WacoNut

Thanks Lonnie,
I am really liking the colors. It's a shame the full scale is sitting in a hangar in pieces.

Big_Bird

My Feedback: (1)

I second that Anthony, great job!

WacoNut

Thanks Ken,
Please remind me again what weekend Bomber Field will be in Sept? I was thinking the weekend of the 11th? I need to get this thing finished and flown and get the trailer ready to haul the plane. The initial flights will be in solitude at a buddies Sod farm right down the road. I have a list of people wanting to come out for the 1st flight and I keep telling them no, all I want is my wife and a camera man and that's all. No extra added distractions or pressure.
Later!!
Anthony

Big_Bird

My Feedback: (1)

You don't want a bunch there to make you more nervous than you will be anyway. Actually I wasn't nervous at all on the first flight of the Super Decathlon because, since Ross was flying it, I knew it was in capable hands.

Bomber Field is September 17th, 18th, and 19th. We will be going down on the 15th to insure a good place for the canopies. We will have enough shade so you won't need to bring a canopy. Bomber Field is the one flyin that I feel completely safe putting the planes together on Wednesday and not taking them apart until Sunday. This year we had to put the planes in the hanger every night for fear of rain.
http://www.bomberfieldusa.com/events.htm

WacoNut

That date will work better for me, I wil take a few days off of work and most likely arrive on the 16th. Remember some of us young guys are still working.
Later!!
Anthony

WacoNut

Top wing has all the pin stripe applied and is ready for clear coat once the paint is sufficiently cured. I used up a 40ft roll of 3/16 tape and did not have enough to finish the elevators. I will pick up another roll tomorrow. The gold looks good but it will make you go cross eyed trying to lay down all those stripes. I am going to try and take a 1/2 day of vacation tomorrow and get an early start to the weekend and the Waco. From here on it will be a constant push to the end.
Later!!
Anthony

Big_Bird

My Feedback: (1)

You are doing a magnificent job Anthony. I don't comment on every post but do read each one. Do you plan to fly the 1/4 scale first to get the hang of the Waco flying?

WacoNut

That is the plan, I still need to finish up the control hookup and plumb the tank on the 25%. I went straight to the 33% build without wrapping up the 25%. I took a half day today and I am getting ready to mask the fuse, fin, rudder and landing gear to wrap up the painting. I can't wait to assemble the plane and see how it looks. It hasn't been assembled since covering.
Later!!
Anthony

WacoNut

I made templates for all the scallops on the fuse, gear and fin/rudder and I have them lightly marked with pencil. I think I will wait until morning to tackle the masking and painting(just too tired). I have a few parts cleared with PolyC High Gloss spray. It really brightens the pieces up and makes them pop. I am going to work on laying down some more gold stripes.
BTW: Thanks for the comments Ken, the Waco is turning out better than I had expected. I am really thrilled with how this paint scheme is coming together.
Later!!
Anthony

WacoNut

After 5 hrs of masking this morning I have all the blue sprayed. I will have to get someone to help me carry the fuse up the steps and outside. I will house the fuse in my trailer for a few days to keep from carrying up and down the steps. while curing the paint.
I will get some more pics later.

WacoNut

I was able to get the fuse outside. I have it sitting in my truck bed to keep my 2-1/2 yr old grandson from trying to ride it

I set the fiberglass parts on just for a minute to see how it looks, can't wait to get the gold stripes on it.
Later!!
Anthony

WacoNut

I am going to work on laying down the remaining gold stripes on the wings and applying the clear coat to them today. I think the fuse will be dry enough later to apply the gold tape but clearing will have to wait for the paint to cure more. Sitting in the sun that dark blue gets hot to the touch so it should bake out very well. I need to install the power expander and run all the servo leads so I can put the interior panels in. The plane should start to come to life over the next week.
Later!!
Anthony

WacoNut

I now have all the gold stripes applied, the wings have been cleared. I will start installing the servo's in the wings and running the leads in the fuse. I still have alot of work to get things wrapped up. I hope to be able to assemble the plane later in the week after clearing the fuse. I am anxious to get a weight and balance check.
Later!!
Anthony

WacoNut

One thing I had forgot to do was make the front windshield. I have the frame made and glued to the plastic for the windshield. I will let this dry until morning then drill the mounting holes. I also glued the panes into the rear windshield frame. Nice to get alot of time to work on the Waco after having to leave it sit for so long. It is looking like I will be able to fly it by the end of July.
Later!!
Anthony

mrdhud

My Feedback: (48)

Hello Anthony

Thought it’s about time I jumped in and told you how good your Waco’s looking. It’s hard to imagine that’s latex paint the only planes I’ve seen painted with latex where all flat looking. The paint scheme you’re doing is a real eye catcher can’t what to see her all together.

WacoNut

Thanks Dan,
This is the 4th plane I have painted with Latex and they all turned out nice.

I just got home from doing a little Waco shopping. I bought some more vinyl to finish off the cockpit and some black vinyl and stencils to make the tail#. I bought the last 2 servo's I needed and a Apgape dual switch with charge jacks for powering the power expander. Very nice looking heavy duty switch setup. I also picked up a 50oz fuel tank and plumbing. I will post some more pics later in the week once I get the radio gear installed and the interior finished off. Alot of tedious mind numbing work to come.
Later!!
Anthony

WacoNut

I wasn't going to post any pics until I had the interior finished but I can't help myself.

I have all the servo and battery leads ran and the switches mounted and the fuel tank plumbed and the fuel dots installed. I just finished installing the interior side panels that the wife had sewn for me several months back. She did a great job.

I do have an issue with the Smart-Fly power expander. The Hitech receiver has servo outputs at both ends. The leads on the expander will not reach both ends. I will have to pick up some short extensions to reach both ends of the receiver[:@]. I e-mailed Smart-Fly and this is their recommendation, they are working on a plug-N-play fix for this. It would happen that I would get the only oddball receiver on the market.

Later!!
Anthony

WacoNut

I decided to add the combing to the cockpit openings. I used the supplied rubber hose. I will cover this with the same vinyl that I used for the interior then stitching will be added. I have the hose glued in place with windshield glue and I will let that dry until tomorrow.
I set the front windshield in place and marked the location for the mounting holes while I had the hood in place adding the combing. I will also add the vinyl to the formers at the back of both cockpits tomorrow and cover the headrest.
Later!!
Anthony

tmac48

Hey Nut, she is looking bloody beaut. It must be a good feeling knowing that you are truly on the road to home.
Regards tmac.

WacoNut

Thanks tmac,
I have the issue with the Power Expander solved and it is mounted. I soldered the Deans connectors to the power switches and this is also mounted. I am going to work on the vinyl over the tubing around the cockpit openings. This will take a bit of work to get it to look right then add the stitching. One night I need to spend installing the aileron servo's and building the control rods.
Later!!
Anthony

WacoNut

I have been very busy,
The fuel tank is plumbed and installed. I installed the throttle servo, ignition and the engine. I still need to work on the throttle linkage as I am getting a little interference at the low end. I made a false floor for the front end and the fuel tank is mounted to that. I installed the wheel pants and cuffs. The last of the interior has been upholstered and installed. I have the cockpit openings finished off, looks pretty good but not as good as I had hoped. The vinyl puckered on me in a couple spots.
I weighed everything today minus the pilot,batteries and flying wires: 51.5lbs. With a little luck I will come in within 55lbs as long as balance is not an issue.
Here are a few pics, I will wait until I get the throttle linkage resolved before installing the hood then the top wing cabane.
Later!!
Anthony

WacoNut

A few more pics!!

Big_Bird

My Feedback: (1)

Awesome!!!

WacoNut

Thanks Ken,
The pictures do not do the interior justice. I think I will make a cover for the fuel tank. I fixed the throttle linkage issue, was just a matter of adding a couple washers under the ball link on the carb throttle arm. I double checked everything and mounted the hood. I don't plan on removing the hood again except for maintenance.
I have to say I am more than pleased at how the Waco is coming together. Looks like she will be ready to fly soon.
Later!!
Anthony

Big_Bird

My Feedback: (1)

I made a cover for the tank on the Decathlon out of carpet material. It blended in well.