PatternPilot

My Feedback: (58)

Hey Keith

That plane looks familer... Took another few Oz out of it the other day.. Maybe we can do another photo with the good looking lady with it

Scott

troyhm

Hi Evryone

Can someone measure on there plans if the wing tube centre is at 7.625 inches or 7.6875 inches. In general I know its not that critical but it is for the drawings I am working on it throws other things out

thanks


Troy

MHester

My Feedback: (1)

7 5/8" from the leading edge of the CORE to the center of the tube.

-Mike

gene webber

My Feedback: (3)

Hi Mike,

On the F1 you have the motor mount centerline 3/32nds above the top of the fuse sides, is this correct? Dean had his former drawings with the horizontal centerline right on the line level with the fuse sides.

BTW I've been in contact with Govana Ahnold concerning the official BMv2 build thread cigar. Will advise when determined and will submit for your approval.

Thanks

Gene Webber
Director
Caleeefornia Department of Pattern

MHester

My Feedback: (1)

Hi Gene,

Answer: It really doesn't matter, but the ones I built are dead on the level with the fuse side tops. the firt one I built was slightly above this, and I felt it might have too much down thrust. I was using retracts though, and that matters......

there's a couple of versions out there, and the truth is any of them will work. When we're talking less than 1/8", we're really splitting hairs. A pattern plane is fine within this tolerance, it flies no different. I've tried it.

Id put the thrust level with the fuse tops and go from there if it were me (again).

And you must send me a box of the official cigars. the stronger, the better [8D]

-Mike

troyhm

Mike

If you get a chance could you do a real rough drawing of your honeycombing on the wings template and I will draw it up as a full size pattern. There ia no hurry on that one

Thanks

Troy

klhoard

My Feedback: (10)

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I'll be looking forward to seeing you fly it this year as an electric. Maybe I can put in a good word with the model (she's my wife now!!) and get another photo shoot scheduled!!
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PatternPilot

My Feedback: (58)

Keith,

Congrats on the wife now.. Going to make the motor mount today (SAT) and hope to get the nose all done..
Sounds good about putting in a good word..

scott

papaone

Hello Mike
Your thread is awesome. Very nice pics about building processing of your plane.
I live in France and I put somes pictures of your planes on french forum F3A.
Please have you others pictures of finished planes like the yellow "black magic V2" in you
website ?
Regards

MHester

My Feedback: (1)

Hi Papaone, I will in about a week. Stay tuned......

Thanks for the compliments, I'd love to see a link

-Mike

handglider

My Feedback: (23)

Hi All,

Another fine day at the airplane factory.

The jig is a total success! Fuse #1 is looking great!! The Laser light show just adds to the FUN!

This thing is STRAIGHT! and I've got #2 right behind.........

I am sheeting the turtle decks now, still haven't gotten my wind tubes, stab tubes and L/G from Radio South yet, aggghhhh!!!

Enjoy the pics, I will go into detail on building one a little later....

this ROCKS!

cheers, dean

troyhm

Hi Everyone

Dean are we going to get more pics of how you made your fuse jig, I found some of those lasers over the weekend.

What landing gear did you use ?? The bolly factory is real close to me over here I need to pay them a visit soon.

I have nearly completed two set of formers, one standard using balsa and ply and another set for the smaller ones I have used nomex laminated with fiberglass and for the larger and the ply pieces I have used carbon laminated nomex sheet.
They should be out of the press tonight. The n I just need to remove the centre section. I will try to use nomex on the fuse floor and top sheeting etc, buts that later

Thanks

Troy

handglider

My Feedback: (23)

She's alive, at 345 g.

this thing is BIG!

handglider

My Feedback: (23)

BLACK MAGIC

YEA BABY!

handglider

My Feedback: (23)

details of my jig, text to follow....

handglider

My Feedback: (23)

Man, you gotta love this beauty.

BLACK MAGIC BABY!

handglider

My Feedback: (23)

Having a beer now, tasting great!

flyintexan

My Feedback: (1)

You deserve it! Nice work.

troyhm

Yes very nice work

Troy

handglider

My Feedback: (23)

HI Everyone,

I spent the morning checking out fuse #1. I changed the F9 width to 50mm. F9 Had a slight bow in the fuse side at that point. I've put up yet another set of former templates at: http://precisionaerobaticstructures.com/BMv2-formers(2-20).zip - These reflect my widths and very slightly from the plans.

I am planning on redoing my widths again from F5-F9, to get that perfect taper to the tail. The current patterns do work well, But I know I can get the taper even sweeter. The jig works really well with my formers and hand cutting method, this requires you to cut right my patterns right on the line with a #11 blade and no sanding. You have to cut clean and straight and make perfect corners. Follow Mike's fuse side building instructions from this thread, and cut the left and right side lengths perfectly, my jig traps the front and rear of the fuse sides and sets the right thrust, it's as tight as a drum once you have the sides and formers in place. I have Fuse #2 in the jig now and it's going to be amzing how consistant my fuses will be #2 fits in the jig just as perfectly tight as #1 did.... These fuses are going to be SWEET!!!!

My quest is to build the perfect fuse box, I've got wood in house to build 5 more fuses and I still have my very lightest/best wood that I am saving for last once I get my method perfected. What I learned over the weekend is that it takes about 8 hours to frame up the "perfect" fuse, from selecting the right wood, cutting formers, making the tail block, making the fuse sides, truing and drilling the fuse sides, then onto the jig alignment and gluing, then the flooring, decking and cross bracing... That is a good 8 hour day if you want the "top-line quality" product.

All in all, things are going great here, I am sheeting my turtle decking today.

I picked up my carbon canopies and my 2nd short kit on Saturday, The quality of the carbon and fiberglass work is outstanding.

And hopefully my wing tubes will arrive this week, of that's another story....

cheers, Dean

PatternPilot

My Feedback: (58)

Hi Dean,

Got your PM. I will call you on Tuesday. I'm on a trip right now..

Scott Anderson
Team Tanicpacks.com
Team PMA

handglider

My Feedback: (23)

Hi Everyone,

Sheeted my turtle decks last night...

I am supposed to get my wing tubes tonight, so that's next!

handglider

My Feedback: (23)

So I am really thinking about running the ZDZ 40 in my #2 plane, does anyone out there know about running gas engines in F3A planes?

Is there any other option for a under 3 pound gas engine??

$2.12/gallon unleaded compared to $20.00 gallon 30% - no brainer there. Plus I am sure it gets better millage than my DZ....

fishgod

My Feedback: (13)

handglider,
If you want to know about the ZDZ engines, you should look up Dick Hanson. He has done a bunch of testing with the ZDZ and Evolution (MVVS) gas engines. If I remember correctly he was running a ZDZ rear exhaust 40cc with header and an ES pipe.

handglider

My Feedback: (23)

Hi Everyone,

I got back my first set of laser cut formers last night, and well... the quality of the cutting was - - really poor, the wood was very burned, in fact the package smelled like it was rescued from a forest fire. I am surprised the package didn't get inspected by the NSA. For a company that "specialized" in cutting "balsa" the job they did for me is - well p*ss poor, which is a shame because they charged me almost $70.00 to cut 3 sets of plywood and one set of balsa formers. I guess it's a lesson learned....

In the past I have used another company "lizards lazer" which did a super job on my super kaos rib sets. I am trying to contact the lizard but have had no luck...

I am still looking for a GOOD laser cutter, I have multiple orders for formers at the moment and will be hand cutting these for my customers. If anyone has any referrals please forward them to me. I can knock out a complete set of hand cut formers in about an hour and I've got about 3 complete set in stock at the moment.

I have finally received all my wing tubes and other parts for my #1 and #2 planes, so I am diving head first into finishing my wings and fuse on my #1 plane. Things are finally lined up and I have all parts required in house to complete. And now that the time intensive parts of this project are behind me ( setting up my jig, drawing formers and jig parts ) I hope to make some major headway over the next couple of weeks, I would love to have #1 flying by the end of march.

I am also re-plotting my former widths from f5-f9 to get a more perfect taper to the tail. I will also have to adjust the jig to reflect these former changes as well.

I have been busy with my real world job the last couple of days, but I did get to trim the turtle decks and sheet the fin last night.

cheers, Dean