Zorba1

Thank you David. Patience is one of my best traits.
Did finished partly the fuse. Couple of panels to go on and she is done.
I did changed the design of my engine stand.
The first one was ok but I had a vision that it would fly apart.
Still going at it slowly.
STill waiting for my prop from Soloprops and landing gear from Down & Locked as for the exhaust from Keleo Creations I havent heard anything from Kelvin yet.

Cheers

Zorba1

Hi all, today I covered the guns with the FM
What a PITA to try and stretch the FM to fit around the guns.
But I did it. Next work on the cockpit.

Cheers

Zorba1

Well life goes on so is my project.lol
Today I started on the rivets.
I started by applying the rivets with the rivet wheel that came in the FM kit. I don't like them they are not to scale.
So, I searched and searched and came up with a 1.5mm hex screwdiver that I used to use on my 450 helis.
The rivets are applied one by one. In some spots the fuse was very soft and the screwdriver went right through, not to worry I will fix it.
The rivets are 1.5mm so for 1/5th scale would be 7.5mm close to 6mm for the originals. not too bad.
the distance between them is 3mm so for 1/5th scale is 15mm a little too much space between them. I guess I have to do them closer.
Anyway this is where it stands for now. Still waiting for my gear and prop to arrive.

Cheers

Zorba1

Some more rivets.....

sebo

Beautiful work of art....I didn't see it mentioned but you could try Zpoxy "Pacer Technologies" ... I use it and it is oderless........Ron
I tried FM but have problems with it...actually, I am the problem.....will try it again as you have renewed my interest....Really a great job, I envy your skills.

Zorba1

Thanks Sebo. Keep at it you'll get it right.
I wasted a couple of feet of FM at the start. No big deal. Just try and try again.
That stuff is awesome once is laid down right.
I had some flaws but is ok.

Cheers

scale only 4 me

My Feedback: (158)

Coming out great,,, I may have to try FM on mine too
I spy one heck of a table saw,, I guess you're a cabinetmaker too,,, I'm very jealous of your shop also,,
keep up the good work.

Zorba1

Thanks. yes I know everyone that comes there they want to take it home but it wont fit in their basement or garage. It requires 12 feet
either side of the blade.
I worked on the rad hutch and it looks that is going to work just fine.
Labor weekend now and I will take a rest for a couple of days from the 51.
I have no choice the shop is closed for the holidays..
Cheers

Zorba1

Well I hooked up the servo today for the exhaust.
I assigned a three switch for now to see how it works. It looks cool.
Cheers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxau0...layer_embedded

scale only 4 me

My Feedback: (158)

Looks cool,,,

Question,,,
Is this functional? I have the same plane I hope to build this winter and have read where guys vent a little extra cowl heat through the fuse and out that area,, is this your intention or just for show?

Zorba1

If you watch the video you will see that is fuctional and yes my intention is to vent some air through it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxau0...layer_embedded

Zorba1

Well decided to take a brake from doing the rivets. Is a PITA but it has to get done since I started it. Oh-oh These rivets are done one by one with a hyperdermic needle.
Did some painting of the cowl and the spinner.
More to come.
My gear is shipped and so is the prop. The exhaust will take 4 weeks been a custom job
Cheers

sebo

your ribbits look great....I don't have the patience to do that good of a job

Zorba1

Thanks Sebo.
Today I got my exhaust finally.
Is awesome. Now waiting for the gear to arrive

Cheers

sebo

Those look great! Are you going to fly it with 2 blades or 3?

Zorba1

20" four blade prop from Solo Props. Variable pitch
Cheers

hrrcflyer

Zorba,

I love the work you are doing on your 51................ and I bet you are going to die when you hear the motor running through the Keleo exhaust. I had a 60 size H9 Miss America with a YS91 and the Keleo exhaust and it was AWESOME sounding.

Please don't take what I'm getting ready to tell you the wrong way. I am not bashing DLE engines, but you MAY want to reconsider the Solo 4 blade prop on your DLE55. There are quite a few guys at my field with DLE55 in their aerobatic planes and the largest pror any of them are using is a 22x8 2 blade. I'm sure they are very strong engines, but a very good friend of mine put the same 4 blade 20" Solo prop on a brand new 3W55XI CS (Compitetion Series) in a Top Flite P47 ARF and the plane just didn't want to fly very well. It was just too slow. We actually tried a couple of different size props on the jug and the plane flew the best by far with a 24 x8 mejlick (sp) prop.

Keep up the AWESOME work you are doing on your P51. I will keep following along with your progress.

David

JRgraham

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks a lot, Zorba1... you have officially made my self rated building skill level drop a couple points.. Can you just wrinkle ONEarea.. just a little please?!? a Scratch maybe??? haha

Beautiful work, simply amazing

sebo

WOW! variable pitch too!

Zorba1

Thanks guys I really appreciate you comments.

David I llove to get the 3W but I can't afford the exhaust.

Zorba1

Does anybody having problem getting their stuff from Down & Locked?
Or is just people north of the border.

Leroy Gardner

Zorba1, the DLE55 calls for a 22-8 prop for breakin if you don't know that yet. Your doing a fine job on that plane and making good time also. It's not hard to see the quality and dedacation of your work. You and others are an insperation to those who would like to advance up in this hobby and build a plane like the scale gassers many of us are building or finishing. I'm in the finishing stages of a TF 1/5 scale mustang gold kit that I haven't been able to work on for nearly two years because of hand and shoulder surgery and long recovery periods, alls well now and I'm back at it,"thank God". I'm going to stick with you on your build, I really enjoy what others are doing and there are things you can learn. You will never know too much.

Detailing has always been a challenge for so many, pannel lines / rivets, how do you do them?. Same for me, chart tape and burning were not an option, so I developed a system for my plane that even impressed me and I want to share it with all who have an intrest in doing that.

In Airplanes, go to Tips and Techniques and scroll to EASY LINES & RIVETS by Leroy Gardner posted 5 days ago and see how I did this.

Zorba1

Thanks Leroy for your comments.
I use Xoar 22x10 for now. I will be using a 4 blade prop to fly, 20" with a variable pitch.
I read your thread very interesting in deed.
I use a syringe needle and cut the tip off, for bigger rivets I use the tip of a soldering iron.
My wings were covered with fiberglass clothe and two coats of epoxy, then primed and sand, sand, sand, and sand some more.
The covering is from Flite-Metal, thin aluminum with adhesive backing.
Right now the project is on hold for a while as I am doing other projects like UAV's multirotors.
It gets boring after awhile so I need a change. When I get back on her I will post some more info.

Cheers

Leroy Gardner

Zorba1 I really came close to useing flite metal but I did'nt like the weight factor of the epoxy and metal together and I did'nt have a finish theme yet, well that was before I saw Cripes A Mighty 3rd on front cover of Flight Journal mag. in the polished version and I said thats it.I had already glassed the plane, I used 1/2 oz. glass and nitrate dope and filled it with nitrate and talcum powder. It's easy to sand and it turned out beautyful, slick as a babys butt, ha ha, Since then I found the paint also, House of Colors 100 % micro fine metalic aluminum . This plane is going to really knock some socks off in north Idaho.

I made some changes when I built it because the DLE 55 is almost a pound lighter than the US 41 reccomended for the plane. A hinged foward deck cover will house ignition, batteries, switches/charge ports, kill and such. what do you think of the dummy exhaust ?. J-Tech did the in cowle exhaust for mine but I gota say the Kellso is top line. I'll slso make a sliding canopy from the bubble that came with the kit, for static viewing it adds realisum to the whole plane,and share some pictures wit you and others. " Happy New Year, Ya all' it's 3 hr. away. Leroy

pacoflyer

My Feedback: (23)

Leroy,
Great work and can't wait to see this beauty primed and painted in your aluminum paint

paul