My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
05-14-2010, 05:30 PM
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RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
David,
I was thinking of the ST Bluehead .60 and others of that time frame. That was provably early 70's. The ST Bluehead was a cross flow engne with a baffled piston. It was not schnuerle ported. It could not keep up with a modern schnuerle ported .55. It may be a different story with the Rossi etc.
Jim
I was thinking of the ST Bluehead .60 and others of that time frame. That was provably early 70's. The ST Bluehead was a cross flow engne with a baffled piston. It was not schnuerle ported. It could not keep up with a modern schnuerle ported .55. It may be a different story with the Rossi etc.
Jim
05-14-2010, 06:34 PM
#28
RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
R G
I’m a little late . . . .
But, welcome aboard !
You picked one of my favorites of the Era to do a build thread on.
Good Luck, and seeing your CL plane I have no doubt the UFO will be just as amazing.
I’ll be following along . . . . . . . . . . .
05-14-2010, 06:54 PM
#29
RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
ORIGINAL: R_G
The foam cores arrived today! Overall they look pretty good. UPS managed to squash the box a little on one end which resulted in the leading edge of one of the wing tips to be compressed a bit. I don't think this will be an issue, worst case I might have to fill a small cavity after the sheeting and leading edge are applied.
I checked the cores against the plans and the airfoil shape for the wing and the stab are right on, both at the root and tip. The plan form of the stab is right on, the wing however is off a little. The sweep cut into the cores will put the wing tip about 1/2'' further back than the plans show. You can see the difference in one of the attached photos. I don't think this will be a problem. Any thoughts?
Looks like this build will officially begin this weekend!
RG
The foam cores arrived today! Overall they look pretty good. UPS managed to squash the box a little on one end which resulted in the leading edge of one of the wing tips to be compressed a bit. I don't think this will be an issue, worst case I might have to fill a small cavity after the sheeting and leading edge are applied.
I checked the cores against the plans and the airfoil shape for the wing and the stab are right on, both at the root and tip. The plan form of the stab is right on, the wing however is off a little. The sweep cut into the cores will put the wing tip about 1/2'' further back than the plans show. You can see the difference in one of the attached photos. I don't think this will be a problem. Any thoughts?
Looks like this build will officially begin this weekend!
RG
Maybe there was a revision to the cores of the UFO, well after the plans were drawn and published in RCM.
Just a possible explanation for the small variance in the cores, netting a more swept back wing.
05-14-2010, 09:44 PM
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RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
ORIGINAL: Gene Margiotti
RG
That is an outstanding U control model. I only flew Cox u control planes and 2 Lil' Satans, but I've always admired planes built like yours. I loooove the UFO and Dirty Birdy and I am just waiting to watch your work unfold. If I can get my other projects finished I will begin my UFO scratch build. Keep up the good work.
Gene
RG
That is an outstanding
U control model. I only flew Cox u control planes and 2 Lil' Satans, but I've always admired planes built like yours. I loooove the UFO and Dirty Birdy and I am just waiting to watch your work unfold. If I can get my other projects finished I will begin my UFO scratch build. Keep up the good work.Gene
05-14-2010, 09:49 PM
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RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
ORIGINAL: Seventies Flyer
There is a Fiberglass UFO kit available on the net.
There is a Fiberglass UFO kit available on the net.
05-14-2010, 09:53 PM
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RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
ORIGINAL: pitstop000
R G
I’m a little late . . . .
But, welcome aboard !
You picked one of my favorites of the Era to do a build thread on.
Good Luck, and seeing your CL plane I have no doubt the UFO will be just as amazing.
I’ll be following along . . . . . . . . . . .
R G
I’m a little late . . . .
But, welcome aboard !
You picked one of my favorites of the Era to do a build thread on.
Good Luck, and seeing your CL plane I have no doubt the UFO will be just as amazing.
I’ll be following along . . . . . . . . . . .
05-14-2010, 09:57 PM
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RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
ORIGINAL: pitstop000
I wonder since Eureka Aircraft bought Dynamic Balsa’s Foam wing division which has been around for years.
Maybe there was a revision to the cores of the UFO, well after the plans were drawn and published in RCM.
Just a possible explanation for the small variance in the cores, netting a more swept back wing.
I wonder since Eureka Aircraft bought Dynamic Balsa’s Foam wing division which has been around for years.
Maybe there was a revision to the cores of the UFO, well after the plans were drawn and published in RCM.
Just a possible explanation for the small variance in the cores, netting a more swept back wing.
05-15-2010, 11:20 AM
#34
RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
That looks like the same fuse I have. Kind of weak in the middle, I thought of putting some cf down the sides on the inside to stiffen it up.
Chris...
Chris...
05-15-2010, 12:05 PM
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RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
Chris,
what engine is that? It almost looks like it doesn't fit.
Have to put a pipe on it!
Oh, once your radio and nose gear is installed, it will stiffen up nicely. As long as the tail boom doesn't flex side to side (I doubt it flexes vertically) or torsionally, it should be fine. It might "dip" in on the sides but that is not uncommon. If you can get some CF down the sides more power to you - maybe with a small roller extended with a dowel you can get some epoxy down on to the CF.
David.
what engine is that? It almost looks like it doesn't fit.
Have to put a pipe on it!
Oh, once your radio and nose gear is installed, it will stiffen up nicely. As long as the tail boom doesn't flex side to side (I doubt it flexes vertically) or torsionally, it should be fine. It might "dip" in on the sides but that is not uncommon. If you can get some CF down the sides more power to you - maybe with a small roller extended with a dowel you can get some epoxy down on to the CF.
David.
05-15-2010, 04:35 PM
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RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
Finally the build begins! Today I glued up the sheeting for the stab skins. Contest balsa from [link=http://www.lonestar-balsa.com/]Lonestar Balsa[/link]. My old bottle of Titebond is 15 years past the expiration date, so I splurged and bought a new bottle this morning. [X(]
Due to too many irons in the fire my building time is pretty much limited to weekends. So this will be a slow build!
Due to too many irons in the fire my building time is pretty much limited to weekends. So this will be a slow build!
05-16-2010, 10:51 AM
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RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
David, I tried the no sleep thing once, it was pretty ugly! [sm=redface.gif]
This morning I lightly sanded the stab cores with a foam sanding block to remove any irregularities. Then the skins were sanded & trimmed and attached to the cores using 30 minute epoxy.
It feels good to be building again! I didn't realize how much I had missed it until I started this project!
This morning I lightly sanded the stab cores with a foam sanding block to remove any irregularities. Then the skins were sanded & trimmed and attached to the cores using 30 minute epoxy.
It feels good to be building again! I didn't realize how much I had missed it until I started this project!
05-16-2010, 12:05 PM
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RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
Ralph,
your building looks immaculate - magazine quality pics - always nice to see.
I have certain reservations about using fast cure epoxies for foam sheeting but won't get into it unless you have an interest. If you do, I'll be happy to post some comments. It might be something worth thinking about before you get to the wings.
It's nice that Don's cores include control surfaces - always straight as an arrow and nicely airfoiled.
David.
your building looks immaculate - magazine quality pics - always nice to see.
I have certain reservations about using fast cure epoxies for foam sheeting but won't get into it unless you have an interest. If you do, I'll be happy to post some comments. It might be something worth thinking about before you get to the wings.
It's nice that Don's cores include control surfaces - always straight as an arrow and nicely airfoiled.
David.
05-16-2010, 01:42 PM
#40
RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
ORIGINAL: doxilia
Chris,
what engine is that? It almost looks like it doesn't fit.
Have to put a pipe on it!
Oh, once your radio and nose gear is installed, it will stiffen up nicely. As long as the tail boom doesn't flex side to side (I doubt it flexes vertically) or torsionally, it should be fine. It might ''dip'' in on the sides but that is not uncommon. If you can get some CF down the sides more power to you - maybe with a small roller extended with a dowel you can get some epoxy down on to the CF.
David.
Chris,
what engine is that? It almost looks like it doesn't fit.
Have to put a pipe on it!
Oh, once your radio and nose gear is installed, it will stiffen up nicely. As long as the tail boom doesn't flex side to side (I doubt it flexes vertically) or torsionally, it should be fine. It might ''dip'' in on the sides but that is not uncommon. If you can get some CF down the sides more power to you - maybe with a small roller extended with a dowel you can get some epoxy down on to the CF.
David.
It's an OS61SF. There is a motor mount in there for a K&B or something so it wasn't fitting too well!
Thanks for the info, the sides bow in, it looks scary but I'm glad you spoke to the issue. I was thinking of a little roller on a stick and some cf tow in three rows or something like that. I gotta have Bobby Hunt make me a wing because there were two fuses and one wing, another buddy took the better project. No sweat though.
You think that Jettstream muffler looks too big there? I can get a nice red cf Bolly pipe from a guy, you think it'd look better?
Chris...
05-16-2010, 03:37 PM
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RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
ORIGINAL: doxilia
Ralph,
your building looks immaculate - magazine quality pics - always nice to see.
I have certain reservations about using fast cure epoxies for foam sheeting but won't get into it unless you have an interest. If you do, I'll be happy to post some comments. It might be something worth thinking about before you get to the wings.
It's nice that Don's cores include control surfaces - always straight as an arrow and nicely airfoiled.
David.
Ralph,
your building looks immaculate - magazine quality pics - always nice to see.
I have certain reservations about using fast cure epoxies for foam sheeting but won't get into it unless you have an interest. If you do, I'll be happy to post some comments. It might be something worth thinking about before you get to the wings.
It's nice that Don's cores include control surfaces - always straight as an arrow and nicely airfoiled.
David.
If memory serves, I believe I've used 30 minute epoxy on all the foam wings I've built and don't recall ever having a problem. I am curious as to why you think this could be an issue?
05-16-2010, 03:42 PM
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RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
ORIGINAL: stuntflyr
Nice building there, Ralph. Sorry to be walking on a fellow Stunt flyers thread. I got all excited when someone said UFO.
Chris...
Nice building there, Ralph. Sorry to be walking on a fellow Stunt flyers thread. I got all excited when someone said UFO.
Chris...
Thanks!
05-17-2010, 09:52 PM
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RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
For a couple of weeks now I've been trying to decide what type of retracts to use on the UFO. Mechanical, air, air up spring down or the latest option, electric. I've decided that I like the simplicity of the new [link=http://www.e-fliterc.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=EFLG430]E-Flite[/link] electrics. No pushrods or air lines to deal with, just run a cable. I also like the fact that the retract motion is slow, about 3 seconds for an up or down cycle. So I placed a set on backorder tonight. They are due to come in in late June. Hopefully I'll have them by the time I get to that part of the build.
05-18-2010, 10:04 AM
#48
RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
You won't be sorry, Ralph. Last night I put a 10-15 size set into the wings of the Shrike I'm building (teaser thread). It was super easy to get them in. Having to route only the servo lead and not a pushrod or pneumatic line is just SOOOOO much nicer. This morning John walked past my office door and I just HAD to tell him how much I love those retracts (and get advice on doors).
Andy
Andy
05-18-2010, 08:46 PM
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RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
I hope you're right Andy! I'm usually a bit leery about purchasing a new and unproven product right off the boat. If there's a new product I'm interested in I normally like to wait a year or so for it to build up a track record before I buy. But I really like the looks of these so I took the plunge! I hope they're rugged enough for a grass field.
05-19-2010, 08:12 PM
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RE: My Wood & Foam Bridi UFO Build
I had some time tonight and trimmed & sanded the skins flush with the cores. Ready for the leading and trailing edges.