Kellermann

Bob
you should defnitely post his pictures on that thread, it looks like this is going to be another eyecatcher like KenĀ“s.
Telling form the pix you posted here, this plane looks fantastic.
Congrats to your friend, as well to your efforts too. Should give you the kick to finish her soon.

Mine (N26BY) is in the final stages of installing RC equipment. Will probably do the premiere on a national scale meet scheduled for the first weekend in November.
Will take photos tonite and post.

Marcus

Bobbo_ZA

So true, he has been pushing me along all the way, he was the one who convinced me to go down this route, :-) and im very happy i did.

His first 30% build took about 12 months so even if mine maidens in December it will still be 6 months less than his.

Im still undecided, should i put my elevator servos out back close to the elvator halves or should i keep them inside on the same tray as the rudder servo?

Kellermann

The answer to this question will depend on how far you want to go to detail her out the scale way.
If you want to go scale, do the linkage internally - but beware, long pushrods tend to bend and get floppy. Then youĀ“ll have to do a closed loop cable system, which also requires a complete bellcrank system on the tail. besides that, youĀ“ll have to find a way to make a coupler for each elevator half if you want to make them removable.

I would do it my way (Frank Sinatra, beware) which is the most common and of course the less complex way. One servo each side, under the stab halves, one short 4-40 pushord with Robart HD Ball-Link on the servo and Dubro Heavy Duty Safety Lock Clevis on the Elevator. No need for elevator couplers, and the halves are fully removeable. On the downside, youĀ“ll have to loosen the ball link screw each time to remove the stab halves.

You can also go a third way, and in my oppinion, the best one: buy some expensive, thin, powerservos intended for High-Performance Scale gliders (wing servos) and fit them inside the stab halves, all you have to do to remove the stab is unplug the wires. The flat servos would fit almost totally inside, and if they protrude a little on the underside of the stab, they will show less than on the fuselage side. And you can paint them the same color as the stab underside, bingo, theyĀ“re gone at all. No risk of any kind of floppy mechanical connection, and the plugs musst be checked - and secured - before any flight session.

Any comments?

Marcus

Kellermann

Guys good evening

Here is a little update on my SD (N26BY)..

Did finish the elevator pushrods tonite, threaded 4-40 rods with Dubro Heavy Duty Safety Lock Kwik-Links. When I disassemble the elevators, I unscrew the servo arm. ItĀ“s a metal gear so when carefully done it wonĀ“t wear out. I didnĀ“t use the aforementioned 4-40 Ball Links because I ran out of stock.

Did also finish the mid-ship RC installation, as you can see, tried to stay as clean as possible. I did use 3x Power DS120M servos for Rudder and the 2 elevators, and will use the 2 Hitec 645 on the ailerons. I use one Graupner/JR NES-507 gas servo. I installed a Flightmax 2100 MAh, 2S3P 7.4V Lipo and a FlightTech 5A Voltage regulator to get true 6V to power the RX and servos.
RX is a Graupner/JR R16Scan Synthesised 8-channel unit (I havenĀ“t yet switched to 2.4 GHz, I still fly on 35MHz). I cut off the original servo leads and soldered bigger dia. twisted cables onto them.

Well, guess during the week I will do the wing servo installation, after that a few details yet to be done: the scale antenna, and the landing light. Last but not least, a scale exhaust stack to complete the cowl overall appearance.

Installed in the business end is a brand new Fuji BT-50 EI gas engine, and a 22x10 prop - guess this one is a little too much for the 50, will have to buy a 22x8. And of course, to stay scale, paint the prop white with red tips, as the full-size is a MT-Prop.

I hope to have her ready for maiden in two weeks maximum, then make a couple of flights to show her off on the national scale fly-in beg. of november.

Enjoy the pix.
Marcus

Kellermann

Here is another bunch of photos of a completed model of one of my customers, itĀ“s #015.
This one was carefully built and finished for him. Unfortunately he must sell the plane after having done only one flight at all.

This is actually the most complete MMF Super Decathlon ever done, in terms of gyzmos installed...5 servos 8611 and one 9252 digital futaba, TME smokepump, 4 batteries (2 x RX, one for ingnition and one for lighting system), RAM lighting system, turbo reg smartfly, all extensiosn heavy duty JR, Engine DA 50 with pitts muffler, xoar prop, aluminumspinner, dubro tanks, 5" du-bro wheels, r/c model tailwheel assembly, titanium horns and pushrods, JR heavy duty aluminum servo arms, all fuel lines tygon 1/8" inner dia., fuel fillers and filters. Complete navigation lights system.

A pity he canĀ“t keep enjoying - he actually didnĀ“t even start to...

Enjoy the pix.
Marcus

Kellermann

READY TO FLY!!

My Decathlon is ready to go now. Everything but the pitts-style exhaust installed, the scale exhaust stack is a fake.

For you tech buffs, here are the details

Wingspan 120" Length about 87"
Engine FUJI BT-50EI with a 1400MAh Hydrimax 4-cell battery on ignition
Servos: 3x PowerHD 120 digitals on the tail, 2x Hitec 645MG on the ailerons, 1 x JR NE-507 on the throttle
Home-made brass tiller arm for rudder pull-pull system
Receiver Graupner R16SCAN synthesised (not yet switched to 2.4GHz)
RX Battery E-light 2100MAh 2s3P LiPo with a FlightTech 5A voltage regulator
40Oz Dubro Tank with a 4Oz Hoppertank, also from Dubro.
Graupner Aluminum wheels with 5" tires
Tailwheel RC Modelparts with 2" wheel (non scale unit)
All horns HD Dubro T-Style
All clevises Dubro with safety lock
All rods 4-40 threaded rods also from Dubro
All balllink connectors HD from Dubro
All Servo extensions twisted cable, soldered, not plugged
Functional Pilot Door
Scale door hinges


Hope I didnĀ“t miss anything.

Enjoy the pix, lighting conditions werenĀ“t the best, although today is overcast, the glossy oracover reflected the light a lot.
Maiden flight to be in 2 weeks, still waiting for ythe ordered muffler.


Marcus
My Puppy wandered into frame and didnĀ“t move till I clicked the shutter...

Bobbo_ZA

Hey Marcus,

That looks stunning, you really have gone all out with that one, I love the color scheme as well, will look awesome in the sky. Have you got a smoke system installed?

Very little progress on mine the last 2 weeks, just too many things getting in the way eating up my building time. I am 90% done with the one wing, still around 40% to do on the other wing (including buidling the second aileron, probably the worst part)

On the other side, my bud's 42% was maidended this weekend, all went well and we managed to get 5 good flights out of it, although the DLE-111 was giving some issues with runiing perfectly on the ground but once in flight it would start "spluttering" almost as if it was getting richer, fortunatley did not have any deadstick landings.

Some photos from the maiden:

Kellermann

A w e s o m e!!

ThatĀ“s what scale modeling is all about. Congrats to your buddy. I sure hope yourĀ“s will come along as nice as this one.

Thanks for the nice words on my plane. I sure took my time to finish her, althogh not yet completed, actually. No smoke system yet, and no pilot figure yet. Maybe IĀ“ll install a landing light up front, will try to find a flashlight to fit.

Look forward to the maiden flight the other weekend.

Marcus

psbk

Both wing halves are just about done, and remarkably enough, I managed to build one left and one right. Iā€™ll start the fuse this weekend, paying attention to the previous posts on a few issues with the plans. Does anyone have a source for the .030 acetate for the windshield?
Thanks,
Pat

ludfleet

My Feedback: (10)

Hello Pat, I haven't checked lately but Tower Hobbies always had it. I'd like to get back working on mine just can't seem to get motivated.
Joe

Bobbo_ZA

I hear you on the motivation front, after seeing my friends 42% go up i'm now thinking my 30% is too small and i should have gone the same route, :-(. Another mate at the club has a .60 size dec as well so i am sure one day it will make quite a nice flight flying all 3 sizes together.

Kellermann

Bob
forget about that. The 30% is a good size and as an added bonus you can still avoid using those bankbreaking servos - I use Power HD 120 Servos on the tail feather and Hitec 645MG on the ailerons. Still within a reasonable cost.
If you go 42% scale, all your costs will skyrocket, not to mention transport problems...

Marcus

Bobbo_ZA

I'm planning on running the Bluebird MGs in mine, have had quite good luck with them previously and they are strong, also centre quie well for a reasonable price, :-). I was considering doubling a JR-NES591 (5kg) for the rudder but instead got the BB (think its the 660DMG) which is 14kg, happy to have one now.

Transport was a major issue, ended up having to rent a trailer, which in turn led to the maiden happening in less than ideal weather, although the wind helped on the first landing as i dont think either of us realized how far it would glide @ around 27kg we both thought it would fall a lot quicker than it does. He has now sent his trailer into a custom shop to have it made a bit longer and wider (he went with a fixed horizontal stab so it became too wide for the doorway).

Slowly getting over the flu so this weekend will be full speed again, going to try get the wings complete, then i just need to make up the struts, finish the last small jobs on the fuz and start the covering process, will take some more pics on the weekend.

Gremlin Castle

My Feedback: (14)

Marcus, I certainly agree with you on the sky rocketing costs of giant scale. The servos alone in the 42% decathlon that Ken and I own cost more than I have in my 50 cc airplanes in total.
There seems to be a quantum leap in servo pricing when one goes much over 100 oz. inches of torque.
Ken an I were talking just yesterday about the possibility of building one of your kits just to have something easier to transport.
Have a good Spring and summer down there.

Ross

Kellermann

Ross
I promised Ken one of my kits as a wedding gift, will send it out in January. He said that his fiancĆ©e loved the idea of getting involved in the project too. Guess youĀ“ll have to wedge in now...hahaha all kidding aside, I would love to see one of my SDs built and flown in the USA, especially when done by such talented builders and pĆ*lots like you and Ken...

See ya around
Marcus

Big_Bird

My Feedback: (1)

Marcus, when do you plan to put the maiden flight on that beautiful yellow SD? I guess you will be getting some really nice weather for flying with Spring coming on. What pilot did you get for it? Photo?

I'm sure looking forward to building the kit next year. I will start a new build thread dedicated to it on RCU.

Kellermann

Ken, maiden flight is planned for next weekend (an extended weekend, 10.30.-11.2.) on a scale meet about 65 miles from my hometown.
Extras Yaks Sukhois will be grounded, torque rolls not allowed. Strictly scale, props preferred, jets only if scale. I will obviously take a lot of pictures and post or send them. Yes Spring is here, although a bit rainy. Hope the weather collaborates...

The pilot bust is one I purchased long ago, don't know the manufacturer. Here are the pix...
meanwhile, I painted the shirt Blue to contrast a little more, I think the overall yellow was a little too much.
I opted for a bust instead of a fullfigure because of the lack of seats and other detailing in the cockpit. This plane is meant to be a stand off scale. I just don't want to have a phantom flyer when airborne. The non-scale structure can easily be removed if I decide to detail out the cockpit in the future.

Enjoy
Marcus

Big_Bird

My Feedback: (1)

Pilot looks good. Good luck with the flyin.

Kellermann

Hi everyone!

Maiden flight at the scale fly-in went uneventful, so to speak, but was a spectacular flight because the pilot was a top notch showpilot in the brazilian acro and scale scene...AndrĆ© Pupin. What he did after trimming the plane is not easy to describe in a few lines. He did all sort of aerobatics - scale, of course - and did low passes for the photographer and just for fun - in antsĀ“ knees height...besides that, he did touch-n-gos, wheelies, one-wheel landings, three-pointes, etc.
And getting his comments, that this plane is a joy to fly, is the best feedback a designer can ever get.
Topped only by the congratulations received during and after the flights from all the top-notch scale competitors - world classe scale-competitors, Eduardo D. Esteves/Top-Gun Team-Scale winner and Thomas Osmane Rocha, F4C-WorldChampionship competitor - what can a designer wish more?

Here are a few pics from my own, lazy late afternoon flights, the pics of those show-flights are yet to be received form the photographer.

A full gallery of people and models can be found under [link]http://picasaweb.google.com/lineudc/Aeroscale2010#[/link].

Enjoy!!!

Marcus

Big_Bird

My Feedback: (1)

Good photos of a fine plane Marcus. You were very fortunate to get AndrƩ Pupin to maiden it for you. I know it must have been a thrill to watch your latest creation fly.

Kellermann

Indeed it was, thank you.
Marcus

roaddog2

Allow me to add my congratulations. That bird is an achievement all by itself; an' to maiden it in so public an arena takes HAIR!
RD

Kellermann

Thank you!

For those interested, hereĀ“s a link to a nice video of the a.m. #015 flying...

[link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOIHqZLQnww[/link]

Enjoy
DA 50
JR12X
all JR 8611 digis
smoke
etc

Kellermann

HereĀ“s the new video, straight from my webpage...

[link]http://www.marcusmodelfactory.com/Galerias_4.html[/link]

As soon as the onboard video is ready, the modeler will post it to me too...
I must say, I am really proud of this guy, heĀ“s enjoying the plane and thatĀ“s the best reward for any designer/builder.

Enjoy too!

Marcus

GYANZ

Hello Everyone,
I have joined the tread very late, but really like the work that has come across the posts. Marcus-you really do have the eye for detail, keep up the great builds. Ken, I have looked at the videos online, great planes! Now I think I need to make a trip to Bomber Field for the flying next year.
So now I have the plans and have been going over them and going back thru the tread and seeing the differences that have been pointed out. I was away too late to get my Email address in for the CD of photos. But in doing some research online, I have found 2 Super Decathlons just an hour and a half north of here. So today was picture day. Sent a couple of hours and 200 photos later, I think I have something to go with. I too will be doing some changes to be a bit more scale, so cutting will be pushed out. Come the spring, I will have to order the AMR kit, looks to nice not to have.