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BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

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BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Old 09-20-2004, 02:43 PM
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Swager
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Default BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Well after ordering this plane last year from BTE, I finally got around to breaking it out! I just finished my SIG 4 Star 40 and got this one prepped to go.

So far I am very impressed with the kit. Packed nicely and a few extras I wasn't expecting. No sanding for wing leading edge, they are already rounded. The LE's for each control surface are already angled for clearance. Throttle cable included! The pictures in the instructions show hands doing that particular step, the hands are that of a woman! Or very danty mans hands with fingernail polish!! Sort of a different touch.

Just finished building a 4 Star 40 so hopefully this kit should be familiar to me. I hope it goes together as nice as it looks!
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Old 09-21-2004, 05:30 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

I wish I had a BTE Venture 60 to build, are you reading this Bruce?
Old 09-22-2004, 06:38 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Well last night I put the right wing together. The TE is also sanded!! WooooHooooo! The wing went together easier than the 4 Star. Everything fit dead-on! Incredible kit!

Two mods so far. I am leaving out a bay and I cut the front part of each W3 rib to match W1 and W2. This way I can sheet the first two bays all the way across. I find putting Monokote on sheeting easier than open-air ribs. I also believe it will give it a "cleaner" look.

Other mods that are planned:

Balsa cowling
wing servos
aft mounted R and E servos
Sullivan Tailwheel
Turtledeck sheeting
Fuel Tank access hatch
All metal control rods (no plastic)
Enlarged rudder
Old 09-23-2004, 03:19 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Swager,

Keep it coming! I just completed my new workbench and I hope to start my Venture this weekend or next week.
Old 09-24-2004, 12:21 AM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Well not only are you going to enjoy the build but you'll also love the way it flies, have one framed up and will cover it this winter. Oh BTW, those hands belong to Bruce's (EX)wife.
Old 09-24-2004, 05:21 PM
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Oregon Craig
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

ORIGINAL: GrnBrt

Well not only are you going to enjoy the build but you'll also love the way it flies, have one framed up and will cover it this winter. Oh BTW, those hands belong to Bruce's (EX)wife.
After you get it all covered and ready to go, send it to me. No reason, I'm just a helluva nice guy!

"I think they WILL become available again one day. Then I'll build one." (repeat)
Old 09-24-2004, 07:36 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

This is a GREAT PLANE to fly!

I also added two wing servo's and the rear mounted rudder, Sullivan tail wheel, elevator and rudder servo's. I used a Magnum .91 four stroke motor.

It came out tail heavy and I had to add 2 OZ of nose weight to balance on the suggested CG.

It flies GREAT!

As I built, I checked the CG and thought it was correct. But, again it came out tail heavy, so just a word of caution.

You'll love the plane...it is a dream to fly!

JB
Old 10-15-2004, 10:43 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Well I done some work on the wings. Here are a few photos.

I just have to do alittle bit more sanding and I can join them.

I do have a problem. There is a step that you should not finish until you are ready to mate the wings with the fuselage. You need to leave off a bottom balsa sheet . well. i left a sheet off the bottom off one side and a top sheet off the other. I still should be able to do the work, but we'll see. I may have to strip a sheet!



Flyblueskies, could you have moved you battery around to compensate for the tail weight?
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Old 10-15-2004, 10:56 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Swager, I'll say you must be bitten by the r/c bug real hard. Your V60 is looking good. Here's a note I received from Bruce a while ago which might be of interest :

"A little Four-Star history is in order here. I'm the designer of the original Four-Star, the Four-Star 40. While at Sig, I also designed the 120-sized version. After leaving Sig, the first design I worked on was my "improved" version of the Four-Star, and I chose to make it a .60-size model (Venture 60) so as not to compete with the existing kits. A year or so later, Sig introduced the FS60. From what I can tell, the wing of the FS60 has a substantial increase in the weight of the structure due to the inclusion of a couple lite-ply shear web/spars and some extra diagonals. For the record, I don't think all that stuff is necessary and it's been proven with the V60 wing. One other difference is that the V60 is designed to use a single aileron servo to save a bit more weight; however, a lot of builders go ahead ane put dual servos in the V60. Either way works fine. V60s, almost without exception, tend to weigh right about 7 pounds. FS60s tend closer to 8 pounds. I think my wood selection makes a difference too...

My official recommended range for 4-stroke engines is .65-.80. Now I'll be up front and tell you that I'm employing
something of a psychological "trick" that I've learned from past experience is necessary. The range does not include the .91 because a lot of modelers will see that and instantly start thinking "1.20" (yikes!). By ending the range at .80, modelers make the mental jump
to .91 and I can live with that.

Bruce"
Old 10-16-2004, 01:17 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

The engine that the Venture 60 will receive is the Super Tigre .61 ABC. I bought it about 16 years ago and it has never seen fuel. I believe this will be a great power plant for this plane. Not inot 4 strokes yet. They are a bit too pricey for my taste and budget.
Old 10-16-2004, 04:06 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Where can I get a Venture 60? Are they still selling them?
Old 10-16-2004, 07:15 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

The maker of the Venture60, Bruce Tharpe Engineering (BTE) does not kit them anymore. He was going to ARF them but the deal fell through. Bruce is now working on some kind of turbine aircraft. He has said he may kit the Venture60 again soon. When? Only Bruce knows.

You may be able to pick one up already built or maybe someone has a kit they are not building.

Well, I joined the wings together tonite. Always a hairy procedure. It seems like it went well. I have to do a little filler job, then start on the fuselage.
Old 10-22-2004, 12:53 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Thanks for the reply Swager. I'll keep looking for one. Send us an update on the Venture.
Old 10-26-2004, 10:01 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Well I joined the wings together and I am getting ready to start on the fuselage. I got 1 3/4" vice 1 1/4" on the dihedral. I e-mailed Bruce at BTE and he said dont worry about it. He pointed out my 'knife edges" wont be as crisp and may require extra rudder input, but that is OK, since I dont know what a knife edge is anyways. I think it is where you fly sideways with your tail down. Not into aerobatics yet. A

anyways photos are being posted below.
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Old 10-30-2004, 08:43 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

good choice on the engine. I am using a super tigre 61 ringed with a twelve and a half by 6 bolly clubman prop. i used two tower hobbies ts 59 servos on the ailerons. and left the rudder and elevator servos in the stock location. using a klett 60 tailwheel it balanced right on the recommended location. ended up adding a quarter ounce of lead to the tail later. to get it to my liking.
Old 10-31-2004, 09:29 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Well, I put the fuselage pieces all in place, but have not glued them yet. Is it me or does the Venture 60 have a crap full of room for a fuel tank? Im putting in a 16 oz Sullivan tank and it looks like it will fit great! I am putting in a fuel tank hatch so it will make it easier to install and remove. The Hayes engine mount went in without a hitch. Im looking to move the canopy back a bit to give it a more of a "racer" look. Im still up in the air about this mod. Tomorrow I will glue! Oh Boy!!

Old 11-02-2004, 09:40 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Well I did my gluein on the fuselage. Put together well, but it seems I had less problems with the 4 Star fuselage. Dont get me wrong, the parts went together well, almost too well. Some tightness was experienced in the frame tabs. No slop at all. I really love the size of the fuel tank compartment. I did mod it slightly. I am gong to make a fuel tank hatch. So I basically took the top part of balsa that was to go from the rear of the engine compartment to the cockpit and repositioned the entire piece back aft of the fuel tank compartment. I also shortened the turtledeck ribs to go only to frame 4. This puts the cockpit further aft and makes it smaller.

I also made up some long triangular pieces of balsa and fitted them between the turttledeck ribs to give the turtledeck a covered look. Things are looking pretty nice.
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Old 11-12-2004, 03:51 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Well, I was able to work on my Venture 60 some more.

I mounted the wongs on the fuselage That is my worst step. Drilling the holes for the wooden dowels is nerve racking. I made a mistake on one of them but it was easy to repair. Drilling the holes for the mounting bolts went much smoother this time tham with the 4 Star.

I mounted the front landing gear and the fuel tank. Next is to put on the tailwheel and coat the engine compartment and fuel tank compartment. I also need to finish the fuel tank hatch and get the tail feathers and internals ready.

So far the kit has been kind. I made no huge errors or mistakes.
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Old 11-14-2004, 08:59 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

I worked on the Venture 60 alot today but you can barely tell. I finished up the mounts for the aft mounted servos. I fuel proofed the engine compartment and fuel tank bay. Mounted the tailwheel. Set in the fuselage top and sanded it flush.

Tomorrow and Tuesday I need to create the wing servo mounts. Glue in the two remaining wing balsa covering sections. Put the fiberglass cloth on the wing joint. Start the tail feathers!
Old 11-14-2004, 10:05 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Your Venture is looking good. I've got one with over 100 flights on it. It's a great flying airplane. I've got an OS91FS in mine. Sorry to hear Bruce has stopped kitting it. I've got one of his Flying Kings ready to cover.

Jim
Old 11-16-2004, 09:35 AM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Jim T

You got a picture of that Venture 60??

Well, last night I put together the stabilizer and elevators. I hate drilling the holes in the elevators for that 1/8 inch metal joiner. PITA.

In this kit you have to add some fibreglass tape on the inner part of the elevator for strength. I'll probably do that tonite and do some more sanding!!
Old 11-22-2004, 08:51 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Well, I fibreglassed the wing joint and sanded down the edges to the tail surfaces. Put on the tailwheel.

The tailwheel is held on by a servo screw gromet that is soldered on. Works quite well.

Botht he rudder and the elevator servos are mounted in the rear fuselage.
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Old 11-23-2004, 01:21 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Looks great! are you going to use servos in the wings?
Old 11-23-2004, 04:02 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Yes, I do have a pic. Let's see if I can get it uploaded.

Jim

[img][/img]
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Old 11-23-2004, 06:05 PM
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Default RE: BTE Venture 60 build has Commenced!

Looks very nice Jim T and Swager. I'm in the process of framing up the wing halves on my Venture. I guess I'm a pretty slow builder, since I started in September. Never can find enough uninterrupted time to build.

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