HighPlains

My Feedback: (1)

Any new Aeromasters being built this winter?

aeomaster32

Two chaps at our club are building them. One is scratch built, but with the help of access to a kit for measurements.
I flew mine just the other day, and was comparing it to a "Sportsman Waco Biplane" Arf. The Waco, at 58 inch span is a very pretty plane, and similar to the Aeromaster in many ways. However, I have fine tuned the CG on my Aeromaster so that when it goes inverted, there is no need for a pitch trim change. The Waco needs a lot of 'down'.
What makes the Aeromaster unique in my opinion, is it's robust practicability. Without complicated interconnected ailerons and wing struts, and without rigid bolted on wings and gear, it can survive impacts better than any other machine I know. All this with easy access to an upright engine, and yet gives up nothing to flying ability.

Ralph White

Hi, I'm working on mine with hopes of flying it this spring.

If anyone is interested here are the weights of the airframe and covering material which is Worldtex. I was told it is the same thing as Solartex.

The covering added the following weights:
Fuselage 2.6 oz
Lower wing with ailerons 2.25 oz
Upper wing 2.15 oz
Elevator .3 oz
Rudder .15 oz
Total weight added by the Worldtex covering 7.45 oz

Airframe weight after covering: No paint, No LG, No gas tank, No radio, No pushrods, No engine (going to use OS 91FS)
Fuselage 30.4 oz
Upper wing 14.4 oz
Lower wing 16.3 oz
Rudder .8 oz
Elevators 1 oz
TOTAL AIRFRAME 63.2 oz or 3 lb 14.5 oz
I plan to paint my Aeromaster with Rust-oleum. I do not plan to use a clear coat. Will post weight numbers after painting etc.
Ralph White, Neoga, IL

March 29, 2008
Here are the weights after paint and trim.
Fuselage 31.6 oz Paint added 1.2 oz
Upper wing 15.2 oz Paint added .8 oz
Lower wing w/ailerons 17.3 oz Paint added 1 oz
Rudder .8 oz Paint added less than .1 oz
Elevators 1.4 oz Paint added .1 oz
TOTAL AIRFRAME 66.4 oz or 4 lb 2.4 oz
Total weight added by paint and trim: 3.2 oz. The white basic color coat added 2.1 oz to airframe and the trim colors added 1.1 oz to the airframe.

Total weight added by Worldtex covering and paint/trim is 10.65 oz.

Hope this comes in handy for anyone interested in covering and painting weights.
Ralph White, Neoga, IL

mikesan152

Andrews Aeromaster suffering from "benign neglect"

I have decided that I shall probably never again fly my Lou Andrews aeromaster. There just isn't the time anymore. It was my third and features the swept top wing and straight lower wing. I last flew it more than 25 years ago. The engine is a Kraft .60 schnuerle and the radio, a Futaba 6-channel, is clearly out of date. The plane was never crashed and still has the original prop. I was so happy with how well the balsa came out that I covered it in clear monokote with cobalt blue trim. It flies really well and always made me look like a better pilot than I really was. Worst case is that some of the covering needs to be re-shrunk just from hanging for so long. Is there any market for this?

jagnweiner

My Feedback: (1)

There's a market for everything! I'd certainly be interested, probably without the engine but maybe with it. I would like to replace an Aeromaster I totaled, but don't really have the time to build it. Send me a PM if you would like to sell.

OzMo

My Feedback: (3)

They are quite collectable as kits go as high as $300.00 on Eba^. With a lot of good photos and an accurate thorough description it would do well on Eba^

mikesan152

Here it is... A little TLC and 28 years of neglect are gone... almost. Now I just need for some of this snow to melt!

jagnweiner

My Feedback: (1)

Wow, Mike! That is really neat. No antenna showing since you upgraded to 2.4 gig. Can't wait to hear about the maiden.

What size prop is that? It looks a little on the small side, but may just be due to perspective.

mikesan152

Hey Scott.

Thanks. The prop is an 11 X 7.5. That was the norm for a 60 size at the time. (Anything changed?) I don't think the K&B 61 is Schneurle Ported. My other two both had OS 60 Schneurles. So many changes with all this new technology. The radio is way more sophisticated than the old Futaba. By and large, it's the same... just more bells & whistles. I've got until the snow melts to figure it out. (6 more inches last night...) But the sun is getting pretty high in the sky so it's melting pretty well.

That canopy adhesive you recommended worked very well.

Looking ahead... I'd like to build an H-Ray, just for fun... and I'm not sure if I'll go with the Top Flite Cessna 182 or the GP Skybolt. I'm partial to bipes. The Staggerwing ARF from Top-Flite looks okay, but I enjoy building and I have my own way of doing things. I wish I could buy it as a true kit.

Any projects on the table?

Mike

Ralph White

I have updated the weights for covering (Worldtex) and painting (rust-oleum) on my Aeromaster. I edited the post #253 above on this page. I was surprised that the covering added so much more weight than the rust-oleum paint.

I'll post a picture as soon as I get the Aeromaster completely finished and ready to fly.

Ralph White, Neoga, IL

dmcmike

My Feedback: (14)

at one time I had an Aeromaster with a K&B 60 in it. Absolutely Loved the combination. But while you're at the hobby shop, pick up a 12x5 (if you can find one) or a 12x6. You'll find that it flies a bit better with the bigger prop with a touch less pitch. If I remember right, I've even run a 12x4 on the old K&B.

jagnweiner

My Feedback: (1)

I was kind of thinking around a 12" prop, like a 12x6. Looking forward to hearing the flight report.

dmcmike

My Feedback: (14)

oh, don't get me wrong. That K&B with a 12x5 on it won't come anywhere close to hovering... (big deal..), but it sure is fun fly in a very scale like manner.

Ralph White

I agree with Mike, I perfer a 12 x 5 prop with my Supertigre Bluehead .60 on my Aeromaster (first one). Mine weighs 7.25 lbs and as Mike says it will not hover. It will fly very well and has good vertical performance.
Ralph White, Neoga, IL

mikesan152

You know, guys, it's SO cool to be able to get this kind of useful information. When I left the hobby so many years ago, networking like this was unheard of. Okay, I'll buy a couple 12 X 5 / 12 x 6 props and give them a shot. Where can I find metal 1-gallon cans for my fuel? (Or is that a no-no these days?) I prefer a steel can to the plastic jugs. Thanks again for all the info, folks. I hope I'm in a position to contribute as well as receive. First I gotta catch up!!

Mike

Ralph White

Mike, I know what you mean by catching up. I am returning to the hobby after 24 years away from it. You can still get fuel in metal cans from Powermaster Fuels out of Elgin Texas. I am using their 5% GMA (11% cas 11% syn). GMA stands for George M Aldridge of control line stunt fame from the 50's and 60's. He was my hero back then when I was flying control line in high school.
Ralph White, Neoga, IL

mikesan152

Hi Ralph.

I already have my fuel. I ordered a Dave Brown can (I wish I'd had an old paint thinner can or the like) and some new props this morning. This week is supposed to be warm. Hopefully the snow will be gone and the field will dry up before the end of April. I'm looking forward to this. And to think... I was about to sell my sweetie.. It's amazing how "community support" can change one's outlook.
Thanks!

crashinator

I hope Im not too late to add some input.
I finished my Aeromaster this winter, I built a straight bottom and swept top-wing, I installed a servo in each wing and used an O.S. .61. I had hoped to use a .91 FS, but I didnt want to completely re-work the nose.

I have flown it three times and was very impressed. I would love to post pictures, but I dont know how!(any quick tips?)

mikesan152

Hey Crashinator.

I had the same O.S. in my second Aeromaster. Good choice. As for posting pics, look at the bottom left side of the pane when you reply. The link's just under that. I'd love to see the pics!

Mike

crashinator

Youve heard of that "cant see the forest through the trees" thing right!!, tonight I will fire off some pics, Im not good at computers but boy cant I glue balsa!! THANKS!

crashinator

I did it!!! Hope you guys enjoy.

Its covered with untracote, has futaba gear, a 6exas radio with s3004 servos, and the O.S. .61 with a master airscrew 13x6.

HighPlains

My Feedback: (1)

Ah, spring in Maine! Nice looking plane, but you could have lost it if not for the RED trim.

billmod12

My Feedback: (1)

For the record, there are about 3 andrews kits and 1 great planes kit on ebay right now. Also a set of plans. Cheers Bill

crashinator

Good point about the trim! the photos were taken in December, now all the "mud" colored planes could be lost![sm=confused_smile.gif]

mikesan152

Ayuh... That's Maine... 9 months of winter and three months of lousy skiing... Beautiful plane, though. Nice trim, too.