Illusion Build
 

Here is the kit from RCAIIR. I just received the wood for it today. I'm going w/ 10x36x1/16" wingskins. Power will be from a Rossi w/ Mac black pipe. It will be a tri-gear using e-flight electrics. I hope to start this during the holiday shutdown. The T2A is done and flying, the Deception is ready for graphics I'll make and then clear coat in the Spring. It is building season here in NE Ohio but is sure doesn't feel or look like it YET!

RE: Illusion Build
 

sweet

RE: Illusion Build
 

Shame it's not real, it's just an Illusion :D

I'm sorry, it's early and I've not had my coffee yet.

RE: Illusion Build
 

Subscribed!!!!!

I'm looking forward to this one.

Brian

RE: Illusion Build
 

I am definitely interested in watching the progress of this plane!  Looking at getting one of these from RCAIIR too!!

RE: Illusion Build
 

I'm subscribed too, I cannot wait to see your progress ............:D
EDP, Did you get my PM's? Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.

David

RE: Illusion Build
 

Hi Dave,
Yes I got your PM. Thank you very much. The 2" anhedral sure looks funny to the 4-1/4" for the Tiporares.
The wood called out on the plans (9/16 stock), I couldn't get it from Balsa USA. So, I went w/ 1/2" stock. I'll just trim the cores to adjust the difference.
I'm cutting out the graphics today for the Deception to get that part out of the way until Spring. I'll post pics in my other post. I hope to start next week as I love the start of a new project.
Now I need to come up w/ a color scheme for this one. I was thinking of a modified Thunderbirds paint scheme. I thought of a three tone wrap around paint scheme from the F-4 Phantoms to pay homage to the anhedral stab. I even thought of a Gitmo Bay scheme. It would be different, but a b**** to see in the tree line:D

RE: Illusion Build
 

Hey Ed,

I'm glad I could help you out. It makes me feel good to help out another classic pattern lover like myself.....................:D

A modified Thunderbird scheme would look pretty cool, wouldn't it? Watching you put yours together, is going to be a little difficult for me for one reason. It's going to make me wish I could finish putting mine together too, but I have neither the tools or the talent to do it................................:eek: Oh well, such is life.

I'll be watching,

David

RE: Illusion Build
 

What engine will you be using? I was expecting an EU1A for your next project but an Illusion is cool too, carry on man!........................Ed

RE: Illusion Build
 

I  love a good build thread gooooooooooo Ed!!!!

RE: Illusion Build
 

A EU-1A will be next. I just don't have a rear exhaust engine in my collection yet.

RE: Illusion Build
 

Hey Ed,

I changed my mind. Save the Thunderbird scheme for your EU1A............:D After the Atlanta and the Aurora, the EU1A is third favorite classic pattern ship. I've fantasized about having an EU1A with one of Dubb Jett's screaming two strokes in it.

Now back to our regularily scheduled program...............LOL

David

RE: Illusion Build
 

Hi Dave,
I was thinking the same thing as there is no real turtle deck to make it work right. I have some drawing programs and a collage graphic design artist son for ideas:D
Now on to the build,
I am addressing some minor issues with the fuselage. I looks like it didn't pull out cleanly from the molds. I am filling in some chips from the sharp edges and fillet. I am also hitting the seam line while I'm at it. The green Bondo has fiberglass in it to fill and build strenth. I will use the light blue filler for the pinholes. I figure now is the time to hit most of them while nothing is attached to beat up later.

RE: Illusion Build
 

Paint schemes, some eighties jewels here from an estate sale in Kansas City summer before last. Curare in Thunderbirds and EU-1A in Blue Angels paint.
Chris...

RE: Illusion Build
 

The bottom and all the chips are filled and the fillet tip repaired and sanded. The top now has the lite filler applied ( I'm doing the stinky stuff while my wife isn't home).

RE: Illusion Build
 

Ed,

Looks like alot of filler work.. Bad joint seam ? how about pin holes ?

The product your using, how does it sand ?

s.

RE: Illusion Build
 

Looks like just about the same amount of work I had to do on a GP 1982 Tipo fuse.

All the glass I've seen since still requires about the same amount of filling. I guess I'm probably not getting lucky.

Ed,

Will you be doing a side mounted engine with pipe under the wing - classic Tipo style?

David

RE: Illusion Build
 

I have used that filler and its fairly easy to work with, I am partial to AEROPOXY LITE though. Its by far the best and lightest I have ever used and super easy to work.

RE: Illusion Build
 

Scott,
Not a bad seam, just a lot of holes from bubbles. He brushes on a layer of epoxy on the out side of the seam to really strengthen it. I just knocked it down and filled any low spots. It took longer for the filler to set up than to sand it down. I just covered the whole seam in one swipe.
The green Bondo has chopped glass in it to fill the chips. It is strong and can be sanded to shape as I did on the fillet tip. It harder to sand so you can creep up on the profile you want. The NAPA filler sand like balsa, almost too easy.

RE: Illusion Build
 

Hi Dave,
Side mount yes, no pipe just the MAC black one piece. I think if you add a pipe ala Tiporare , you would have to increase the anhederal also.

RE: Illusion Build
 

Hey Ed,

In looking at the pictures in the first post, it appears you have the belly pan with the indention for a tuned pipe to run right down the center of the belly. With the pipe running under the belly, you shouldn't have to change the tail's anhedral. When I bought my Illusion, the builder had already cut the front of the fuselage for the engine to be mounted with the glow plug at a 225 degree angle (looking from the front) so the header will exit right under the center of the plane.

Just my $.02.................:)

David

RE: Illusion Build
 

Dave,
I got the smooth bellypan w/o the tunnel. I don't think I could modify the e-flight nose gear to fit. If I had used B&D's no problem. To be honest though, I never even thought of putting a pipe on this. I will when I do the EU-1A.
Now the fun part begins, cutting wood. I have all the plywood parts cut out. The wing hold down blocks are two layers of 1/4" oak epoxied together. The plans call for 1/4" plywood taped for 1/4-20. I think I will do the fuselage first setting the firewall, tailpost w/ fin tip and the hold downs.

RE: Illusion Build
 

The tail post and fin are in place. The engine/mount setup is done and ready for glassing to the fuselage. The engine is setup less the 90 degrees but not the 80 degrees called for in the plans. I didn't want to make a big cut out for the carb and ruin the look of the nose.
This will be a good spot to stop until the weekend. We have a big push at work before shutdown. Ho Ho Ho:D

RE: Illusion Build
 

Well, I have the firewall and wing hold downs installed and ready to install the tank floor and nose gear. I also have the rudder built as I was getting tired of messing w/ fiberglass.
I will load pics as soon as the server lets me[:@]

RE: Illusion Build
 

We have pics. You can never have enough clamps:D