Curare 60
 

Just received a short kit from Eureka for the Curare 60. This is my first attempt at building from a short kit with plans that are a bit confusing. I have built many kitted airplanes but with clear plans and a manual. So this is a new thing for me. I would be interested in conversing with anyone that has built one of Don's (Eureka Aircraft) Curares.
tim

RE: Curare 60
 

This is a great place to build and ask as you go. Start throwing out questions, there are masters at building here that are happy to help. I have been on that same receiving end and these guys know what's going on.

Brian

RE: Curare 60
 

I'm not a master but a built up fuse should be assembled in a jig. The jig is easy to build and is reusable. My Blue Angel thread shows my simple jig.

RE: Curare 60
 

Thanks Brian and Dave. I agree, a jig would be a great if not a logical way to go. I just talked with Don (Eureka) and he gave me some more info on exactly just what is included and not included in a "short kit". His explanation made sense. Just include the items that are usually cut with a CNC or laser and buy your straight pieces of sheets, sticks, tri-stock, etc. at your LHS. I am getting a better feel for the "go-together" of the Curare now that I have the parts punched out and labeled. I just need to have a plan on how to start. Would you guys suggest that I cut the foam wing and stab and get those shaped, joined and sheeted prior to starting the fuse? That is usually the way I do a kit. Being a pattern plane I am also going to install air retracts (Robart). Cleaner looks and better flying. One thing I would like to modify is to have separate servos for the ailerons. I like to be able to tweek each one individually. I can't see how that would be a problem. The plans also show the retract servo mounted in the wing along with the flap servo. So, one less servo at that portion of the wing would keep that joint much stronger, I believe.
Well, gents, that is about it for now. Please feel free to chime in, Oh, Dave...where do I find the thread for your Blue Angel?

RE: Curare 60
 

Sort by number of hits... It will be right there in the top 5. ;)

RE: Curare 60
 

mmiller1-

R_G has the perfect thread for you to read through regarding sequence and a primer on foam wings. I suggest it will help in this regard. Here you go:

[link]http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_9725072/tm.htm[/link]

Brian

RE: Curare 60
 

Tim,

if you're building wings/stabs with foam, don't join anything until each panel is 100% finished - you'll be glad you did. And yes, do build the wing and stab first. I usually start with the stab as a warm up. I'd also recommend that you do all the gear prep work on the wing panels prior to sheeting them. Jim is doing a Tiporare build from a Eureka kit over in the kit building forum. His pics might help in the setup of the wing for retracts and the servos. You'll likely want to mount the aileron servos just outboard of the retracts. If you put them behind the LG and one fails, that servo will likely be damaged unless it is recessed into the wing. That form of installation is something you might want to consider but it is more work than installing them upright.

Also, you don't need retract servos in the wing unless they are mechanical. With pneumatic (air) Robart's, all your retract stuff goes in the fuse (it doesn't have to but it is convenient). You will need three servos in the wing (all three can be the same) for each aileron and flaps (this servo goes centered in the wing top) and four servos in the fuse (rudder, elevator, throttle and retract). I suggest that you use mini or micro servos for the throttle and retract. They can be laid out as a quartet with the rudder/elevator in the rear and the throttle/retract in the front. Receiver in front of them and battery in front of that. Tank on a plate as low as possible allowing the retract to be installed. Because your engine is side mounted, you want the tank to be as low as possible so its center line is close to the carb level.

David.

RE: Curare 60
 

Probably in the 'top 5' from all the help I've asked for.:eek: Here is a link, there are photos of the jig on the 1st page.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_68..._1/key_/tm.htm

RE: Curare 60
 

O.K. Dox-I read your e-mails and now I am using my thread for a resonse. Many of the items you mentioned re: wing prep. you gave to me when I was in the process of building the Big Kaos.....however, repeating for old ears is always welcomed! Those techniques worked very well. I was able to make some small hot wire tools for cutting the servo box cavity. Works like a charm....just not as neat as yours or R_G's....but worked they did. I also made a small circular one for the leads for the servo wires and in the Curare will also servo as a raceway for the retract lines. My next task is to make a fuse jig similiar to some that I have seen. I have a couple ideas for some modifications so it can be re-used on other fuses. We shall see how that comes out.
-Tim

RE: Curare 60
 

Tim,

those hot wire tools are always very handy - I especially like the round one for boring the span for tunnels. It's a good idea to sheet the tunnel "exit" at the top of the wing with some 1/16". In order for things to run smoothly in there you can also roll up some bond paper and leave it in there - makes for fast and easy maintenance.

For the jig, check out how Ron does his:

http://www.scratchbuilderwarehouse.c...y_fuselage_jig

Nice jig.

David.

P.S. Glad you discovered this thread! ;)

RE: Curare 60
 

Another great idea for a fuse jig....no end to aeronautical evolution!

RE: Curare 60
 

David- thanks for the link to ScratchBuilder. I have a call into him for the jig and a few other items as well. I looked at his design and said to myself....Self, I can make those things....but I prefer to support our fellow builders and flyers. Besides, his prices are very reasonable. I just need a nice flat piece of MDF from Loews or HD and get it totally level front to rear and side to side on my regular building table. My workshot is not very large...it is a converted 1/2 green house about 15 x 10. Great temp. most of the year but in the smmer it can feel like Death Valley....even in WA state. So, if the sun is out and cold...it is a toasty 60 or so inside. With fans and heaters it is enjoyable most of the year...oh, yea....scads of light! Organization and storage can be challenging, however.
-Tim

RE: Curare 60
 

Hey Tim,

This might be of some interest: [link=http://www.foro-aeromodelismo.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=12627]http://www.foro-aeromodelismo.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=12627[/link]. You can use Google to translate it to English.

RG

RE: Curare 60
 

Interesting. They have my Tiporare shown in the thread as a Curare. Hope they aren’t disappointed; a Curare will never look as good as a Tiporare!!!

RE: Curare 60
 

Tim,

there are a few Curare builds. Here's Ed's:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=989858

and Mitch's:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_9287568/

David.

RE: Curare 60
 

Happy Memorial Day to you all. Thanks for the links, R_G and David. I think I should have taken Spanish in HS, but as it is know...a pic is worth many words. Laid up with the crud for a few days so not really doing much on the Curare as yet. First, getting a straight building surface ready for the fuse jig. Doing the re-scaling of the wing and stab from he plans so I can cut out a template for each. That will most likely take up the remainder of the week. I did manage to glue the two piece fuse sides yesterday. Not a lot to show.
I noticed on one of the threads that offered the kit with some of the items pre-shaped and sanded. I appears as if they glued the 4-part fairing together and shaped it prior to attachment to the fuse. That appears to me to be easier than trying to do all that shaping while it is glued to the fuse. Any thoughts on that?
-tim

RE: Curare 60
 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white"><span lang="EN-US" new="" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:">Hi, I&acute;m the building of the Curare in "Spanish". You are right 8178, I add a photo of yourTiporare. It was when I started the construction and didn&acute;t realize the difference within a Curare and a Tipo. I erased that photo now. By the way I&acute;m using a lot of construction methods of your thread. You are an excellent builder.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white"><span lang="EN-US" new="" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:">Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white"><span lang="EN-US" new="" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:">Chino<o:p></o:p></span></p>

RE: Curare 60
 

Chino-glad to hear there are a couple of us doing the Curare build. I hope to post some pics of parts lay out and building jig soon. Are you planning on adding retracts, if so, what brand. I believe at this point I might be going with Spring Air rertracts. Most likely have to do a flat mount rather than a firewall mount due to space. Looking forward to your inputs.
Tim

RE: Curare 60
 

Started on the Curare 60 build from Eureka Aircraft. CNC cutting was very good. Don does a great job and has been helpful in guiding me through a couple modifications to the parts that differ a bit from the plans. This is my first short kit build, so I am finding out about the difference in a short kit and a regular kit. It does take some time and careful attention to the details of the plans. I decided to build the fuse and wing at the same time. No particular reason, it just sort of fell together. I have all the parts puched out and have glued together multiple pieces that produce 'blocks' that normally would be supplied as a large block. Took a bit of conversation with David to get the root and tip profiles to their accurate size. So, now the foam is cut for the wing. I will be gluing up the sheeting this week. I also took a shot at making up a fuse jig using material in my shop, it seems to be accurate and sure helps in holding the fuse in line. If anyone has the plans for a "gravity pull" foam cutter (like the one Chino used) I think that would work better than manually. Now, I am going to send this without pics....I had difficulty doing that twice. I will then try to send the pics separately.
Tim

RE: Curare 60
 

Pics of the Curare build
Tim

RE: Curare 60
 

O.K. Wow-a pic actually came through. I will now try to do a few more. Well, I tried with three pics...it said my files was too large. Hummmmmmm, do I have to do one at a time?

RE: Curare 60
 

Tim,

Great job so far ! ! ! !! :D:D As far as your pictures, if you can, try lowering the resolution on your camera. That way the files aren't so big and you won't have as much trouble in loading them.

Keep up the great work
David

RE: Curare 60
 

Tim,

nicely done fuse jig! I hope that with the PDF wing plan printed at Kinkos, things now make more sense.

I see that you've got your nose gear nicely installed in the FW. Before you frame up the fuse, I'd recommend that you also install your engine mount - it will be much easier to do it with a free FW. The mount bearers might just need to be a tad off centerline to allow for the right thrust of the engine. Like wise for the downthrust - a tad up from thrust line.

Please post some pics of the wing and plan when you've got it cut.

David.

RE: Curare 60
 

Tim,

yes, as David suggested, set the camera to 1024x768 (or similar) and your snaps will be of a good size. You should be able to upload up to 12 pictures per post provided the combined total is less than 6 MB. Provided each photo is less than 500 KB, you will be able to upload the total 12 photos per post allowed.

RCU only looks at the total upload data per instance so if you had 5 MB photos (way too big), you could upload them one at a time by editing the post and uploading the next photo and so forth. It is much faster to choose your 4-8 photos though and upload them in one shot.

Hope this helps,

David.

RE: Curare 60
 

Good suggestion re: res. on camera. I will check that out next photo session. Always a good suggestion to mount gear (retracts, engiine mount) prior to encasing. Even with small hands it is trying. I was trying to find a one piece circular engine mount (i.e. Hayes) but they do not have a compatable size for the Magnum 61 that I am using for power.
Engine compartment is too narrow. I guess I will be using a beam mount...even then it will be tight. Right now I have the engine mounted on a Sig type mount (the kind that forms a T w/webbing) that is basically designed for a 40 size engine. My concern with that is one of standing up to vibration and torque. It is possible that a Dave Brown mount may work. Have to keep looking. If you guys with Curares can lend an idea, much appreciated. The original plans used elongated wooden beams. Have not seen those in many years.
Tim