Scorpion Racing

No pun hey, AR AR!!

D.E.

Hello Lee,

Heres a little info to help you get through all of the sanding and hard work of building your own model. You feel really good when it performs well, our AR6 with Gary Schmidt flying set fast time in Phoenix with a 1:00.29 just edging out the sweet V at a 1:01 and change.

Keep working it is worth it !
D.E.

diggs_74

That's great to hear Dave, congrats..

I just finished up the last layer of glass on the fuse plug.. Tomorrow night I'll start on the finish..

diggs_74

I've run into a bit of a snag with the finish of the plug.. It seems that although I was very careful not to sand too much before glassing I still have a slight ridge at each former.. It's not a deal breaker or anything, just a bit more work than I planned.. So far, the best remedy is bondo and a med coarse file.. The next project I will use something other than foam between the formers, probably a heavy balsa..

diggs_74

Sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling..

I'm going to take a break from the fuse plug this weekend and get the wings done.. After that I guess I'll do some sanding and filling

Scorpion Racing

Aren't you glad you decided to take on the challenge! Just think how proud you will be holding YOUR AR-6 and a first place plague one day. I can't wait to see some progress shots Lee!

diggs_74

I just got the shipping notice for my wing skins yesterday.. I thought they would be here today but doesn't look like I'll get them until next week..

I'll see about posting some pics of the the spar and LG structure in the cores..

diggs_74

My wing skins showed up today.. hopefully I can get back on track.. I didn't get much done this weekend, too much going on, you know, family time.. Funny how that time never includes anything to do with RC planes..

Suppose to be close to 50 this weekend, might be able to get some primer on the fuse plug..

diggs_74

Last night I finished up the internal structure(spare, CF and LG block) in the foam core.. Tonight I should be able to get the wing halves in the bag.. I took this Friday off from work so I can hopefully get some primer on the fuse plug.. I've found that getting some color on the plug early on helps me see any defects or open weave as it's very difficult to see any defects when it's a mixture of colors(pink foam, white spackle, red spot putty).. I know most of what I put on will be sanded off and repeated but it will give me a good idea of how much work is left..

daven

My Feedback: (1)

Color definately helps, I'd suggest doing a couple layers (with sanding inbetween) of one color primer, and then when you "think" you are gettting close, change colors.

Rust, gray, or white, whatever you use.

diggs_74

That's what I do too.. Usually the brown then the gray.. It's always a bummer to see how much work is left once you get the color on it..

diggs_74

After much wrestling with the wing, I've got stuff kind of laid out.. Here's pics of the first time the pieces have been put together.. Nothing is squared up or anything, just kind of sitting there..

I still have to put in the CF dihedral brace (CF) and do a final sanding/filling on the wing before it's ready to glass.. The h-stabs are pretty close to ready for glass.. I was going to have the fuse primed this weekend but I decided to wait until I had it potted to the wing before I primed it.. Probably doesn't matter either way..

I don't remember the last time the shop was this dirty.. Trust me, that's saying something..

diggs_74

I know I was going to wait but I decided to get a couple coats of primer on the fuse plug.. Looks like a long ways to go, lots of weave still showing and a few dings here and there that will need some attention.. Back to sanding and filling..

diggs_74

Got a bit more done last night.. I decided I would get the wing mounted and zero'd before going any further.. I had glued hard points into the fuse plug during construction so that was fine but I did end up having to "move" the saddle up about 1/8" to get the incidence correct.. This also helped with the muffler clearance so it wasn't a bad thing.. Now that the wing is mounted and straight I've got to turn my attention to the vertical stab.. Some how I've got it off a bit. I'm not real sure when it happened but it really showed up when I primed it. I'm contemplating cutting it off and making a new one and maybe thinning it up a bit, especially the sub fin area.. I need to sit down and look at it closer..

diggs_74

Last night I got the fuse potted to the wing and started on the fillets.. So far, so good on that.. I also made up a set of LG ..

diggs_74

Finished up the wing fillets last night.. They turned out pretty good.. I didn't get to radical with them even thought the full scale AR-6 does.. I knew it would create an issue trying to mold them or get them to release after molding.. I also got the gear bolted down and did some filling around them..

The wife and kids are going out of town this weekend so I should be able to get the fuse plug finished up for paint..

diggs_74

It's getting closer..

This weekend I spent working on the fuse plug.. Saturday morning I cut off the V-stab and thru it in the garbage.. I build a new stab from scratch and I think it turned out pretty well.. I didn't change much just thinned it up a bit.. I also moved the H-stab fillets up about 1/4".. I've still got some work to do on the fillets but I have everything at zero..

I wish I had more to show but this process of rebuilding the stab and getting the surface to this point took all of Saturday (except for beer drinking from 6-12am) and most of Sunday.. I just took these pics and the primer is still a little tacky..

lfinney

My Feedback: (44)

looking slippery

ChrisAttebery

My Feedback: (15)

OOOOOHHHHHHHH BABY! It looks great. Keep up the good work.


Chris

diggs_74

As with most molding projects it's back to looking ugly again.. Hopefully this is the last time.. After tonight, the wet sanding should start.. I'm getting pretty tired of the spot putty dust.. My whole shop is covered in a redish haze..

diggs_74

I thought I was ready to paint but found a couple more areas that needed attention.. More mud, more sanding, more primer.. It's a lot of work but I know that any imperfection in the plug will be on every plane that comes out of the mold so it's worth doing it right..

ChrisAttebery

My Feedback: (15)

YES!

Keep going Lee. It'll be worth it in the end.



Chris

diggs_74

Well.. It's ugly again.. I once read something regarding making plugs.. The author said something to the effect of "to make a good plug the craftsman must be willing to make something beautiful and then turn around and make it ugly and then repeat as many times as necessary.." I think I'm taking this too literally.. I don't think I can get it any flatter than it is now so I'm just going to call it good.. Pics to come this weekend.

D.E.

Hello Lee

I know the feeling, yes it is alot of work but keep plugging and soon it will be done. Cant wait to see pics.

Dave E.

diggs_74

I am calling the fuse plug done!! Sorry for the grainy pic, I took it with my phone..

Anyway, I've got the H-stab ready to go in a bag and then I'll start on the wing.. I have to take this week off so I can get a quickie done for our club builders show on Friday night.. Can't show up with out a plane, you miss out on the good door prizes..