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Cloud Bound 4 - 7/15/2004 5:55:30 PM   
McLeodAviation


 

Posts: 208
Joined: 7/7/2003
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Hi RCUniverse,

Anyone building or flying a Skybench Cloud Bound 4 sailplane? This beautiful all wood sailplane was a construction article in May 1977 RC Modeler Magazine. Now a laser cut kit is available from Skybench. I am ordering the Skybench kit and can't wait to begin construction.

Cloudbound, Mike

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< Message edited by McLeodAviation -- 9/11/2004 2:43:06 AM >
       Post #: 1

RE: Cloud Bound 4 - 7/20/2004 4:08:56 PM   
Rick K


 

Posts: 260
Joined: 11/16/2003
From: Fontana, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Mike, while I'm not building a 'Cloud Bound 4' I am building a Skybench kit (Viking). I must warn you that if the kit you're getting is anything like mine plan on spending alot of time figuring things out. From what I'm expereincing and from the input of others building other Skybench kits there seems to be a common problem . . . Ray (Skybench) has made many changes/improvements to the org. kits and later still revised those changes. The problem is that he isn't up to date in his descriptions as to the latest changes and none of the changes to the org. are shown on the plans or drawn anywhere else. My kit is comming out nicely, its just taking about three times as long to build as I thought it would. It's not hard to build or anything like that and the wood and lazer cutting is good, what's taking so much time is figuring out whats new, whats not and how and where/when to install the new stuff.
It's like getting a new software program, the org. was Ver. 1.0, you got Ver. 1.3 but the documentation is for Ver. 1.2 and the keyboard template provided is for 1.0 and with each up-graded Ver. the keyboard was 're-mapped' somewhat . . . like F1 still does the same thing but now F4 = Ctrl+R and Shift+G now is Ctrl+R etc... and you get to figure it all out yourself and oh, if you mess up a keystroke command the program could cause a 'System Failure" and crash the computer. Measure twice, cut once . . . in this case study everything twice, three, four or more times. Don't cut or glue ANYTHING untill your'e sure your'e sure and then check it out one more time again, unless you like to make a thousand or so trips to the hobby store to get replacement wood.
Rick K

(in reply to McLeodAviation)
       Post #: 2

RE: Cloud Bound 4 - 7/21/2004 9:13:17 PM   
McLeodAviation


 

Posts: 208
Joined: 7/7/2003
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Rick,

Thanks for the tips. I will double check every thing and try to make a list of Rays modifications before I start building.

I was hoping to communicate with someone that has already completed a Skybench Cloud Bound 4 kit. Apparently not any RCUniverse members are building this kit?

Cloudbound, Mike

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< Message edited by McLeodAviation -- 7/23/2004 6:23:54 PM >

(in reply to Rick K)
       Post #: 3

RE: Cloud Bound 4 - 7/23/2004 9:59:28 PM   
Rick K


 

Posts: 260
Joined: 11/16/2003
From: Fontana, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Mike, Yeah when I posted inquirys here concerning my purchase of the 'Viking' kit back in March I only received responses from people who have built other Skybench kits (which were but a few, but all positive) . . . you might want to try a post on the 'Lift Zone.com' site. Someone there may have the info. you want. Skybench kits are defenitly 'old school' builders kits with modern cutting methods . . . you still need to know a thing or two about building (or remember things you forgot) to have a good time with the kit, these are not 'paint by the numbers' projects by any means.
Rick K

(in reply to McLeodAviation)
       Post #: 4

RE: Cloud Bound 4 - 7/25/2004 4:23:08 PM   
McLeodAviation


 

Posts: 208
Joined: 7/7/2003
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Here is one more picture of the Cloud Bound 4.

Rays Skybench kit recommends building the fuselage 2 inches longer. Not sure if I will do this to my CD4?

Cloudbound, Mike

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(in reply to Rick K)
       Post #: 5

RE: Cloud Bound 4 - 7/26/2004 4:41:40 PM   
Rick K


 

Posts: 260
Joined: 11/16/2003
From: Fontana, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Mike, I'd go along with what Ray recommends . . . I know 'V' tails need a long arm-moment for good pitch control and in any plane a longer tail arm-moment makes for greater stability. All of the mods Ray made to my kit's design make sense either from a survivability (strength) or performance standpoint. I'd do it if I were you but if you're interested in NOS class flying I'd first check out the rules or call Ray to inquire if making that Mod. would disqualify your plane from competition, from what I know all you can do to a kit is to strengthen the wing or other structure and add spoilers . . . I don't think you can do anything that would change the Orig. basic design concept or outline (or you can hope nobody notices) I'm not sure so you'd better check it out.
Rick K

< Message edited by Rick K -- 7/26/2004 4:43:22 PM >

(in reply to McLeodAviation)
       Post #: 6

RE: Cloud Bound 4 - 7/29/2004 12:48:39 AM   
McLeodAviation


 

Posts: 208
Joined: 7/7/2003
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Rick,

I probably will build my CB4 to the dimensions on the original plan. I will consider all recommended modifications for extra strength.

The Skybench CB4 kit does not include a clear canopy like the original model. I was a little disappointed to here this. Ray plans to have them available in the future.

I have ordered my CB4 kit and should receive any day.

Cloudbound, Mike

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< Message edited by McLeodAviation -- 10/27/2004 8:23:02 PM >

(in reply to Rick K)
       Post #: 7

RE: Cloud Bound 4 - 7/30/2004 5:35:19 AM   
Rick K


 

Posts: 260
Joined: 11/16/2003
From: Fontana, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Hello Mike, you might be surprised . . . my kits Inst. told how to carve a balsa block into a canopy, but included a vacuformed clear canopy . . . see what I mean about not up to date info. That was one thing that was not current in the Inst. of my kit that was OK by me. I really think that my kit will end up being something that I'll be able to take pride in at the field . . . as soon as I get done with it . . . someday soon I hope. I hope you enojoy your kit and will keep in touch on how it's going.
Rick K

(in reply to Rick K)
       Post #: 8

RE: Cloud Bound 4 - 7/30/2004 6:31:02 AM   
McLeodAviation


 

Posts: 208
Joined: 7/7/2003
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Rick,

I am still waiting for my CB4 kit from Skybench. I emailed Ray tonight and should here something tomorrow.

Hope my CB4 kit comes with a clear canopy too!

When I receice my kit will post pictures and info.

You certainly will take great pride in finishing your Viking sailplane. Keep up the good work!

Cloudbound, Mike

(in reply to Rick K)
       Post #: 9

RE: Cloud Bound 4 - 7/30/2004 3:41:23 PM   
Rick K


 

Posts: 260
Joined: 11/16/2003
From: Fontana, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Mike, it took six days for my kit to get from Ray in Ind. to here in SoCal. I checked on it's progress through it's tracking # every day. It first went to a sorting facility in Ohio then by truck to Las Vegas on to a sorting place in the next city over from mine and finaly to my door. It was kinda neat tracking it . .. made me feel like a kid waiting for Christmass. You'll really like the cutting and pre-shapeing of parts you wouldn't expect to be done for you. As I said before it's the Inst. that put the 'wammy' on the kit. Too bad for me but maybe your kit will be different. Oh, in my last post I said the Inst. said balsa block canopy . . . I meant Ray's 'up-date' sheet not the Org. kit inst.
Rick K

< Message edited by Rick K -- 7/30/2004 3:45:02 PM >

(in reply to McLeodAviation)
       Post #: 10

RE: Cloud Bound 4 - 7/30/2004 6:22:32 PM   
McLeodAviation


 

Posts: 208
Joined: 7/7/2003
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Rick,

I received email from Skybench today and my CB4 kit will not be shipped until next week. Apparently the kit was not in stock and I will have to wait a little longer.

I am also feeling like a kid waiting for Christmas. Receiving a new RC airplane kit brings much happiness.

Don't worry, I won't be towing my sailplanes with my pickup. Just a crazy idea but is getting some interesting replies.

Cloudbound, Mike

(in reply to Rick K)
       Post #: 11

RE: Cloud Bound 4 - 7/30/2004 6:51:36 PM   
Rick K


 

Posts: 260
Joined: 11/16/2003
From: Fontana, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Good morning . . . it still is here, anyway, Ray had my plane in stock but my web friend Loran (Astro-Jeff) had to wait as you are for Ray to cut him a kit. I'm pretty sure Ray waits to get a few orders together of a given kit and then makes a run of them. Makes sense to me, you wouldn't want to drag out all the jigs and templates to only cut one kit at a time or program the laser cutter just for one kit unless you had to. Tough to have to wait though, I feel for ya! The six days of shipping seemed more like six weeks to me after all the time spent carefully choosing the kit I wanted, visiting the site around ten times to be sure of being sure and getting all 'fired-up' after finally ordering it. Yeah, there still is a kid in us . . . not quite that far 'Over the hill' yet.
Rick K

(in reply to McLeodAviation)
       Post #: 12

Thermal Machine - 8/5/2004 8:28:31 PM   
McLeodAviation


 

Posts: 208
Joined: 7/7/2003
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Wonder if my Cloud Bound 4 kit will arrive today? I am ready to start building!

I hope Ray doesn't wait for multiple orders before cutting kits. That could possibly take weeks or months! He did say last week that my kit will be shipped this week. I wish the delay was Ray making a canopy plug and vacuum forming a clear canopy. Not likely because last week he said the kit does not include a clear canopy.

Cloudbound, Mike

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< Message edited by McLeodAviation -- 8/5/2004 8:54:35 PM >

(in reply to Rick K)
       Post #: 13

RE: Thermal Machine - 8/5/2004 9:45:21 PM   
Rick K


 

Posts: 260
Joined: 11/16/2003
From: Fontana, CA, USA
Status: offline 		"Head-in-the-clouds" Mike, (trying to be funny) I don't know . . . Ray sent me a e-mail stating the shipping date and the 'tracking #' (that's how I was able to monitor it's progress across the country). Did you ask him to do so as I did?

Once when I was starting out I messed up the canopy on the 'S-Lady' I was building, a buddy gave me the canopy off his wrecked Oly 650 and with a little fussing and cutting I made it work for me and it looked OK also. Maybe you could try something like that out. I know I wouldn't look forward to carving one from balsa, I'm dreading carving the "Horner" anti-vortex wing tips on my kit. Especially as they have to match perfectly to each other. (don't need any grief from my flying 'buddies' at the field as they are such expert critics on other's work)
Well hope you get your plane today or at least this week . . . good luck!
Rick K

(in reply to McLeodAviation)
       Post #: 14

RE: Cloud Bound 4 - 8/6/2004 8:02:19 AM   
McLeodAviation


 

Posts: 208
Joined: 7/7/2003
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Rick,

I received email from Skybench and my kit is in the mail. YEE HAA!!!!!

I will post pictures of my new CB4 kit soon. I will also post pictures of my CB4 construction for any interested viewers.

I will look for possible canopies to adapt but will probably use a wood canopy for now. Hopefully Ray will have clear canopies available soon.

Cloudbound, Mike