Laser Models Laser 3D Building Log
 

After overcoming my grief about that, I began on the rudder. That went together really quickly. Just used the simple cut, oh it's not quite right, trim, place and glue method. Worked well!
Here's my rudder.

Laser Models Laser 3D Building Log
 

Then I went to work on the elevators. These took a little longer, I think about an hour and a half total. This was tonight's project. I think I'll get to reinforcing them as mentioned in other posts after I do some research of my own.

All up weight to this point: 29 ounces.

That includes fuse, landing gear, tail feathers, wing, ailerons, all the stick built pieces. Everything I've built so far: 29 ounces. That's pretty good! Oh! That actually includes the 2 ounce Hitec Digital I have flopping around in there for the rudder too. So I think that's pretty good! I'll be taking some out of the outboard wingribs, and the bottom sheeting too.

Thanks for watching!
Reid

Beveling
 

Well, today was my first day of building after finals concluded and I did a lot of beveling. Beveling, sanding, then more beveling. I got the two front hold down dowels installed, along with the main screw that holds the wing down. I measured the location of the hole from the plans and applied it to my wing, but when I drilled it, it came out to be about 1/8" off. So I bored it out further with a nice circular file I have. Then, as they recommend I 'glassed the area around the screw with 1/2 oz cloth and 30 minute epoxy.

Sorry about the picture quality. Forgot to turn on the macro lens!

Laser Models Laser 3D Building Log
 

I'll cut that 'glass away when it's dry too in case anyone was wondering. Then I wanted to do some hinging. I got some of these great Robart Hinge Points at the hobby shop last time I was there and I was looking forward to tryin them out. I've never used hinge points though, so I had to develop my own system for installing them. I pretty much just drew the centerline, and perpendicular marks where I wanted the origin of the hole to be, and went from there. I actually drilled them with my drill press. It worked out very well, and from what I can tell, the throws will be crazy with these hinges. I haven't glued them yet because I still have to cover them etc etc. Notice the great double bevel? I'll have the most throw the servo can provide. There should be NO binding anywhere! Thanks Robart!

I just put the hinges in for the picture, obviously this gap will be closed when I glue them!

Reid

Horizontal Stab Attachment
 

I got my horizontal stab in place today. There was one wrinkle, the back half of my fuselage is slightly canted to the right. When I inserted the stab into the nice laser cut slots, it wanted to align the stab about 10 degrees off from the wing. Obviously, this wasn't acceptable so I took a small round file that I have and filed away about 1/32" from the top of the right slot bottom, and the same from the left slot bottom. This allowed the perfect amount of wiggle room. Then, I broke out the 30 minute epoxy and had a great time attaching the stab. I also used a few small shims inserted between the surface and the slot to help keep the proper alignment. I'll do the rudder tonight after Law & Order: Criminal Intent is over. Pics then too.

Reid

The rudder
 

Got the rudder on tonight too. Everything will be solid by morning and then I think the real fun begins. Hinging, hardware, etc. Does it? I dunno, I don't have the manual in front of me. We'll find out tomorrow, stay tuned!

Few notes on the rudder-
The exact location of the rudder installation is sort of a best guess kind of thing. You know that it's got to have its bevel hanging over the edge, and there's one of two notches in the very last former for the rudder to be seated into/against. I chose the hole in the former and put it in there. Again, the plans and instructions really don't offer any clue. If you look, you see that this piece of balsa disappears at about the height of the plywood fuse side, but you still don't know.

A few things about the manual:
1. The man constructing the plane is wearing the same shirt throughout. Are we to believe he constructed this in one day?
2. Many pictures are mismatched to the steps. Anyone else catch this?

That's it.
Goodnight.
Reid

Laser Models Laser 3D Building Log
 

lol i don't know maybe he's just so fixiated on models that changing his clothes/showering doesn't matter anymore... no he prob built it one day just as a display thing, without epoxy, just CA. i guess.

i haven't had much time to work on mine since school got out. mom's been sick so back and forth to da hosp. puts a block (a neccesary one of course) on my building. next i gotta put on my sheeting. i hate sheeting. uggghh... :stupid: :eek: :confused:
Crazy Mike

Trim Scheme
 

I've been playing a little with trim schemes. I'm not very artistic so it's been hard. Here's the first one I came up with, I think it looks pretty good. Anyone have an opinion?


Reid

Laser Models Laser 3D Building Log
 

Nope, sorry. You must use transparent colors on the Laser 3D or it won't fly. ;)

Chuck

Laser Models Laser 3D Building Log
 

CHM,

That thing looks great.
I am thinking about building one of these planes.

Do you have any pics of the bottom of that one?

More pics of my Laser 3D
 

Thanks for the compliment!

Here's the bottom...

This was before I wised up and removed the tips.

Laser Models Laser 3D Building Log
 

Here's where I put the rudder servo...

Laser Models Laser 3D Building Log
 

Last one.

The best $240 I ever spent!

Laser Models Laser 3D Building Log
 

i dunno, mine will blue/white. lol.

Laser Models Laser 3D Building Log
 

I know, transparent colors look good on this one, but I've used transparent monokote on every other model I've built. I'm getting tired of transparency! I'll give it some more thought.

CHM - Your plane does look fantastic!

Reid

Servo Placement
 

Hey CHM!
Am I seeing this correctly, did you put your rudder servo in the tail? Why? Balance? I'm going to use the YS 63 also, so is this something I should consider doing?

Thanks!
Reid

Laser Models Laser 3D Building Log
 

Yes! That's exactly why. I have the 700mA Rx battery just ahead of the ply piece under the canopy, the receiver is in the servo bay along with an HS-81 for throttle, and I have two HS-225's in the tail for the elevators, and the rudder servo which is an HS-77 low profile. NOTE: My stab is the stock stab but I sheeted it on both sides with 1/16" balsa which brings it to 3/8" thick. Then I built new elevators out of 3/8" sticks. I had heard about the flimsy elevators breaking during walls, etc. and I knew I would need the weight back there anyway. The aileron servos are HS-225 MG.

As is it weighs 5 pounds even, and balances at the "expert" position as stated in the manual.

AWESOME plane! The YS is my first 4-stroke. This thing would be just great with a good .2-stroke .46 as well, and it would save a few ounces.

Other notes: Don't randomly add "strength" to the airframe. Strength = ounces, and ounces add up to pounds. However - I used the stock wood motor mount, but I used strips of 2-ounce glass cloth to help hold it together and to the fuselage.

I have about 50 flights on it. Blenders, walls, terminators, and everything else. No failures yet!

I've been using APC 12.5x6, 13x6, and 14x4W props. I'll try the 13x4W in the spring. The Zinger 14x4 I tried was okay too, but noisy. You'll love the YS in this plane, but I'm having issues with the exhaust being dumped on top of the wing even with the 2" extension you see on the muffler. I don't like cleaning 20% Wildcat off my plane.

Laser Models Laser 3D Building Log
 

Oh my! My dad bought me a YS 63 for christmas! WooHoo! I got a 13/6 prop to try today, and a DuBro fuel tank too. I got 4 rolls of Monokote (I'm almost ready to start covering!), Black, Insignia Blue, White, and Dove Grey. I think it'll look very very nice.
Happy Hollidays.

Reid

Laser Models Laser 3D Building Log
 

rplumbo - Congratulations! You're all set! Say...I noticed that you're from St. Paul. You didn't happen to see me fly my Laser 3D at the St. Paul R/Cers Septemberfest, did you?

Chuck

Laser Models Laser 3D Building Log
 

No, I didn't make it out for that. Our club posted a flyer for it, and it looked interesting, but I think I had something else going on. Maybe this summer we can have a Laser 3D fly-in!

Reid

The Big Cover Up
 

I started covering. This is going significantly better since I actually learned how to cover a wing at a club demo this winter. Thanks Scott!

Hinging
 

Then I plugged in the hinges for a test run after I covered the horizontal stabilizer. This is my first try with Robart Hinge Points, but I think I like them. Take a look for yourself. That much throw and absolutely zero binding to 90 degrees (all the way to vertical) throw. It's amazing. I can't wait to fly this.

Here's a great picture.

Laser Models Laser 3D Building Log
 

And created a terrible mess in the process.

More to come soon.

Reid

Cover Up continues
 

Got the vertical stab covered as well as the rudder. I couldn't wait any longer, I started on the trim. It's probably all I'll do until the end, but I just wanted to see what it'd look like. I think it looks hot. :D

Reid

That's corsair blue and grey ultracote on top of white monokote.

All done covering!
 

Well, I'm all done covering. Here's the scheme. I weighed it yesterday. Airframe+Covering+Rudder servo (2 Oz HS-5625) it weighs in at 2lbs 4oz. The engine will weigh 17oz, I've got 5 ounces in the other servos, 1.5 ounces for the receiver, 4.2 ounces for the battery, 2 ounces for cowl, 1 ounce for canopy, 1 ounce for cowl paint, 1 ounce for tailwheel, 2 ounces for the fuel tank, and 2 ounces misc and extra room for error = 4.5 lbs even.
Woohoo!

Reid