Well, winter doesn't seem to want to let go of Ohio so I haven't been able to maiden the Saphir yet...might as well get the other Winter acquisition ready.

Modeltech Calypso I scored a couple of months ago on the auction site. In a lot of ways similar to my Saphir, but a bit smaller and simpler. I'll be taking a different approach here. Although I'm using the same control setup as I put in the Saphir (2 aileron servos, 2 elevator servos, pull-pull rudder), I'm going in a different direction for power. I went old school on the Saphir with a YS 60. This thing is getting a Tower 75 I had laying around. Should be ballistic.

The challenge with these built-up, sheeted ARC airframes is getting the control system installed if you are using other than pushrods. I got 'em in, but once again it wasn't fun.

Also, the instructions describe the installation of either 1 or 2 aileron servo systems. They say that the channel is precut for the servo wire if you are installing them in the wings. Uh, no. Poked all around...no channel. No big deal really, I just made my own. I used a pair of JR 321's from a (RIP) sailplane from last year mounted on plywood covers.

Anyway, enough bs, here's some pictures of the early stages.

The black bits by the elevator tube exits are pieces of cf tube that will be exit guides for my rudder cables. Modelltech supplied a piece of semi-rigid fiberglass to line the tuned-pipe tunnel...I probably should have glued it in before I glassed the center section but I didn't, so I had to go over it again. I never would have had the kind of confidence my flying style is going to demand in this thing. They also supplied a similar piece to create the part of the tunnel in the fuse bottom forward of the wing. This was pretty straightforward.

Nice build- [8D]

Hey..Alright on the Calypso!! Enjoy!!

My old MT Calypso mono gear weighs, IIRC, somewhere around 6.75 pounds. That's with 5 servos, an old style OS 90 4 stroke, one center wheel and a piano wire outrigger skid near each tip.

Still have the back up kit in the closet.

Terry in LP

Getting behind on the pictures...

Here's the radio gear: pull-pull rudder, dual elevator servos. The HS-81 in the middle is the throttle.

Something new for me. I decided to try screwing the firewall in. This seems plenty secure and I have access to the tank compartment from the front. I have had more tank problems in the past than I care to admit and shoving this one in from the back really looked nasty. We'll see how it works out.

Retract installation. Framing in the gear pockets and sevo compartment pretty straightforward stuff. I'm using some mechanicals that were included in the auction with the kit. They look to be Great Planes but had a different name on the box - probably the same gear before Great Planes bought them. I'll try to find the box.

zeuglodon, any more progress on your Calypso build? I just scored a NIB MT kit.

FB

I'm done....just haven't got the pictures up yet. I got it covered and ready to fly with the Tower 75 and I waited and waited for my header from Macs. Finally I gave up and cobbled up a workable piece out of one designed for an OS SF 61. Then I had so much trouble getting the motor to idle and transition that I gave up on it. A lot of guys have had great results with this engine but the carburetor seems to be a common problem. Mine is still way fat with the low end needle all the way in. The advice is to contact Tower and they'll supply a new carb...problem is they don't have any. They've been back-ordered for months. So I acquired a YS 60 FS on the auction site. I have 3 FR's and love them so this was a no brainer for me. However it did put me back in the header-hunt game. Thankfully though, Macs had the one I needed in stock and it only took 2 WEEKS to send it to me. Anyway, maiden is soon and I'll get some pictures up.

P.s. - If you haven't started yet I would love to borrow your cowl to make an impression of the right side. I have a much bigger hole than I need from the Tower 75 and would love to mold a patch. I would pay shipping both ways and guaranteed you'd have it back in a week absolutely unhurt.

Rick Krok

Here's the Tower 75 and some other misc. shots. I'll try to get some more up later. Build is pretty straightforward. My only advice is to avoid monocote at all costs. Ultracote (oracover) is a far superior product and makes covering almost enjoyable.


RWK

Just one thing...In this photo I notice how much nyrod you have protruding...You may do this all the time and have done it for years..I dunno???

But I have seen that stuff "kink" when it's extended outside the housing like that...I personally have a habit of using threaded rod from the exit to the control horn and very little nyrod will protrude beyond the exit...

Looks like your using the bigger version which may be strong enough not to kink?? (edit: I scrolled back up and see you are indeed using the Blue Housing Large NyRod...So maybe it's All Good???)

Just a friendly observation...Not trying to change your building style...

Chuck

I was a bit concerned about the entire nyrod setup on these elevators because I really couldn't anchor them as many places as I'd have liked due to the fuse being fully sheeted when I got it. I must say however, that the whole thing is much stiffer and more positive than I would have imagined. Each nyrod is only driving half of the elevator...I don't know, you may have a point, maybe I'll replace those last couple of inches with metal. Or maybe I'll just fly it and see how it feels in the air.

Have you ever seen guys use a piece of foam with a hole to use as an anchor?? Kinda like a bulkhead except out of just foam basically just to hold the nyrod...I know I'm not doing a good job of explaining so I'll try and find a picture if I can to show you...

I know what your talking about not being able to anchor like you want...I saw some guy do this foam trick and I thought it was pretty slick...It may come in handy on a later build if you have a similar situation...

If I can ever find a photo I'll try and remember to post it...

Easier than I thought...In this case it's a Carbon Fiber shaft...But I thought you could easily do it with NyRod or whatever...See Photo Below: (credit: Rusty Dose and his Zeque Build Thread)

That's a good idea. Only thing on this build is I'm not sure how I could keep it from messing with my rudder cables.

Yeah..I just thought I'd pass it along..I figured you were past that point on your Calypso...But I thought it was a neat trick to file in the memory banks...

Hey, I'm always appreciative of any suggestions or new tricks. I'm one of those guys who usually builds something several times in my mind before I commit to the actual deed, and still I think of how it could have been better after it's done.

Rick

That's a nice looking Calypso. Too bad about the engine troubles. I've had good luck anchoring nyrod guides at each end and once in the middle. Carefully cutting the bottom sheeting on ARCs with an Exacto or single edge razor blade along the glue joint, sanding, then making a new piece has worked fine several times.

Tell me about that rudder. It looks about twice the area of the one on my MT Calypso.

Terry in LP

edit: Oh yeah. I love working with Monokote. The iron has to be pretty hot though.

You have done a lovely job of building the Calypso,but I want to agree with Atlanta 60. There is no place for Nyrods in a pattern ship. Nyrods have there place in r/c, but to try to get any kind of sturdy control on the elevator you need to build a forked pushrod from a carbon fiber arrow shaft and music wire.
I am afraid if you fly it enough it will flutter pulling out of a loop or split s. If it does hold together you will not be achieving the accuracy in the controls we expect from our pattern ships.
Just a friendly observation and in no way a derogatory remark. After all you are flying a collectors item .