Dominator 200 Build
09-19-2005, 03:06 PM
#1
Dominator 200 Build
As promised, I am starting a build thread for the a Lanier Dominator 200. I plan to power it with something hot, and I plan on it being a ton of fun. I placed the order with Tower I think last Thursday, and hope to see it soon. I'm starting the build thread early because I also have to build the work shop! (well, sort of) I am a student at Auburn University and I'm a little cramped for space, so I plan to transform half of my closet into a work shop for this project. Fortunately, I have a walk in closet, and this is going to be a small plane. So wish me luck, and enjoy the next several posts as I go from shoe space to hangar! Below are pictures of my closet before I begin renovation.
09-19-2005, 05:40 PM
#3
RE: Dominator 200 Build
Speak of the Devil! Appearantly the UPS guy reads this thread, too. No sooner had I uploaded the last pictures than he kindly knocks on my door to deliver my kit. Not much wood in here. Just means I'll have it in the air quicker I guess.
Construction begins tommorrow!!!
Construction begins tommorrow!!!
09-19-2005, 09:14 PM
#5
RE: Dominator 200 Build
If I can possibly wedge it on there, I would like to hang the .15 CV-A on the nose. Too bad Jett doesn't make a .15. It is a small plane. The firewall is only 1 1/4" high and 1 1/2" wide. I am about to check the Dimensions on the O.S. website. Going to be a very light build, I can already tell. I have pulled out the plans and checked out all the contents of the box. I already have some mods in mind- specifically rounding or angling the wing tips (something like a big-stik), as they are completely square on the plans. Sheeting the entire wing, and putting a more dramatic angle on the verticle stab. Of course, I will not be puting a rudder on this plane. I am also toying with the idea of changing the elevator to be a one-piece assembly, and re-routing the elevator pushrod to come out the rear of the fuselage instead of the side. I am definately going to carbon fibre the wing spars, as there is no plywood in the wing whatsoever, and it was meant to fly on an .049.
09-19-2005, 09:31 PM
#6
RE: Dominator 200 Build
Whoooie! That's Alabamanese for "The O.S. website says the .15 CV-A might come close to fitting, if I can find the right mount for it." 
Any suggestions? [link=http://www.osengines.com/engines/dimension-std.html]Here[/link] is the link to the dimensions on the O.S. website.
Any suggestions? [link=http://www.osengines.com/engines/dimension-std.html]Here[/link] is the link to the dimensions on the O.S. website.
09-20-2005, 08:48 AM
#7
RE: Dominator 200 Build
Have any of you piped the O.S. .15 CV-A? I have been told Macs makes a pipe/header for it, but I don't see the .15 CV-A specifically listed. Which header will fit the exhaust holes? Can anyone who has done this give me the exact length to cut the header for max RPM? And what prop gives the best speed on this engine?
09-20-2005, 09:44 AM
#8
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RE: Dominator 200 Build
Engine suggestion......
Fora .050 or .049
http://pages.prodigy.net/gcleveland_...EngineFora.jpg
GRS Models
They can get you set up with a suitable prop too.
Bob
Fora .050 or .049
http://pages.prodigy.net/gcleveland_...EngineFora.jpg
GRS Models
They can get you set up with a suitable prop too.
Bob
09-21-2005, 02:52 AM
#10
RE: Dominator 200 Build
As stated earlier, one of my many mods is carbon fibre on the spars. I had also said earlier that there was no plywood in the wing, the spars are hardwood (basswood, I think) and the rest is balsa. The CF really improved the strength of the spar. Stock, it is VERY flimsey, and only 1/4" x 1/8".
09-21-2005, 03:12 AM
#12
RE: Dominator 200 Build
The second of my mods is visible here- a fully sheeted wing. I thought maybe I could add some more strength as well as smooth out the airflow and lose some drag, too. The second picture is right after I realized i had forgotten to put in shear webs! I hated to do it to such a smooth sanding job, but I pried up a strip anyways and installed those webs.
09-21-2005, 03:29 AM
#14
RE: Dominator 200 Build
Mod #4 here for ya. I didn't like the idea of a draggy flat wing tip, so I changed it up a little bit. I have to fibreglass the center of the wing, and will probably do the same to the tips, since they are so delicate, I'm thinking about glassing the whole wing and painting it- maybe even the whole plane. What say ye? Good news! I found a Dave Brown .10-.15 engine mount that will just barely accomodate the .15 CV-A, and is small enough to fit on the miniscule firewall.
09-21-2005, 03:35 AM
#15
RE: Dominator 200 Build
This is where I left the wing for the night after a good bit of work and some major headway. This is a very simple and quick building kit for anyone looking to tackle it. This is also where I will leave you guys until tomorrow when I have more updates, but for now, it is VERY late, actually pretty early, and my cofee pot is empty. May your spins be flat and your landing gear attached.
-Steve Davis
-Steve Davis
09-21-2005, 07:48 PM
#16
RE: Dominator 200 Build
Looks good so far, but don't lose sight of the fact that even a hot .15 can only stress the airframe so much, so fiberglassing and painting should be left for those .40 sized ships. A good RTF weight to shoot for is 27 ozs or less.
09-22-2005, 01:21 AM
#17
RE: Dominator 200 Build
The only parts of the airframe I am fiberglassing for strength are going to be the firewall area and the wingtips. I am fiberglassing the rest of the wing simply because I don't like to monokote over fiberglass patches. The fuselage will be plenty strong enough as per stock directions. I am considering a complete fiberglass airframe because it looks better, and it is slightly more aerodynamic. I really am not too concerned with weight gain, as I am sure I can keep it minimal- maybe only an ounce or so heavier than monokote. The cool factor doesn't hurt, either.
09-22-2005, 01:55 AM
#19
RE: Dominator 200 Build
I started with the tips, because they will be the hardest and take the longest to get the least done. I'm guessing two days for the tips (a full night to allow the resin to set up, done one side at a time) and an additional two days for the wing glassing before sanding begins. I'll do the ailerons seperately and then hinge them conventionally, unless I can figure out how to do a seamless hinge line. I read something about that recently, but don't recall what or where. If anyone could lend a hand in pointing me to that info I would greatly appreciate it.
09-22-2005, 02:20 AM
#20
RE: Dominator 200 Build
The fuselage construction is self aligning and straight foreward. You just tape the rear together, pop in the formers, rubber-band together the front end while the epoxy dries around the firewall, and start drilling the holes for the mount. As you can see from the pictures, the mount I got to hang onto the engine leaves no extra space on the firewall, but with a little shoe-horning I think I can make it happen.
09-22-2005, 02:32 AM
#21
RE: Dominator 200 Build
I was a little concerned about the integrity of the firewall with those screws so close to the edge and a .15 up there on such little wood (all of it 1/8" balsa except for the 1/8" ply firewall) so I reinforced it with some carbon fibre matting and triangle stock. It will also get fiberglassed a little later. I also added some CF to the wing plates, as they were just sitting on top of the fuselage- no interlocking parts or reinforcements at all. Lanier's laser cutting is superb, their parts fit extraordinary, but their pit fall is that some of the highest stressed areas are the most structurally vulnerable by design.
09-22-2005, 02:48 AM
#22
RE: Dominator 200 Build
The sheeting on the bottom of the fuselage is just like every other plane on the planet. Cross grained 1/16" balsa. Below is a picture of the near completed fuselage, where I will leave it for another night, well morning actually. So go the follies of the college life. class again in seven hours, then more studying and building, to end with another post. Until then, watch out for those razor blades- ouch!
On tap for later- mods for the V-tail and maybe even a custom built tank.
-Steve
On tap for later- mods for the V-tail and maybe even a custom built tank.
-Steve
09-22-2005, 09:35 AM
#23
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RE: Dominator 200 Build
ORIGINAL: Lomcevak Duck
...unless I can figure out how to do a seamless hinge line. I read something about that recently, but don't recall what or where. If anyone could lend a hand in pointing me to that info I would greatly appreciate it.
...unless I can figure out how to do a seamless hinge line. I read something about that recently, but don't recall what or where. If anyone could lend a hand in pointing me to that info I would greatly appreciate it.
Do a search for "skinned hinges minnesota style" or click [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_383340/anchors_383340/mpage_1/key_skinned%252Chinges%252Cminnesota%252Cstyle/anchor/tm.htm#383340]here[/link]
09-23-2005, 03:51 AM
#24
RE: Dominator 200 Build
Started out tonight with the tail feathers. I decided to go with the v-tail not just for the marginal wieght and drag reduction, but also for the cool factor. Since I'm going to be using a bigger prop than this plane was designed for, I have extended each of the v-tail sides one inch to increase vertical area. I have also increased the angle from 110 degrees to 113, to get a little more vertical force from the elevators and less of a horizontal vector. I shaved a quarter inch off the bottom of the rear of each piece, as to increase the sweep back slightly, and I also swept the tips.
09-23-2005, 04:05 AM
#25
RE: Dominator 200 Build
Setting the correct angle on a V-tail is super important, and not as easy as it seems when you cut in rearward sweep. Unfortunately, my lovely assistant, Erica, was not here to help me, but I managed to build a temporary jig which I T-pined in place to set and hold the proper angle until the epoxy dried. It worked flawlessly and the angle when finished was exactly 113 degrees with no twist.