RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers

RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers
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RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers - 4/20/2004 10:57:58 PM

harryw13

Posts: 104
Joined: 12/16/2002
From: Homerville, OH, USA
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Eric,
Maybe this should be a separate topic ( or future article), but I heard you talk about Mode-1, Did you learn on mode-1, or switch later? Do many of the top flyers use mode-1? If someone's at Intermediate level of pattern, is it worth taking a step back and switching , or is it to late?
Thanks,
Harry Wagner

(in reply to Eric.Henderson)

Post #: 151

RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers - 4/29/2004 5:00:37 AM

Don Szczur

Posts: 981
Joined: 1/6/2002
From: Chantilly, VA, USA
Status: offline

I read the instructions the other night and when I opened up the instruction book to where I left off. There was just one step left- Canopy mount.

Now I look at my Focus 1.5 and its really, really nice, thanks to Dave. It sets the standard. So I want to do a decent job on the canopy area. I can't recall if anyone has located matching paint for the red (otherwise I'll just go out and get some mixed). I removed the covering from the inside of the turtle deck and my father bought some paint to paint the inside. From past experience, leaving the covering on the deck floor seems to wrinkle up over time. Not wanting to risk this, nor wanting to carve out the balsa (it already seems to be built quite light) then some black paint seems to be the trick answer.

The next decision item is whether to sand down the canopy and clear-coat it...

Later,
Don

(in reply to harryw13)

Post #: 152

RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers - 5/7/2004 4:11:36 AM

Don Szczur

Posts: 981
Joined: 1/6/2002
From: Chantilly, VA, USA
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Eric, Lets fly this weekend How about that field we flew at last time, somewhere in central Joyzee. Saturday?

Painted the trim around the canopy and it turned out really nice. I tried to emulate the most outstanding job that Dave Guerin did on the Focus 1 1/2. Any case, here were the steps.

Had some monokote matching red (Radio South Concept PPG) left over from 1999. way back when I finished off the Prophecy. I also had some monokote matching yellow. My son in kindergarden told me that mixing a little yellow with the red will lighten up the monokote red until it matches the red on the Focus ARF. My first attempt was late at night and it was about 8 drops of yellow in about a quarter ounce of red. I painted the trim with a brush. When I came in the next morning it was still just a bit too dark for my taste, so I put in about another 14 drops of yellow in. It matches pretty close after this second coat.

I cut the red covering out of the inside of the canopy deck and painted the deck flat black. Here is a trick. I took the scrap red covering from the inside canopy deck and cut a few 1/4 inch pieces. I then used it to iron on around the back crack surrounding the vertical fin assembly. It looks very nice since the covering matches perfectly.

(in reply to Eric.Henderson)

Post #: 153

RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers - 5/7/2004 4:49:25 AM

Eric.Henderson

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Joined: 9/10/2003
From: Mt Laurel, NJ, USA
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Don,
Sure, a session would be very enjoyable.

Just call me anytime on the home number.

Eric

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If it has wings I''ll fly it....

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Post #: 154

RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers - 5/17/2004 3:28:39 AM

Derek.Koopowitz

Posts: 348
Joined: 2/27/2004
From: Benicia, CA, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Don Szczur

Next step is hinging. I tried the elevator pushrod and yes, as others have discovered, its a right snug fit in the rear support block. I'm going to drill a hole from the back tail post and enlarge the pushrod support hole some. (then hinge all the surfaces to include the rudder).

Actually, all I did to make the fit a little less snug was to sand the push rod - took me about 15 seconds of sanding and now the pushrod slides perfectly without any snags. I also added a ply support closer to the servo that the pushrod goes through to remove flexing.

(in reply to Don Szczur)

Post #: 155

RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers - 5/17/2004 4:02:59 AM

Jeff-RCU

Posts: 332
Joined: 3/8/2002
From: columbus, IN, USA
Status: offline

Well my FocusII started rolling tonight and didn't stop till it went in. Fuse broke in three places. One wing broke in half. WIng tube bent about 35 degrees. Not sure if it went into fail safe, or what really happened. The right aileron stripped the coating off the hinges and they came out clean. But I think that was secondary damage. Started rebuilding the fuse tonight. It's repairable (big advantage for wood fuses here). I'll probably just patch the covering, instead of starting from scratch. Haven't the heart tonight to strip the wing covering and take a look at the damage.

(in reply to Derek.Koopowitz)

Post #: 156

RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers - 5/22/2004 5:15:21 AM

Don Szczur

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From: Chantilly, VA, USA
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I helped Randy get his Focus II in the air tonight. Its yellow with blue on the underside. A ball link screw and nut came un-done. taking off the right aileron pushrod. The plane rolled left real hard with the aileron fluttering in the wind. Actually the whole wing was oscillating. Got it down ok but lesson learned is to use lock -tite on the screw/nuts.

(in reply to Jeff-RCU)

Post #: 157

RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers - 5/27/2004 3:12:02 AM

Jeff-RCU

Posts: 332
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From: columbus, IN, USA
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Well, don't know if anybody's interested, but I put my smashed FocusII back together and had a test flight today. The crash broke the fuse into three pieces and crushed about 4 inches of the right wing, just aft of the wing tube. I pieced the fuse back together and dug out all the crushed foam out of the wing and put light spackle in it's placed (I know that is a totally hillbilly way to fix it, but I was still pissed about the accident when I was working on it), then glassed everything. Looks like total crap, wing is slightly wavy and the fuse ended up with a slight bow on one side. . Surprisingly, it flew just like it did before the crash! Now I wish I would have did a better job of rebuilding! Though I did find out that mixing 21 century fabric, blue monokote and red ultracote, not only looks like sh*t, it peeled back during the test flight!

(in reply to Don Szczur)

Post #: 158

RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers - 6/21/2004 7:14:39 PM

Pro pattern

Posts: 354
Joined: 4/19/2003
From: Savaneta, ARUBA
Status: offline

Hello Everyone,

I’m finally in the final stage of my building and now wonder what (where) should the
control throws be at. For High and low Rate.

And also where is a good Starting point for the Exponential …??

Thanks in advance for all the info, it will be appreciated.

Danny

_____________________________

Nobody is perfect, I’m nobody
3rd place, is just 2nd best loser

(in reply to Jeff-RCU)

Post #: 159

RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers - 6/22/2004 1:17:55 AM

Eric.Henderson

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Joined: 9/10/2003
From: Mt Laurel, NJ, USA
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So far I have used the following throws

Ailerons 12 degrees both ways - 20% expo
Elevator 18 degrees up 20 degrees down 40 and 55% expo
Rudder, about 1/2" short of each elevator - 25% expo

This gives good snaps, rudder elevator only spins. It may not suit your style of flying, but it will give you a good start. (CG seems to like to be on LE of wing tube with wing off :-))

Regards,

Eric.

< Message edited by Eric.Henderson -- 6/21/2004 8:18:58 PM >

_____________________________

If it has wings I''ll fly it....

(in reply to Pro pattern)

Post #: 160

RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers - 6/22/2004 1:29:57 AM

Pro pattern

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Joined: 4/19/2003
From: Savaneta, ARUBA
Status: offline

Thanks for the info, but I still have a question .
What did you mean with: Elevator 18 degrees up 20 degrees down 40 and 55% expo.
(could you explain)

I’m using JR XP8103 (Radio)

Again Thanks for the info.

Danny

_____________________________

Nobody is perfect, I’m nobody
3rd place, is just 2nd best loser

(in reply to Eric.Henderson)

Post #: 161

RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers - 6/22/2004 3:31:53 AM

Aruba_Maverick

Posts: 194
Joined: 9/29/2002
From: Oranjestad, ARUBA
Status: offline

Hi Danny

Don't worry I''ll help you with the programming on your radio.

C Lim

(in reply to Pro pattern)

Post #: 162

RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers - 6/22/2004 5:41:00 AM

Pro pattern

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Joined: 4/19/2003
From: Savaneta, ARUBA
Status: offline

Oh, ok Thanks Chee Chong.

Danny

_____________________________

Nobody is perfect, I’m nobody
3rd place, is just 2nd best loser

(in reply to Aruba_Maverick)

Post #: 163

RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers - 6/23/2004 3:51:28 AM

Don Szczur

Posts: 981
Joined: 1/6/2002
From: Chantilly, VA, USA
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Flew the airplane last night.

Here is the detail.

Like all the Focus aircraft that I have flown, this one requires two turns of negative incidence in the left wing. That comes out to about an eighth inch. Upright and inverted spin entries and inverted flight were very stable after this change. This incidence change also brough the ailerons back on center.

I noticed a styrofoam sound when bringing the plane back from its second flight. Apon inspection, I found the small dowels that hold the wing retainer screws were loose and when flexing the wing, looked like they were trying to pop out some.

After an hour of poking, bending, looking and pondering. I took a knife to the wing. After pulling the white covering off up to the wing screw. I cut a small V shaped hole and after moving the (very lightweight) foam out of the way, noticed there was about 1/16 inch gap from where the wing tube socket plugs in to the false rib. I poured a few dabs of 5- minute epoxy in there, let it run down along the gap to fill it in order to provide a strong bond. Then ironed the covering back in place. Tonight the plane flew a few more times and the wing is nice and strong with no movement.

How does it fly? I'll tell you after the NATS.

I'll attach a picture if it comes through, with details on the repair.

Don

(in reply to bla bla)

Post #: 164

RE: FOCUS II ARF construction by-the-numbers - 6/23/2004 4:11:12 AM

Don Szczur

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From: Chantilly, VA, USA
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Attached is picture of wing fix.

(in reply to Don Szczur)