Gotha G.IV Flies!
11-15-2010, 01:35 PM
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Gotha G.IV Flies!
I've been working on this one for 2-3 years, and thinking about it for a lot longer than that. I built it directly over enlarged Windsock datafile drawings, out of balsa and plywood. Covering is Sig Koverall and the paint is Behr latex. The wingspan is 16 feet, which makes it somewhere between 1/4 and 1/5 scale. Power is two G-38s, which is just perfect for it. The weight is 50 lbs. but you'd never know it the way it levitates off the ground, and touches down like a butterfly with sore feet.
It's still missing a lot of detailing, like, pilots, guns, bombs, etc. but the weather was perfect this past weekend for test flying down at the Southern R/C Club field by Portsmouth, Ohio. There was almost no wind and temps were in the high 70's. I was a little concerned whether I put enough lead in the nose but it needed a small amount of up-trim, so it's a little nose-heavy, which is fine with me. I can't wait to get it back in the shop and finish the cockpits and get the bomb drop working!
Jim
It's still missing a lot of detailing, like, pilots, guns, bombs, etc. but the weather was perfect this past weekend for test flying down at the Southern R/C Club field by Portsmouth, Ohio. There was almost no wind and temps were in the high 70's. I was a little concerned whether I put enough lead in the nose but it needed a small amount of up-trim, so it's a little nose-heavy, which is fine with me. I can't wait to get it back in the shop and finish the cockpits and get the bomb drop working!
Jim
11-15-2010, 01:59 PM
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RE: Gotha G.IV Flies!
ORIGINAL: Shrky
Congrats on the successful maiden,
It's a beautiful model you should he very proud.
Scott
Congrats on the successful maiden,
It's a beautiful model you should he very proud.
Scott
Thanks! Many times I thought I was crazy for starting this project, but now I'm really excited (and relieved) about it.
Jim
11-15-2010, 02:08 PM
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RE: Gotha G.IV Flies!
ORIGINAL: ZoomZoom-RCU
Wow!! Big Congrats man. Where's da videoooooooooo!!!!?????
ZZ.
Wow!! Big Congrats man. Where's da videoooooooooo!!!!?????
ZZ.
I have a some crude video of it in the air. I'll try to post a link later.
11-15-2010, 02:28 PM
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11-15-2010, 05:13 PM
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RE: Gotha G.IV Flies!
Jim, congratulation. I was telling a friend about this bird, just today. It looks magnificint, as ususal. Can't wait to see it. Send me video and photos and I will post on the HDP website.
steve
steve
11-15-2010, 07:35 PM
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RE: Gotha G.IV Flies!
That is a truly beautiful project! Nice work. I love to see such innovation and ingenuity in our hobby... very inspiring.I would also love to see some video of it in flight.
Brian
Brian
11-15-2010, 09:49 PM
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RE: Gotha G.IV Flies!
Thanks! It was a big project and it's still a work in progress. I hope to finish the details and fly it at some Dawn patrols next year.
Here is some video. It's not much but it's the best I got[&:]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ_QLhZDfcE
Jim
Here is some video. It's not much but it's the best I got[&:]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ_QLhZDfcE
Jim
11-15-2010, 09:51 PM
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RE: Gotha G.IV Flies!
ORIGINAL: Tmoth4
I've been working on this one for 2-3 years, and thinking about it for a lot longer than that. Jim
I've been working on this one for 2-3 years, and thinking about it for a lot longer than that. Jim
Jim.......in my book that is an extremely quick build! Man oh Man! It looks great in the air. KUDOS.....like the rest of the crowd I can't wait to see it in the air!....Art
11-16-2010, 08:15 AM
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RE: Gotha G.IV Flies!
Wow, that thing sounds awesome, how fast is she? Seems to be moving at a pretty good clip. I guess my real question is how much will she slow down and still stay in the air?
ZZ.
ZZ.
11-16-2010, 10:13 AM
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RE: Gotha G.IV Flies!
I think it seems fast because the camera was zoomed in quite a bit. I was keeping it fairly high for the first flight.
On the second flight I did a couple of lower passes at reduced throttle and it hung in there nicely. The model lands almost at a walking pace, rolls about 20 ft. and it's done. ...and that's with no headwind!
Jim
On the second flight I did a couple of lower passes at reduced throttle and it hung in there nicely. The model lands almost at a walking pace, rolls about 20 ft. and it's done. ...and that's with no headwind!
Jim
11-16-2010, 06:38 PM
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RE: Gotha G.IV Flies!
Congrats, Jim on yet another spectacular model - I was just up on Sir Percy's Hoosier Dawn Patrol website and saw that he had a link to the photos. Glad to hear that it flies ever bit as good as it looks!!
And like everyone else, I'm very much looking forward to seeing this one in person!!!
Very best regards,
Lee McD
And like everyone else, I'm very much looking forward to seeing this one in person!!!
Very best regards,
Lee McD
11-17-2010, 07:59 AM
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11-20-2010, 11:45 AM
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RE: Gotha G.IV Flies!
Jim,
The bomb drops will be cool. You know the Gotha had guns.... surely you've got room on that big bird for some paintball guns & CO2 tanks! Looks great, see you at the Dawn Patrols,
Greg
The bomb drops will be cool. You know the Gotha had guns.... surely you've got room on that big bird for some paintball guns & CO2 tanks! Looks great, see you at the Dawn Patrols,
Greg
