rltripacer

Ok, with a span of 14 ft 8 in and a fuselage around 10 ft...wow. This is my lunchbox- a cowl for a mosquito bite tri-pacer-(the fiberglas one)-and the start of the project. Bare bones- lots & lots of sticks - 1/2 inch sticks. I really got in a rush -went to move it -and wow-you should have seen the pile of sticks.

All Day Dan

My Feedback: (5)

Why not? It's never too big. Dan.

foodstick

Cool, I absolutely love the looks of a tri-pacer since the first time I ran into one.

rltripacer

after a few more sticks & making the windshield template

foodstick

This is looking awesome on the bench, are you going to go crazy on the interior and other scale stuff or mainly just build it as light as possible for the lightest wingloading?

sebo

I hope you continue to make this a build thread. It looks interesting.

rltripacer

no interior on this one the landing gear is a little heavy the mains have 4 inch drum -go cart brakes with 10 inch dia. tires the linkage is on the elevator down ...looks good so far-maybei used 1 stick balsa laminated to 1 spruce for the fuselage frame -you can see the nose gear here ..pipe & spring type shock -this is really going to work great the landing gear -for all those touch & goes -that is the only thing this type of plane is good for so -it will be strong

rltripacer

UP ON THE GEAR -FITTING & SIZING -GETTING THE FUSELAGE STRAIGHTTHE NOSE STRUT WORKS -SPRING ACTION -OPS CK GOOD

rltripacer

here is the photo - -it's hard to upload on dail-up-getting used to the site -this is a great one...

foodstick

I am liking it more and more...it is looking huge indeed. Do you have a motor picked out for it yet?

sebo

How about servos? Maybe I'm getting ahead of the game. I should wait until you are ready to introduce us to what you are going to do.
I't just that this is an exciting thread.

rltripacer

SURE A 100 CC GFRC TWIN WITH A 28-10 PROP-& TOWER HOBBIES TS-80 SERVOS 2 RECEIVERS 1 IN THE WING WITH 4 SERVOS N BATTERY 1RECEIVER IN FUSELAGE AND 3 SERVOS + A 1/4 SCALE SERVO FOR THROTTLEINEXPENSIVE BUT SHOULD BE GOOD FOR ALL THE TOUCH N GOES I MAY BE WRONG BUT I COULDN'T DO THIS ANY OTHER WAY CHEAP -I LOVE THAT TOWER HOBBIES

sebo

What kind of metal are the Mains made of? They look small yet strong.

Jim Messer

My Feedback: (2)

Tri-pacer builder:

Great job. As a builder of giant scale, I can appreciate what you are doing. I assume the scale is about 45% - is that about right? I have four 40% planes, a Piper J-3, J-4E, a Stinson 108-3, and a VANS RV-6. Also have a 30% scale Stinson SR-10, that is almost as big. The SR-10 and the J4-E are powered by Fox 5.8 engines, with 27 x 10 mejzlik props. Plenty of power - weight about 45 lbs. The Stinson 108-3 is new, and will use a BME 115 with a 28 x 10 Xoar prop. It is still being worked on. The VANs has a GT-80, but that made it quite nose-heavy, so I am thinking of replacing that engine with a lighter one. The J-3 uses a DA-100 with a 27 x 10 Mejzlik prop, and it is just right for the airplane.

For servos, I mostly use Futaba heavy duty 1/4 scale. They are limited to 5.8 volts - that is the only downfall that I can see with them. They are relatively cheap. Never had a problem with any one of them.

For batteries I use A123, 2300 mah running through a dual Max Prod. ACC-135 regulated to 5.5 volts. Two batteries on the receiver, and one on the ignition. These are designed to be removed from the planes for charging - much like an electric. I use a FMA - 4 charger designed for 123 cells, and after an hour of flying, they can be recharged - one at a time - five minutes each. Six packs run two airplanes. They do not have a memory, and can be charged a 1000 times. Also said to last for at least ten years. These are charged from my truck, and can easily be charged at the field if need be.

If I can help you with anything else to make your project easier for you - fire away. I'll keep track of this thread.

rltripacer

IT'S A 1/4 INCH FLAT BAR ALUM. 1 TNCH AND THE NOSE IS 1/4 STEEL PIPE STRONG AND STILL LIGHT AND REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE EASY TO COME BUY AND OH SO AFFORDABLE-TO MR. MESSER THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND I CHECKED OUT YOUR PHOTOS WOW -YOU LIKE TO BUILD A LITTLE / VERY IMPRESSIVE SULLIVAN HAS A GENERATOR -HAS ANY ONE CHECKED THIS PRODUCT OUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS WILL CHARGE BATTERIES WHILE YOUR ENGINE IS RUNNING NOW THAT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO-I'LL BE WORKING ON GETTING THE AIRFRAME READY FOR THE SHEETING THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS-AND BUILDING TAIL FEATHERS -

geardaddy

My Feedback: (27)

Your engine may have power to fly the Pacer but will likely be 1/3 the weight needed to balance the nose. Have a 141cc single here in Bloomington. Engine pictured has since been fitted with a Hall pickup for a c-h unit. Have another one running with a flywheel.

rltripacer

OH NO NO CHANGES YET STILL TRYING TO FIGURE THIS ALL OUT -THANKS ANYWAY-HEY BLOOMINGTON MN...

geardaddy

My Feedback: (27)

Understand on the engine choice, in the picture of my 141 Briggs engine is a nicely balanced steel weight, it will go on top of a prop and was on a spitfire years ago. Keep me posted on your CG in the end. Tri pacer also has a pretty short spinner as shown in the Wag aero picture. Believe a salvaged pacer spinner could be cut down for that perfect look.

sebo

What do you guys do to keep your engines looking like new.
I purchased one at a swap meet and it is really grungy.
Bought it from someone I know so I know the engine runs well but it looks like heck.
I know that this is off the mainline of the thread. You can PM me or whatever,
Thanks, Ron

rltripacer

I HAD A 5.5 INCH ALUM SPINNER PURCHASED ON E-BAY -BUT DID NOT READ THE THING WHEN IT ARRIVED -IT WAS CUT OUT FOR 3 BLADE PROP IT LOOKED PRETTY CLOSE THE B&B PLASTIC 4 1/4 INCH WAS ON SELL AT THE LOCAL STORE SO GIVE IT A TRY HAD TO ORDER- A NUT 10 MM 1.0 PITCHWITH 8/32 SPINNER BOLT-LOOKS WEIRD BUT IT FITS FOR NOW -I USE NEVER DULL METAL CLEANER /POLISH AND MY GIRLFRIENDS TOOTHBRUSH TO CLEAN UP MY ENGINESBUY IT AT ACE HARDWARE - TO GET BACK TO THE PROJECT 16 INCH GROUND CLEARANCE-AND TOP OF WING ROOT 44 INCH TIP TOP OF RUDDER 48 INCH -THIS IS A LOT OF AIRCRAFT -NOW BACK TO WEIGHT I'M GOING TO COVER THE FUSELAGE WITH 1/8 FLOOR UNDERLAYMENT PLYWOOD STRONG AND NOT TO LIGHT SANDED WILL BE JUST THE WEIGHT I'M LOOKING FOR AND SHOULD BE PRETTY STABLE ON IT'S AXES-THIS IS KINDA EXPERIMENTAL THE PLANS FOR THIS IS 89 INCH SPAN I HAVE WENDELLS TRI-PACERS PLANS -ROYALS 75 INCH PLANS TO GO ON AS INFORMATION -15 YEARS AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE AIRFORCE AND WORKED AT CIRRUS AIRCRAFT FOR A WHILE-I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THE PROJECT HAS A CHANCE AT GETTING OFF THE GROUND I DO HAVE A STRICK BUDGET OF 100.00 A MONTH -IF THINGS COST MORE THAN THAT- I WAIT TILL THE NEXT MONTH-IT TOOK OVER 6 MONTHS TO PURCHASE THE ENGINE AND IT TOOK 8 MONTHS OF DAYS OFF TO PAINT THIS WAREHOUSE AND CLEAN AND PATCH IT UP SO I COULD USE IT TO BUILD IN FREE OF RENT....WELL OVER 1 TON OF MORTAR AND OVER 100 GAL OF PAINT -I WILL GET MORE SERVOS IN THE NEW YEAR AFTER HOLIDAY

Jim Messer

My Feedback: (2)

Tri-pacer: When you post in all capital letters, your posts are very difficult to read. Please try using lower case letters.

foodstick

Wow, you definately earned your hangar space ! Hopefully you can keep it there and roll it out the back door to fly..Thats how it would be in a perfect world of course...

sebo

Thanks for the info on the engine cleaner. I'm on my way to get some now.
No matter how long it takes, please keep this thread going.
Does your girlfriend know you use her tooth brush? If so, I hope it is one she has discarded.
Ron

rltripacer

Okay. Got it. A funny thing happened just this morning while having coffee with my girlfriend. She said (as she has many times) that my writing on line is AWFUL!. No punctuation. I know. I'm not a typist, but I can do better, and will. Sorry. And by the way - - she's a writer. Oh, and that's why I use HER toothbrush, because she scolds me, but she hasn't figured that out yet. Ha. Ha. Okay. Seriously, I use the toothbrush in-between cooling fins and hard to reach places. That stuff works great, but a lot of black comes off, so you'll need rags.

Yea, this project was planned to be started with the first snowfall.
I've been gathering materials since the beginning of the year. I am undecided on wing strut material - - - aluminum, or wood? I decided on an all wood cowling instead of making a fiberglass one. A fiberglass one may be down the road.

For years, I loved Cessna Aircraft. One day, while at an airport in Tok, Alaska, where I had been living for 6 years, on a beautiful winter day, I saw a Piper Tripacer for the first time - and thought, Wow, - what a beautifully shaped aircraft. To me, they are simple, classic, sturdy, and truly pleasing in appearance. So, there began my love affair with this little airplane. At the time, I was building a Bud Nosen trainer, with a 102- inch span, with 4 ft. floats, - and a Maloney 1.25 . . . . a beautifully designed engine. At that time, I decided it was a good time to take a break from all the building. I was busy in the Air Force, stationed in Alaska, and loving the outdoors and the frontier wilderness. Saw a lot of wildlife and Piper bush planes, too. I was an Aircraft Maintenance Specialist, - so I was never far from aircraft. They were just a whole lot bigger. I was also building a Pica Cessna 185 - with fiberglass fuselage. What a great kit that was.

Nothing new on the model to report. Looking forward to Thursday and Friday, my day's off, to be back in the shop.

rltripacer

More to come .