I just maidened her last Thursday and took these pics before heading out to the field (just in case...) It flies great!

The uncovered photos can be found [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/Another_Skybolt_in_the_bones%25%25%25%25/m_2152900/tm.htm]here[/link].

I still have to add the wheel pants, just received them on Saturday from Stan's.

Enjoy...







~Todd

MicaGreen,

Great job on the skybolt!! I truely love a well presented biplane. I hope she continues to fly right by you. Thanks for sharing the photos.

Todd, I'm sorry but there is no way in hell you're going to be allowed to bring that to Aero Sport field, it makes mine look sad. I flew mine today the skies where great for flying. Great color scheme. Bring it up to Aero Sport this weekend.

Great looking Skybolt! I have been flying mine for 2 years now. Are you using a 120 4 stroke for power? I'm using a MVVS 91 in mine and it does a great job. Took awhile to get the engine running well but once I did it is the greatest.

Dick

Tell me you haven't fitted the pants yet.

Not putting wheel pants on such an excellent finish job would be a freakin' crime...

Thanks!

The camera does hide the flaws well....

And, yes, it will have wheel pants. I just received them from Stan's FiberTech and still have to fit and paint them.

It's got a Saito 100 in the nose and that seems to pull it around pretty well. This is only my second season flying powered models so it's got more than enough power for me. I added about 5 oz of lead in the nose, planning to reduce that some over the next few weeks 'till I get it flying the way I like. It lands smooooooth but fast right now. Glides much better than I thought it would! I already had one dead stick on it 'cause I ran the tank dry... That Saito is thirsty while it's still breaking in.

rc-sport:
I'm going to try and make it out to Aero Sport field this Sat. or Sun... May not make it out 'till the following weekend though, got two days worth of prior engagements that are still up in the air. I imagine something's got to fall through and give me the chance to get out there!

~t

What prop are you running on that 100?

Jason

APC 14x8

This is my first 4-stroke (and first Saito) and I'm still getting used to it. The only other engine I've ever had is an O.S. 46FX. I much prefer this Saito...

Todd, hot landings are the norm for this plane. Everyone told me that bipes are draggy and need power to land. I cut the power on the base leg and it still comes in fast, even on a dead stick. Let me know if you can make it saturday.

Think you could clear an 16 X 8 with stock gear?

Just curious as I have the Kit and some ideas floating around.

Jason

Well, if you like mowing grass on takeoff maybe...

With the 14x8 I have about 3.5" of ground clearence with the stock gear. 16x8 would give you about 2.5". Doesn't leave much room for error on landing, that's for sure.

I just added this:
With the fuse horizontal to the ground, it's got about 2" clearance with the 14x8.

~t

So that leaves me an inch with a 16 in prop. Little close, but possibly do-able on my paved field.

Thanks for the info.

Jason

Jason, I have a 15-6 on mine with the stock gear. The slightest bump on take off cause the prop to clip the grass. I now wish I had gone with a beefier gear.

Beautiful Skybolt! I'm in the process of Un-Retiring mine (Again!). I just can't get enough of this plane.

Man! That thing is SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!

Nicely done!!

Have fun with it in the air!!

Excellent covering job[sm=thumbup.gif]! Love the color scheme. Is it monokote? I'm building a skybolt also and am planning on using a Saito 120 in it. What size fuel tank did you use? I've got a 14oz. to install, but I'm wondering if thats big enough.

Thanks guys!

I knew MinnFlyer would show up here sometime or another.... Your Skybolt was my inspiration. Thanks Minn.

2 deadsticks today! [:-] Glad it glides so nice for a bipe. This Saito sure is finicky 'till it gets a couple gallons of gas through it. I just had to richen it up and it did fine..... Gonna go broke buying gas 'till it's broken in!

~t

Thanks!

The whiite is ultracote and the rest of the colors (met green, met plum and gold) are monokote. I used the "windex method" for the most part. Using a 14 oz tank as well. I'm getting 8 minute flights on it now with a safety margin, hoping I'll get some longer runs when the engine really breaks in. I just finished the second gallon of fuel thru it today.

~t

Todd, I adjust my low end after about 4 tanks on all my Saitos. When you do that your dead sticks will stop.

Yep, did that after the "main" break in (about 4-5 tanks REALLY rich, almost an hour of running time). Had it ticking over really well at idle at about 2300 RPM with a nice smooth reliable transition to full throttle. Then, today, when I checked the transition from idle to full throttle, it detonated. (I HATE it when that happens!) I richened the low speed needle and got the transition nice and smooth again. Thought I had the high end rich enough (500 less than peak). It dead sticked (the first time....) I richened the low end a little more and got another dead stick on the next flight. On the dead sticks, that sucker would just plain die at about half throttle immediately after a lot of vertical manuevers. So I richened the high end a little more (to about 700 RPM less than peak to about 8500 RPM) and had 2 very uneventful but amazing flights. Guess it just needs a little more time. Go figure....

Thanks,
~Todd

Is the original glow still in? If so, ditch it and put in a fresh F plug. I would probably try a new plug anyway.

Yup, did that too right after the initial break in. It was recommended by the guys over at Venture Hobbies. I took a look at it after flying (what an awsome day yesterday was) and the F plug looked brand new. It's got about 8 flights on it now.

Thanks for helping me troubleshoot.

~t

I'm so tempted to get a new one and start all over again. This is one of the few planes that I would build a second time. One of these days I'll take some close-up pics to show you guys just how badly dilapidated mine is (But it still flies great! )

micagreenmachin,

Great looking plane!

Sorry to hear your problems with the Saito 100. I have one in a 60 size H9 P-51. I have to say that engine is the biggest POS I have wasted money on since I joined the hobby. As you stated, it's thirsty even after 2+ gallons of fuel. Countless "Engine Gurus" have played with it and still had no luck. It detonates even if I look at the low speed needle. Unfortunately, I know your deadstick problem all too well. I have probably burnt more fuel in the pits than in flight. 3/4 of my flights have resulted in deadsticks. It has gotten to the point that I no longer enjoy flying this plane which is a shame. I don't mean to run down your engine but just make sure that thing is running at all attitudes before take-off especially with your Skybolt. I fly the P-51 scale so I'm not banging the sticks around and it still happens.

Saito 100: Check your fuel tank, mine had a slight leak and after a few minutes of running the fuel would look like soda with all the air bubbles. replacing it helped a little but did not completely eliminate the problem. I had been getting 6 minute flights with a 14oz tank on the Saito.

When I built my Skybolt I choose an OS 120 w/pump. I have NEVER had problems with an OS. Yes, they are a bit heavy and some say under powered for the displacement but I prefer to be in the air than showboating with a torque roll at 1/4 throttle ( I can't torque roll but you get the point). I got the pumped model because I new I would be putting the Skybolt threw it's paces. It has not skipped a beat, 1.5 gallons and no deadsticks (knock, knock). I had been running PowerMaster 30% heli fuel, man that thing flew well. 30% is expensive though so I went to PM 15% 4 stroke. I can tell a big difference in performance, so I will go back to the 30%. I'm swinging a 16x6 and ground clearance has not been a problem until recently. The grass is growing again and am mowing the grass a bit but I still have not created any divots. I installed a 16oz tank, after the thirsty Saito I figured a 120 would need more, I'm glad I did, I get 10 minutes and still have plenty left.

I haven't given up on the saito yet.... The last two flights I had with it were awesome and it purred along flawlessly. I think it's just going thru some growing pains as it's still very new. Just glad I used to fly RC sailplanes years ago (like over 15 years ago), I don't get too freaked out by dead sticks. Actually, my best and smoothest landings yesterday were both deadstick landings.

I should add that part of the problem is probably me.... I'm new to 4 strokers (and I've had only one other rc engine, an OS 46 FX) and probably don't do the best job of tuning it. I also get dyslexic with the needle valves and turn them the wrong way at times. That's when that engine really spanks me. I can think - need to richen the mixture, turn needle counter clockwise - and my hand will do something completely different.

Thanks,
~t