Captcrunch44

Acdii
yours is looking so go I think i will leave mine at home, so not to embarrass my self.

Captcrunch44

Also do you think the airfoil shaped aluminum stock at the hobby shop would be heavy enough for struts

acdii

Nah man, you have to bring it, don't want to be the only one with one there. With the amount of length needed I went and bought 1/2" diameter thick walled x 36" pipes and 1/8" x 1" bar stock for the mounts. $25 insurance policy. I don't think those airfoil shaped ones will be able to support the amount of stress these will endure. If I have the time I will polish them. The plan I devised is to have a strap run under the fuse to each side using one piece, and at the ends brdige both panels where the tabs are now with 8-32 bolts and T-nuts. Going to add 1/4" ply above the 1/8" already in place for the tabs.

Steelie

My Feedback: (18)

Before you go through with it, wait until Tom Crump chimes in on RCG. I trust his ability with strut design. He's into big airframes. May need more than a strap below the fuse or something different.

Steelie

My Feedback: (18)

Not for this airframe.

acdii

Well it is final assembly time. All the covering is done and all the controls are hinged. Got the motor mounted, though I thought I had 10-32 bolts for attaching the motor box, but only had two, so need to get more hardware. I also piled everything onto the scale and it sits at 42#. This includes the strut material, but not the two tail servos. Those weigh about 4 ounces so I figure whatever aluminum I don't use should equal the servo weight. Other than two extensions for the aileron servos, the wing is finished. The tail is finished except for the control arms, and the hinge pocket. Still need to install the ignition, rx, batteries, windows and landing gear. Holding off on the tail servos until I can get it on the balance rig to see where it sits. Most likely the tail will be heavy, how heavy will determine the servo placements. If I can get by with the elevator in the tail and pull pull for the rudder that will work, I would rather not have a long pushrod for the elevator due to both the length and the torque needed to move it. Also the cowl and wheel pants.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Looking great!

acdii

Spent more time looking for stupid parts than working on the plane. Thought I had 10-32 bolts, Nope! Well I did get the battery and switch tray done, fuel tank installed, and throttle servo installed. All that is left up front is the wiring, and find a place for the RX. Then get the windows done, landing gear on, and work on the coal and wheel pants.

acdii

And it is on its wheels.



Going to take it outside and fully assemble it to get an idea on where it balances.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

The wheels look so small by comparison!

acdii

Getting closer Cowl is done except for the paint. I got it painted, but the humidity is so high that it blushed, so may need to get another coat on it outside in the sun(if we even have that). Wheel pants are on, still need painting, but they also need some filler, priming, sanding first as the seam isn't perfect. Windows are in, battery tray finished and all the wiring installed, Ignition hooked up, throttle servo connected and working/trimmed, so except for the tail servos the fuse is done. I had to move the engine out another inch so the cowl would fit properly, so that should help offset the tail a little. I have the cowl configured in such a way that if I need to, I can move the engine out another 1/2".

Tomorrow I take it out and put it all together and check the balance on it before going any further. Depending on how much the nose needs will determine the tail servo positions. All I have left after that needs to be done, make two Y harnesses for the wing, one for the flaps which will connect right to them, and one for the Ailerons which will also be the extensions for the Center, and set up the radio and rates, etc. Then go over every nut and bolt to make sure I have lock tight on them, and they are tight, then fire up the engine and get it ready for it's maiden.

I made a plywood plate to cover that huge hole in the cowl, and eventually will figure out how to make it look nice.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Looks good to me.

acdii

Well, I got it on the rig and with a bucket hanging off the prop was able to balance it with 5 pounds. However, that would make for one heavy ass spinner. I grabbed one of my dead sealed batteries and placed it just behind the FW and though it weighs 6 pounds, is not enough to balance it even with a bolt missing and the servos under CG. I could move the engine forward another 1/2" to compensate, and that might be enough with just the 6 pound battery, so I will give that a try. My other problem is I don't have any spare lead for the nose if I wanted to make a tray above the motor unless I borrow from my P-47.

This plane is huge. the slightest draft and its moving on the rig, and because it is so windy today, the garage is moving and the plane moves with it.

Going to go with a servo in the tail for the elevator and the rudder will be pull-pull with the servo next to the throttle in the cabin. I may need to raise the fuel tank to fit the big battery in the nose, too bad can't use it to power the plane. As it sits right now I am hitting 50#.

Joined the Giant Scale league with this one. Should probably move this to Giant Scale forum! LOL It's as big as a Whale and about to set Sail. Pics later.

acdii

All tallied up. Total weight needed, 9 pounds 3.1 ounces. On top of the motor I will need 4.5 pounds, the battery weighs roughly 4.8 ounces, and will sit right behind the firewall, provided I can get it in there. It should fit OK, its the getting it in there that will be the trick. This puts the plane at just over 51 pounds. Going to need a lot of trimming at the tail to get it's weight down. The stabs and controls comes in at 3 pounds. Whats funny is when the wing is off it's nose heavy, pick it up at the front wing mount and the nose will drop. The CG is roughly 1/4" behind that point. The wing itself has a lot of weight behind the spar.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Beautiful!!!

acdii

Only a few minor things to complete, hinge socket in the tail, sand and paint the wheel pants, and balance it then it is ready for it's maiden. Finished the struts last night along with the y harnesses. Hopefully I reduced the amount of weight needed to balance it, will see once it is on the rig. Then I have to go get some weight in the amount I need and some better hardware for the struts, the bolts I got are rather soft for cap screws, but you get what you pay for.

acdii

Got the plane balanced, and tested the radio out, other than readjusting the links for the flaps, everything works properly. Need to get the ignition configured on the radio so the Opti switch turns on, and then set the rates and limits. Cosmetically I yanked the windshield off as I was not pleased with how the glue came out, looked ugly and some shavings from drilling got trapped. I also painted the instrument panel and F3. I have the windshield soaking in water to loosen the RC56 glue and then I will install it using screws instead of glue. Stickers go on, cowl gets another coat of paint along with painting the wheel pants, and then load it into the trailer. I also polished the aluminum struts, they have a nice shine to them now.

I need to get a fuel can for the gas mix since it uses a different ration than my other engines. My FG-11 and NGH 38CC use a 20:1 mix, the XYZ and DLE motors use a 32:1 mix, and the DA uses a 50:1 mix. I can run the DA on the 20:1 or 32:1, but can't run the others on the 50:1(could probably run the DLE once they are broken in).
So total weight to balance was 7 pounds 6 ounces bringing the overall weight of the plane to 51 pounds and change, don't know what the change is since I used a bathroom scale.

Pork Chop

My Feedback: (5)

Getting close!

acdii

Other than paint for the cowl and wheel pants, it's done. Tomorrow I get the trailer up to the house and bring the plane out, attached the landing gear(easier to move without it) and find the best way to secure it to the field for it's maiden flight. Got a fresh gallon of fuel mixed up, batteries are charged, and the tool kit assembled with the fasteners.

ETpilot

Wow, nice build. I've been following the thread from time to time. I like build threads and good looking airplanes.

There is one thing I would like to point out, FWIW, regarding your Vanessa Rig. I'm no expert on the rig but I don't think you set it up right. Therefore CG may be off. In post 214 your rig is lopsided, the rope on one side is spread farther out than the other side plus the wraps are not equal. The rig is not too parallel with the wingspan. Post 217. All this may affect CG. Just pointing it out.

Anyway good luck with your maiden flight. Looking forward to that flight report.

Im posting a picture of my use of the rig. Doing the same thing, locating CG before installing engine and equipment.

Again, not being critical. Just pointing out what little I know.

Captcrunch44

Acdii
boy you have built a vary good looking plane. Mine is stalled do to over worked. I will have it at sig for show and tell but if its done will be the big question.

acdii

That was a prelim balance to find out just how much weight it will actually need. I had an issue with the lines sliding under the wing and had to use clamps to keep them in place. Saturday I set it up so everything was aligned correctly, and had placed the tail to where it was almost level while setting it up to get the strain off the rig. The rig was off just a hair from parallel with the spar, difficult to get it perfect with the amount of weight it was holding, so compensated by going a touch nose heavy so that the balance point should be dead center now. It was windy the day I took those pictures and every time the wind gusted, the plane would move even though it was inside the garage with the doors closed, which did not help!

ETpilot

Ah, good thing. That explains it. I'm familiar with some of those set up problems using the rig. Also how wind can mess you up. When you have the plumb bob in the center as you and I have it, the dowel being off from parallel does not affect it. Nice build, good luck with that flight.

acdii

Spent the day reconfiguring the trailer, so that I can safely haul this monster around, as well as the rest of my planes. Still have some work left to do so that I can add 6 more planes, only have 3 in it now, still have 2 cubs, an Ultimate Bipe, T-Clips, A mustang and a P-47. The Somethin Xtra can go in the truck. The most difficult part is figuring out how to secure the wings.

acdii

The lead nosed beast flies! Two things found right off the bat


(1) It needs POWER! Without it, it wont get off the ground. Once in the air it flies gently on 1/2 throttle.
(2) Forget using low rates, wouldn't even bank on low rates, so set them at high and be done, if you do want high rates, set to max throws.

So had one flight and the runway I fly from is just too short for this plane to land on, it is a lead sled. The takeoff was uneventful, it got the tail right up off the ground and I can see immediately that it is nose heavy, so going to pull off 2 ounces, and see, if I need more I can shave an ounce at a time until I get it right. It left the ground and thats when I discovered that low rates are not needed. I had to pull full left to bank it a little. Switched to high and it flew like a trainer.

Best part of the entire flight, not a single click of trim, on anything! I have Never built a plane that flew straight and level without some type of trim. Granted once I get the CG moved back a bit I will need down trim.

Reason for only one flight was the DA 100, which btw has just enough power for this plane, died on me. It was running smoothly, but when I cut back to half throttle after a little bit it would start to cut out, and eventually it quit, but like with any maiden flight, or tuning flight I place the plane where I can land it without power. Prior to the engine quiting I tested flaps and it drops the nose when it slows down, so I kept them up while landing. It came in like a missile, bounced back in the air, came down again and kept going, I was able to steer it clear of the trailer of junk still parked at the end of the runway, and it kept going through the hayfield for at least 200' beyond the runway. It needs brakes! LOL I have to open up the cowl to get more airflow through it, either the carb got too hot, or the ignition got too warm, so going to mimic the flaps on a Corsair and opening up the nose like what you see on a Mustang, only it will be on top and under the prop hub.

The short time I flew it, it flew gracefully, but need to figure out the flaps if I am going to land it on a short field. Reducing nose weight will also help reduce the bounce.

Other than dead sticking it, the Maiden went perfectly well.