Avistar ARF Build
 

Alright, let the fun begin! Just went through all the pieces and parts and will begin construction tomorrow after a trip to home depot and maybe the LHS for some last minute purchases I require. Here is a pic of everything i have to begin with....[img][/img]

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

Nice! Which TT engine did you get for it?

I had an Avistar with an OS .50 SX... it was a blast. I crashed it long before I ever outgrew it or got board with it...

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

Careful.....

I have read too many threads about Cats eating airplane parts!;):D



Enjoy the build...take your time and have fun!

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

ScienceisCool... Looks like your good to go... Test fit before gluing..
check then double check for alignment, have fun and take your
time... It'll all come out better... Oh.... For sure... Watch the cats...
I left my garage door open while I went in the house for something,
and my UCD was on the floor... my cat was just about to inspect my
wing just when I came back in.. I believe I was very Lucky!!

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

yes, the cats (4) have been very curious about the new object in their lives but they are good and just sniff it and move on for some lovin'. Can't wait to start building tomorrow!

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

We are on the same schedule. Just opened the box last night. Have test fitted the allerons and cut back the root for the servo. Tommorrow I hope to get the mylar hinges in place and glued. Let me know your progress , we can help each other down the road.
No hurry , buried under 40 inches of snow . Thats okay , gives me plenty of time to enjoy building.

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

My Avistar should be here tomorrow via USPS :) Saturday! Sweet

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

I'm looking forward to reading about all three of these assemblies. Keep us posted will you?

Photos are nice too. ;)
Dennis-

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

My cat doesn't want to share my attention. He climbs up on the building board and sits down on everything. Sometimes I have to lock him out of the room and he really doesn't like that after I've been gone to work all day. Still he has never broken, stolen or ate anything. Good building to all of you and keep the pics flowing.

Bruce :)

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

Hello, I'm about 1 week ahead of you in assembling my Avistar. One thing to make sure you know, is there were a few typos in the assembly instructions, the most confusing to me (never having done this before) was when putting the aieleron push rods into the clevis, the directions start to use te 17 1/2" threaded rods. There was only 1 rod that length that was threaded. What you need are the 2 7" threaded rods.

It really had me going for a while. I called Hobbico and told them they were missing, they sent me 2 new ones, and then I noticed the 7" ones behind the fuse on my bench.

If you have never done CA hinges, there are great directions for doing them right here at RCU. Do a search for CA hinges.

Other than that, assembly is going great. Overall good direction. Dry fit everything and make sure it is right before gluing or cutting.

Jim

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

IM SO INCREDIBLY JELOUS! No really, does anyone want to give me a trainer, or possibly sell me one. ONe person is offering a duraplane for 50, but no. So anyway, pm me.

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

Ok, so i've got the wing together and the servo mount for the ailerons. Next i'm going to install the ailerons, and dont worry, i read up on installing the hinges wicking the CA. wish me luck! more to come....

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

sorry, wrong pic....

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

She's looking good... I can almost hear the roar of the engine:-)


Oh...... ScienceisCool...... From the look of your work bench, I take
it your not married... Or Mom's away:-)..... I did some work on our
table... But "only" after getting a "lecture" on covering the table and
not to drag anything on it.... Oh yeah... And the one about, A good
reason to clean up the garage, Because this will not happen again:-)
You got to love those insights.....

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

Well i have the elevator and rudder installed and am now working on getting the control horns in place. I'm hoping i might be able to finish this evening sometime....

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

hey ScienceisCool wow your moving fast! I got the box before you and your ahead of me haha. is this a KIT or a ARF? lOOKS REALLY GOOD! keep us posted! OOPs now that I look at your SUBJECT it sais ARF! Sowwy!

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

hehe.. ya its ARF... I"m actually almost done now. i just have to install the engine, which is difficult cuz i have to drill new holes in the engine mount to fit my TT .46 Pro. I guess the pre-drilled holes are for an OS engine which do not fit the TT. i'm recharging the battery on the drill now and will install the engine later this evening and maybe get some electronics work done too. this is so much fun!

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

Your gonna love this plane. I had almsot the same set up as you to start. The 6EXA is a good radio for this plane. Use the recommended throws for LR and crank them all the way up on HR. Later I bought an 7CAF and it seemed more fun to fly with that radio, dont know why. This plane allowed me to move onto an extra 300 after about 2 weeks of steady flying. I am self taught and now still fly the Extra and a Funtana.

Edit: One more thing, just re read your last post.. Those holes in the engine mount are for ALL engines, you use the supplied clamps, no no no do not redrill.
I'll post you an picture soon,
Good luck
Shane

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

OK,
here you go


No bolts go through the holes on the engine into the mount at all, I like this set up alot if you use loctite because it allows your engine to move in a crash and not break the crankcase open!

EDIT: I can See your clamps in the LAST pic you posted, there right there in the baggy.

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

Yep, use the clamps, don't drill it. I strapped my OS .50 SX down with those on my Avistar... worked great. In fact, I still have that engine mount and my .50 SX on another plane, now! Just be sure to use Loctite on the nut/bolt threads as mentioned above...

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

crap... wish i would have read that before i drilled two new holes... they work great for now. should i just go back and use the clamps? i think i should. i dont think the new holes will weaken the structure that much. i have everything installed except the receiver (need foam to wrap it).

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

The Avistar with the TT Pro 46 is a great combo!! You are going to love it!!

Have Fun!!

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

Science-
That is why we kept telling you to read,read and re-read the instructions and ask questions here if you had them. The mounts will probably be OK if you don't use a gorilla to tighten them down and crack them. Yes they do need to be tight but you are not tying down a battleship or nuthin like that, and do use loc-tite if you can. Leave a slight clearance between spinner and fuselage so they won't rub. Best way is to assemble engine, spinner back plate and prop before tightening mtg screws. Be sure you "pull test" on all of your hinges to be certain they anchored well.

Bruce [;)

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

One other thing to remember. The plane will probably come out nose heavy, so try to put the battery behind the first bulkhead behind the servo tray. The Avistar was my first plane and I didn't think about stuff like that on mine. I added lead to the tail, but if I built another, I would move the battery back before I added the weight. BTW: You will love this plane. It is a great flyer for a trainer.

RE: Avistar ARF Build
 

Yeah, don't fix the battery position until last. Check your CG after it's complete and use the batt placement to help place the CG where it's spec'd in the plans. I didn't do this, and ended up epoxying a couple of ounces of lead weights on the bottom side of the tail. Gluing some lead weight works fine, and is the easiest way to get your CG dead on, but that adds to the total weight of the plane...