Posts: 59
Joined: 8/7/2002 From: Fort Myers, FL, USA Status: offline
Hi Reg, The Fowler flaps should be a great addition to your plane. A friend of mine put them on a giant skymaster and they looked great. I don't have the expertise or patience to do it. Like you explained, it does take some time and a lot of extra effort.
Thanks for the compliments on the trim scheme. It is cream and red, sort of antique looking.
We have finished covering the fuselage and are working on tail braces, with engine mounting, aileron and flap hookup, and radio installation etc. It required 12 rolls of Ultracote.
I would like to take credit for the STOL tips but that all goes to Bruce Tharpe. I elected the 79.95 optional tips which means Bruce does all the work for you and a perfect job he does. In fact, I emailed him the same day the box arrived complimenting him on the work of art that he does on those tips. The rest of the kit, as you know, is the same way. He is a class act. All that was required was a little fine sanding and a little thinned epoxy painted along the tips to strengthen them in case they get bumped.
Everyone at the field keeps asking how the "sky king" is coming along and I got tired of saying you mean the Super Flyin King? Thus, its nicknamed the Sky King.
The video camera should be a lot of fun. You have probably seen Jim Lukenbill's footage already. Pretty neat! The only other optional equipment, besides a bomb bay and doors, is smoke. Its that new digitally adjustable flow Sullivan Skywriter. I'm interested to see how well it works since ground-only manual adjustable ones have been pretty finicky in the past. With two engines on yours and all that wing, You can load it up with just about anything you can think of within reason. Are you using one tank or two?
Posts: 89
Joined: 6/10/2003 From: Midwest City,
OK, USA Status: offline
Bob, Bruce Tharp would have probably liked to use Sky King but would have run into copyright problems with the old TV show. From your picture, it doesn't look like you are old enough to remember the Sky King TV show from the 50s. I couldn't agree with you more about Bruce's kit quality. This hobby could use more quality kit makers like him. Sure they cost a little bit more, but I got tired of all the cookie cutter ARFs and kits made in China. Bruce is a great guy to talk to and he is willing to give advice when needed. While I was typing, the UPS guy showed up with my custom wing kit that Bruce made for me. It is going on my RCS 215 cc radial-engined test plane (see threads or pic below). It is based on a German built plane that I saw in a video. I bought the engine last summer. Like your Sky King, everyone at my field wants to know when they will get to see the radial run. I plan on using two tanks in the SFK twin. There is plenty of room in the engine nacelles. Each engine will have its own throttle servo. No bell cranks. I noticed in your picture a Hangar 9 Ultra Stik sitting on the table. I hate to tell you this, but that SFK wing will not fit (Ha Ha). You and I seem to have similar tastes in planes. My Stik has a G26 for power. Well back to fowler city.
Reg Mason
< Message edited by fobus -- 2/2/2004 4:41:05 PM >
Posts: 59
Joined: 8/7/2002 From: Fort Myers, FL, USA Status: offline
OK Reg, That is one beautiful engine! In case you had any doubt about which servos to use on your SFK , the combined area of ailerons and flaps alone are over 800 square inches. So, my initial impression was right: the flaps and ailerons have a combined area equal to most .40-.60 size sport plane wings. Big servos are in order here to move these against the airstream. Take care, Bob
Posts: 98
Joined: 12/9/2002 From: arnoldsville,
GA, USA Status: offline
when i was at joe nall last year, i saw paster rick was flying a sky king with a DA-100 in it. yes that is right. it was being used as a jump plane for R/C sky divers. just thought you guys would like to know about it.
Posts: 33
Joined: 9/11/2003 From: Assumption,
IL, USA Status: offline
Well, I got a great start on my SFK . Center section is all framed up, One outer panel framed, One outer panel finished. I do have the Twin kit but modified it for my own purposes. The Engine pods are moved out near the ends of the center section, Camera Bays.
I must give Bruce a big !! Ata Boy !! What a kit! The craftsmanship in the precut pieces in fantastic. Instructions are good. (Could use a few more pic's. But I ain't complaining.) Wood quality is excellent. And his GA glue is very high quality. (I took his recommendation of 1 thin, 1 thick. and 4 medium. Excellent glue. The blueprints are exceptional. Thank you Bruce! It's a pleasure to build.
mo later
< Message edited by michaelburton01 -- 2/9/2004 12:35:19 AM >
Posts: 33
Joined: 9/11/2003 From: Assumption,
IL, USA Status: offline
Hey REG ! Lookin good! I've been able to put a lot of time into this project. While the SFK is a beautiful bird, built as it was intended. I am finding it lends itself very well as a utility vehicle. The modifications I am making are for my specific needs. The BIG R O O M Y cabin allows you to be creative. Hinging the control surfaces was made very easy with the GreatPlanes Slot Machine. I made my Tail feathers bolt on. I didn't mind the extra weight as the honkin twin up front is quit weighty. Construction is about done. Some final sanding, some tid bit things here and there to finish it up. I expect the first flight will be planned for the 14th of this month. Michael
Posts: 33
Joined: 9/11/2003 From: Assumption,
IL, USA Status: offline
Weight, so far isn't to bad. The wing weighs 10pound 2 ounces tail feathers 1pound 2 oz fuse 19 pounds 12 oz w/ engines parts (Batterys, Radio,less covering) 8 pounds
39 pounds.
FYI The engine w/ starter and battery is 9 pounds 12oz
Posts: 59
Joined: 8/7/2002 From: Fort Myers, FL, USA Status: offline
Micheal, It's looking real nice so far. I noticed a hatch on top of the wing and was wondering what that will be used for. Also there is an extra support down the front of the windshield. I haven't flown mine yet but it does not have this extra support. I don't think the windshield will cave in but there is only one way to find out. What do you think of the wing joiners? Bob
Posts: 59
Joined: 8/7/2002 From: Fort Myers, FL, USA Status: offline
Micheal, I forgot to mention how cool your cowl modification looks with the twin. That's the neat thing about this plane, whatever engine you use requires a different modification to the cowl making each one a little different, (see the RC Report G-62 version) unless you go with the exact setup that Bruce Tharpe used on his prototype. There is one on the BTEModels website that Jim Lukenbill finished with a Fox twin in it I believe. His cowl is completely different as well but still looks good. Will you use 2 cameras, one in each wing pod? Bob
Posts: 33
Joined: 9/11/2003 From: Assumption,
IL, USA Status: offline
The hatch on top is for the radio equipment and autopilot avionics. I'm mounting cameras in the wing nacelles, And an onboard VCR for the best picture clarity. It's amazing how small they have gotten in a portable vcr's/ The support in the windshield was just a bit I added, gave me something to do at that moment. I think the wing joiners are quite adequate. I would Imagine you would experience a structural failure before you break the Aluminum Joiner's As for slipping out while in flight.. I doubt thats a possibility. Unless you forget to tighten the screws. Then your on your own. In the event I happen to pull the threads on one, I drilled and tapped extra holes for the joiner bolts.
Posts: 89
Joined: 6/10/2003 From: Midwest City,
OK, USA Status: offline
Bob and Mike, I am quite jealous of you both and the progress you have made. That is what one gets when trying to work on several planes at once and spending too much time at the field flying. Bob's Sky King is a work of art and Michael's will be a flying avionics wonder of the modeling world. Mine, gentlemen, is a very large and well built paper weight. On a brighter note, I did finish my Fowler flap mock up. I am glad I took the time to do such, as I made several changes along the way. (pics below). My current concern is the weight of the G-38s and the vibration of the wing center section. I am a little concerned about using dowels to hold the front of the wing in place. I usually cover my wooden dowels with brass tubing to cut down on wear, but what I would really like to do is use 3/8 bolts into the leading edge of the wing. The problem is access through the front windshield. It would have to be removable and there is not a lot of clearance at the holes. To combat vibration and give added strength to the wing, my
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Giant Scale Aircraft - 3D & Aerobatic >> RE: Super Flying King twin-engined version 
RE: Super Flying King twin-engined version - 
Bob, 
Bob and Mike,