RE: 07 TopFlite Stinson build  
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RE: 07 TopFlite Stinson build - 11/13/2007 1:30:42 PM   
jimcork1



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From: Slidell, LA, USA
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Just something for consideration in building the wing. I would consider using nylon bolts to retain the wing.

I would install a wood plug in the spar, drill through it and put the nylon 1/4 x 20 bolt through the bottom of the wing between the fuse and the spar attachment. Going inside to put the 6x32 screws is a for big hands. And if you drop on into the tail at the field you will be shaking a pretty big bird to get it out. The screws are also hard to start into the blind nuts. So consider using the nylon bolts under the wing for easy access. They will be out of sight.

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RE: 07 TopFlite Stinson build - 11/13/2007 1:42:12 PM   
jman12


 

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Jeff,

I would go a head and try to build the Stinson. The plane is not hard to build if you take your time and follow the directions carefully.

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RE: 07 TopFlite Stinson build - 11/13/2007 10:04:59 PM   
jimcork1



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From: Slidell, LA, USA
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Dave I am convinced after todays flying you are ok with the saito 1.5

Some observations today after 5 flights.

1) All landings very soft easy touchdowns. Landing gear farings cracked on both gears at fuse.

2) Landings with flaps are graceful 3 pointers picture perfect

3) Reco mix flaps to elevator so you don't baloon up when you put the flaps down.

4) Mix Ail to Rud to cordinate turns

5) With Max aileron the roll is so slow I am not sure it will do an aileron roll unless VERY high.

6) No attempt at loop. Still flying trimming

7) Landing gear built as per plans still attached and functional but NO hard landings at least not yet.

Today I made 1 dead stick after the fuel line to muffler broke off and the engine went lean. Lots of drag so turn directly
to the field is your engine quits.

The fuel line broke due to the fuel tank sliding back in the tray built for the tank. Make sure your tank is secure.

Sorry no 3 pt landing pics flying alone after fly buddy had to leave the field so I could not photo and fly.

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RE: 07 TopFlite Stinson build - 11/13/2007 10:54:51 PM   
WhoDaMan


 

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From: Davis, CA, USA
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Hi Richard: Hi Jim
That is great news, You make me really want to fly the bird, she sounds like a great flyer. Here is a little info
Dave



The plane was covered with lightweight Ceconite and brushed with Randolph Nitrate clear dope. The same stuff used on the full scale birds.



I had never worked with this covering material before and Matt told me, regarding the fabric seams, that they used to simply brush on full bodied primer and lightly sand the seams. Soooo, I tried this. I brushed primer over EVERY seam and spent DAYS of tedious sanding with 320 grit paper LIGHTLY going over the seams trying not to go through the fabric. WHAT A JOKE! I ultimately realized after sanding all the control surfaces, wings and fuse that the best thing to do is to spray primer on the dude and THEN SPRAY a heavier coat of primer on the seams and then sand, prime, sand etc… I will NEVER brush primer like that again. What a waste of time and effort. That technique did not work for me maybe for someone else but not for me.

So, I primed every seam on the entire plane and sanded.
Applied the ‘pinked’ Hair Styling Tape (sold at Sally’s Beauty Supply) over every wing rib, control surfaces ribs, all leading and trailing edges, fuselage longerons, around the door frames, the edges of the doors, at the fuse to stab joints and anywhere else I forget at the moment but is present. J This was quite interesting and I really like the outcome. I used close to 4 and an estimated 7/8 of a roll of the Hair Styling Tape which at 18 yards per roll is nearly 259.2 FEET or 86.4 YARDS That’s almost a football field! With nearly NO waste as I would lay down the tape and trim at the exact end needed and then apply the end at the exact start and repeat. Per roll I would have about 1.5 inches of cut off waste.
I applied 3 coats of Nitrate dope over every strip of tape applied. Matt sent me about a pint of dope and I ended up buying another quart here locally. That is the blue stripes you see in the picture.
Primed with 2 part primer and sanded and sanded and sanded….
Filled all the pinholes with glazing putty and sanded and primed.
Used spray lacquer spot primer in small areas where needed and sanded.
Sprayed first coat of paint and promptly striped it off. (Thanks to English Color for giving me the wrong paint) but no grudge held. I left their store in a good mood but discouraged as I was not looking forward to the re-work I was going to have to do.
Stripped the paint and had to re-fill some of the pinholes that the thinner took off as well as the areas that were spot primed with the lacquer had to re primed.
Got the plane cleaned up and ready to paint again and sprayed the first CORRECT coat of paint.
Filled pinholes that showed up but couldn’t see in primer with glazing putty and sanded. Fuse, wings, control surfaces.
Primed spot fills and sanded.
Painted final coats of cream color and started masking for the blue.


Paint masks:

I scanned and created the artwork for the vinyl paint masks for the N number and the Stinson logo. I have the N numbers ready to use and Dave is going to cut the Stinson logo vinyl paint mask for me as I couldn’t get it to cut well as small as it was. I borrowed his cutter but he has more experience with it and knows some tricks.




Items purchased:



Randolph Nitrate Dope W-7868 Blue - * 1 qt used.
PPG Omni AU BaseCoat / Clearcoat Cream and Blue - * Cream +/- 2/3rds quart used. * Blue +/- 8 oz used.
PPG Omni MC-161 Clear
PPG Omni MH-168 Clear Activator
PPG MR-186 Reducer
RM Aero-Max AM 800 Spot Prime Acrylic Lacquer Primer * about ½ can used.


Already had but used:



Randolph Nitrate Dope - * +/- ½ qt used.
Nason Select Prime 421-19 Urethane Primer & Nason 483-87 Primer Activator * +/- 1 quart used.
Nitro-Stan Red Spot & Glazing Putty * +/- 2 oz.
Bondo Body Filler * less than 1 quart


< Message edited by WhoDaMan -- 11/14/2007 3:54:52 AM >


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RE: 07 TopFlite Stinson build - 11/13/2007 11:30:26 PM   
Kmot



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Hey guys, gorgeous planes!

Can one of you please measure and tell me the inside diameter of the finished cowling? Thanks!

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RE: 07 TopFlite Stinson build - 11/14/2007 1:34:25 AM   
jaaron01


 

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Fast Richard:
As for the documentation I've just found several photo's on google that show the landing lights, so I did the best I could with my guesstimations? As for a new Radio, Santa Claus has already received my request and approved for a Futaba 9CAPS. And hopefully the IRS will allow me to buy my G-38. I've got a lot of detail to put into this plane, and plenty of others to fly during the winter, so time isn't a problem.

Jim

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RE: 07 TopFlite Stinson build - 11/14/2007 3:15:51 AM   
ramcfarland



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Hi Dave thanks for the information I'm into scale finishes if possible and your methods the one for me.

Jim-thanks for the information again looking good!

Hello ALL- I added the bottom sheeting or at least started it :drove so many pins that I felt like I was a physician doing Acupuncture

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RE: 07 TopFlite Stinson build - 11/14/2007 9:34:25 AM   
ramcfarland



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My P.C. power supply went down and the alarm woke me so once P.C. 'back up power supply fixed ;'found myself in the shop ...Since the bottom left panel leading edge adhesive had dried I proceeded to wet the balsa with my customary mix of Windex and a touch of ammonia ;then proceeded to clamp it all in place on the 1/8x1/4 spruce spar as pictured-Later today will remove the clamps and 'Slow Zap" the sheeting to the ribs and spar,again clamping. This routine works well for me resulting in no split sheeting ...

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RE: 07 TopFlite Stinson build - 11/14/2007 1:05:34 PM   
Grotesquebass



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borrowed a camera as min is down i just finished the top of the left wing tell me what u guys think.....today i have to clean wife is gonna kill me lol

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RE: 07 TopFlite Stinson build - 11/14/2007 2:43:41 PM   
fred123


 

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Here is my modification to allow use of the kit gear. I have completed covering using Koverall and in the process of painting.. Fred123

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< Message edited by fred123 -- 11/14/2007 2:49:28 PM >


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RE: 07 TopFlite Stinson build - 11/14/2007 4:29:00 PM   
ramcfarland



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Looks right on the money:I see I'm not the only builder with limited space. BTW what club field do you fly from?

Fred interesting I have not looked at the Top Flite Stinson Reliant gear instructions as of yet ;just know several fliers state the "unmodified gear attachment is not that great-

Here is a picture or two of the bottom left panel :will add the cap strips (per instructions)to the ribs AND then figure if I want to proceed with the aileron and flap construction and installation...think I will proceed to the right panel,since I'm undeceided as to servos I'm certainly not planning or feel the need to use my JR8611As .What do you all use or planning to use for aileron and flap servos?Thanks.

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Fast Richard

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RE: 07 TopFlite Stinson build - 11/14/2007 6:57:37 PM   
fred123


 

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Everything I read on this kit says not to build the gear mount as shown by TopFlite. You are guaranteed that they will fail and do major structural damage. We fly out of a grass field we lease (about 40 acres) near Curtis Arkansas. My club is the “Prop Twisters”

I used standard Futaba 3004 servos on the flaps and Futaba s 3010’s on the ailerons. I also used a Hitec HS-645MG on the pull-pull rudder. I will use a G38 for power.. I bought the kit last November, working pretty steadily all year.. The Koverall has added a lot of work. If I had it to do again, I would have used 21st. Century Fabric. It looks expensive at first evaluation, but probably turns out to be much cheaper than fabric, dope, sanding sealer, primer and enamel top coat. Fred123


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RE: 07 TopFlite Stinson build - 11/15/2007 10:41:52 PM   
jaaron01


 

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Fast Richard:
For servos in the Ailerons I'm looking at Hitec 645's, which I'll use for the Elevators and Rudder. And for the Flaps I've got 2 Futaba 9101's laying in the case still so I'll through them in there. It's a little over kill for flaps, but I've gott'em might as well us'em.

Jim

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