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Seagull Gee Bee Z

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Seagull Gee Bee Z

Old 11-23-2018, 05:54 PM
  #726  
the Wasp
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that's really nice, and a Saito too,

my Y model was larger, with the MVVS 35 Gasser w/ 3W 20X8 was a very good match, it was fast and would climb out well, so yours should be some 2 or maybe 3 pounds lighter, so it should go very well with the Saito 40 Gasser.

Jim
Old 11-23-2018, 09:29 PM
  #727  
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here you go, but this one has the Saito 33 in it

Old 01-01-2019, 03:05 PM
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Assembling the 1/5th Scale R-986D from Atwood Aviation which was 3D printed for me at 9.6 inch diameter. I put it together with extra thick CA versus the epoxy recommended by Damon. The 4-Stroke 40cc gasoline engine runs very smooth so I don't think it will get shaken apart. We will see. Lower 2 cylinders omitted for cooling. Sprayed it with KRYLON Aluminum. I need to get some dark grey gloss for the crankcase tomorrow. I am studying the installation and contemplating a baffle, I have to figure out how to mount it all inside the cowling. Leo



Last edited by Spychalla Aircraft; 01-01-2019 at 04:51 PM.
Old 01-01-2019, 03:30 PM
  #729  
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Looks awesome!
Old 01-07-2019, 04:06 AM
  #730  
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I decided to go with a baffle. It is a circular light ply ring that is set at the mid-point of the Saito cylinder. It will guide the cooling air through the fins plus it will provide support to the dummy engine. I will glass it into the cowling when it is done and it will come off complete with the cowl when dis-assembled. Also installed the stock tail wheel assembly yesterday, it went on really easy. It's going to need some black paint. Installed a slightly over-sized tire for better grass field control. Leo


Old 01-11-2019, 04:43 AM
  #731  
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Installation of a servo activated choke on the Saito FG-40. They need a lot of fuel to prime and pop-off. This is a convenient way to do it. Also works as a secondary engine kill in addition to the electronic ignition kill. Hinged block of foam to seal the carb. Leo

Old 01-11-2019, 04:46 AM
  #732  
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Well engineered!
Old 01-16-2019, 04:26 AM
  #733  
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This is a really fun stage on the dummy engine. Added some Rustoleum gloss grey for the crankcase. Nice color, sets off the aluminum. Added spark plugs which are just brass tubes and shrink tubing. Went with my own version of the distributor ring location which is supposed to be behind the rocker shafts. Mounting the cowl with screws from the back is always an easier option. This required making 2 new plywood rings that are slighly, 1/16" larger than the kit ring. From the pictures you should see how the cowl mount screws and t-nuts go. Leo



Old 01-16-2019, 10:52 AM
  #734  
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Very nice job! Makes me wish I would have spent a little more time dolling mine up.
Working on a Hostetler 33% Gee Bee Z now, Can't wait to get it done!
Old 02-17-2019, 04:18 AM
  #735  
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Displayed the Gee Bee Z on a table at the last GeneseeRC Club meeting. Pilots liked it but I am not sure they know what they are looking at? I think they lack the knowledge of the Golden Age of Air Racing to know how significant this airplane was. If they only understood, then I think they would have been more excited. Hmm. It must be just me. Leo

Old 03-03-2019, 02:20 PM
  #736  
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Can anyone tell me how they removed the canopy? I know it is attached with brass screws, but it seems to be adhered as well. Also, what size pilot might fit under the glass?
Old 03-03-2019, 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Lifer
Can anyone tell me how they removed the canopy? I know it is attached with brass screws, but it seems to be adhered as well. Also, what size pilot might fit under the glass?
Unfortunately they glued that canopy on, so the only way to remove it is to cut it off. You will end up pulling ultracote with it. I would cut the ultracote around the edge of the canopy before trying to remove it so that you won't have to recover areas like I did. The Williams Brothers 1/5th scale pilot was the largest I could fit in there. I tried the 1/4 scale but there was no way. The overall dimensions on this airplane are 1/4 scale, but the fuse diameter is smaller so it effects things. Paint is on the inside of the clear plastic. You will likely end up re-painting the yellow on the outside as it will get scared up. Leo

This is Lowell Bayles, he looks terrified! and he should.

Last edited by Spychalla Aircraft; 03-03-2019 at 05:21 PM.
Old 04-16-2019, 03:41 PM
  #738  
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Mine is coming along. Have glued the wing fairings in place. Soon it will be time for the decals and the engine test run.
Old 09-13-2019, 09:16 AM
  #739  
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Oh am I bummed. When I got to weight and balance I've learned that the airframe cannot handle the nose weight of this 10 oz. dummy engine. I have had to pull it out. I had all the batteries in the tail and it still was not enough. Now with the dummy engine out and the Saito FG-40 up front I still had to put the RX batteries in the tail under the stab and the Ignition battery is still at the back edge of the wing. This is a really nose heavy bird with a 40cc on it! Ready for flight now. We will see how it goes tomorrow. Leo



Old 09-13-2019, 10:00 AM
  #740  
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With a DLE 30 and the factory muffler mine balanced per the manual. Still haven't test-flown, but should in the next week or so.
Old 09-13-2019, 05:28 PM
  #741  
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if that is the 70 inch span Z then the 40cc Saito is a big engine for it

Jim
Old 09-15-2019, 03:07 AM
  #742  
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Jim, yes the Saito FG-40 is a really big engine for this airplane. That is where all the nose weight comes from. But what fun!

Flight report: 5 flights yesterday. Landed upright 4 out of 5 times. I learned that you cannot set it down early, you have to wait on it, and wait on it. The airplane is not going to snap, it has a straight forward mushy stall, just wonderful. So I am balanced now at about 25% of wing cord. A very safe location. Engine wise the power is just perfect, I would not want any less or any more. We are running it very rich for now turning a Xoar 19 X 10 at 6,500 on the ground. In time I will lean it up and go over 7,000. This little airplane is deceptively easy to fly. In an effort to duplicate some of Delmar Benjamin's R-2 routine it will hold confident inverted passes without wandering. The low level knife edge is great, and at full power you can also do a slight knife edge climb which I saw Delmar do at Oshkosh one year. I went to altitude and tested the stall. At just above idle you could go to nearly full up and it would just mush forward and not fall off on a wing!!! It never really stalled for me. I have to explore this some more, because if I can really control this, then the GeeBee is a candidate for a low-level high alpha pass. Ha! Wouldn't that be a sight, a GeeBee crawling along with the nose up. What a hoot! We will see. Great little bird, lots of fun, it leaves smiles on your face on and off the field. Leo
Old 05-21-2020, 03:59 PM
  #743  
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Mine is in its second season. Late last year I installed a $20 stabilizer and it lands beautiful. Plan to upgrade the tires to Dubro 4.5 inch inflatables. Only dislike at this point is the Ultracoat wrinkling in the Midwest heat.
Old 04-26-2021, 12:14 PM
  #744  
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I got in a successful maiden. A bit stressful till it was trimmed out. It wanted to climb hard to the left. It’s surprisingly easy to fly. Take offs need to be slow on the up throttle and be on the right rudder. Landing is easy. You have to keep the tail flying to keep it from flying again but also not so much as to flip over. With a bit more practice this will be an enjoyable plane. Set up with a Saito 180
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Old 04-26-2021, 12:17 PM
  #745  
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Old 04-26-2021, 12:21 PM
  #746  
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On a side note I added a box to the inside of the spat’s to attach the cables to keep them stable. The gear in this thing is not good. I put blocks around the base to stabilize it. All good now.
Old 06-27-2021, 01:52 PM
  #747  
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Default Landing gear

So they changed the spats and gear since the last kit I had. Can someone give me a step by step? You have to mount the spats 1st then insert the gear and attach to the wing? I like it better with the 2 piece spats…
Old 07-08-2021, 01:20 PM
  #748  
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Default Balance

Just want to see which way you balanced? Wheels pointing up or down?
Old 10-21-2021, 08:02 AM
  #749  
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Day of the maiden. RCGF 40 twin with a 20X8 prop. It came in a little nose heavy with the battery half way to the tail. Flys fine that way. Half a dozen landings to date, all on it's wheels.



Last edited by fuzzy; 10-21-2021 at 08:19 AM. Reason: picture

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