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Will it be good for another 15 years?

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Will it be good for another 15 years?

Old 02-20-2012, 07:54 PM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Shot a little bit of the clear on the tip floats and cowl this evening, this product sprays nicely out of the airbrush, and really grabs the flat and soaks in, you can tell it bonds well to the Behr flat, You just need to be careful to not over thin it, other wise it fish-eyes a little.

Also the Grey Paint I used was a Lowe's satin latex, not flat and it wanted to fish eye that too, but I experimented and knocked of the shine with some denatured alcohol when I shot the cowl,, it then went on fine. My conclusion is you want a flat or sanded surface, you wouldn't want to shoot this over a gloss finish without sanding first.

I plan to spray the rest of the plane tomorrow,, I like the satin sheen it produces,,

*****************************

Edit: shot the wing, fuse and main float today while I was shooting some shelves and drawers in the garage, back and forth Lacquer to Water Borne..

I must say I'm really liking this water borne system material, it took a little getting used to to find the right amount of thinning, but I was able to spray the whole plane with the airbrush. Which is huge because you waste a lot less paint that way,, even with the touch up gun you loose a good percentage to over spray and what left in the cup. The whole job, which was 4-5 very light coats of clear only used a little over 2.5oz of paint.. a little goes a long way if you're careful.

I'll put it back together tomorrow for finial pics,, I want to let it dry over night
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Old 02-22-2012, 05:54 AM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

When I put the cowl on I realized I filled the hole the needle valve extension goes through,, LOL
Also, I my end up adding a couple more light coats of clear to top wing surface,, Look just a little thinner than I'd like.
She needs the muffler, fuel tank and a couple new servos installed, but she is close to RTF

I think she looks pretty good considering the quick/economical face lift I gave her,, I think I can be proud to bring her out to the float flys again.
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Old 02-22-2012, 08:38 AM
  #53  
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Looks great. Any videos? If not, are you planning any?
Old 02-22-2012, 09:46 AM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Thanks, Currently the only videos I have are of it's first day flying,, 15 years ago

I'll try and get more in the spring

http://youtu.be/o0yn_FeDv6M
http://youtu.be/vX7hJQim3EQ

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0yn_FeDv6M&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX7hJQim3EQ&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]
Old 02-22-2012, 11:42 AM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

You know, I was thinking, maybe you were right. It looks so good maybe you should hang it up and retire it somewhere. I've got a nice big garage here and would be willing to take it off your hands! Still planning on having a club fun fly on the Sat. or Sun. in May. "If you bring it, they will come". Hope you can make it.

Ted
Old 02-22-2012, 01:51 PM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Funny thing is, when I first built and started flying it there was this guy that would offer to buy it at every event I went too.. I asked him where were his planes? He says, " I don't fly them, I just like to collect them", he said he had near 500 in his collection. I said,, "this one's built to fly" He never hit me with a number, but I've always been glad it's not collecting dust somewhere.
Old 02-23-2012, 09:04 AM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Wow, that little bugger hauls around pretty well. Thanks for sharing the videos.
Old 08-14-2012, 03:12 AM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

One last follow up comment on the Systems 3 Satin Clear with the cross linker additive, I've run the plane 3 days out this season, adding up to for about 7-8 flights now and there is no sign of it attacking the clear or the latex paint under it at all,.

All in all, the Systems 3 is a winner IMO
Old 09-11-2012, 03:27 AM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Engine out,, no airspeed [:@]

Exposed are the years of minor water damage adding up, The rest of the plane only had minor damage. The plane just won't die
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Old 09-11-2012, 06:56 PM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

That black rot sucks![:@] My H9 Super cub has the same issue on the floats I made. Was it just the float damaged? If so, I'm sure you're going to make a new float. Maybe you can make the water rudder work on the idea that mine does down through the rear strut with a torque rod. Every float with a servo in it seems to do this eventually. Hope you get it back up.
Old 09-12-2012, 04:22 AM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Yeah, I think the years of rot really weakened it,, years ago it would have taken a hard landing like that one and laughed..

We will see if it goes again,, but don't be surprised if another wild hare runs up my butt and I fix it
Old 09-12-2012, 11:54 AM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Why not make one out of foam and glass it? Seems like an easy fix, sorry for the damage, she sure is a neat plane. good luck on the rebuild
Old 09-17-2012, 04:00 AM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Yes, It would be very easy to build a new float, that's not really the issue. This plane has been heavy to fly from day one,, This is by far the most challenging airframe I've ever flown, and I've flown a lot of different planes. The only reason I kept it going was the cool factor and all the great compliments I get when I bring it out. But as the years have gone by with numerous repairs, it's just gotten so heavy it's not enjoyable to fly. Any minor engine issue and it's like you're flying a space shuttle, you only get one chance to flair and you better have the airspeed to do it.

My thoughts many times was to use the Fuse as a plug for a fiberglass version and maybe offer short kits. We'll see if that ever happens, I have so many projects in line and it seams I'm just not the motivated builder I once was.

What ever I decide, She had a good run and has brought me much enjoyment
Old 09-17-2012, 09:18 AM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Hi Tom,
Flew this weekend at a NH Float Fly and the winds were blowing 15-20 mph. Not a lot of fun for most but I managed to get in some flights with my electrics that I don't care about much. I did fly the Kingfisher once and many thought I was crazy but that thing at 10 1/2 lbs handles the wind with no problem. There were 8" or so waves with white caps and it looked like some of the old Navy pictures of the real ones crashing through the ocean. Landings and takeoffs were without issue. The Kingfisher design is really so good in the water it surprises me and everyone else. While other planes were having all kinds of issues especially after landing (flipping over in the wind) the Kingfisher stayed planted on the water. It took a little to get it turned around but once that was accomplished it was easy to taxi back. The pictures were taken on Sunday where the wind calmed to about 12-15mph until about 10:30 when it went up again.
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Old 09-17-2012, 01:02 PM
  #65  
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Yeap, It handles the rough water well,, I had the water to myself may a time when the wind would flip anything else,, Part of the cool factor
Old 03-12-2013, 05:10 PM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Couldn't leave it dead on the shelf,, Digging into to it reviels pretty bad dry rot

Bad news is after I tore it apart and cleaned up the ply parts I remembered I had thrown the plans I had drawn away 2 years ago because they were damaged in the basement flood,, I'll have to redraw the plans
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Old 03-12-2013, 05:24 PM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Looks like a boat load of weight there! Is that mahogany you made it out of? Funny how that rot almost makes balsa like driftwood.
Old 03-12-2013, 05:46 PM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Yeah, it was a dumas kit,, that's why it handled the water so well,,

More pics later, server is snail slow and driving me nuts
Old 03-15-2013, 05:13 PM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Started gluing it up

I used scrap to hole the support pieces aligned


The original float had a solid 1/4 keel, decided to use a framework this time,
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Old 03-15-2013, 06:24 PM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Looking good. It brings back memories of doing mine.
Old 03-15-2013, 06:28 PM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Nice work. She will be good as new.
Old 03-16-2013, 11:04 AM
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Thanks guys,,I just realized I never updated you on the kitchen,, I had a pretty stressful year, but did get it done,,, ok 99% done

Actually testing the changed resolution settings on the camera too,, uploads were ridiculously sluggish,, looks like it's working better
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Old 03-16-2013, 01:26 PM
  #73  
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

A little more work then took it off the table to make sure the legs were aligned still, after confirming that I pinned it back down and sheeted the bottom,, after the bottom was done, I flipped it around to make the top/side planking easier..

Taking a dinner break
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Old 03-16-2013, 03:45 PM
  #74  
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

Using tightbond wood glue and CA at the formers for the planking, I'll have to let the planking dry overnight before I can start on the other side
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Old 03-16-2013, 06:58 PM
  #75  
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Default RE: Will it be good for another 15 years?

The kitchen looks really great Tom. Very nice work. We have to do those things for the wives once in a while too. The float is coming along fast too. You'll have it ready soon enough. On another note the guy I sent my Marutaka Rufe kit to so he could copy and make a laser cut kit has just emailed me to let me know he has a kit coming to me to check over. He is making me a duplicate of my original so I will actually have two just minus the plastics and cowl on the one he made. I will post pictures once I get it on the thread I started a while back. Posted a few pictures of the liquor cabinet I made for the wife last year. All white oak. It was a lot of work as I don't have all the tools for the panels and had to borrow them. Lots of biscuits and lots of gluing/clamping.
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