OK, OK, I couldn't wait..................

Yes, I carefully applied the dry transfer flags while the epoxy was still wet. And wait, there's more.....

I put the yellow canopy on top, just for the effect.


OOOOOh, I'm psyched to finish it. The final push is upon me.

Wedj,

What an awesome looking fuse!![sm=thumbup.gif]. I know you must be getting excited about finally finishing the plane and flying it. Keep up the good work and you'll have it at the flying field before you know it!!

I just saw the hits at 9999, so I had to make it 10,000!

10,001 hits. i should have waited 3 more posts for me and i would have hit the 1000 posts count at the same time.

david

Nic, that is beautiful, can wait to the perigee finished!!!!! get it Done! LOL I know you are ready.[sm=thumbs_up.gif] Pete

Well, the Labor day w/e has proven to be a labor of love, got the wing painted. woot!

Here's the masking, done Saturday evening

Note to Jeff Worsham and Stuntflyr, here's something else that made its way from the IPMS show to my workbench. #2 son Ethan is building the Phantom Mustang. How many of you remember building this as a kid? I do.

And yes, I remember that F#$%^&ng tailwheel, too.

So here's how she'll look. Also had a chance to put it on the scales, as you see it in these photos, it weighs a mere 2 pounds 3 ounces. Body 17 ounces, wing 18 ounces. Remember the wing has extra coat of paint, and the tip weight already installed. I think it will come in under 5 pounds all up. Woot! again.

Looking reeeeaaallllyyyyy good Nic!

FB

Super job, it really looks the part.
You have prevailed!
Chris...

It appears your perseverance is going to reward you with an absolutely beautifull airplane. Great job!!

Looks like I need more perseverance. The place I was going to spray clear (co-worker's barn set up w/ plastic booth to spray their srint cars) was dismantled last weekend. I'm looking for alternatives.

No alternatives, so this morning I sprayed clear on the body and control surfaces. My string of bad luck with painting is still with me. I got the clear paint mixed, pieces prepped, wait 15 minutes for the paint to "merge", turn on the compressor and the spray booth, and shoot a test spot. Nothing. Nada. No Paint. *** ?????

OK, pull the sprayer apart, clean the pickup tube, carefully put the cup out of harm's way, and look at the business end. Seems I didn't clean it well enough after the last spray, and there's a blue plug over the needle.

OK, take the business end apart, being careful not to let springs and washers go "sproing" into the abyss, and examine the nozzle with magnifiers. Sure enough, clogged. I just happen to have some fine music wire, and poke it through the opening, dislodging some crud. So I figure I gotta really clean it up, so attack all the buildup with a combination of toothpicks, wire and Xacto#11. All the while remembering that the clear EPOXY paint has a shelf life of about an hour......

So, get it cleaned up, put the pickup tube in the thinner and pull the trigger. Eureka! a full spray pattern rewards me.

OK, back to work. I start to spray the clear, and notice some blue dust particles in the clear over the white. S#$%t, the residue from the cleaning out is spitting through the nozzle randomly. Nothing to do at this point, so I continue to spray. When the paint dries, I will pick off the errant flecks.

At least I can start to hinge, radio, engine and landing gear the plane. Knowing I will take it to the VR/CS meet Oxford PA on Oct 11 has really put the fire to my posterior.

One night this week I will do the wing in the garage. It should prove interesting. Will the paint curse go or stay?


Photo 1 - shiny!
Photo 2 - blue fleck near T/E
Photo 3 - Blue spatter near the center. I know it's small, but it looks huge to me.

And I have a nice spot picked out for you to display your Perigee next to the Taurus. Did I just turn that flame up a little higher?

Almost forgot something. To be judged for Concours, you have to bring your plans and you have to fly it. Gas on!!!

Not going Concours, going pattern Class III.

Jr Skylark will be built for Concours.

So now we can actually start to populate this shell. Let's start with the 8-oz tank, shall we? I have used this method since the 70's and it always works well. First, the empty compartment and the tank orientation. I needed to put the tank on edge to clear the body sides.

Next step is to install the 1/8" ply base onto the rails which were put in when the fuse sides were being laid up. It is stuck in with RTV (I had black on the bench). I don't worry about fuel proofing it, since it can be pulled out and scrapped if there's a problem. The fuse sides did get a coat of epoxy on them, plus paint spray.

Second photo shows the tank, nicely nestled in a bed of wrap-around foam, with the fuel lines going through the firewall cutout.

Next step is to seal the fuel lines where they go through the firewall. I had cut an adequately large hole in the firewall when I made it. Next I thread the fuel lines through and seal the opening with more RTV. It makes the perfect seal. Fuelproof, flexible, and if I have to take the tank out, I can cut the entire opening back out with an Xacto knife.

FInal step, put a piece of foam to isolate the tank from the hatch, then put the hatch on and screw it down. Next step, do I do the engine or the servos?

Or maybe the canopy?

Thats what I was thinking....looks naked without it. By the way, beautiful job!

Canopy should be last after you are done rolling flipping, drilling etc for the engine and servos.

Good point.

Tonight, small progress:

What I did is to coat the hinges centers with vaseline. Here's how I did it:

get a little cup (plastic) and melt vaseline. Take each hinge, bent double, dip the center into the liquid, reverse the bend, put it on wax paper.

This will grease the hinge line and prevent the (future) installation of epoxy hinge attachment from binding up.

Tonight I decided to put the servos in. Nothing special, just spruce cross members CA'd in, pre-drill holes for screws. I raised the rudder servo so the steering nyrod would clear the throttle servo. Always something........