Tee Bee

Gonna use Ultracote on mine.

Rubbernecker

My Feedback: (22)

Good looking work guys. I have one in laser kit form, just not enough hours in the day to do them all. Also running out of room to store them. 3 new 1/2 A ships completed, Page Boy almost completed and a 25 size pattern ship being built........... Keep up the good work.

John

gene6029

Hey Rubbernecker, thats my plan! I'm out of room in my garage for 35-40% planes, so i have been building them smaller. At least thats what i tell myself. I really need to have a garage sale......Gene

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Ok Gene, you need to do a monokote thread on how to cover!!!!

Guys, the first time I met Gene was at one of my vintage fly-ins. Both of his models I swear were painted. He had to show me the seams to convince me that they were film covered!! Beautiful workmanship and I'm still trying to cover my models that well. Come on Gene, how about a covering thread!!


Bob Harris

gene6029

Nothing like putting pressure on!! We'll see. I was going to try a different technique on covering this one, but i'd hate to have it flop in front of everyone. I'll probably cover it & take pics during the process & if it works out i'll post them......Gene

Tee Bee

Man, I was sure surprised how much interest this generated. I almost didn't post it since I figured noone wanted to see another Minnie Mambo. As I watch the thread grow and continue to build this design, I see why it's so timeless.

Anyway, I started working on the horizontal stabilizer this weekend. Using the kit wood and following the included plans, it calls for 3/32" rib bows instead of the 1/16" pieces as shown in Andrew's pics. The "shelf" method wouldn't work with these thicker pieces. I decided to just pin the frame down real firmly and build it as instructed on the plans. Glued one end of all the rib bows with CA. Let it dry, then pulled the other ends down and glued them. Used some CA accelerator on a few of them to keep them from popping up. After it cures good, I'll flip it over, shim the leading and trailing edges with 3/32" scrap, and repeat the process.

This is a fun kit to build and I hope to score some more of the Early RC stuff in the future. Sure would be nice to see them in production again.

Andrew

Tee Bee

For any of us that have scratch or kit built a plane, following a build thread, regardless of the model, is always enjoyable. Seeing how folks approach and solve building problems is evidence of how much talent there is on this forum. I'll read a thread and think to myself, "That's such a great idea, I wish I had used that last week."

Seeing your Mambo come together is leaps and bounds ahead of someone showcasing his latest ARF - keep it coming!!

andrew

skaliwag

My Feedback: (1)

While the Stab is still held down, spray the ribs with alcohol or ammonia. They should release tension some when the front and back is sanded down

Tee Bee

The stab came out pretty straight! Trial fitted to fuselage. Gonna take a bit of trimming/sanding to get it all to fit well. Gonna try to join the wing panels tonight.

That brings me to my next question. Do all you other Mamboliers glass the wing joint?

Rubbernecker

My Feedback: (22)

Tee Bee, for simplicity purposes, I usually just galss the bottom on high wing 1/2 A stuff. No outside manuvers so no need on the top. Looking great.

John

Tee Bee

I set the dihedral at 3".

Rubbernecker

My Feedback: (22)

Now that is a new one on me. I have never set the wing on edge and glued the panels together. Always laid it flat and proped the ends up. Learn something new every day.

John

Tee Bee

Was a first for me, too.

skaliwag

My Feedback: (1)

Are you happy with the process / result?

Tee Bee

I'm celebrating with Chex Mix and grape juice.

WINANS

That's a Mattel pulse unit there. But none the less, thanks for sharing. Last time I was around a flying Mambo was in ~1973. Should build another. Certainly have enough pulse equipment sitting on it's hind end to make that happen.

Keep posting pics!

Scott

gene6029

Looking good TEE BEE!!! Have you decided on your radio gear yet?


WINANS, good eye on the Mattel pulser unit. I was mixing & matching all day & thats what i ended up installing..... I decided to use the Ace pulser in my May Fly (its lighter).....Gene

Andrew

This Mayfly?

Tee Bee

This will surely disappoint some of you but mine will be 2 channel rud/elev. I've decided to try to save some $ on this one and use gear I have on hand. Looks like it's gonna be a Futaba 2.4GHz rx(9g), HK 939MG servos(9g each), and a 400mah NiMH pack. There's a lot of wood on this bird. All up it looks like it's going to be considerably heavier than most of my 1/2A models. With that nice big wing I bet it'll still fly fine.

Tee Bee

Gene, does that Sterling kit have the original MM logo decals in it? If so, what are the dimensions? Does it include 2 of them for the top and bottom of the wing? I found the logo online and am considering trying to get a couple of them made at a vinyl shop if not too pricey.

gene6029

Tee Dee, the original mm kit only came with one decal, and as far as i know it was on the bottom wing only. At least my kit only came with one, and i cant remember about my original kit back in the early 70s.[] I think its GREAT to see these planes flying on both 2.4 & electric. The dimensions of the decal are 3.555" in dia measured accross the bottom of the word Mini & out to the edge of the white. If i can help you out in any other way just hollar......Gene


Andrew, YES!! thats my next build. Im trying to scale the plans out of the magazine to correct scale by useing a coppier at work, WHEW!!! im getting there.....Gene

Tee Bee

Thanks, Gene!

Andrew

That's the plane I learned to fly with. I had scaled it up to a .15 sized model, 46" or 48" span IIRC, and used the Rand Galloping Ghost in it. It took a beating, but two other guys learned on it, too. One of my classmates had a proportional system at the time, so we pooled our resources - my plane, motor and flight box and his radio. I flew it with an ENYA .15 III TV.

It was painted all orange; we dubbed it "The Orange Bomb". It truly earned its stripes and we flew the pants off it.

Take the PDF and scale it to about 525% with Adobe reader - that should put you right in the ballpark with the scale on the plans.

andrew

Tee Bee

I sent Cal-Grafx a picture of the Minnie Mambo logo and requested a quote for some decals. Almost $80 for 4 decals. Most of that was setup and prep time. A bit steep for me.

Andrew

That looks nice, but it would be a little pricey for me, too.