Nitrate dope, thinned 50:50. Penetrates, seals and adds extremely low weight. Must wait 2 days for the thinner to fully flash and the surface is ready for epoxy or other. Go to the Composite Fabrication and Repair section. Look up Finishing with Carbon Veil
'
MattK

Hey MTK...

that carbon veil sounds like the ticket for my new plane.... plus I've got 4 yards in the shop.....

now I am wondering just how much lighter the carbon veil would be than the .7 fiberglass, like I used on the electric twins. Those fuses finished at +6 oz to finished paint.

I am also thinking about the difference in weight between using dope vs epoxy in the filling....

yea I am doing that on my next build for sure now.....

But first to the economy and Australia's unemployment rate could be much higher than the official figures suggest.

There has been debate for years about the way the Bureau of Statistics calculates the official jobless rate.

Now a survey by the Roy Morgan Research group suggests that, rather than 4.3 per cent, the real unemployment rate is 6.4 per cent.

And it has found that there has been a sharp rise in the jobless rate in recent months, with 1.5-million Australians either unemployed or under-employed.

The NAB monthly business survey also indicates that the economy has been shedding jobs since June and will continue to do so well into 2010.


hi dean,

not sure if the above is the answer you were looking for....[&o] still, apparently we're not quite in an official recession yet, hanging on by our fingertips.

the parts of oz you visited are beautiful (i remember you sent me some of your photos). my partner & i did a similar thing to you earlier this year just before the birth of our first child (minus the launching off mt buffalo bit...). like anywhere, it has it's stunning parts, and plenty of not-so-stunning ones too.

i read between the lines a bit where you had a lot going on in your life, and mike was not so well etc, so i know there were plenty of reasons why a thread about toy planes on the internet was low on the priority list, but if you're up for it again, i for one will be reading!

thanks for all the suggestion about balsa sealers too guys.

..d

Funny, I just heard something wonderful about Australia last night. I was watching Manswers on Spike TV and heard that Australia is the only country in the world where the military pays for women to get breast augmentation procedures [X(] I started packing my bags

Aussies Rule!!

I'm alive, so don't throw the dirt over me just yet!!!

LOL Funny thing is, I have been dealing with this lupus crap for 10 years now. I handle it fine....others don't handle me BEING sick very well. They don't seem to understand that if I don't answer my phone for one afternoon, it doesn't mean a lot LOL Bottom line, a flu for anybody else is about 4-5 days of misery. For me, it turns into weeks of pure hell...and I just lose days like crazy. I finally get better and BOOM it's 3 weeks later and I have to play catch up. Most people "get" that, some don't at all....

Dean and I both sort of slowed down posting here as much partially due to the Troy thing. It just left a really, REALLY bad taste in my mouth, and Dean's as well. We sort of had to draw him out, and then end it. At least here. Trouble is, he wasn't acting totally alone. And that bothers me a bit. Don't get me wrong, I really don't care right now, it's just left me feeling a bit wierd about all of it...lingering effect so to speak. At least NOW when I get sick or whatever, I don't have someone going for my juggular like clockwork...

Don't worry the cold winter months here are upon us so this is when I usually get really active and post a lot. But if I disappear, I'm either extremely busy, or sick, usually both. Doesn't meann I'm gone, or going anywhere. But yes I have been pretty sick the last few weeks. Had a funerla and Thanksgiving holiday in there too....

Right now I'm really busy trying to get caught back up in the shop. Almost there, or should be by the end of the week. A lot going on. But a lot of catching up to do.

Ok, balsarite: If you can't find it, next best bet is clear dope. But you must realize even non-shrinking dope still shrinks...some. balsarite doesn't do this, and it's why I prefer it. it really doesn't take a lot to seal that wood, but it can make a LOT of difference in the weight of the plane. Do NOT use white glue...it will be too heavy and you run the risk of warping something, especially if you used really light wood.

Hairspray works but I'd use it as a 3rd choice. It's not my favorite.

When in doubt, test it on a scrap piece of 1/16 balsa. if it curls up dramatically, that's a good clue.

-Mike

well, i guess i didn't read that much between the lines. i don't know what you're referring to, but i'm happy that whatever it was, it's over, and hopefully it's back to business as usual.

the reason i started reading up so much on the black magic stuff (i only happened on it by chance) was because of the enthusiasm, the cool building techniques and helpful attitude everyone associated with it seemed to have. that enthusiasm rubs off, even on the other side of the planet.

haters, and people trying to drag you down to their small-minded level, are just not cool!

so, anyhoo, i'm gonna go back to being a reader, not a poster, but i'll be looking forward to whatever you guys come up with (cough, bm110)

cheers, and best wishes, dave

Merry Christmas folks,

After a very long wait while I finished up my IMAC planes for next season I am just about ready to start my VF3 builds! I'm on vacation right now but I plan to start one of the VF3's on Jan 10 or so.

I am going to be using e-Power. Plettenberg Evo 30-10 Extra, Schulze controller, TP 5200's, "the Canadian" setup LOL. I am plannig to use Silk and dope. Futaba BLS 451's all around, Powerbox Sc-12 with 2x420mah batteries and FASST 2.4ghz 608 Rx.

I'll be using System-3 paint.

I realy hope to make weight and I will try my best to do so but I refuse to use covering. Mike did the sheeting and lightened the wings so I am starting off super light. Its up to me to build light and be very careful with the paint (which is months away anyway.)

The only thing I am unsure of right now is Silk on the wings. I am very nervous that the dope will soak into the cores. I plan to make some test pieces to see.

Hi Mike

This really threw me off also. I have been searching for hours. I find no info on how the wing is connest, where wing adjuster(s) go, where bolts go? The threads no instructions explain any of this and this type of set up is all new to me. Any info and pictures would be great.

Don

I was looking at post 434

can't you use a wood sealer 1st? before you dope and silk?

(warning - you are entering the Black Magic Love Fest

BIG DAY!!!!

Well I finally got my own personal VF3 in the AIR !!!! YS 170 and the new anhedral stabs....

I got in 4 flights, required almost no trim right of the board, I am flying it with ZERO mix and no throttle curve. The 170 is amazing, the plane lifts off before you get to half throttle, you feel every click on the throttle stick. The plane has unlimited vertical at half throttle with a 18.1 10w

On right knife the plane is perfect with no belly pull and really locks in - on left knife - the entire length of the field - the plane seems to be as neutral as right. At this point I am not mixing any ele-rud. No tendency to roll out from knife on either rudder. Very little rudder is required to maintain level flight on knife and the plane flies very horizontal with the tail high.

On either knife, I would slowly decrease throttle , the plane would stay perfectly locked in knife edge flight but slowly start sinking, as I would increase throttle the plane would start climbing, the entire time maintain perfectly locked in knifed edge flight wit no roll or pitch out. I have always been impressed with guys like Archie doing 1000 foot long knife edge passes on the deck. He made it look easy with his vf3, and now I know - yea it's super easy....

Rolls - okay this plane is optimized for axial rolling maneuvers - perfectly clean and unless your doing horizon to horizon slow rolls you only need to bump down elevator. The V2 that I have been flying for a couple years rolls great, this plane rolls like it's on a laser beam. Whit no tail wag.

Snaps, okay not a violent as my v2, but the vf3 has a sharp break and a clean exit with little displacement, very user friendly. Spins are easy...

I did a couple rolling loops and a knife edge loop, super easy and fun. Stuff I need to practice but very respectable for the first day out and no practice.

The only mix I am considering in down elevator to idle just to clean up my down lines. maybe 2%.

What really amazed me how "connected" you feel with this set up.

The plane is at 10 3/4 lbs, the CG is at the front of the wing tube, wing incidence is at +.7, stab incidence is about +.2 - on high rate I have about 12 degrees and low rates about 8 degrees of travel on the elevator and ailerons. I've got my rudder at 35 degrees on high and 20 on low. Very little control throw is really needed for in-box flight

All in all it was a great day out at the field, the plane did outstandingly well, a very happy day !!!

enjoy the pics and thanks everybody !!!!

Dean,

Looks great. Mixes and such sound about right with what mine was. Try the 18.1 X 11 prop on it. I have an 18.1 X 12 to try when I get my stuff back in about 10 days hopefully. Plane looks great, now just bring it out ot TX and lets play..

Arch

That is a sweet looking plane. Are all VF3's shipping with the anhedral stab?

OMG dean I love it that plane looks even sweeter when it is outside. Im glad you like it. I cant wait to get my new stabs. I wonder if it would change any mix that I have in it already.


Chris

Anhedrals on a foamy?

No the VF3's anhedral stabs are an add on that is specifically for the upper classes. The plane has a little more touchy feel to it with the anhedrals than with the straight stabs and the rudder is even more effective. I wouldn't use the anhedrals unless you are flying Masters of especially FAI. There really is no advantage unless you are flying those classes.

Chris,

When I put the anhedrals on my V3. It got rid of all my mix. It had 3% in it when I started and it was gone after the anhedrals, except for the 1% down elevator to throttle mix. The elevator definitely had a touchy feel to it now...which I love, but some others might not. The rudder is also more effective.


Arch

to me you feel super connected to the plane, much more than I did with the V1 prototype, and the v2.2. maybe it's the slightly more touchy elevator and rudder. also the plane is a confidence builder, you just feel so locked in and connection with the plane.

besides the new anhedral stabs just look super cool !!!!!!

That is beautiful Dean! Makes me want to build one! Is it all paint?
Greg Grigsby

Dean,

I so glad you finally flew that new plane. That thing looks fantastic and it's great to hear that it trimmed out so easy. I'm with Gregg, I want to build one now and have it ready tommorrow......hello! LOL That plane is sure something to be proud of and it is one of a kind. Great work. Now start practicing and move up!

Lawrence

thanks Greg and everybody... !!

the wings and stabs are monokote with vinyl graphics, the fuse is 100% all paint.

Greg, if you decided to build one I could help you by framing up the fuse crutch. once the crutch is completed the rest of the build goes like a snap. My new plane posted here on page 37 of this thread is the same plane pictured in the bones way back on the original post along with my fixture jig. I did all the wing and stab tube alignments and thrust line in my jig.

What was really cool about yesterday, is I did all my set ups on the bench, CG, incidences, and the plane so far has trimmed really well with zero mix. It flew right off the board with no additional trim. Now I am looking forward to a trimming session with Arch but with all indications so far my VF3 will be without any knife edge mix.

I just can't get over how nice the plane rolls.

Hi Uncle Larry !!!

thanks bro. It's motivating me too, I am looking forward to painting 4 more this year !!!!

after the tough summer I had with the loss of my dad and all, I had to put the plane up and hunker down a little bit. Things are behind me now and it's the New Year !!! I can't wait to paint more planes and I am planning on finishing at least 4 more planes this year. I did 4 planes last year and I can't tell you guys how much I love painting these babies. I am really planning some cool stuff next and will be pushing it as far as I can imagine....

these planes are SUPER COOL !!!! Thank you Mike Hester for everything! DUDE YOU ROCK!!!!!

oh yea IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVE BABY!!!!





warning.....

- YOUR STILL IN THE LOVE ZONE -

Dean great looking airplane. What landing gear and wheel pants did you go with looks like bolly and did you use the small wheel pants.

Stephen

It's the Bolly large FAI and small bolly wheel pants, right now I am running the rubber 2 1/4" dubro wheels... I'll be able to pull almost 2 oz off the plane later when I switch to the lite foam wheels.

Can the anhedral stabs be retro fit onto an existing V3 or does it need to be originally built with the anhedral stabs?

Woodie