Yes, Ive been there. But im still not exactly sure how to cut it. With the curve he has on there it looks like you would have to include the frame line in the middle. Although it does it look possible to just use everything aft of the frame line. Anybody with experience out there? Thanks, Shaun

I was going to cut mine in a couple of days but I can do it tonight and post some pics for you. It looks like you can use the frame line as a guide. Then you would have the frame line in the final piece at the very back edge.

Sidenote on Canopies,

If you dye the canopy using Rit dye on the stove, make sure your pot is big enough for the whole thing. I should have cut the canopy first, then it would have been smaller. I only had a pot deep enough to submerge one side at a time. I started by leaving it on each side for 3 minutes. Then, when I was almost done, I decided to go 7 minutes per side. The water temp was only about 125 degrees but the canopy got some spots on it where it touched the bottom of the pan and warped a little bit. Not a big deal, it's very slight. It tints really nice, I used black and gold and it looks like a nice factory tint.

Thanks. The pics would be great. Thats what i was thinking about the frame line. I'll be waiting on those pics!!! Thanks, Shaun.

I'll post the pics about 8pm EST.

Ill be at work till 9 so dont think you are appreciated when you dont get a reply for a couple of hours. Thanks, Shaun.

Hope this helps!

Are you not fitting it in to the stock cockpit opening like the one on that web page? Also, how will you be attaching it?

I just cut mine tonite also.

I used the transparent frame as a guide and then trimmed from there. Mine looks like Pale's but cut alittle bit more off on the front. I will screw it down and then set a trim scheme on it. I am also going to smoke mine with dye.

Looks good Pale!!

I smoked mine white with.... CA fumes [&:]

I'm going to put servo screws in it to hold it on and may also trim more off the front. This just gives you a good idea where a good place to cut is. Tom Pierces' four star I believe has a few extra pieces making up the cockpit.

Swager,
When you joined your wings and cut the servo bay like they say, did it seem to you that there wasn't very much rib-to-rib contact left? I have the ribs meeting pretty well in the joint but looking into the servo hole in the top it just seems like ALL of the strength would have to come from the plywood joiner. I am thinking about fiberglassing the inside of the wing as well as the outside.

I just joined the wings halves on my 4 * using 30 min epoxy. As long as you used slow cure epoxy on the diehedral brace and the wing roots, you should be fine just glassing the outside.

Thanks for the help guys. How are yall tinting them though? Thanks, Shaun.

taken the diehedral out on mine.
i epoxy ply in front and back of the spar before i sheet mid section.
this way... i don't have to cut perfect to try to fit in between the spar
i even beef it more with tri.
i've had structure failures from planes that i didn't built
overkilled maybe.....but mine aint looking like rabbit's.
that sucks rabbit. is it going to be a phoenix?

Kerklein2,

Check out post #77 on this page. Here is what I used:

Metal Turkey Basting pan (at grocery store for $2.50)
Cooking Thermometer (at grocery store for 2.50)
Rit dye (Pack of Black, Pack of Gold 2.99 each)

Heat the water to between 125 and 130 degrees F. I added one pack of gold and a half pack of black. Let it simmer at 125-130 and throw in canopy. Try to get it fully submerged. Make sure it doesn't touch the bottom or the sides. Let it simmer for about 4 minutes and then take it out and see if it is dark enough. If not, put it back in for 4 minutes at a time till you get the desired tint.

Voila! Nice canopy.

Where do yall get this Ritt dye???

it's in the grocery store. I found it in the makeup isle.

Thanks, Ill be looking for it tonight.

I cut the fibreglass long and went down to the inside of the servo hole. I am still thinking I may put in some plywood supports.

I covered the airelons tonite. Did a pretty good job with the Monokote. I will be out of town for awhile so building time will be limited!

Pale!

Any updates??

I am out of town and cannot build!

Update pictures!! Covering yet?

Still working on it. I have been really busy at work and I am also going to college. However, I just lost my job thursday so that should give me a lot more time to get her finished up! I just installed the flap servo yesterday and also put in counter balances in the elevator but I don't really like them and they probably won't be all that effective. So, I'll probably undo them. If I would just build according to the plans I would be done by now! I spent two evenings on the counterbalances and probably won't even use them. Oh, well. When I get to the covering stage, I'll post up some more pics.

I just got back from 2 weeks in Alaska. Hopefully I can finish up the covering within the next week.

Hopefully......

Well I covered the bottom part of the wing and the servo panels.

The task went OK. I still have problems with the wingtips.

I did the control surfaces earlier.

I finished up the wing and have about 80% of the fusalge done. Just the top left. I will post more pictures after I get the tail feathers on.

Oh, I bought some yellow Monokote because I did not have enough Econocote. The colors match! I cannot tell the difference. I got luck, I guess!!

Oh! My rounded wingtips really stink. The Econocote did streach nice but I did not have enough to work with!

Swager,

Nice thread going on here.

Here are a couple of pics but I just got done adding black to the cockpit area and a Bugs bunny head. The underside is checkerboard yellow and black with gold on the leading edges which really helps with orientation.

I plan on doing the canopy tinting later this week. I will post new pics when I get them.

I also tossed in a couple of pics on my Twist just for the heck of it.