Nice Work Guys
I think I may have found my next Kit, the Hog looks like it is begging to be bashed into a Stearman. I have been busy with my Cub and build thread that I haven't kept up on the nice builds going on here.
Fred123, I am interested in seeing the finished pics and to hear how your maiden goes.
Good Luck!!
Anthony

fred123-

Here is a shot or two of my new pilot. He's not the normal pilot, but he was just laying around and he fit pretty good so I decided to use him. Also here are some shots of the hangars that I've built.

Also here are some pics of the hog all framed up and assembled.

Jspencer,
that is just too funny. Buzz has been the pilot of my last 2 Hog Bipes!!!

RCKen that is too funny. It is one of the McDonalds happy meal toys, and since we had more then one I thought he would do well. I cut a notch in the back of the elbow so that his arms were bent at 90 degree angles. Then I took the heat gun and formed his arms so that they weren't spread out so far apart and then CA's them in place. I think that he turned out good and will make a good pilot.

Jspencer,
My current pilot is my second one. My flying was too intense and Buzz bailed out on me somewhere out in the field. I tried to find another one around town here, but no luck. Driving by an outlet mall in Texas last month I found a replacement, so I bought 3 of them in case I scare this one out of the cockpit too!!!

Too funny! Ken- What did you use around the cockpit area? I was thinking of some sort of material that has a groove in it for the edge of the cockpit to fit into. It looks like you have found something like that from the looks of your pictures.

Jspencer,
I can't remember exactly what it is called, but it's the rubber cord you use when assembling screen windows and doors. It's what you push into the groove to hold the screen in. I used an x-acto knive to split it open, and then cement it into place.

Afternoon guys...
I think it is called "spline", but am not quite sure. The tool that looks like a pizza cutter is a spline tool hence the name. You can also get canopy trim from tower or maybe the LHS has it. Here are a couple of examples:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXG866&P=7

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXG867&P=7

Great tip with the rubber screen material. I was looking for something. Spencer: Thanks for the pictures of the plane hangers. I did something similar to make stands for my SE and 4* so I could transport and install the bottom wing in the field. Fred123

Spline!!!!! yeah!!! Dat's da ticket!!!! yeah boy!!! \


Hooked, thanks. That's what it's called. I couldn't think of it and I was too lazy to get up and go out to the garage to look at the package!

The material used around the cockpit is called coaming. Here is a link. Large is what I used on mine.

[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByCategory/Product/Default.aspx?ProdID=FOR120]Cockpit Coaming[/link]

Works great,

Frank

Thanks for the links to the cockpit material guys. I'll have to go pick some up from the LHS or the LHIS (Home improvement store ). Also did you paint the inside of the cockpit or did you use something else? I thought about using felt material or something like it to line the inside of the cockpit.

I just did the inside of the cockpit with black monokote. I know exactly about the LHIS. We don't have a LHS in town so I have to try to figure out alternate sources for items.

jspencer - I always keep some black felt around for using in the cockpit floor and sides. It makes for a finished look and is not reflective like monokote. In the hog I am building, I am going to make up an instrument panel and will line the cockpit with the felt before I add in my pilot (shrek).

I have some adhesive backed felt that I am going to use. I think that it will give it a nice fished look and will be failry easy to apply.

I finished up the silver (minus trim) tonight and should be able to start applying the blue tomorrow. I will post pictures tomorrow evening of my progress. It seems like the more I do the covering the easier it gets but the longer it takes, make sense? I do a better job and it takes a lot longer I guess would be a better way to put it. I just wish that I had a good day and a half to work on the covering and just get it over with. Oh well, a couple more evening and then I will be finished with the covering and trim. My brother just purchased a printer that will do vinyl graphics and I will have to give that a go and see how it works.

My latest update:
Well, I got blindsided this weekend. Not a bad deal, but it is work related. My general responsibilities involve engineering project assignment and tracking for a group of voice engineers. However, there are times when the company I work for is out pursuing new business. When the pursuit involves my field, I am sometimes called upon to help with that pursuit. You can probably see where this is going. Yep...I got a call from my manager over the weekend and I am being assigned to a pretty huge undertaking. Can't give any details, but it will involve travel. I have no idea how long or how much travel is involved, but knowing the size of the business we are pursuing it is huge. And based on that knowledge, my being on the road for this is probably a given.

Bottom line, I will hit the ground running with this right after our graduation activities of this week and my vacation next week. So until I get a feel for the time it will take out of my days, I am not sure when I will get back to the bipe. There are a lot of discussions underway this morning and maybe something will come out of them that changes this, but for now, I am the person. Its really nice to have the work, but the timing stinks...[:-]

Man, that does stink. But unfortunately work does have to come first. [:'(]

Might not be much help, but I'll make the offer anyway. If your work brings you down to this part of the state you are more than welcome to go to the field with me, I'll put you on one of my planes and let you bend the sticks for awhile.

Spencer: I painted mine using black epoxy appliance enamal. Available at your LIHS store..Fred123[&:]

Thanks for the offer Ken, but if I go anywhere it will be Dallas, Chicago, or maybe Denver. I made a mistake in reading my email and the meeting is not until tomorrow. So I won't know much more till then. Even though it stinks on the timing, the project itself is quite exciting. I have done others of this size, and a couple have lasted a year or two... Once into the meat of the project, time does present itself to be able to work on my home projects...it's just the initial planning and gathering of information that eats most of the days. Depending on the extent of project requirements, this project could fit in the 2 year or longer category. These days, anytime you can have work lined up, it is a good sign. I hate it when you are waiting for the next thing to come along.

Hooked,
Being self employed I totally know what you mean about projects. That's how my wife and myself make our living. If you need a computer geek or a network engineer let me know. Always can use more work!!!

Hooked

I've been following your progress regularly but haven't really had anything to add until now.

Pigs Do Fly! Any they fly very well.

You may recall that I finished my Hog back in January but was waiting for suitable weather for the maiden. Somehow weather and schedule never seemed to converge, until today.

The Hog flies just great. I've only been flying for about a year, so saying it's the best plane I've flown doesn't cover a lot of ground (had a trainer, and have an Ultra Stick and a Cap 232, and some small electrics), but it was truly delightful.

A few observations:

* Even with the gear a 1/2 inch forward of plan, she wanted to nose over when starting to roll. (I fly off of grass, and it's no putting green.) Adjust elevator and throttle accordingly when starting to taxi.

* Ground handling was better than expected, but a little bit touchy.

* On take-off hold up elevator when starting to roll, then ease off and let the tail come up once you've got a little speed. Take-off was smooth and steady.

* Seems to be a lot of coupling with the rudder. I expect I'll need to do some mixing for that.

* Did some slow rolls that were very nice and predictable.

* Landing was as easy as it gets; keep throttle up a just a bit.

As I recall you're putting in a Saito 100. I've got a Saito 91 and found there was ample power.

You'll love it.

dmanson - Thanks for the update and the tips. I have been flying for 4 years now and have the added advantage of flying from a field with an asphalt runway. I will be extra careful on my first flights, especially watchful for nose over. I figure you have been reading my latest posts and can see that I am not sure of how I will be able to progress with the new project I have on my plate at work. Will know more tomorrow...

Here are some pictures of the almost finished cockpit. I used the felt and it turned out really nice. I'm almost done with the main part of the covering, then the trim will start. The trim is going to take a little time as I have decided that at all of the junctions where the two main colors meet, I am going to put a piece of trim to cover the joint, just to make it look clean.

Well Guys, the time has finally arrived. I finished up this morning and will bench run after lunch to try to smooth out my engine for mid range throttle positions. After that, I will fly it late this afternoon.. Here are pictrues.. Felt I had better post them before I fly... Will let you know how she did..Fred123