Hi gang,

Since the e-mail requests for kits are continuing to come in, I thought I’d let everyone know just where this project stands, what I could provide right now, what’s not ready, unknowns, etc.

At this moment I can lay up the fuse, cowling, and belly hatch cover. I could provide foam h-stab cores and spars, plug in wing hardware, and misc. wood parts to build the rudder, elevators, etc. I do NOT have a plug for a canopy. The one on the prototype is for the Ziroli Hellcat and is a little too small. Had to cheat a little with the way that I cut it out to get in on there. There is also a question about proper gear. This one has Robart gear (150ZF6F) and may not be strong enough for a 55lb. Aircraft. Sierra Precision is in the process of building a set of custom gear but I’m still waiting on them. The Robart gear is also a little too short but none of that may matter when the next one (folding wing) is built because that one will need specialized gear. Designing the folding wing hardware and gear is still on the ‘to do’ list, slated for this summer. So for now it’s a plug in wing model.

Now, about those plug in wings. I really want to build a new set from balsa and ply, because I ran into numerous problems with the foam cores used on the current model. For starters, the cores need to be 6 inches thick and I have yet to find source for foam that thick. There is also a serious concern about the method used to attach the aluminum plug in blade spars to the foam cores. With foam they can only be held in with epoxy and that makes me nervous. I’d sleep easier with a ply main spar that I could bolt them to.

Now, as for the fuse, there are no panel line or rivet detail in the molds (long story) and many may scoff at that. I also used polyester resin and I know that there are countless modelers who hate polyester but it’s what I’m familiar with. This fuse has several sharp corners that require some tricks to keep the cloth in place during the lay-up and it required some modified resin to pull that off. Right now I don’t know how to perform those tricks with epoxy resin so for now it’s polyester (sorry). There is also a problem in that there is currently no joining collar on the back of the forward fuse section. This thing would need to be shipped in two parts so I have to add the collar to the front molds. It’s no big deal but still needs to be done. Boxes big enough to ship the fuse parts still have to be sourced.

Several have asked if advance money would help. Well, I’ve heard of several horror stories about that kind of thing so the answer is NO. Money is not a problem, it’s time. I work 10 hour days so it’s basically a weekend thing. There is no way I would consider accepting so much as a dime from anyone until I have parts in the boxes and ready to go. I can’t build glass parts right now because I have to do it out in the garage and it’s a little too cold for polyester resin right now. I need the weather to warm up some.

The prototype only has one flight on it so the jury is still out on how it flys. Discovered a serious problem last weekend that may delay additional flights. I turned on the transmitter and receiver switches and NOTHING!! No response. The batteries were hot and after several minutes of on and off it suddenly started working again. It did this once before shortly after radio installation (but only for a few seconds) but a fellow modeler convinced me that it was because my receiver antenna was still coiled up and tied (the way they come new) and it had gone into hold. I wasn’t convinced but I wanted to believe him. The bottom line is that I’m not taking it to the field again until I’m confident that this is fixed. I think it was one of the switch harness but I’m not sure. They will both be replaced this weekend so we’ll see. The bottom line is that it’s another delay since my decision on this projects future depends on how well it flys.

So, for now, a month or two will allow me to make a more informed decision about this thing. I plan to keep all interested parties updated as things develop, so hang in there.

John Fangohr