Posts: 57
Joined: 12/20/2003 From: BundabergQueensland, AUSTRALIA Status: offline
Hi all
Richard here from sunny Bundaberg, Queensland Australia and I have just started building my 101" Ziroli B-25. I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts or experience of electric powering one of these? I built a Mike Smart, 21lb, 1/4 scale Tiger Moth and have been flying it for about 6 months now with a Plettenberg 370/50 and 30 cells and it has performed faultlessly. These motors weigh less than 20 oz, are direct drive and on test will spin a Bolly 18 x 10 3 blade at over 6000 rpm with 1500watts of power. With 30 cells weighing around 60oz and a G-38 weighing 71oz plus fuel, I'm thinking that going electric will incur very little weight penalty if any, will have plenty of power, no vibration, no fuel proofing required and I should never have to worry about losing an engine.
Has anyone tried the brown paper covering method Rob Bailey talks about on RCWarbirds Finishing Advisor - question 32? It inspired me to do a few test samples and was very impressed with ease, looks, lightness and strength of the results.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this list - it really is an incredable resource to anyone building one of these things.
Posts: 190
Joined: 1/4/2002 From: camdenton,
MO, USA Status: offline
Randy your site is great! How are the repairs coming? The 61 is coming along very well. I will try to post some pics soon. Hope that everyone had a good New Years. Let's see some more of those B-25 pics guys. How's the rest of them coming along?
Posts: 1449
Joined: 11/24/2002 From: Olathe, KS, USA Status: offline
Badigital, I am using two Ryobi 31cc's to power my B-25J. I am currently in the process of covering it with "Flite Metal" finish. I plan to have her finished and hopefully fly her at Scalemasters 2004 at Gardner, KS. Good luck and have a prosperous and safe New Year!
Badigital, I am using two Ryobi 31cc's to power my B-25J. I am currently in the process of covering it with "Flite Metal" finish. I plan to have her finished and hopefully fly her at Scalemasters 2004 at Gardner, KS. Good luck and have a prosperous and safe New Year!
Are you planning to post pictures any time soon? I have converted a Ryobi 31, (wonderfull engine) Flite Meta is way too cool, I have to see it. Please.
Posts: 1449
Joined: 11/24/2002 From: Olathe, KS, USA Status: offline
aerografoxs, I am currently finishing a Meister 109 wing for a friend of mine. I will be back hot and heavy on the B-25J soon. I don't have a digital cam yet, but I plan to get one soon. I like the "Flite Metal" look, but it is very tedious to work with. This is a time consuming effort to say the least! Remember, any blemishes in the finish will show in the metal finish. Make suer you fill the weave in the glass cloth or it will also show through. I must thank RandyL for all of the great photos he has posted on his B-25 buid project. His enginuity has given me great insight on how to do things that I would have spent hours trying to figure out. I believe the Ryobi's will be more than adequate for this Warbird.
aerografoxs, I am currently finishing a Meister 109 wing for a friend of mine. I will be back hot and heavy on the B-25J soon. I don't have a digital cam yet, but I plan to get one soon. I like the "Flite Metal" look, but it is very tedious to work with. This is a time consuming effort to say the least! Remember, any blemishes in the finish will show in the metal finish. Make suer you fill the weave in the glass cloth or it will also show through. I must thank RandyL for all of the great photos he has posted on his B-25 buid project. His enginuity has given me great insight on how to do things that I would have spent hours trying to figure out. I believe the Ryobi's will be more than adequate for this Warbird.
Did you do your own conversion on the Ryobi engines. I did mine and its not very hard to do. But the reed has to be modified for more power and so is the carb, it needs a bigger opening.
Posts: 1449
Joined: 11/24/2002 From: Olathe, KS, USA Status: offline
A friend of mine, (who is a very skilled modeler and machinist) did the Ryobi engine conversions. I have read about this model flying on two ST 90's, so I have confidence in the Ryobis. However, should they not prove to be to my liking, I'll go to twin ZDZ 40's or possibly 50's. I don't believe a B-25 doing a Hammerhead would look very scale. Ha!Ha!
A friend of mine, (who is a very skilled modeler and machinist) did the Ryobi engine conversions. I have read about this model flying on two ST 90's, so I have confidence in the Ryobis. However, should they not prove to be to my liking, I'll go to twin ZDZ 40's or possibly 50's. I don't believe a B-25 doing a Hammerhead would look very scale. Ha!Ha!
Posts: 366
Joined: 2/1/2002 From: Silver Lake, KS, USA Status: offline
No... I been doing other projects and it sets and watchs me! I did the major part of the repairs and then somehow got sidetracked. Sure wished I would get myself in gear and finish up.. You going to the KCRC swap this weekend? I'll be there wearing my black jacket and prized ball cap... Tan with Maroon bill that has River Dist. Eagles on it.. from my friends up in Michigan. It only comes out at special events!
Posts: 1449
Joined: 11/24/2002 From: Olathe, KS, USA Status: offline
RandyL, Unfortunately, I'll be working this weekend. Oh well, RCU is almost as good as a swap meet. I really don't need another airplane as I am trying to finish half a dozen projects right now. My Ziroli B-25J is one of those projects. Where is Silver Lake, KS.? Have a great weekend. "Keep 'Em Flying!" Flak
Posts: 162
Joined: 12/21/2002 From: Black Butte Ranch,
OR, USA Status: offline
Hello all. I'll be starting a 101" Ziroli B-25 soon, and my thoughts are to power it with two ST 3250's, converted to diesel. Anyone have any thoughts about the diesel conversion? Would it be better to convert the 3250's to gas? Would gas be more reliable than diesel? I already have the 3250's NIB. Thanks, Lee
Posts: 366
Joined: 2/1/2002 From: Silver Lake, KS, USA Status: offline
Flak.. I'm just outside of Topeka so its less than a 2 hour drive to the swap meet. We've made a ritual of it over the years. We go early, have breakfast, and see people that I may only see once a year....there at the swap meet. I sure don't need more projects either, but its a fun trip!
Lee... the 3250's will be great motors but I know nothing at all about diesel conversions. My only advice is not to use this big of project to learn about them. There is no room for error with motors on this big twin. You need to be real comfortable with the fact that they run flawless, all the time, either from past experince, or by using them on a single engine testbed airframe. Best of luck either way.
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RE: B-25..... - 
