Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

I was going to start some of the covering today. I have one roll of Sig Aerokote in "Dark Red". But I realized I need to do the silver color first, and the black second, and the red last, so that the overlap is correct. So I needed something else to do. I figured I could start the hinges.

Over the past couple of years I have been stocking up on modelling tools and equipment. So I had a new hinge machine and slot guides ready to go.



Here are the guinea pigs for todays lesson.



The little hinge line tool is really neat! It needs minor assembly. And the tip needs to be set at 1/64 inch. I love my little pocket Starret ruler!



I was worried I would not get the hinge slots in adjoining surfaces aligned correctly. Some sort of system needed to be implemented.

I cut small strips of tape and using the plan sheet for hinge location, set the tape in the center of where the hinges should be.



Then I cut them in the middle and trimmed off the excess.



Using the hinge line tool makes it easy to get a center line. I just ran it back and forth in the area of the tape strip.



The instructions for the Slot Machine suggest that you try some practice slots on scrap balsa.

This gizmo is so easy to use I only made one practice slot.



Then I used it to slot the fin and rudder. No trip to the ER needed! (sorry raynman, couldn't resist! )



And a perfectly aligned fin and rudder! Sweet!



Same process for the stab and elevator.





And we have the tail feathers completed! Easy as 1-2-3.



BTW, the hinges are not glued in place yet. I will do the covering first.

Next, the manual suggests fuel proofing the engine compartment and the cockpit. So I masked them off in preparation.







I wanted to paint the cockpit and engine compartment a dark gray. I did not want to use thinned epoxy. And I did not have any polyester resin. I did have a bottle of white dope. As an experiment I mixed in some water based acrylic paint I use in airbrushing. It worked! I added black and got the shade of gray I wanted. Now that I know this, I am going to be mixing lots of my own colors just using the white dope as a base!

Notice the label on the bottle and the color inside!



Painted up!







The flash of the camera sort of washed out the picture but it looks good in person.

So, I was looking at the instruction sheet that came with my Sig Aerokote covering material.

And noticed something in the lower left corner.





Now then, this does not bother me from a political point of view. Or any point of view for that matter. I've got nothing against stuff made in China. But it brings up a question. What IS Sig Aerokote? Is it just re-labeled something else? Because I have had two colors on backorder for two months. Now I know why. It is made in China and they have lots of delivery issues I found out. So, could I look for the same covering, under a different label? Anyone know what other covering is actually the same as Sigs Aerokote?

I don't want to use Monokote. I have used it before. I want to try the Sig, because I read it was good stuff. And also because it will be going on a Sig model.

CTDave

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks for the heads up,I was thinking of trying the same stuff,not now.I usually use ultra cote very easy to work with corners and all,I used monocote untill the ulstracote no going back now,great stuff.I would still like to try a silk and paint job someday.

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

Yeah, I am sorta bummed too. And especially because I am already two months waiting for the stupid stuff.

I think I will take a look at Ultracote. It is actually Oracover, which is made in Germany. Must be good stuff.

http://www.oracover.de/xml/home.xml?node_id=1

raynman

My Feedback: (3)

Kmot,
I used the Ultracote on my 4 star. I liked it alot..It goes on at medium-high temp and smooths out at higher temp. I found it easy
to work with. After some practice. I had only used monokote before...PS no burns either so I stayed out of the ER for that process!!!

krossk

My Feedback: (27)

Kmot,

I think if you look at the plans closely, you may have missed a hinge in the rudder. It looks to me like there should be one more hinge closer to the bottom. (Look at the third picture in your last post near the end of the small allen wrench.) 3 hinges in the top and nothing at the bottom is asking for some deflection problems when the control rod gets connected to the lower portion.

Everything is looking very nice thus far. Keep up the good work and the documentation is terrific!

RITTMEISTER

LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!! ON THE CLEAN SHOP POST!!! I TOO WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A PERFECT WORKING AREA, BUT EVERY TIME IT TURNS OUT JUST THE OPPOSITE. MY WIFE AND ALL 6 KIDS WERE LAUGHING LIKE CRAZY WHEN I READ THAT POST! DJCIII

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

Ross, a very good observation!

I wondered about that too. No, there is no missing hinge. What ties in the bottom of the rudder is the steering rod for the tailwheel.

lacoonassdjciii: dude! How do you pronounce your name?

The pics of my shop you saw are actually some of the cleaner times, lol!!

raynman: I have looked at the Oracover site and all the information again. I had read it all before a year or so ago. Anyway, I cancelled my backorders for the Aerokote and instead am going with Ultracote. That stuff sounds just awesome from reading the mfg's website. I like how they do things.

RITTMEISTER

OK we are from Louisiana Hurricane katrina forced us to Colorado. The name is LOUISIANA COONASS DENNIS J. CAMPBELL 111

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

Kewl! How about if I just call ya' LCD?

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

I just got back from my LHS. God Bless Em' they had all three colors of Ultracote that I needed! Off to the shop!!

RITTMEISTER

LCD

will1836

Kmot,
Please look at your plans again. The rudder gets 4 hinges not 3. If you look at the plans for the rudder at the top hinge is says "SIG EASY HINGE (4)".
Also the plans show 4 with one at the bottom.

BobbyGee

My Feedback: (3)

Will is right to insist on that 4th hinge.

It's visible on the photo Kmot posted - it's the dotted rectangle inside the bottom opening in the rudder.

I don't have software to edit the photo and insert an arrow, but look again, it's there!

BobbyG

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

Doh!! [sm=redface.gif]

Thanks for pointing that out guys! Dang, I was sure it was just a tailwheel wire down there. 4th hinge will be going in!

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

I went to my shed with my Ultracote and my camera in hand. As I was opening the door to the shed I heard a radial engine. I looked up and saw this:



Looks like a Vultee BT-13

The fuel proofing dope is all dry and I removed the masking tape.





So next, I started my covering portion of this build. Let me preface this right now by declaring: "covering is a major PITA!!"

Okay, so I opened up a roll and read the directions. Ultracote has a paper backing, instead of plastic. You can write on it with a pen. That's nice for drawing lines and patterns. I tried to be conservative with it because it is expensive stuff nowadays. I found I laid my parts at a diagonal to try to use less of the 'lengthwise' part of the roll.

Here is the first layer on the elevator, tacked down with the iron.





After tacking the covering on the other side, I needed to go back into the house to get my heat gun. As I returned to my shed, I heard a Merlin. So I grabbed my camera real quick:



Here is how I trimmed the pieces for tacking over the edges.



And the elevator is done. Took long enough!



Here is my Gen II X-Y Plotter.....



The stab was a challenge, due to the multi color and trying to get a straight line, etc. After today, I am in awe of some of the covering jobs now that I have seen. Must be wizards doing those!



Next was the fin. Instead of using scissors to trim the covering I tried this Top Flite gizmo. Works pretty well, but it does not elimanate the need for the scissors.



Fin and stab looking like one of those park flyers things.



Believe it or not, this is about 4 hours of work! [X(]



Matched up with my concept drawing pretty well!

CTDave

My Feedback: (1)

Very nice,take your time covering is one of my least favorite things and yes it does eat up the time.I do believe there are some covering forums on here there are a few tricks you can use with ultra cote or any of the plastic coverings.Watch the heat with the gun on the open areas,take your time and you will get the hang of it.You can induce a warp into wing panels and open areas so be carefull and you can also take slight warps out too.

CTDave

My Feedback: (1)

Oh ya,got an extra room at your place,I would love to look up and see these planes overhead all the time and the sounds must be great.lol

RITTMEISTER

WOW!! YOUR KIT BUILDING IS VERY VERY NICE!! WHAT CAMERA ARE YOU USING?? SAME FOR KIT PICS AS OUTSIDE PLANES?? DO YOU LIVE BETWEEN AIRPORTS?? ENJOY ALL YOUR POST!! LCD (RITTMEISTER)

CTDave

My Feedback: (1)

Quick ? for kmot,Some of the guys and my relatives want to get nitro trucks to tear up my side lot.what would you suggest,nothing for serious racing just some good badhing but we do not want junk you know something with some punch and reliable. Thanx

CTDave

My Feedback: (1)

ps. we wouldn't mind building kits of these thing either.We all had the elect.ones way back when.Yes I am in the same age bracket as you.haha

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

CTDave and LCD, re: the airplanes overhead = I live very close to Van Nuys Airport. I get to hear, and see if I am outside, really cool planes every day of the year. The sound of a radial engine or a Merlin V-12 is so commonplace that I don't even run outside to look anymore. For an airplane nut, it is a real blessing! But before this house, I lived a couple blocks from Burbank (Lockheed) airport. I could watch the planes as they broke ground while standing at my kitchen window. But VNY has all the warbirds. The guys who fly R/C at Sepulveda Basin see this stuff every day too.

LCD: I am using an Olympus E-300. Same camera for both pics. But it is with the short, or 'normal' lens. If I had the long lens on it the plane pics would be very close-up.


CTDave: There are a lot of choices out there. Makes it hard to come to a decision. But here are my recommendations:
If you want a 4WD monster truck, get either a Traxxas T-Maxx or an HPI Savage. These are amazing machines, and the parts support is everywhere. These trucks will go anywhere and over everything!

If you want crazy 2WD balzing speed, get the new Traxxas Jato.

If you want a 'racing' type truck, look at the Traxxas Revo, and the XTM Mammoth ST.

I believe the only kit version you can buy now are the HPI Savage and the Kyosho Giga Crusher. But the Kyosho is a very specialised machine.

RITTMEISTER

Kmot,
DID YOU EVER MAKE IT OVER TO MILE SQUARE PARK TO FLY?? IN SANTA ANA? I STARTED R/C THERE IN 1972-1977.I ALSO AT THAT TIME USED TO FLY SOME WHERE FARTHER AWAY A GOOD RIDE FROM GARDEN GROVE/ SANTA ANA.. A R/C MECCA SOMEWHERE AROUND THE DESERT. I REALLY CANT REMEMBER THE NAME.[:@] LCD RITTMEISTER.

PS. THIS LAST KIT I ASSEMBLED TOOK 3 WEEKS WORKING DAY AND NIGHT.
COULD'NT STOP. FELL ASLEEP W/ MONO IRON IN HAND.......[X(]
HOW MANY HOURS A DAY/NIGHT FOR YOU??????

CTDave

My Feedback: (1)

Thanx,those are the ones I have been reading about I'll have to give them a look.There has been a few changes since I ran my rcten and Ikuraus and blackfoot around.Now we will see if the rest really want to get into this or what.I still have a lot of plane building to do so we will wait and see if they are serious or not.

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

LCD: I visited Mile Square Park a couple of times in the early 80's. I went there to watch the 1/4 scale sprint cars race; and one other time for a model airplane competition. Did you know it was closed down several years ago?

I dunno how many hours a day I put in this build. It varies.

RITTMEISTER

Kmot,
No I did not know that the park closed. Like I said last time I was there 1972-1977......I do remember cars gas cars racing on a track surrounded by railroad tyes at mile square. At that time not many cars were there. Interesting you were there I have often wondered if it was still operating. I was young then and delivered the Register newspaper.There was a handful of R/C kit builders on my route. Tons of assistance and lots of GOOD freinds through mile square. 43 now 6 kids seems like forever ago..
LCD