RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon  
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    • All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Giant Scale Aircraft - General >> RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon
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    RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon - 11/24/2002 3:34:28 AM   
    Ron Eisner


     

    Posts: 103
    Joined: 12/16/2001
    From: Pickerington, OH, USA
    Status: offline     		Has anyone called and questioned Wendell or Stans about the problems you seem to be having with the front end design of this bird?
    Do I understand you correctly, that if you cut the first 2" off of the fuse and reposition the firewall at the new distance that the Stans cowl then becomes correct?
    And Lee... if you decide to do a scratch cowl, will it be designed for the existing fuse length or the 2" trimmed version.
    I'm starting to wonder why I paid Stans somewhere around $150 bucks for a poorly designed and layed up cowl... AND gear that needs 2" cut out of the center to fit.
    I'm tryin to stay calm...
    Ron

    (in reply to SteveD-RCU)
           Post #: 226

    RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon - 11/24/2002 5:22:29 AM   
    Newflee



    Posts: 644
    Joined: 10/10/2002
    From: Calgary, AB, CANADA
    Status: offline     		Ron, no I haven't called Stan or Wendell about the problem because I think they are happy with the design. I don't think Wendell represents this design as being 100% scale, and Stan has indicated that the plug for the cowl was supplied to him by Wendell. I'm not going to bother Wendell with this as I don't think he has misrepresented the plans and he has been very good to me. If the cowl was Stan's design I would take him to task on it but he says it's not and my only complaint with him other than design is quality. That concern I will make clear by not buying his products. I'm a pretty handy guy, but I feel sorry for anyone not so handy that have bought his cowl, gear and pants.

    Yes if you reposition the FW you will be able to use the Stan's cowl and maintain scale length. Will it be 100% scale top gun style? No probably not but it will work and scale length will be maintained. Without any mods the A/C is two inches too long and looks like a big geeky Russian thing.

    The cowl that I am working on assumes the builder has built to plan fuse length. I wouldn't go so far as to say it will fit everyones "built to plans" SD because I have made mods to the fuse and sheeting as indicated on this thread. If a person builds their SD as I did, the cowl will fit like a glove.

    All that being said, I really like this A/C. It turns me on and will be a big time head turner.
    I will post pics of the new cowl soon.

    Lee

    Ps. Hey Ron don't be too upset, I paid the same and my Canadian money isn't worth S**t. Not to mention that the cowl redesign will end up costing me hundreds.
    Hopefully I can save some others some aggravation.

    (in reply to SteveD-RCU)
           Post #: 227

    RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon - 11/24/2002 5:35:34 AM   
    Newflee



    Posts: 644
    Joined: 10/10/2002
    From: Calgary, AB, CANADA
    Status: offline     		Just another thought,

    After going downstairs and pondering the tasks ahead, it still strikes me that this is a great airplane and a scratch built project after all. I think that the end result will be more than worth the extra effort needed. We will all just need to dig a little deeper into our bag of skills.

    Lee

    (in reply to SteveD-RCU)
           Post #: 228

    RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon - 11/26/2002 6:09:36 PM   
    SteveD-RCU



    Posts: 655
    Joined: 1/21/2002
    From: Sault Ste Marie, ON, CANADA
    Status: offline     		I noticed the cowl looked kind of " geeky" also Lee in the photos especially the one in Wendel's catalog..thats just the way he designs his airplanes.They are not 100% scale.
    Keep up the good work guys,your making it a lot easier for us guys not started yet...SteveD

    (in reply to SteveD-RCU)
           Post #: 229

    RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon - 12/2/2002 1:01:49 AM   
    Big_Bird



    Posts: 3330
    Joined: 12/18/2001
    From: Arlington, TX, USA
    Status: offline     		Here is a photo of the door latch. I still need to put the plate on the latch but I wanted you to see it before I covered it up.

    Ken

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    (in reply to SteveD-RCU)
           Post #: 230

    RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon - 12/2/2002 1:04:01 AM   
    Big_Bird



    Posts: 3330
    Joined: 12/18/2001
    From: Arlington, TX, USA
    Status: offline     		Latch with cover. 1/8" sheeting will go around the cover.

    Ken

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    (in reply to SteveD-RCU)
           Post #: 231

    RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon - 12/2/2002 1:08:34 AM   
    Big_Bird



    Posts: 3330
    Joined: 12/18/2001
    From: Arlington, TX, USA
    Status: offline     		The long part of the hinges was made from a piece of rectangular 3/8" brass tubing. The verticals were made from 1/16" brass and glued in. On the end on the long brass is a piece of tubing which matches 4-40 steel push rod. It is soldered on with Stay Bright silver solder (low temp type).

    The purpose of this odd hinge was to allow the door to be jettisoned in the event of an emergency.

    Ken

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    (in reply to SteveD-RCU)
           Post #: 232

    RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon - 12/2/2002 4:48:38 AM   
    Newflee



    Posts: 644
    Joined: 10/10/2002
    From: Calgary, AB, CANADA
    Status: offline     		Lookin great Ken! Very scale. Thanks for the photos Bud, I think they helped out on the door hinge detail.

    Earth to Jeff. Where are you? Take some time off work man.

    Lee

    (in reply to SteveD-RCU)
           Post #: 233

    RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon - 12/2/2002 9:37:06 PM   
    amack


     

    Posts: 15
    Joined: 6/15/2002
    From: Edmonds, WA,
    Status: offline     		Ken.......The hinge and latch are works of art. Mine is not spring loaded. But on the hull of the door frame, I added an a brass striker plate (like the one in your house) on the inside frame to prevent the balsa from being ripped out or vibrating the hole bigger and it works fine. You have possibly figured this out. Just thought I would mention it, I know this is not in the plans.

    I just added a landing light, made from a 99 cent store flash light (I cut it off to shorten it and removed the battery compartment) and it is the right scale. It runs on AA batteries with a Radio Shake battery holder and located it just behind the cowling. It is connected to channel 5 and works jest fine.

    What would be a good inexpensive 5" spinner for my Citabria? Plastic is OK. I was thinking of some kind of plastic bowl and make one. Any ideas? They are always very expensive. I will no be using a electric starter on the spinner. It starts fine with a hand prop start.

    (in reply to SteveD-RCU)
           Post #: 234

    RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon - 12/3/2002 12:20:29 AM   
    Big_Bird



    Posts: 3330
    Joined: 12/18/2001
    From: Arlington, TX, USA
    Status: offline     		amack, you can get a 5" Zinger aluminum spinner from http://www.omnimodels.com/ for $32.99. I really don't trust running a 5" plastic spinner on larger engines. Before I would cobble one up out of a plastic bowl, I would run without one. Don't forget SAFETY.

    The landing light will come in handy for night flying.

    Ken

    (in reply to SteveD-RCU)
           Post #: 235

    RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon - 12/3/2002 1:54:20 AM   
    amack


     

    Posts: 15
    Joined: 6/15/2002
    From: Edmonds, WA,
    Status: offline     		Ken....Thanks for the web site, I did not know this one and that is not a bad price. I have a 3" that I have been using and it look horrible on this plane.

    Thanks
    MACK

    (in reply to SteveD-RCU)
           Post #: 236

    RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon - 12/10/2002 3:40:13 AM   
    Big_Bird



    Posts: 3330
    Joined: 12/18/2001
    From: Arlington, TX, USA
    Status: offline     		I have been pretty busy working on the fuselage so I haven't had time to post anything. Anyway I needed to revive this thread with a few new photos. The first shows the construction of the landing gear cover. The two brass tubes are guides for the 4/40 attaching screws. There is a steel washer at the bottom of the tube for the screw to tighten against.

    Ken

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    (in reply to SteveD-RCU)
           Post #: 237

    RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon - 12/10/2002 3:42:45 AM   
    Big_Bird



    Posts: 3330
    Joined: 12/18/2001
    From: Arlington, TX, USA
    Status: offline     		Here is a photo of the gear in place with the sheeting around it.

    Ken

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    < Message edited by Big_Bird -- Dec 10 2002 4:19AM >

    (in reply to SteveD-RCU)
           Post #: 238

    RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon - 12/10/2002 3:52:01 AM   
    Big_Bird



    Posts: 3330
    Joined: 12/18/2001
    From: Arlington, TX, USA
    Status: offline     		One last photo for now with the cover in place. When I put on what ever covering I choose to use, I'll cover over the guide holes and the slot between the gear cover and the rear sheeting. Should I ever need to service the gear, it will be a simple matter to cut the slot with a razor blade and put a small hole in the guide tubes.

    Ken

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    (in reply to SteveD-RCU)