As most of you know I've been working with CA Model on a few designs, the Epic being the first of them. Since I've always had a thing for bipes I asked Marcelo if he would like to do one I had drawn up once the Epic was done. He was interested to see what I had come up with, so I sent him the drawings and he was excited to add it to his line. Mariano Gostaniana had done the 3D drawing and by early 2013, Marcelo had sent me a few pictures of the plug that was cut from them. We made a few tweaks to the plug before molding it and then it was on. I received the first one early July and had it flying shortly after that (it was going to the Worlds with me).

I had designed this with the intention of it snapping like a monoplane but flying like a bipe, so the wings weren't very big. I did end up a bit too small on the prototype as I found out in SA in the high altitude, but the production versions have slightly larger wings (will get wing area once I recalculate it).

Here's the build from my second Mystery.

BTW: Marcelo just told me that all CA planes (sold in the US) are 20% off during Nats '14 week. So Monday the 21st - Thursday the 24th (if we use the rain day the sale will be extended to Friday). Email him at: [email protected] and put Nats 20% off plane as the Subject.

This Mystery arrived in a wood crate. There was a small hole in the bottom, but after inspecting in, only the foam on the inside received a small dent and the plane was unharmed.

Spinner, horns, tailwheel assembly, gear, pants, struts, stab tube and tires were included in the bag.

After hinging the plane (CA hinges on the wings and stabs and removable pinned hinges on the rudder), I moved on to the servos.

I made servo plates for the wings and stabs. I have access to a laser machine so I brought over the file and some 1/8" lite-ply and got them cut out. Once fitted to the servo boxes, I aligned the servo so the arm was inline with the horn on the surface. Then I tacked them in a couple of spots with thin Zap and then ran a bead of medium Zap around the top and bottoms.

Once the servos were in I mounted the horns on the surface, lining up the pivot point of the horn over the hinge line. I offset the horns 1/8" from the edge of the servo itself.

Landing gear.

I used 4-40 screws, so I drilled the gear using the indent marks on the base. Then I held the gear on the fuse in the position I wanted it and used the drill bit to make the fuse. I used a drill bit the size of the blind nuts to drill the fuse. Pulled in the blind nuts using a screw and big washer. Gear is mounted.

I had pictures of the tailwheel, but I can find them. All I had to do was drill a hole in the rear of the fuse for the main part to rest in, then 2 servo size screw holes for the mounting tab to screw down too.

Motor Mounting

I used a motor mount based off of the F3AU/Northeast mount (carbon instead of aluminum) and some 1/8" 5-ply plywood for the firewall and tabs. I fit the firewall with the motor attached until I had the right fit. Then I used some Medium ZAP to tack in place. Once it was dried I started to make the rear mounting tabs. Once those were fit I tacked them in as well with the motor to make sure everything was aligned. Once I was happy with the fit I removed the motor and motor mounts and epoxied in the firewall and tabs.

Are you going to be flying the Mystery Bipe at the Nats?

Yes. I'll be using the Epic in P and the Mystery in Semi's/Finals.

The rudder servo on this one I asked be placed in the tail (to experiment with). It works fine in either spot (proto is pull-pull) so it really personal preference.

Pushrods for the wings and stabs are are 2mm carbon Zap'd into the clevis and swivel links. The rudder pushrod is one of the Central Hobbies (forgot size, but think it's 2nd smallest one) and JB Welded together.

JAS, is that the Fury mounted like that? I am guessing it is by looking at the anodized red hub on the front, if so.....,Awesome idea?!

Bill

JAS,
What is the theory behind the wide or flared out rudder?
Thanks, BW

That's the Plettenberg Advance. I was using 2 Fury washers as a spacer (also a Hacker on behind it lol). I didn't have a prop hub as a spacer (at the time).

The flair on the rudder adds some drag (been told) and does add a feel of expo. I asked Marcelo to make me 2 rudders for the Epic, one with a huge flair and one that I thought looked about right. The huge flair rudder had too much dampening and the one that looked right, also felt right.

I love the look of this plane. Is there any videos for the Mystery like you did for the Epic?

I haven't taken any video of it flying, but Bryan/Brett/Brandon/Brian/Brian... someone with CK Aero, had taken a video of my poor excuse of a first unknown from the Nats lol.

http://www.ckaero.net/blog/

LOL.... The plane looks like it flies very well in very tough conditions.

Bill