iFLYrc_Vic

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Looking great! Doing a great job....

mattnew

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks!

I've actually been learning a ton on this build and its turning into a bit of a labor of love. Really... really... enjoyable as its not only the opportunity to learn a multitude of new skills but from my point of view things are turning out better than I could have hoped. Its not perfect by any means, but for the amount of new skills I'm trying/learning, I'm very happy with the results... retracts, electric motors, aluminum covering, first warbird, first multi-engine plane... lot of firsts here...

For those interested in weight... we currently weigh 4.5lbs, the motors weigh 1 lb, the batteries weigh 2 lbs, If I weigh ALL of my covering including packaging and paper backing it weighs 3 lbs, and thats more than enough to cover the plane... figure max 2 lbs for covering... so rough estimates are somewhere between 10-11 lbs for the plane, ready to fly. I've seen a number of these finish out in the 14lb range, so I think I'm satisfied with the 10-11lb range.

mattnew

My Feedback: (2)

raise your hand if you cringed when you read "first real warbird, first multiengine"

*grin*

The significance of that is not lost on me...

wilinfla

My Feedback: (5)

Matthew,

Great project! I was given a Jack Stafford B-24 kit that had been partially built, and then stored for 20 years. I am going to make it more of a fun scale with fixed gear. It will be electric so your thread has been helpful.I have another project on the bench to finish first (Dynaflite PT-19), it will be powered with an E-Flite 160 with 9s. Any updates on your project? Thanks.

Will

mattnew

My Feedback: (2)

Yes, we just haven't been posting....I lost a bit of my motivation in June as well. My father passed away, and as I was finishing this plane for him, its been a bit tough to get motivated to continue working on it... I'm making slow progress though. I still want to finish it... I guess I should have worked faster...



Testing out the partially homemade retract system... i decided these were too tall and shortened them a bit to give the 17 a more realistic stance....


the detail work is ongoing...

iFLYrc_Vic

My Feedback: (6)

Sorry to hear about your father. My sympathy goes out to you and your family.

Great job on the B-17. Keep up the excellent work.

Vic

wilinfla

My Feedback: (5)

I am sorry for your loss, I know how hard it can be to lose someone as important as your dad.You are certainly doing him proud with this build, I love the metal work. Thanks for the updates, it is looking great.

reblacklaf

I am sorry to hear of the passing of your father. I'm sure he was happy you were completing the work he had started. Is that real metal your using.

Randy

mattnew

My Feedback: (2)

it is real aluminum... 90% of it is the metal ducting tape you buy at home depot, I do have a roll of the flight metal, but I've had better luck myself with the ducting tape from home depot...

I-fly-any-and-all

My Feedback: (1)

at least its good to see you back on track

mattnew

My Feedback: (2)

finally kicked myself in the ass a bit to keep going on this plane...

got the nose covered, adding in some detail work....


the "rivets" were just hand done, so not perfect, but look pretty good from 4-5ft off...this zoom in makes them look rough. the guns are Tamiya 1/16 guns froma tank with home made barrels, I'm holding them in with older round rubber servo grommets.




wing electronics are routed and the surgery holes buttoned back up and fiberglassed...


just need to find a day to get the wing primed and covered now... I'll likely fly it before it is done... hopefully this summer..

RickMunn

If interested, selling some 25+ year old new Royal kits on eBay:

B-17F kit - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/111589082944?...84.m1558.l2649
B-25 kit - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/111589097147?...84.m1558.l2649

iFLYrc_Vic

My Feedback: (6)

Those are rare kits but they are priced a bit too high for my RC Hobby pocket book. Good luck on your sale.

RickMunn

The starting price is from the early 90's, unfortunately in this day-en-age ARFs are king.

Thank you

I-fly-any-and-all

My Feedback: (1)

how is progress coming along on the b-17?

mattnew

My Feedback: (2)

In short, life keeps happening!. That and way to many planes to try and get in the air this year. I've primed the wing and continue to work on the details for the body. Add to that the electronics are sorted out and appear to be working. I've got the retracts to the point that I'm happy with them. I took some retracts that were close to scale angles and modified them so they stop at the correct angle for a b-17... decided the typical 90 or 85 degree retracts simply wouldn't do.

My current plan is to get a couple more coats of primer on the wing and then go prove to myself it flies. after that we'll bring it back into the shop to continue the work on the covering.

Some more pics from last week. My home-made 50 caliber machine guns are in. I'm using old ACE style servo grommets as attachment points for the side windows, the front window is a larger heathkit grommet from those old heathkit servos you could build yourself.

mattnew

My Feedback: (2)

Not sure how I feel that I haven't posted in over a year and a half and my thread has only slid to page 2 for the forum. People need to post more!

I had a move to a new house and life happen that sidetracked the project but we are still moving along

engines are in, retracts mounted and motors working and the covering for the wing was started this month...

eli5539

My Feedback: (2)

Thought it might be interesting to jump start this thread again. A friend of mine had one of theses kits he had converted to brushed years ago. I watched it fly and loved how graceful it looked in the air. After that flight it hung in our LHS for a few more years. Just recently he had mentioned he was going to sell it so I had to grab it. The one issue I am having is how to mount the new brushless motors. The design has a hollow opening so that you could mount a gas engine. With the brushless it has a mount bracket designed to go in the middle, anyone have any ideas ?

I-fly-any-and-all

My Feedback: (1)

Cut off the engine rails and mount 1/8" ply to firewall and mount electric motor is the proper way to go.

mattnew

My Feedback: (2)

What he said, the only challenge is the downthrust, I added a single washer, I hope it is enough.

mattnew

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Wing almost done with main sheeting, on to details. servos are also installed and wired...

I-fly-any-and-all

My Feedback: (1)

No flaps?

mattnew

My Feedback: (2)

Royal B-17 did not have flaps....

I-fly-any-and-all

My Feedback: (1)

Hmmm pretty funny the royal plans show "flaps". http://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=3844

eli5539

My Feedback: (2)

What size motors and retracts are you using