An ice storm in late January took out my shop. I have almost completed the shop and my Bridi Big Bee. The shop is 12 x 16. The Big Bee is 96" with the nose cut down 1.25" for balance. I'll be using my RCIgnition converted Makita 3.2 turning a Bambula 22-8. It was way overpowering my Ryan's Rebel, so hopefully this will be a more appropriate power/plane combination. The BB is covered in Super Coverite and will also utilitze my Bennett Smoke system in a removable pod/scoop under the firewall. Should be fun. I'm about two weeks from test flights.

Looks like you enjoy building! Nice work too. Take Care and enjoy!!!! Capt,n

Hi FWMAN,
That's a nice looking setup. I have a six foot bipe that is covered in super coverite also. What are you going to use for a finish it? I need to get started on mine and havn't decided what to use on it. I think your Makita must be a sach's engine. Good luck on the first flight.

Dave

Roger,

I'm anxious to see it go... Hope to see it before long? Anytime you want to come over here let me know and I'll meet you down there.

Jim

Thanks guys. I'm going to finish the BB with Rustoleum Industrial enamel rattle cans. I've used the white and red before with excellent results. The industrial dries much faster and doesn't pick up everything floating through the air before it dries. I'll be covering this one in white and black in a thirty's era inspired scheme with scallops on the leading edges of the flight surfaces. The bottoms will be a checkerboard pattern. Trim will be red.

Jim, I'll drop you a line when I'm ready to go. It should be a couple weeks if it will stop raining long enough to get a couple of coats of paint on it.

The paint is on. I am waiting on some red trim tape. I got lazy on the checkerboard bottom, and went with sunburst instead. It just needs the trim, and tail support wires added and some goop to lock various and sundrie bolts and screws and it is ready to fly. I hope Wednesday will be the day. Yes, I will add an engine. It is off right now so I can stand it up to do the trim tape on the tail. I knew I was forgetting something.

Roger,

Real nice. Hope to see it in action soon.

Jim

Real nice looking plane... good job, and good luck! [8D]

I can come Wednesday. Let me know. Or you can come here - whatever. Was flying the Slow Poke today. Beautiful day.

Enjoy.

Jim

Thanks fellows.

I ran out of trim tape about five feet short. It's all done except a bit on the bottom of the fuselage. I'll add that later.

Jim, I'd love to get together. If you don't mind, I'd like to do the maiden at our field, just for the additional comfort having flown there more offers. What time of day is better for you Wednesday?

Roger

Your field is fine. I was just being nice.

I can leave home around 8AM EDT

It would be better if I was back home by 4PM EDT but could make arrangements do be home by dark.

Just letting you know, the Donkey is no longer at our field.

Enjoy,

Jim

Got in a couple of flight today. No surprizes other than a bit of gear toe-in tweaking in order. W8YE and I spend a hot but enjoyable day at the field. Here is a flight-line shot. W8YE may have a flight shot or two. The Makita 3.2 ran great. I'm using a Bambula 22-8. It pulls the roughly 20 pound plane straight up till it gets too small to control. All in all a great day.

It was hot and humid today but actually the flying itself was perfect.

The Barbecue sandwiches and sweet tee were great too.

Here'a picture of Roger getting it tuned up and then some of the new plane flying also... -Beautiful.

Enjoy,

Jim

Hi Jim, thanks for posting the pictures. I apologize. I forgot to mention you bought Lunch!. There's a great little Barbecue spot in Fort Mitchell. Jim was kind enough to treat us to a big que sandwich. Just so you guys won't think I was doing all the work, here is Jim tuning his Magnum .61 four-stroke in the Slow Poke. Jim had it running like a top. We also discuss a Sthil weedwacker conversion I did earlier this year. The diagnosis is needs bearing. Sure is nice to have the Dr. make house calls.