aseaholm

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Lee, the Bird of Prey flies good and is reasonably priced. I’ve had good luck with mine, even if they’re a little heavy (Ha, ha Norman). Both came out 3-4 oz. over. When I’m good enough to worry about 3 oz, I’ll let you know. Talk to me in about ’07 at the earliest…

Most of you have probably seen these, but here is the Seeker I build for my brother’s Christmas present. He doesn’t have internet access at his new place yet, so I don’t think it will ruin the surprise.

The Seeker is an awesome Q500, I haven’t flown one yet, but the one’s I’ve seen are fast and the pilots have all said they fly sweet. If you’re looking for a competitive, lower cost, way to get into 428, here you go…

The Seeker build album is located here:

http://www.teamseaholm.com/photoAlbum/seekerBuild2/

diggs_74

Looks real good AJ, I should have mine in paint by the new year I think... As a matter of fact I may get the first color on tonight. No, there's no packer colors on it

colesifer3d314

My Feedback: (9)

Wow, A.J. u really lucked out with them comming out only 3-4 oz over weight...my buddys came out at 3lbs 14oz..my primary neme came out at 3lbs 8 oz, and my backup came out at 3lbs 9oz, so im pretty happy with that...


Cole

luv to race

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I sure wish I had the first composite Vortex my dad built. It weighed 4lbs 3oz's .... And I still went 1:08 with it, twice in Phx. Once I got all that weight wound up, things were fine. All my Vortex's are over weight, from 1.5 to 2 ounces over.

RB

daven

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RB,

My lightest Vortex was 3 lbs 10 oz, and heaviest was 3 lbs 12 oz.

Unfortunately, my lightest one is still awaiting repairs after someone decided to run into it on landing... Not to name names, hmm, LYLE.

Not sure what the newest one ways, I haven't built it yet. Tough to look at finishing your Nats plane when its -30 degree wind chills outside.

You can get away with a slightly heavier fuze, AS long as you got a pusher like Travis or Randy (remember those Nats pics).

luv to race

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A big push helps for sure. Your good buddy Lyle will be going to Winterfest, with the same plane that clobbered your Vortex and the Nats. I'll land it for him from now on when he races you..

Travis is the one with the light planes. Last years winterfest he put is new Vortex up on the scale and it was right on 3 1/2lbs.. Mine just never seem to make it that light, however from the nose to the center of the wing saddle is as strong as it gets. 1/2" firewall and tons of ProSet epoxy and milled carbon behind it... makes for a fast plane.

RB

daven

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Randy , maybe its that heavy JR equiptment

diggs_74

Here is the in process Seeker T-Type... Yes, I know, the fuse has been thru the ringer a few times but I didn't want to experiment on a new fuse.... Not to worry, it's been properly spliced and glassed and strengthened and all that.... I'll be suprised if it comes in under 4lbs Also there is a pic of my new landing gear too. The pic is a little fuzzy, must have had too much egg nog to stand still while pushing the button on the camera

daven

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The gear looks good Lee, but that fuze looks a little rough

Randy got me to thinking about that damaged vortex so I stripped it out this morning (Who wouldn't want to work on a plane on Christmas morning while everyone was asleep?)

Took a good look, and this thing needs some serious help. It has a lot of cracks that run a good way down towards the tail, it also looks like there is material missing near the rear wing hold down bolts. I wish I would have looked harder for parts, it would have made this easier. You can see in the first picture where the spinner nut hit the plane, and I'm amazed that even though it got hit on the right side, there was quite a bit of damage on the left side also.

daven

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Its amazing how much easier it is to fix something like this than it looks. I sanded up the left side to smooth things out. Added some thin CA on the inside and out, and sanded down smooth. The left side is ready for a little clear and it will be done.

The right side needed a little more attention. The force of the impact cracked the servo tray loose. I have never seen Pro-Set crack like this, so I had to re epoxy a few loose places tight. Since I was missing so much wood, I cut a piece of 3/16 to size and epoxied everything in place with a few clamps. The actuall spinner nut damage is just going to get filled with lightweight filler.

Here are a few repair picks, not much time at all.

daven

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The more I looked at this plane, the more cracks, dents, and bruises I found. The plywood top Nose piece was loose at the first former at both sides, a couple nasty little dings on the bottom I had to fill and sand, and a crease on the top of the tail. Not only was it creased, but the tail it self seemed slightly loose on the right side, and needed to be sanded down and reglued.

I popped pin holes on either side of the crease into the rohacell and applied some CA. CA doesn't seem to melt rohacell like regular foam, just kinda makes it hard.

I just kept sanding these areas down, filling, adding thin CA, and sanding some more. I finally got just about everything where I wanted it this morning, so I progressively sanded with finer and finer grit paper up to 1500. After this, I blew it clean with my air compressor air nozzle, and then cleaned the fuze very good with Aircraft Wax and Grease remover. It took several applications to get all the wax off the fuze (man I like that race glaze).

Here are some pictures of more of the damaged areas.

daven

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After tack cloth cleaning the plane off, I mixed up my Klass Kote clear and sprayed the whole thing. It didn't make much sense to just try and hit the repaired areas, since most of the plane needed repairs.

She's not the prettiest thing any more, but everything seems strong and as good as new. Even after reclearing it, I don't think I added hardly any weight at all. I'm still amazed the wing avoided any serious damage.

I think I may bring this down to Phoenix for a little rematch with Mr. Larson

I'll get pics up when the fuze is dry, including the little "Lyle" decal I applied right where his nose hit me.

Can't wait to see you guys, and get out of this cold and snow!

aseaholm

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The Seeker was a big hit! Thanks again Dave...

daven

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Thats great news A.J.

I just wish you didn't have to mess with fiberglassing the wing.

diggs_74

Looks like that turned out great AJ.. I'll find out how mine does tomorrow when I pull the tape to do the second color.

Here's a couple pics from today before and after the first color.

daven

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I had to have a little fun with this. I have no ill feelings against Lyle, I just wish I could have finished the race with this plane. I added this litte sticker as a tribute to Lyle

diggs_74

You never know Dave, you may have started a fashion trend with the beat up looking plane.... Kind of like a sleeper 4 door old car that blows the doors off everything it lines up against.

daven

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I spent the last hour going over the plane with Rubbing Compound, then Polishing Compound, and finally Race Glaze Wax.

I am very happy with the results, and think the "weathered" look actually gives it a little character. I'm trying to get it all ready and packed up for Phoenix. I guess the Neme's will have to stay home, its going to be two beat up Vortex's.

daven

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Just when you think your done....

I got the fuze all put back together, and re-installed all the radio gear. I mounted the wing, and noticed that I do have a couple nicks in the wing, and one of the rear wing hold down supports has some cracks in it. Not nearly as difficult a fix, but I thought I was done.

I mounted the wing for a quick picture, and weighed the plane. Its now up to 3 lbs 11.3 oz, which is roughly 1.3 oz heavier than when I started the repairs. After looking at the servos and battery that I used, I could easily cut an oz out. It has all metal geared digital servos, and a 5 cell 720 mah NIMH pack. Probably won't have a chance to change them out before winterfest, but 3.3 oz heavy is not going to hurt my rusty "Minnesota Winter" thumbs.

daven

My Feedback: (1)

Just when you think your done....

I got the fuze all put back together, and re-installed all the radio gear. I mounted the wing, and noticed that I do have a couple nicks in the wing, and one of the rear wing hold down supports has some cracks in it. Not nearly as difficult a fix, but I thought I was done.

I mounted the wing for a quick picture, and weighed the plane. Its now up to 3 lbs 11.3 oz, which is roughly 1.3 oz heavier than when I started the repairs. After looking at the servos and battery that I used, I could easily cut an oz out. It has all metal geared digital servos, and a 5 cell 720 mah NIMH pack. Probably won't have a chance to change them out before winterfest, but 3.3 oz heavy is not going to hurt my rusty "Minnesota Winter" thumbs.

diggs_74

Finished up Seeker #2 and will post pics in the morning... Bad news on the Oz cover though, the tape lifted the paint in a few spots... Not as bad as AJ's but bad enough after all the work to make it look pretty... I think I can touch up all the spots with a small brush though. Still doesn't look that bad... I'm still wondering what will happen the first time I try to take off a lane sticker...I may end up with a clear plane.[]

Bill Vargas

My Feedback: (5)

Lee, before you apply that "lane" sticker,,, try applying some of your favorite Race wax, buff it out nicely and then put on the lane sticker. The stickers come off a lot easier and it sure beats using that lighter fluid method.


BV

aseaholm

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3.3 ounces heavy? That will never work, might as well fly a Bird of Weigh. Or better yet, just send that sucker down here, I like my planes a little beefy... (Couldn't resist, I'm way behind quota this week [8D] )

daven

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I knew you would get a chuckle out of that. Just dropping to a 4 cell 500 mah nimh probably get me down just under 3 oz heavy. I must have drinking too much rock when I put these servos in. Probably the only racer with a metal geared digital Throttle servo (JR 368)

diggs_74

Here's the pics.... You can see the white spots where the tape lifted the paint.... I guess I'll break out the testers brushes []