HI,

I am building a Curare from the Eureka short kit and need a source for a canopy . Does anyone know ehere I might be able to buy something that will fit?

If all else fails aI could carve a block - but I would prefer the look (and weight) of a canopy.

Thanks!!

Kemblin, I've ordered the same kit but it has yet to arrive. Should be here in next couple days. Might try Blue Jay for canopy from one of their Chaos'or one of their other Bridi reporductions. I don't know but I would think the canopies should be close to the Curare. Keep us posted how you are progressing with construction. Did you get the plans? Are you going to put retracts or go for non retracts? What engine are you using. I'm going with a new 61 OS FX. Don't think I will pipe it.

>>Did you get the plans? Are you going to put retracts or go for non retracts? What engine are you using. I'm going with a new 61 OS FX. Don't think I will pipe it.

I got the plans as a PDF file with the short kit - but also had a series of .pdf's that a kind soull from this forum sent me. These have been very useful for identifying the parts in the short kit (they are not labelled and it is quite fun working out all the parts!) and for cutting out some of the pieces that you supply yourself.

I am using Kraft electric retracts as I used these years ago and have 2 or 3 sets that I managed to acquire via ebay.

I am making this one electric (I have another with a Webra 61 rear exhaust). I am using a Scorpion 4025 motor with a 6S 500MaH battery (same as my Trex 600) - It will be propped to pull about 1600 Watts - or a little over 2 horsepower.

Right now I have sheetd the wings and tail - using 1/16 balsa and Gorilla glue - my first attempt - but it worked great. I have much of the fuselage done - but have not fitted and carved the noise blocks yet. There is quite a lot of carving and sanding to do!

I could post pix if you are interested? I have also been following an excellent build thread on anopther site where a guy is building an electric Curare for SPA competition. (you can Google it easily). I am attracted by competition but cant see not having retracts - or a tuned pipe on the Webra - so I guess it will be BPA for me!

I ordered all the plans Eureka had but not sure what I will get until it all arrives. This will be my first attempt at scratch building, which is about what Eureka sells. He just cuts out the main pieces and up to you to try to read plans and glue together and dig up everything else like canopey or at least that is what I understand. Have build numerous regular kit planes, never a scratch. I'm not much on electric; to stupid to understand all the jargon with electricity so will stay with nitro. Besides like the sound and smell of burning nitro. Im either going with Robarts or Spring airs. I have a set of spring air for new Chaos to replace old leaky Rhom. If I like them I'll go another set for Curare. Sounds like you went with the foam wing route. Im going the built up. He's drilling ribs for wing jig. Tried foam a couple of times but have to have my son haul over all his slate and extra weight to sheet. Just more trouble then it is worth for stupid me. Can't teach old dogs new tricks.

Yes, I went with the foam wings. It was my first time - but it went about as easily as I could have hoped! I bought wing skins (10 inches wide) from Balsa USA - so no edge-joining to do - then applied Gorilla Glue with a fine foam roller. I laid them all lined up in the foam shucks and sat a really heavy hi-fi speaker (I could barely lift it!) on top for 24 hours and they came out perfectly!

I used to build and fly Curares in the late 70's - they came as a fiberglass fusalage and obechi sheetd foam wings and tail then - much easier. I kept one form those days - but am almost to afraid to fly it in fear of losing it after all this time.

I am getting hooked on electric - so easy and convenient - but I like the sound of my Webra as it comes on the pipe.

You are right - the Eureka kits are closer to building ffrom scratch than a more typical 'click it together' modern kit - but at least you dont have to fret out all those plywood parts! Not to mention the 20 odd parts that make up the tail!

If you need any of the "component" .pdf files (they show each part full size with its ID) let me know. It is quite confusing in that the part kit provides multiple thinner parts that you sandwich together instead of the thicker wood on the plan - so you spend a lot of time saying "oh - here is F7 - or whatever - only to find 3 more!!)

Ah well... back to carving and sanding!

Guys,

I will be making a canopy for the Curare using an original from an MK Kit. I'm not sure of the time frame, but you can watch for it at www.klasskotemo.com You will most likely see a laser cut short kit for the Curare from Laser Technologies in the future also.

Leo

I'm definately in the market for one as I'll bet Kemblin is also. Just post when you have them ready for shipment and I'll send either check or credit card or what ever else you want.

Kemblin: I'll be in touch for part file when the kit arrives. I ordered it last week but Eureka was waiting on an order of Balsa. Got a note the other day it arrived so he will probably be shipping soon. I may not start for a while as I need to fly a couple of others for a while before spending time in the shop on a new bird. I also have a p-40 I need to start also. I to think the enjoyment and pride of the sport is building. I like to stick out my chest with my origional colored model and proudly announce, "I built it!"

Kemblin: Postman just left the Curare. Just glanced at plans and cut wood. My first objection is the plans are in German and meters and I don't speak German nor do I measure in meters. However, perhaps I can figure it all out. I am impressed with the plans detail and how complete they appear to be. Just glance at the parts they are cut cleaner then most other kits I have built. With Blue Jay the parts are cut out completely rather then left in the sheets like sig or GP., but then there are not that many parts in a chaos. However, I think the component pdf file would be very helpful. If you don't mind send it to [email protected]. THANKS

I sent the individual pdf's by email. I think they help a lot. If you look closely on the plan (at least the one I got from Eureka) it has (some) english equivalents for wood sizes.

Kevin

Kevin,
You might give Sid Austin a call and ask him about a canopy. Sid builds up the Eureka kits and sells them as ARC. His ARC kits have a plastic canopy included (I know this because I'm building one).
Although he is not specifically selling the canopies, you might be able to work something out with him.
http://www.oldskoolairplanes.com/
Ed

Kevin; did not get an email PDF file on componats to identify. I'm not a computer guru so may have missed something. How about an email with an attached PDF with the componants? Thanks guy!

I have a copy of the PDF's.....I should , I drew them. Check your mail.

Regards,

Pedro Luzuriaga

Thanks Pedro,

I hit his email size limit (6 megs) - I think he will like them they are just so darn useful!!!

Thanks for drawing them and for re-sending them!

Kevin

Thanks Kevin and Pedro for the copy of the compoants they will help when I start making big parts out of the little ones. By the way Kevin, called Sid Austin at Old School Airplanes and bought his last canopy for the Curare at $8.95 plus postage. He will be getting some more in a couple weeks. He said this one is shadded rather then clear, but no problem for me. I wont have a pilot in the bird anyway. If I owe anybody anything for the copy of compoants, let me know and an address. Stay in touch and keep posted on outcome of bird.

Don at Eureka sells a canopy, but they may be an extra or he hasn't got them in stock. You can get the same canopy from Wing mfg.
It is listed as a pattern canopy. They sold a kit of the Curare years ago, and still have the canopy available. Price was $10.00.

dlq

Anyone have any idea about retracts? Someone mentioned B&D but I don't know where to find them or if they are still in business.

[link]http://bdretracts.com/products.htm[/link]

matadco,

I saw Sonny Brown the Owner of B&D at The Toldeo Show yesterday. They are very much in business. Your best bet to get in touch with him is to call him. He is in and out of the shop and does not have voice mail. You have to keep trying until you get him.


Leo

Hey Guys,

As far as the part indentifying, the PDF on Curare page shows the parts included, and the part numbers. That should be enough to figure out what is what. Since this seems to be confusing, which I understand, I will start including a layout of each sheet in my kits with part numbers listed. I will also list the parts that need to be laminated, along with any minor changes I made in the kits, which should be few. Usually changes only include converting to standard motor mounts to accept a wider variety of engines, or as on the Curare, changing the tri stock sizes to sized that are actually available, like the top turtle deck tristock that was about 1" x 1/2" on the plans. I don't know anywhere you can find tristock that isn't 'square'. Definitely check with Sid for the canopy, and I check with Wing when they get back from Toledo to see which canopy number is for the Curare.

I strongly believe that the kit's design should be left as is, not modernized to tab and slot building. It just doesn't seem right to do that. I respect the older designs too much.

As for the EAC kits are like scratch building, you are right. I am a kit cutter, and that has always been the job of kit cutters, to bridge the gap between full kits and scratch building. I try to cut all of the parts that need to be cut to shape, such as fuse sides, formers, doublers, wings ribs, etc. The sheet stock and sticks aren't hard to get. Cutting the parts to shape is a problem to a lot of builders, either lacking the equipment, time, or incentive to cut the parts them selves. That is where kit cutters have always come in, although we are few and far between now adays.. I will also include wing jig holes in the ribs if you let me know when the short kit is ordered.

Any suggestions on parts I missed on kits would be appreciated. I will try to add it on future kits. It is easy to miss something when starting at the plans that much, a second set of eyes is always helpful.

To bring everybody up to date on the foam wings I sell. They started life with Ralph Andre at wing Mfg. That is why the list goes back so far. Brian & I purchased the wing division of Wing Mfg from Ralph in the early 90's, including patterns, inventory, and the cool machines Ralph designed for cutting wings, back when I was a partner in Dynamic. Last October, I aquired the wings from Brian, to expand EAC, and give Brian more time to concentrate on the cockpit kits he makes, which he has turned into an art form, in my opinion.

Eureka Aircraft is starting it's 4th year, and I want to thank all of the builders who have made it possible for me to bring back to classind birds, and bring back building into the RC hobby. Long live building. Wouldn't it be great to never see an ARF again????

Thanks for listening....

Don @ Eureka Aircraft.com

Guys,

I completed the Curare Canopy Plug today. It is made using a canopy from an original MK Curare Kit. This is an exact reproduction, not a "close" copy. The plug needs to cure for a few days. It will them be primed, sanded and polished. It will be ready for vacuum forming in a week to ten days. PM if you are interested in one. Please see the attached pictures.

Leo

Don,

I hope I did not cause any offence regarding my comments about identifying parts etc.!! Certainly not my intention.

Any weakness (in identifying parts etc.) would be my own stupidity.

I am more than happy with the short kit and every part of the service that I received from you. I have been recommending you to my club mates.

I am very much enjoying building my Curare - in fact I am thinking of coming back for a second one!! It IS a big change from the ARF world that we have all become used to - but that is a GOOD change from my own perspective - I am enjoying a side to the hobby that I had almost forgotton.

The foam parts have also come together better than I ever expected - as this was the first time that I ever sheeted foam wings. Ed Lyerly (whose build thread I am following closely) pointed me at an SPA article that told me how to use Gorila glue and it all worked great.

Like Ed I am building an electric version - which requires a few minor changes - but it is SUCH FUN to be building again.


So ... in summary I am VERY HAPPY with my short kit and my project!!

Kevin

Don, I to want to express my complete satisfaction with the Curare you just sent me a couple days age. I can recommend your work to anyone. I have not started the kit, but as we talked on the telephone I look forward to the challenge. This will be my first experience at what amounts to scratch building. I have the parts numbered from the PDF Pedro emailed, so ready to go just as soon as I get time. Thanks, Tom Matthews

Canopy looks good, Leo. Good luck on it.

Kevin, no offense taken. Any input is helpful to me, since a lot of customers don't relate any issues back to me, so the kits can improve. Those that have given feedback have helped immensely.

I am glad to help bring building back to RC... There are so many forgotten gems out there, that I have tended to stay with vintage stuff, and will be doing some short kits of magazine plans of some cool rarely done kits.

In a couple days, I will have the Atlas short kit ready, and the scaled Tiporares from Doxilla's thread.

Keep on building.. A day at the field with NO ARFS is a great day indeed!

Don

Kevin/Don: Looking over the plans they call for 3 servos mounted in wings, one for alerons, one for flaps and the third for main retracts. Looking over fuse I fail to see a separate servo for the nose retract. I can't imagine how to connect a wing mounted servo to retract the nose gear in the fuse nor can I imagine how to mount a retract servo in the fuse to retract wing mounted gears. Only way I know is to use pneumatic retracts, but I am open to learning how to use manuel retracts on detachable wings mains. I have always been dedicated to OS engines but am thinking about either a Rossi or Webra in the Curare. What is your opinion and pros and cons of each? I am a neophyte when it comes to patterns.

>>Kevin/Don: Looking over the plans they call for 3 servos mounted in wings, one for alerons, one for flaps and the third for main retracts. Looking over fuse I fail to see a separate servo for the nose retract. I can't imagine >>how to connect a wing mounted servo to retract the nose gear in the fuse nor can I imagine how to mount a retract servo in the fuse to retract wing mounted gears. Only way I know is to use pneumatic retracts, but I am >>open to learning how to use manuel retracts on detachable wings mains.

O.K Well first let me admit that I am spoiled here as I have mostly used electric retracts that only require a wire like a servo to connect them. I really like the old Kraft units they are so tough - they laugh at grass fields!! I have seen mechanical setups using either a servo in the fusulage under the wing. that operates the nose retract - I have also seen single servo solutions with the retract servo mounted in th wing. They all looked much more complicated to me than either the electric (easiest) or the pneumatic (next easiest IMHO).


>>I have always been dedicated to OS engines but am thinking about either a Rossi or Webra in the Curare. What is your opinion and pros and cons of each? I am a neophyte when it comes to patterns.

Probably Fords and Chevys!! I use Webra 61's - like the original. Fairly powerful with the Dynamix carb, tuned pipe and a Perry pump. I like them and they are freely available. I have also heard "powerful" and "Rossi" in the same sentence many times, but have no personal experience. These days I would be very tempted by the Jett range.

Talking of servo's - I decided to follow Ed Lyerley's lead and mount a servo in each tailplane half and one in each wing. The rudder I have kept as a "pull-pull" mounted under the wing.

I am nearly at the stage of having to decide if this is going to be a 3/4 oz glassed and epoxied ship - or monokoted. I am abit worried about the weight of a glass and epoxy finish for my electric bird.