CafeenMan

I've always loved the BD 5 (the BD 5J too, but not as much).

I can't find a kit of it that I like. Most of the kits are small scale with way out of scale wings and stringer fuselages for rubber power.

I'm looking for a real size - something at least .40 size (larger is fine) that has the outlines close to right and isn't "simple scale" (ugly box fuselage or whatever).

Anyone know of anything?

Oh yeah... and a kit, not any kind of ARF. I'll want fully sheeted wings but a D-tube can be sheeted easily enough instead of using cap strips so the kit doesn't need to default to fully sheeted.

foodstick

If this was the Coors bulet jet? I think Byron made one. You might be able to find one somewhere...

CafeenMan

Thanks foodstick, but I'm looking for the prop version - the orginal BD 5. The jet, (Byron's, for example) is the BD 5J.

foodstick

Ah, thats right. A friend told me there was actually a prop version of that first.. It should be a real performer as an RC model.

invertmast

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A good scale model of a Bd-5. None, only the byron 5J, but even it is really aweful scale wise.

Im a -5 nut as well ( built 5 full scale ones). One of these days ill draw up a nice large "scale" BD5.

CafeenMan

Are your plans done yet?

invertmast

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lol. No, not hardly. I have three other projects on my plate to be finished right now, not to mention six others under design.

TFF

There use to be an ARF of one; the company specialized in homebuilts, about year 2000. I also think there is a plan from Model Airplane News. Invertmast, did you fly the BD5s? We had what was left of a kit in A&P school a long time ago. There is a flyable one locally, but I have only seen it in the hangar.

rick hamel

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55% all composite-full fly stab -Nomex construction

invertmast

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why!? Why!? Did you have to show me this!

ok, how much for a fuselage?

rick hamel

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Don't have time to be manufacturing anything at this point--maybe down the line--currently producing molds for a composite wing with a slotted flap setup-this plug pic is from around 14 years ago. Larger exhaust opening allows for angling of ss pipe to full scale location. Upgrading tail plane---making it sectional--tail planes will slide on just like wings--making transporting easier

rick hamel

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Saw you did a Gee Bee--R2--how about an R3--I stretched it --12 ft long--Nick Carrozza was in love with the plug on this one --as seen!!

rick hamel

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check out the split stab molds--epoxy with glass chop--they used to make bricks of clay by adding straw--even though the epoxy doesn't break down the glass it still is captured and provides reinforcing works just fine for a mold--wouldn't want to do a dune buggy body with structural concerns out of it!!

sensei

Has the Cobra 400 flown since the maiden and maybe it has already been posted but what was the all up weight?

rick hamel

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It's flown several times before it was sold-I know that before it was painted -it was around 73 lbs--just don't remember the final weight-I put each piece on the scale and added them up--got them written down somewhere?

invertmast

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The BD looks real good Rick. Is that a yellow F117 in the background? The F117 is another project i want to do, ive actually already got a set of gear that would work perfect.

rick hamel

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No --I custom built the 117 out of balsa--it's 9 ft long and that is a plug you see--wing section is faceted like the full scale except the aerodynamics are correct so it will fly( I didn't have to worry about stealth factor in the wing section design)

rick hamel

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Glad you like the BD--here are wing plugs with molds started

invertmast

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Very nice Rick! The BD5 plugs look great. IR the F117, it sounds like you did exactly what i wanted to do for a model of that. The Aviation design F117 is supposed to he a nice flier, but uses a conventional airfoil wing and looks odd.
Did you ever get around to molding this one, or is it like one of those projects we all have that falls to the backburner?

rick hamel

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It is probably the most back burnered project I have!!!!! But I have started a campaign to finish all my old projects--IE upgrading the BD right now--I'll get to it-even though it's been done by others-it's still an awesome looking machine in the air---PS- I bought the AD kit and threw it away-what a piece of junk!

rick hamel

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Managed to get the strakes blended into the fuse--used an eppler 197 airfoil for the rear wing and set it at zero-used liquid foam to lock strake into fuse

rick hamel

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more pics

invertmast

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Well when you get around to doing a BD and the 117 let me know, maybe we can do some horse trading or something. Id love one of each!

rick hamel

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We will work something out-I like the trading idea--in the meantime I'll take some new snaps of the 117 for posting

rick hamel

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Here are some old shots of the 117--also shot of a larger king cat that has been flying for years (Nomex construction)rudders full length- capped for protection-larger wing and horz stab