Eindecker build thread (Mike Leisure plans)
03-03-2007, 09:20 PM
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Eindecker build thread (Mike Leisure plans)
Alrighty then, here is the long promised build thread on the 1/2A Eindecker by Mike Leisure and marketed by Davey/Champion. Rick W provided the plans (you da man Rick!).
Before I begin, I have to say that I did not finish the plane in the time frame I expected. On Feb 20, my very good friend, Jim Simms, lost control of his motorcycle while riding up an on-ramp to the interstate and was killed instantly. This of course put on hold my building activities while we laid him to rest.
I built the plane during my short tour of duty at Ft Lee, VA. Once in a while I get the good tour, this time I stayed at the Comfort Inn and ate at the Officer’s Club every day. Sigh, nothing but stuffed chicken, steak and lobster tails (I get so tired of Army food!). The plane was constructed in the hotel room in the evenings using a very simple tool kit consisting of a Dremel motor tool (for cutting the firewall), single edge razor blades, a steel 12” ruler and a drywall sanding sponge. I used a mix of Zap CA, 5 min epoxy and ambroid cement to hold it all together. Yup, that’s all it took to frame it up.
Back to the build. 3/16 balsa sticks (about 14 in all) were used for the entire project. I started with the fuselage. The plans were covered in wax paper and both sides of the frame were built simultaneously. If you’ve ever had any experience building a rubber powered free flight plane, then you will be in very familiar territory with this project.
Next I cut out the 1/32 ply doublers with a pair of scissors. Only one word of caution, don’t forget to make a left and right side! The frame was then boxed out with more 3/32 sticks. The tail skid, fire wall and landing gear block were cut from 1/8 ply and epoxied in place
That’s about it folks! The whole fuse was framed out in maybe 3 hours.
Next installment: Tail feathers.
Before I begin, I have to say that I did not finish the plane in the time frame I expected. On Feb 20, my very good friend, Jim Simms, lost control of his motorcycle while riding up an on-ramp to the interstate and was killed instantly. This of course put on hold my building activities while we laid him to rest.
I built the plane during my short tour of duty at Ft Lee, VA. Once in a while I get the good tour, this time I stayed at the Comfort Inn and ate at the Officer’s Club every day. Sigh, nothing but stuffed chicken, steak and lobster tails (I get so tired of Army food!). The plane was constructed in the hotel room in the evenings using a very simple tool kit consisting of a Dremel motor tool (for cutting the firewall), single edge razor blades, a steel 12” ruler and a drywall sanding sponge. I used a mix of Zap CA, 5 min epoxy and ambroid cement to hold it all together. Yup, that’s all it took to frame it up.
Back to the build. 3/16 balsa sticks (about 14 in all) were used for the entire project. I started with the fuselage. The plans were covered in wax paper and both sides of the frame were built simultaneously. If you’ve ever had any experience building a rubber powered free flight plane, then you will be in very familiar territory with this project.
Next I cut out the 1/32 ply doublers with a pair of scissors. Only one word of caution, don’t forget to make a left and right side! The frame was then boxed out with more 3/32 sticks. The tail skid, fire wall and landing gear block were cut from 1/8 ply and epoxied in place
That’s about it folks! The whole fuse was framed out in maybe 3 hours.
Next installment: Tail feathers.
03-04-2007, 06:38 AM
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RE: Eindecker build thread (Mike Leisure plans)
TJ,
Sorry to hear about your friend, sad news..
Glad to see the plans are being put to good use. I set mine aside to build a c/l stunt which is almost finished. Back to RC after my next stunter, Miss BJ is finished. Still have a lot of winter for building here in the big "O".
Later,
Rick
Sorry to hear about your friend, sad news..
Glad to see the plans are being put to good use. I set mine aside to build a c/l stunt which is almost finished. Back to RC after my next stunter, Miss BJ is finished. Still have a lot of winter for building here in the big "O".
Later,
Rick
03-05-2007, 07:56 AM
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RE: Eindecker build thread (Mike Leisure plans)
Tail feathers:
Very simple job, quick and easy. I build the entire tail section while watching "high plains drifter", so I make that out to be about 2 hours give or take. Just put some wax paper over the plans and start cutting the 3/16 square balsa, glue and you’re done with the stab and elevator.
The fin is a little more complex due to the curved piece required. You could laminate 2 strips of 1/32 ply, or cut the piece from a solid block. I probably did it the hard way and used a 1/16 x 3/32 strip of balsa (the lightest and softest I could find), soaked in hot water, and curved around a coffee can until dry. That worked out well, but any method that gives you the curve will work. You could also just cut out the assembly from a 1/8” flat sheet and be done with it, but I wanted the nice open frame look.
Again, if you’ve ever built a rubber powered free flighter, the eindecker project will be well familiar to you- just larger.
Next installment, the wing.
Very simple job, quick and easy. I build the entire tail section while watching "high plains drifter", so I make that out to be about 2 hours give or take. Just put some wax paper over the plans and start cutting the 3/16 square balsa, glue and you’re done with the stab and elevator.
The fin is a little more complex due to the curved piece required. You could laminate 2 strips of 1/32 ply, or cut the piece from a solid block. I probably did it the hard way and used a 1/16 x 3/32 strip of balsa (the lightest and softest I could find), soaked in hot water, and curved around a coffee can until dry. That worked out well, but any method that gives you the curve will work. You could also just cut out the assembly from a 1/8” flat sheet and be done with it, but I wanted the nice open frame look.
Again, if you’ve ever built a rubber powered free flighter, the eindecker project will be well familiar to you- just larger.
Next installment, the wing.
03-12-2007, 07:19 PM
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RE: Eindecker build thread (Mike Leisure plans)
Good looking plane, Rocketrob!
Righty-O, now on to the wing. This is the most complicated part of the assembly, and even so it’s still a very easy project. This was the point of the build where I was sidetracked by more important matters, so I don’t have an accurate build time, but I think it was maybe 3 or 4 hours total.
I first cut out the ribs and formers and set them aside. Then I constructed the center section. Remember to use a piece of 1/16” balsa under the ribs to account for the sheeting that will be added later.
Once this assembly was dry I set it aside and built the wings proper. No surprises on the wings: pin the ribs to the plans and glue on the spars.
Next prop the wing tips to the correct dihedral and glue the wings to the center section. Sheet the wing according to the plans. I added a raised section to the front of the wing (not on the plans) because I felt it looked a little odd to have a sharp step where the wing cradle meets the front formers. I don’t think it adds or detracts anything from the flight characteristics, it just “looks right” to me.
That’s about it for the wing. Sand and prep for covering.
Next installment: Final frame assembly
(my photos are acting wierd, I will try and post some shots later)
Righty-O, now on to the wing. This is the most complicated part of the assembly, and even so it’s still a very easy project. This was the point of the build where I was sidetracked by more important matters, so I don’t have an accurate build time, but I think it was maybe 3 or 4 hours total.
I first cut out the ribs and formers and set them aside. Then I constructed the center section. Remember to use a piece of 1/16” balsa under the ribs to account for the sheeting that will be added later.
Once this assembly was dry I set it aside and built the wings proper. No surprises on the wings: pin the ribs to the plans and glue on the spars.
Next prop the wing tips to the correct dihedral and glue the wings to the center section. Sheet the wing according to the plans. I added a raised section to the front of the wing (not on the plans) because I felt it looked a little odd to have a sharp step where the wing cradle meets the front formers. I don’t think it adds or detracts anything from the flight characteristics, it just “looks right” to me.
That’s about it for the wing. Sand and prep for covering.
Next installment: Final frame assembly
(my photos are acting wierd, I will try and post some shots later)
03-12-2007, 07:25 PM
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RE: Eindecker build thread (Mike Leisure plans)
RocketRob,
OUTSTANDING again,
I should be back on mine soon. Maybe I'll put my stunter away until next winter. Nah... I'll get them both done.
Rick
03-13-2007, 09:03 AM
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RE: Eindecker build thread (Mike Leisure plans)
She looks great Jack.
I noticed I omitted the "speed fairing" on top of the wing as you have shown in your fotos.
After rereading your post I saw that fairing was your mod - nice!
What will yours be powered with?
I noticed I omitted the "speed fairing" on top of the wing as you have shown in your fotos.
After rereading your post I saw that fairing was your mod - nice!
What will yours be powered with?
03-08-2009, 05:25 PM
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RE: Eindecker build thread (Mike Leisure plans)
I was wondering how your Eindecker went with the 0.03 PAW engine.
I am building one for a 0.06 PAW,which should be at least as good as the Babe Bee, which I used on one years ago and which flew very well.
I am building one for a 0.06 PAW,which should be at least as good as the Babe Bee, which I used on one years ago and which flew very well.
03-08-2009, 08:55 PM
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RE: Eindecker build thread (Mike Leisure plans)
That reminds me of the time I doubled the size of a Sterling peanut plan and came up with a nice SE5a. I love stick and tissue building.
ORIGINAL: tangerine-jack
Again, if you’ve ever built a rubber powered free flighter, the eindecker project will be well familiar to you- just larger.
Again, if you’ve ever built a rubber powered free flighter, the eindecker project will be well familiar to you- just larger.
03-15-2009, 09:13 AM
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RE: Eindecker build thread (Mike Leisure plans)
Yeah, sorry guys. With overseas deployment, retirement, and new carreer involving lots of travel, the build thread has taken a back seat to real life. I've finished the plane and flown it several times already, what a super design! I used polyspan for covering and dope paint to give it the old timey look an eindecker should have. I've flown it with a sure start, and with electric. I think it flies better with the sure start due to the weight savings, but both power plants fly very well. I notice with the sure start that the plane gets to altitude much faster and is a crisper performer, but when the engine cuts out it's still and easy glider to fly in. The lecky gives throttle control, but adjusting the throttle only results in a change of altitude, not much else. Easy to fly, simple to build, this is a super plane for a beginner to scratchbuild and get in the air. It is also surprisingly durable as some of my less than perfect landings have shown.
This plane is nothing to write home about in performance, but it's solid, predictable and very relaxing to fly. It's forgiving of building errors and any reasonable competent modeler will have no issues in construction so long as the flying surfaces are true. I'm experimenting with putting a Jr Falcon wing on it and flying with alerons, but that project is on hold for the time being. A Jr Falcon wing is the correct size and will fit right on without any further mods, the crazy idea being that I could change wings at the field.
It's a rainy day here, perhaps I'll photo the plane for posting. It's a bit used at this point, not shiny and new any more, but what the hey, we should be flying them, not hanging them from the ceiling for show....
This plane is nothing to write home about in performance, but it's solid, predictable and very relaxing to fly. It's forgiving of building errors and any reasonable competent modeler will have no issues in construction so long as the flying surfaces are true. I'm experimenting with putting a Jr Falcon wing on it and flying with alerons, but that project is on hold for the time being. A Jr Falcon wing is the correct size and will fit right on without any further mods, the crazy idea being that I could change wings at the field.
It's a rainy day here, perhaps I'll photo the plane for posting. It's a bit used at this point, not shiny and new any more, but what the hey, we should be flying them, not hanging them from the ceiling for show....
03-15-2009, 04:01 PM
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RE: Eindecker build thread (Mike Leisure plans)
Interesting to hear your comments on flying it.One I had years ago could barrel roll nicely.I'm building another now and have altered a few things, mainly on the fuse to take the motors I have. The wing construction has me puzzled- I don't understand the purpose of the rear short spar, as the wing joiner/ front spar would be carrying the loads. Any ideas?
03-15-2009, 05:21 PM
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RE: Eindecker build thread (Mike Leisure plans)
No burmanf, I can't explain the rear short spar. Maybe to strengthen the center for sheeting and prevent warpage, it does a good job as a glue point for the sheet. Other than that, I don't know, but I can verify that the wing is much stronger than it looks in a wing tip to wing tip bounce on a sandy runway with cross wind gusts.
The plane does barrel roll, but it doesn't seem to like them much. Or maybe they don't "feel right" to me and the plane is just fine. I'm not the best pilot by a long chalk, I'm happy to get the dam thing back in flyable condition, so aerobatics is an area in which I am unqualified to give an assesment. Compared to the planes I have flown, this one is very easy and will give no surprises, it will do what you tell it too, no more, no less.
The plane does barrel roll, but it doesn't seem to like them much. Or maybe they don't "feel right" to me and the plane is just fine. I'm not the best pilot by a long chalk, I'm happy to get the dam thing back in flyable condition, so aerobatics is an area in which I am unqualified to give an assesment. Compared to the planes I have flown, this one is very easy and will give no surprises, it will do what you tell it too, no more, no less.