A-Track

Hay Doug if you still need to do your fuel proofing here's the method I use. Just take some 30 minute epoxy and thin it down with rubbing alcahol, it's really easy to paint on then with a brush and it leaves a nice glossy finish.

BTW she's starting to look nice. [sm=thumbup.gif]

zzw26n

My Feedback: (45)

Looking great Doug! Did the DA make it's way back to you?

Ward

80stars

Thanks Ward,

No, I haven't seen the 50 yet. They told me they would call earlier this week but... NO call. I'm not real impressed with the service, but maybe thats what you get as a second owner.

Doug
quote]ORIGINAL: zzw26n



Looking great Doug! Did the DA make it's way back to you?

Ward
[/quote]

80stars

[/quote]
CHOMP, CHOMP [:'(] ! As often I stuck my foot in my mouth regarding DA. Ward not 30 mins after I put the first post to you DA called and said " it's done, is there anything else we can do for you... and by the way " no charge" . I look forward to working with DA in the future.

A bunch of stuff showed on Friday from TBM and Don's. I polished up the gear and considering the grade of alum. and my elbow grease they turned out pretty good. I am glueing the elevators and rudder tonight and decided to give the cling wrap a try during the drying process. I was happy with the ease to hold the parts together and think I should get pretty good results.

80stars

The cling wrap worked great to hold on the elevators and rudder for hinging. I glued one wing aileron today using Probond poly, great googly moogly [:'(] what a mess. It all cleaned up fine because I used Vasilene on the hinges and the LEs and TEs but WOW was I not ready for the mess (builder induced error) I will try the other wing tonight using a little less glue.

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I started another weight and ballance dance today. I am trying for the lightest overall weight and want to use LI-ION batteries but the problem is CG. Due to lightening the fuse and using the DA-50 no matter what I am tail heavy. I suspected this from the start but built as light as I could. As it sits in the photo I am on with the CG with the rudder servo removed from the tail, 12 oz of sand on the engine box and 12oz over the gear for two 2400 NIMH cells at a total weight of 266oz or 16.6 lbs (minus color and clear on cowl).

My questions. Should I go LI-ION on main cells and compensate with added weight in the nose? The advantage might be 6oz overall savings on batteries and moving the difference out to a beter moment at the engine box in ballast. The other thought is to try and place the heavier NIMH cells to the engine box with less added ballast. My engine box is not sealed and with heat, vibration and proximity to the ignition module could this be a factor? Does anyone have a good suggestion for ballast in the 12-16oz range??? Lead/plate steel????

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Here is what I have to work with.

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More

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Anyone have issue with the proximity of the ignition module and the throttle servo for RF interference? I am using 72MH PCM on the reciever and figure maybe I should at least replace the 4-40 linkage with nyrod for throttle.

zzw26n

My Feedback: (45)

Doug,

You could get two 5200's li-ons on the motor box (~6 oz each) and go to a Tru-Turn Alum. Spinner that would add ~ 4-5 oz and the nose. You would have a spinner to match your Landing Gear, battery power to last a dozen Flights and the nose weight you need.

80stars

Ward,
I am afraid you are correct about the spinner but I am going to to wait until I get the cowl finished and then do another cg. I really like the carbon fiber spinner and don't want to dump it unless I must.
Doug

80stars

For anyone still watching this post, thank you. I have been out working 13 of the last 14 days with no time to work on this project, but am getting near the end. I have been struggling with a paint match to the Ultracote True Red covering. With our local hobby shop closing the doors and Hangar 9 not producing this paint anymore I hit a dead end. At last resort I felt I could have the local paint shop mix the color and then I could justify needed spray equipment but.... I found a close enough match in the can from the auto parts shop. LI-POs, switches and regulators are installed and I finished pluming up the fuel system today. I need to add the silver stripe to the cowl and then cover with clear before doing another CG. I am waiting to see how much I have added to the cowl with paint and clear before I spend extra $ on a True Turn spinner if that is what is needed to ballance this bird. I also added another set of wing attach bolts in front of the tube because I didn't like the flex the wing had forward and aft. Adding the extra attach points really pulled the wings together nice and tight. Maybe tomorrow I will do an engine start to check for any leaks in the fuel system.

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Wing attachment and regulators.

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Engine run-up and fuel system leak test yesterday. All passed

Anyone know the prop/spinner balance requirements on carbon fiber? Is balancing done with the producer or will I need to balance both?

zzw26n

My Feedback: (45)

Doug,

Depends who made it, Mejzlik's are really good about balancing their props, but I always check. And I check the their Spinners too.
You'll find that 99% of the time they balance. Always a good idea to check them, only takes a few minutes and will help your airframe's longevity.

Can't wait to hear you Flight report, several of us have been watching the Build and wish you much success.

80stars

Madien flight this evening. WOW! It was so great to finally see this thing do what it's designed to do. I only was able to put one flight on it until I make some further adjustments to the CG and cowl. I am still too tail heavy, the CG is about 1/2" aft and it is very noteable esp in turns and landing (tail droped like a rock) but I still managed to pull off a decent 3 point. The stall is SOOOO predictable and I can slow it down to a crawl before it drops the nose wings level (due in part to the aft CG). Up lines went on forever without fade left or right and the rolls are so cool, I have never had a plane stop as crisp as this.

I ended the flight after about 8 mins, the DA started to really die (load up) on the low idle and nearly left me dead stick on a practice approach. I believe the low mixture is too rich because above 1/2 throttle it cleans out and produces good power. Some tweaking on the mixture and I should be in good shape.

Some specs:

30% Carden Extra 300
DA-50 on Jtec wrap around muffler
Mejzlik 21x11.5 three blade (today it turned 6450 rpm)
Weight 17lbs 2oz
Fuse mods:
Main wing rased from low to mid fuse level
Rudder increased to TOC mods adding 1.75" to trailing edge
Elevators increased by moving hinge line forward 1"
Ailerons lengthend from 33" to 38.25"
Ailerons tapered 3.25" at tip to 4.75" at root
Upper hatch modified to include canopy as one removable unit
Carbon fiber wing tube
Carbon fiber spinner (but will likely change to True Turn for a better CG)

Thank you to EVERYONE for helping me to make this build a success! Ward, special thanks to you for supplying the airframe and power and most importantly the words of encouragement. A few minor adjustments and we will be ready to rock and roll again.

Doug

80stars

Smile

zzw26n

My Feedback: (45)

Great job Doug! The Plane really turned out nice, you should be proud.

Ward