some metal straps from Dubro and since they are pre-drilled, I used them to make the strut attachments.

cruzmissile

here too are the aluminum wing struts.

I went ahead and fully sheeted over the landing gear. If something were to happen, I would just have to make some minor cuts to remove them and them patch over them.

cruzmissile

Marek, can't wait to see how you did your seats.

mRqS

hehe.... Not finished yet.
Have no material for seats yet. Only cockpit walls.

cruzmissile

ok.. well can't wait to see those either. Have a good one

apalsson

My Feedback: (1)

Hi cruz,

Where you have sheeted your landing gear in, have you considered cutting the sheeting where it covers the gear and making a little removable block that follows the underside contour of your SD?
You could relatively easily cut a former for each end and then bolt in the little block. This way, you can remove the gear if you need to and if you have a mishap with the plane, damage is likely to be less.

I am posting a photo showing how a fellow RCU-er did this on his 33% SD. I did mine the same way.

mRqS

Here is a picture of not fully glued walls. and not covered seats.

cruzmissile

apalsson, I think I'll go back and do as you suggested. It won't hurt anything to go back and make those changes now.

I tried to solder the aluminum strut with the nickle straps, but they just don't bond well at all so I epoxied them to keep them together. here is the mount for the strut attaching to the wing.

cruzmissile

Here is the rear wing sturt completed.

atc-rc

Hi there. I am new to this group. I used to fly RC airplanes an due to family reasons I had to quit. Now the kids are old enough for me to return to the hobby.

I am currently building the super decathlon. I chose this because after reading several reviews about the ease of construction, I figured it wouldn't be a bad one to get back into building again. Even though I have found that some of the instructions are less than clear, this has been a relatively easy kit to build so far.

I have completed the tail section and one wing with the exception of the wing tip. Currently working on the other wing.

I have a couple of questions.

1. I bought a Futaba 6XA radio. It came with 4 s3004 servos. Are these servos good enough for this airplane. Like the plans show I wil use 2 for ailerons and 2 for elevator. Before I go buying or replacing the servos, some info would be appreciated. I should also mention that I have a couple of 1/4 scale servos (pretty good size ones) but don't know if I should or could use them.

2. What engine woul be the best for this airplane. I was thinking about a Magnum 120 or a Saito 150.

Thanks in advance

ATC-RC

cruzmissile

atc-rc,

Hello and welcome to this building thread and welcome back to this wonderful hobby.
NO... they only provide about 44-54oz/in torque of power and this plane is required to use over 50 or so. I am going to use Hobbico C-70MG servos because provide about 106 oz/in at 4.8V or 133oz/in at 6.0V and are only 39.99 at Towerhobbies.

A person in another thread used 1/4 servos and they provided to be too large. That person had to alter the servo construction just to house them. They also won't fit in the servo tray designed to power the elevator and rudder.

As far as engine goes, I think the 120 will be a pushing it on the "need a bigger engine" side. I think the 150 would work, but I have to experience with that engine. I am using the Zenoah G-38 $299. It's a fairly inexpeinsive gasoline engine and alot cheaper than the Saito 4strokes of equal size.

mRqS

Hi ATC_RC and welcome back!

I'll use a ZDZ-40 gas engine.
I read somewhere, that 120 class engine will pull it around in a Piper Cub like style, so no aerobatics or almost no aerobatics will be possible.

Regarding servos: I'll use a cheap and very good Graupner C5077 servos, whose are 5kg/cm with 4.8V it's ab. 70 Oz
They're cost ab 15-17 Eur (ab. 20$)

cruzmissile

I finished up the seats and seat belt. Here are some photos of them. I mounted the seat belts to the floor board similar to the actual construction method.

mRqS

WOW!
you should find a proper pilot now.

Below are pictures of today's work results.

cruzmissile

Nice looking cowls there, looking like a real airplane. What did you use to attach the three part cowl?

I think the next thing I might do is construct those levers against the wall next to the pilot seat. The photo above is what I'm refering to.

mRqS

Cowl was glued with CA as manual states. Currently cowl isn't attached to fuselage yet. Will do it at the end, when everything will be finished and installed.
Be careful during cowl gluing. It's a bit tight. I've to sand front part of fuselage bit more to easy install cowl.

cruzmissile

I was just wondering because I used a strip of fiberglass and epoxied the cowl at the joint to hold it together better. I might ultimately buy a fiberglass cowl from a fiberglass specialist like "Stan's Fiberglass" of "The fiberglass Specialist."

mRqS

I'll probably reinforce it as well.

Below pictures with engine installed.
I had to do some cut-outs in cowl to match engine, but once done - fits perfectly.

mRqS

And a test assembly:

cruzmissile

Looking good there. Now you have to do the wingtips, wing strut and that's complete the skeleton of the aircraft.

mRqS

Yes, and it will be the end of work for some time (no money for servos and covering).

cruzmissile

I hear ya... I'm hoping if I get enough Christmas money, I'll go ahead and buy my engine so I can start doing the cowl and servo throttle installation. It's coming to that stage of the constuction where it's going to cost over $30 an item to install equipment and such.