Posts: 628
Joined: 3/9/2002 From: East Berlin,
PA, USA Status: offline
I wouldn't recommend going tail dragger on the UFO, as the nose is slightly longer and the cg is slightly futher back on the UFO. The DB is workable with the taildrager configuration, but you do have to work the sticks a bit to keep her from nosing over. I think the UFo would be way to much work, and not worth the conversion, you will be cussing yourself every trip out to the field. If I had the DB to do over, I would have either used fixed gear pulled to about one to one and half inches in front of the leading edge or gone with the traditional tri gear retracts.
If you decide to try it, let us know how it works out.
Posts: 5190
Joined: 7/21/2005 From: Greensboro,
NC, USA Status: online
It's just my opinion, but I honestly think a UFO would look really weird resting on its tail with its nose pointed up. Some planes, like warbirds look cool in that stance, but these pattern ships were all designed to rest on three gear and that's the way they look the best.
As for the UFO, this was my first ever attempt at making microballoon wing fillets. The fillets themselves came out fine, but after I had sprayed several coats of primer and colored dope onto their concave surfaces it began to tauten and pulled away in a few places. It's similar to what can happen when you put too much nitrate dope on silk that's on an undercambered wing surface; it can pull tight across the concave surface. I had put the dope on too heavy and over time it began to shrink and pulled away in spots.
Anyway, I felt I had to sand off those layers of dope that had separated from the fillets and start over. I'll be using much lighter coats this time and wiping everything down with alcohol before spraying each layer to remove any finger oils and dust, etc. I might even add some castor oil to act as a plasticizer; I'll need to experiment with this. I'll definitely add some retarder. Brodak actually covers this very problem in his finishing guide. I might call him and see what he has to say.
You can see in the photos where I sanded the fillets down, sprayed a light coat of primer and applied a little glazing compound.
As soon as I re-paint the sides of the fuse I can get this project finished. The weather has been excellent for painting: in the 70's with low humidity. In the meantime I'll start clear coating the wing.
Posts: 39
Joined: 11/24/2005 From: Clyo,
GA, USA Status: offline
First off- Great thread David! Can not wait till you fly it. You will love it!!!!!! Anyway, here are the 2 UFO's I flying now. Both have the same power. The taildragger has the canopy block further back than the other one, but they both fly exactly the same. Looks sitting on the ground was not an important issue for me when I built the taildragger last year. However, landings are MUCH easier with the Tri-gear plane. I fly off grass that is quite lumpy, and bouncing back into the air is more pronounced with the taildragger. If I fly them off tarmac, and allow speed to bleed off, they are both easy to land. Would I build another as a taildragger? "NO" Am I happy with it now? "You bet" Just have to control the bouncing on grass, and control speed better than the tri-gear ship. Thanks for letting me express my view. Keep up the great build Dave.
Posts: 5190
Joined: 7/21/2005 From: Greensboro,
NC, USA Status: online
Dave, your UFO's look so cool! They look fast just sitting there. It really is a sleek and flowing design. I'm giving myself one more month to have mine ready to fly.
Posts: 39
Joined: 11/24/2005 From: Clyo,
GA, USA Status: offline
JPBIII It's steerable. It kinda looks complicated, but it works very good. Notice the ball link. It provides some shock ability cause it will and does pop off in high side loads.
It's just my opinion, but I honestly think a UFO would look really weird resting on its tail with its nose pointed up. Some planes, like warbirds look cool in that stance, but these pattern ships were all designed to rest on three gear and that's the way they look the best.
Posts: 16
Joined: 11/5/2007 From: Columbus, IN, USA Status: offline
Rainedave,
I was just wondering if you had put together a Bill of Materials for your UFO? I've read all 12 pages of this post and getting more interested in the UFO. If you have, would you mind forwarding a copy of be the BOM?
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Pattern Flying >> Classic Pattern Flying >> RE: Bridi UFO Build (all wood) 
RE: Bridi UFO Build (all wood) - 
