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Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/1/2010 7:15 PM   
Free Bird


 

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From: Farmington, CT, USA
Status: offline 		Hey Guys! Here we are at the start of another year and decade! Happy New Year to All! It seems it was just yesterday that we were worried about Y2K. There sure are a lot of other worries out there today that make Y2K pale in comparision.

I got a NIB Top Flite Taurus kit under the tree which was one heck of a big surprise! Earlier this year, I was talking to one of our club members about old kits and he said that he had a NIB Taurus but wouldn't sell it. Well I told my wife about it in passing and then let the subject drop. I guess my wife got in touch with this guy and convinced him to sell the kit to her. It had to be a really sweet deal or she wouldn't have bought it (my wife hates the fact that she'll buy a kit as a gift and then it sits unbuilt for several years). Well this is one kit that'll get built! Now I know that there's collectors out there that will cringe at the thought of building this kit, but I'm a builder, not a collector. And the Taurus is one that I've wanted to build for many years. The build will kinda be old school, as it'll be built as kitted. I'll be using old school type cement (Sig-Ment), Titebond and epoxy were appropriate, CA adhesives are not allowed! The trim scheme will be the traditional red, white and black colors that the Taurus is so famous for. I haven't decided yet on the type of finish to be applied, but rest assured, it won't be an iron-on film. The build will probably progress at a moderate pace until I get to all of the heavy shaping and sanding; that'll be done outside on warmer days. I'm really going to enjoy this!

Anyway, I have a tradition of starting a new build on January 1, and being this is the year of the Taurus in the Vintage R/C Society, what better reason to get started! Here some pics of the kit. All parts are accounted for, except for the Taurus decal which is missing. For a kit that's over 40 years old, it's in remarkable shape. All parts are still in their carrier sheets, and for the most part, the die cutting is OK. There is some crunching on the thicker parts. Tune in later today as I'll start on the fin and stab first. It's been far too long since I've built a kit.

FB

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/1/2010 8:05 PM   
AllTheGoodNamesAreTaken



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From: Stokesdale, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Excellent! What powerplant will you use?

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/1/2010 10:42 PM   
casniffer


 

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Status: offline 		Free Bird,
"warmer days" is surely subjective. Warmer to me is above 70 here in South Carolina. :-) I was wearing shorts and a golf shirt on Christmas day. It was unusually warm...in the 60's. Tonight it will be in the low 20's. Looking forward to watching the build progress.

Thanks

CAsniffer

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/1/2010 11:16 PM   
jmb52760


 

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From: Rose HIll, KS, USA
Status: offline 		What a find! Your wife gets major points for listening.

The kit looks to be in excellent shape. I'm amazed that the paper is not even yellowed.

Will you be building the "modified for proportional control" version?

Mitch

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/1/2010 11:52 PM   
Free Bird


 

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quote:

Excellent! What powerplant will you use?


Right now, I plan on using a NIB OS 55AX. I've thought long and hard about this. To try and find a period correct Veco that's in good running shape would be very costly, and then there's the muffler issue. Using a modern engine eliminates all of these issues and you have a reliable powerplant. But I am open to ideas.

quote:

Free Bird,
"warmer days" is surely subjective. Warmer to me is above 70 here in South Carolina. :-) I was wearing shorts and a golf shirt on Christmas day. It was unusually warm...in the 60's. Tonight it will be in the low 20's. Looking forward to watching the build progress.

Thanks

CAsniffer

It's going to be quite a while before we get those temps up here! I'd settle for upper 30's, I can deal with that.

quote:

What a find! Your wife gets major points for listening.

The kit looks to be in excellent shape. I'm amazed that the paper is not even yellowed.

Will you be building the "modified for proportional control" version?

Mitch


Yea, the wife is a keeper! She really got me good with this one. I saw the box wrapped under the tree and knew it was a kit, but I had no idea it was a Taurus.

For this effort I'll be building the "standard" Taurus, if there is such a thing. The long Taurus thread shows that there were a few different versions. I hope that Jeff P. (Home & Hobby Solutions) hurries up and releases the swept wing version of the Taurus, which I gather is the same as the "modified for proportional control" version.


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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/1/2010 11:58 PM   
Free Bird


 

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Status: offline 		Here's the fin and rudder pieces before and after being glued together. As expected, minor trimming of the parts was needed to make them fit together well.

More to come....

FB

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/2/2010 12:24 AM   
Free Bird


 

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Status: offline 		One of the things that I'm going to try and show in this thread, is all of the parts needed for each assembly. After reviewing the plans and isometric drawings, one can quickly see that there's a lot of parts (unlike a modern kit).

While the fin/rudder parts were drying, I got started on the stab. Before actual building of the stab, there are a few issues that need to be fixed. First is the pre-shaped leading and trailing edges, they're bowed pretty bad and need to be straightened out or make new ones. Being I'm trying to use as many of the original parts as possible, I'm going to straighten them out. I've wetted them, placed a shim in the middle of the bow and weighed down the ends opposite of the bow. I'll let them dry for 24 hours before checking them. Sorry no pics of this as they're in a furnace room that has a little more heat. (I tried but they didn't come out very well).

Next is the spars, they needed a bunch of work to make them match the plan before gluing them together. Ahh....the joys of building an old kit. The stab tips also need to be laminated so that got done today. As you can see, I used binder clips to hold the stab tips together while the glue dried.

More to come ..... on Monday as I have to work both days this weekend.

FB

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/2/2010 12:53 AM   
Michaelj2k



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Status: offline 		Looks great FB. I noticed the dacron thread in one of your photos. Are you going with the sewn hinge route? My Taurus has been sitting around for a while, so since this the year of the Taurus, I started the engine and radio installation. Mine has been covered for a while, I used Koverall and Randolph dope. So far it has been sprayed silver but that will be under a white base coat. I'm installing a Veco .61 with a suitable strap on muffler that allows me to retain the exhaust baffle. I'll also use a Kraft XX Series radio, stick configuration TBD (single or Mode II). I'll post some photos later.

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/2/2010 1:23 AM   
airbusdrvr


 

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From: New Port Richey, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Here is a thread to my rebuild of two old Taurii, http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_8231397/anchors_8237130/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#8237130 . Post #19 shows the new OS 55AX that was installed. After a longer break-in than most two strokes require, it is a really good match for the plane. I'm running an APC 12.25X3.75 prop and it screams. It could take a bit more pitch but it will climb out of sight with that prop. The only thing I wish I had done differently during the rebuild would have been to add wing fillets. Pics below are before and after the rebuild.

The pictures did not load in the order I selected, but the crash photos are the "before" pics.

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/2/2010 4:34 AM   
Free Bird


 

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quote:

Looks great FB. I noticed the dacron thread in one of your photos. Are you going with the sewn hinge route? My Taurus has been sitting around for a while, so since this the year of the Taurus, I started the engine and radio installation. Mine has been covered for a while, I used Koverall and Randolph dope. So far it has been sprayed silver but that will be under a white base coat. I'm installing a Veco .61 with a suitable strap on muffler that allows me to retain the exhaust baffle. I'll also use a Kraft XX Series radio, stick configuration TBD (single or Mode II). I'll post some photos later.


Hey Mike!
Yup, I plan on doing sewn hinges. I like your approach to the finish, what trim scheme do you have in mind? What ever you do, I'm sure it'll be a beauty! Get those pics posted!

quote:

Here is a thread to my rebuild of two old Taurii, http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_8231397/anchors_8237130/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#8237130 . Post #19 shows the new OS 55AX that was installed. After a longer break-in than most two strokes require, it is a really good match for the plane. I'm running an APC 12.25X3.75 prop and it screams. It could take a bit more pitch but it will climb out of sight with that prop. The only thing I wish I had done differently during the rebuild would have been to add wing fillets. Pics below are before and after the rebuild.


I remember reading your repair thread several times, and was glad that you fixed your bird and kept her flying. Thanks for the info on your engine experience, sounds like I'm headed in the right direction.

More to come.....

FB

< Message edited by Free Bird -- 1/3/2010 1:28 AM >

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/3/2010 1:08 AM   
BERUSTY


 

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Status: offline 		The Free Bird Taurus!

Excellent project! Your wife must be a real gem. I look forward to following your fine work.

Rusty

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/3/2010 6:04 AM   
jship


 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: BERUSTY

The Free Bird Taurus!

Excellent project! Your wife must be a real gem. I look forward to following your fine work.

Rusty



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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/3/2010 7:09 AM   
Tony Gag Jr.



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From: Terryville, CT, USA
Status: offline 		Cool build! Look forward to seeing it at the field this flying season! So nice to see a kit being "built" instead of watching an ARF get "assembled"!!!

Later,
Tony

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/3/2010 2:40 PM   
Free Bird


 

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Status: offline 		Thanks for the votes of confidence guys! I hope I don't disappoint. More building and pics coming tomorrow. Working this weekend shift really gets in the way!

FB

< Message edited by Free Bird -- 1/3/2010 5:20 PM >

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/3/2010 4:39 PM   
Atlanta 60



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Status: offline 		No way you can disappoint!! This will be Awesome and thanks for sharing!! Good Stuff!!

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/3/2010 8:43 PM   
WEDJ



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Status: offline 		Nice!

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/3/2010 9:39 PM   
Free Bird


 

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quote:

No way you can disappoint!! This will be Awesome and thanks for sharing!! Good Stuff!!



quote:

Nice!

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Thanks for the good words guys!

WEDJ - good to know you're still around!

FB

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/4/2010 6:29 PM   
WEDJ



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Status: offline 		Yea, I dropped out of touch for a couple of wweks.....since 12/22 to be exact.  I think I gotta start building something soon.

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/5/2010 5:25 AM   
Free Bird


 

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Status: offline 		OK, we're back at it.

I'm happy to say that the pre-shaped leading and trailing edges are now warp free and usable. With the spars made and tips laminated, we can start building the stab. First up is to cut the L/E to size for later use. Next, using a long metal rule, place it along the T/E to ensure a straight line, I use T-pins to hold it in place. I have several steel machinist blocks that I use a lot during construction, they make alignment really easy as you'll see. Being the shaped L/E & T/E don't have a flat surface, I used the blocks along their inside edges to make sure they're vertical. The metal blocks are placed against the metal rule and again, T-pins keep the blocks in place.

More to come....

FB

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/5/2010 5:30 AM   
Free Bird


 

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Status: offline 		After the T/E is in place, I double check it for straightness. When all is well, the tip and L/E are added. I used the same alignment process for the L/E.

More to come....

FB

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/5/2010 5:34 AM   
Free Bird


 

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Status: offline 		With the frame in place, the ribs can be added. Note how the T/E and rib mates perfectly.

More to come....

FB

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/5/2010 5:39 AM   
Free Bird


 

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Status: offline 		Once the glue sets up, the top spar is added along with the center section sheet. A little trimming was needed to make them fit properly. The blocks make excellent weights also!

More to come....

FB

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/5/2010 5:44 AM   
Free Bird


 

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Status: offline 		After that dries, flip the assembly over and repeat the process.

More to come....

FB

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/5/2010 5:50 AM   
Free Bird


 

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Status: offline 		One thing I forgot to mention. The center ribs that are under the center sheeting, needs to be tapered before the sheeting is glued into place. This allows the spar to be tapered to its diamond shape without thinning down the thickness of the sheeting. You can see the trimmed ribs in the first pic in post #21. Note how the spar stands above the sheeting.

More to come....

FB

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RE: Top Flite Taurus Build - 1/5/2010 5:53 AM   
Free Bird


 

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Status: offline 		Here's the completed stab ready for final shaping and sanding.

More to come....

FB

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