scale buff

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Jack's got the fuse just about ready to cover. The right wing is 95% complete and I took it over to his house Saturday. We plan on fitting it to the fuse on Monday and when the tubes and rotation pins are installed, I'll finish the sheeting and the leading edge. The left wing has been started and shouldn't take as long at the right one, since all the questions that came up have been answered.

Frank

jbwilhelmi

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We should start covering in a week. Hope to have ready for our annual Fun Fly in September. Does anyone know of a graphics supplier for the typicl starburst or does any one have the electronic files that we buy or use?

Jack

Big_Bird

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Check your e-mail Jack.

Samsung

Beautiful birds, I just test flying my Big Super Cub, the photos will be posted latter.

scale buff

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Time for an update on the Omaha-Council Bluffs project. The fuse and tail are covered and we started to fit the struts. I've included some pictures showing the progress. In picture 5, Bud is giving the stab the old eyeball test for alignment. Of course, it was right on, good old laser cutting. We decided to reinforce the wood bracket on the wing end of the strut by drilling a hole for a 5/32 dowel through the bracket into the strut which was then glued in. The bolt hole was then redrilled. Picture 6 shows that effort. It may be overkill but made us feel better. Still shooting for the 12th of September.

Frank

Aircraft Modelers Research Inc

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Nice work :-)

Big_Bird

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Frank, that is really looking good. You guys sure have a nice place to work.

Thursday I pulled our Decathlon into the garage and turned it over to remove the gear. The right landing gear had a little bend in it from a less than perfect landing. I took it to Ross' house so he could press it back into shape. He brought it back today and I'll have it back on tomorrow. Sure looking forward to Bomber Field in September.

scale buff

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Thanks, Ken and Michel, for your kind words.

Ken, we are working in Bud's garage. He built a five stall garage back when he had several vintage cars. The cars are mostly gone so he has a lot of room for airplanes. It is a fun place to work, especially on an airplane of this size. He still parks his truck and his wife's car in the area where we were working on the SD but they had been demoted to the driveway.

Frank

Kellermann

Frank
that is one nice looking airplane. Safety first, always - if that makes you feel better, go for it.

Do you have a picture of the fullsize you´re replicating? Are you painting or using red and white ´tex covering?

I am sorry, but I couldn´t helpt but noticing a little flaw that is still possible to be corrected...the color separation line seems to be a little on the high side...usually on all Decathlons the color separation line starts either exactly at the tail post or even a little further downwards, that means a little forward of the post, and goes exactly to the center of the air inlets on the cowl...
Guys, don´t take it personal, but as this seems to be a major effort I understand you will want to do it right...

Otherwise, a great job you´re doing over there...

Marcus

DMichael

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How far back from the leading edge did your CG end up being?

Big_Bird

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I don't have a clue as to how far back from the leading edge the balance point is. However you need to build a couple of balance brackets. These go over the wing tubes and have a 3/8" steel rod between them. Here are detailed photos.

DMichael

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Thanks- one other question-

Have you noticed any reason to be concerned with potential flexing/twisting of the horizontal stabs? With the single cross bracing I can grab the stab and twist a bit. I am thinking of permanently gluing in the horizontal stab tubes as they do have some play in them and coud be contributing.

Dave

scale buff

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We're in the home stretch with our SD. The test flight will happen in the next day or so, weather permitting. It's been an extremely fun project and we've enjoyed the help of Ken, Marcus and Dave in completeing this effort.

I've got a few pictures to share and will have more of the completed airplane just prior to it's maiden flight. Picture one is of the door with it's scale hinges and door latch. Picture 2 is of the door latch, up close. We've been blessed to have as one of our flyers a talented machineist who made both the hinges and the latch. He made the door latch from a solid piece of aluminum bar. He's also one of the foremost 3D flyers in the Midwest. Picture 3 shows the cockpit interior with the switch panel below the instrument panel. The two silver discs are the fuel fill and the smoke oil fill. The control stick is not yet installed. All the switches are located below the fills.

More later.

Frank

scale buff

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The maiden flight took place late last week and was a success. Very little trim change, flew like it was on rails. Better aileron response than we were expecting. The first flight lasted about fifteen minutes and Bud did most of the basic maneuvers and it seemed to track very well. Only one problem was encounters. The top half of the door broke off and was hanging by the fabric covering. An easy fix and apparently had no noticeable effect on how it flew. We'll reinforce the frame with imbeded piano wire for strength. I've enclosed some pictures of the finished product although it probably won't be completely finished for a long time. We intend to add more scale items as we think of them. Although it will be far from museum quality, it will certainly have a scale flair. Thanks to all who assisted us in this very enjoyable project.

Frank

Kellermann

Great looking!! Congratulations!!

More later

Marcus

Big_Bird

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Frank that is a very good looking plane. I like the miniaturized magazines that you made for it. If you would like I can make you a 42% Aircraft Log. It would be after I get back from Bomber Field.

Marcus I took our SD to the field yesterday and to re-certify it with the AMA inspector. Flight went very well and I received the Permit to Fly. This has to be done once a year.

scale buff

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Thanks, Ken, for the kind words and the offer. The pilot log would be very much appreciated. We're making a map pocket and it should fit nicely there. The credit for creating the 42% mags really goes to Jack and the back of the mags are complete, too. Maybe a bit overkill. lol. Once again, can't emphasize enough how much your help meant.
Thanks, also for the advice to have the plane inspected annually. Was not aware of that rule and will certainly follow it.

Thanks, Marcus. Appreciate your comment. Thanks, again to you for your assistance in this project. That's one of the things about model building I love.


Frank

Big_Bird

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Frank, I'll make you one. Ross went to the local airport and bought an Aircraft Log that I log every flight on the SD along with any other things that I do such as changing a servo or equalizing the batteries. You might want to do the same. I keep the log in the trailer along with a pin. We now have 31 flights on the plane.

Kellermann

Frank and buddies - thanks for the nice words.

I sincerely congratulated you on the superb building job you guys did. However, being a scale buff myself, and being absolutely honest, I am having a hard time trying to understand what exactly is the paintjob supposed to replicate, as there is no such scheme on any known fullsize Decathlon.
I tend to think that this paintscheme is a provisional only, to get her flying, and later you will go out all the way to replicate a fullsize paint job. Or what did I miss? Please, don´t get offended!

Marcus

scale buff

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Hi, Marcus,

You are absolutely right, we did not scale this after a known full size SD. I hope we don't offend you but we decided some time ago that we would be content with a stand off scale model and not try for something in the museum scale. There were a number of reasons why we felt that way, one of which was that none of us felt capable of having either the talent or time to accomplish the feat. So, while we might add some more scale items, we will fly this bird as it is. We're looking for a local owner of a full size SD that is in need of a recover job into painting his like ours. Then, we would be legit. Not having much luck, but who knows.

As information, the covering is Solartex fabric. Also, we are not offended by your comments, rather, we appreciate your critique and have decided that if we ever do make an effort to recover the model, we know where we can go to get good, solid informaton. Thanks, Marcus.

Frank

Kellermann

Hey Frank
no bad feelings, really. I just wonder, the hardest part which is doing the starburst scheme ya done already, what´s so hard to do on the fuse?
Nevertheless, it´s always a good move to set a goal and go for it. Ya did yours the way ya decided in advance, and that´s good. Otherwise, one never stops adding details.
If you need any help in detailing your model, I´m still here and glad to help.

All in all, ya done good. Enjoy the plane, but be careful - flying Decathlons may become addictive.

For those in the 42% scale thread who didn´t see the pix I posted yesterday on the 33% thread, here go some of them - another happy customer sent me a few pix of his Decathlon, which I delivered ARC and someone else finished it for him.

scale buff

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Beautiful pictures, Marcus, and a beautiful plane. The one with the plane in a dive and the brilliant blue sky is outstanding. You are a master. Noticed one thing, however. The model is carrying the word "experimental". Why is that? Were there some full sized Decathlons that were expermental? I thought Bellanca was a commercial company. Just wondering.

Frank

Kellermann

Frank, thanks for the nice words.
As said, I built the plane from my normal kit, and delivered it ARC, somebody else did the finishing.
Therefore, I had no control on the detailing added. Actually, there are a few things missing, like the jury struts on the wing, and the central bar under the windshield, which the SD has and the Citabria doesn´t. On my stock planes I imitated that with with a 3/16" wide tape inside the windshield.

The word Experimental does exist on a few Decathlons, the one I replicated in the first place (PP-ZPA) is one of them. Here in Brazil the Aeronautical Authority (ANAC) allows for certain types of aircraft, even originally commercially built, when re-built, re-covered, and stay in a certain weight category, to be certified as Experimental Aircraft.

Not exactly the case of the model of the pix, the reg# stays for the initials of the owners name, and the modeler who finished the plane probably just wanted to add some extra wording to enhance the overall appearance. The scheme itself, although it may exist as a scheme, is not the perfect replication of any particular plane. At the other hand, he didn´t use the correct, scale, font to do the wording Super Decathlon - that is a must, in my oppinion. I will send him a set of my Decals to correct that, as I suppose the lettering is vynil decals, easy to replace.

Well, thanks once again for your nice comments. Hope you enjoy the planes flying characteristics, as I said, it may become addictive (just kidding, of course)

Marcus
P.S. Champion, Bellanca, and lately American Champion produce this beautiful series of airplanes along some 50 years...

DMichael

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Here's some shots of mine with Coverite Fabric. Simulated rib "stitching".

Kellermann

Very good looking wing panel + stab, DMichael.