Well, the little tabs definately stay until the wing is turned over. I glued in the top spar this morning. Got her weighted and will let dry until tomorrow AM. I will glue on the trailing edge, W1-A, the forward and aft dowel guides.

I will post a pic. soon. Thanks for the help.

Hi Contender Owners:

This is my progress thru this morning on the wing. It is coming along very good. I am really enjoying this. So far, the wing is flat as a flitter. My building
board is a 1 3/4" fire door laminated with formica, with 2 2 x 4 ft. pcs. of cieling tile. It is perfectly flat. I am weighting everything down in each step as
seen by my hammers. Need to make me some weight bags.

This morning I glued on the trailed edge, wing mounting block, rib W-1, and the fore and aft dowel locators. Just waiting for the gule to set. Will work on it again
tomorrow, I hope.

Jim
AMA 821369

Looks real good Jim! I guess you must be getting a heat wave in the Texas Area You'll be finished in no time.

Regards
Mike

Ha Ha, Mike: I had to warm the epoxy and glue in the microwave this morning before I could start. It was cold in the shop.
I finally turned on 2 little electric heaters and went in the house for a while til it warmed up some. Around freezing this
morning. I understand we are going to be in the teens this weekend.

No matter though, I really enjoy this. I can get so caught up that I forget time and I think a bomb could go off and
I wouldn't know it.

Thanks for the compliment. Now, I just need to learn to fly for real. I haven't soloed on my Alpha 60, yet. I am trying to put more time in on the sim. I got one about 2 weeks ago, but haven't really got to play with it much. I am having to learn to put "work" to the side so I can go the field and fly with my instructors. At the rate I got to go last year, it will be 2010 before I can fly the Contender. But, building sure is fun.
Jim

Jim,

Wow, in the teen's for the weekend . I believe that's hibernation weather for me.

I'm with you the Contender is going to be above my flying abilities for now but it's been a good build for me to this point. I've been boring holes in the sky with my LT 40 and I'm starting to get very comfortable with it. I'm hoping to start flying my Sig Kavalier which I completed last fall and still haven't flown. After I've mastered the Kavalier then it'll be off to the Contender so I've got a little time to finish construction.

I'm continuing on with the fuselage build on the Contender. I've got the firewall installed and I'm in the process of mounting the engine. I've never threaded a engine mount before so this is a new step for me. We'll it's off to the shop, happy building.

Regards
Mike

Hi Mike: Same here. I'm not going to get to fly it for a while because I have not soloed the Alpha 60 yet. It is so hard for me to get to the field. I am working, when I can, on the sim in hopes it will speed up my learning curve. Even flying the sim is tough. It is really realistic.

Well I am ready to glue the sub leading edge on. I cut the 3/4" pieces (4) for the decking of the leading edge yesterday and I will glue them up this morning. I am going to glue the sub leading edge on. I also got the main gear support blocks epoxied together and drilled the 5/32 holes and will glue them into the wing today. That is probably as far as I will get.

I ordered and received the Dubro pin hinges. I haven't cut the slots yet, I may do that today, also, in the rudder and elevator. Friday, I will probably cut and assy. the alierons. I am still thinking about adding the additional 1/2" width to the outboard ends of the ailerons. What are you going to do?

Keep the posts coming. I enjoy the progress reports.


Jim
AMA 821369

At last I have a flight report. Weather here in NC has been disappointing the last several weekends. Cold here today only about 40-42 but sunny and nearly no wind! So loaded up the gear and off to the field.

Daytona and the cold had a low turn out at field. I also brought along a new flight bench to test. I really like this bench. Picture below is not what I built but it is nearly the same. I added some wheels to it for mobility. Makes starting and cleaning easier. If your club is looking to spend some money on field equipment get some of these. Material cost is about $65-70 with wheels and axles making up $15 of that.

Did some repair work at the field waiting for someone to show up. I like to have someone there to help me with trim should the plane be way out. Finally someone showed and into the air.

I usually start with elevator on the upside so plane required nearly all the down trim and a few clicks of left. Carb needed some leaning and adjustment as it deadsticked after several passes.

With the carb trimmed in, the Fox 46 spinning an APC 10x7 and the elevator adjusted it was time. Rolls were above medicore speed but certainly not fast. They are pretty flat, I could get three in from normal altitude before dropping too low. Plane flies where you point it, flies like a pattern craft. Loops were tight and inverted flight required just a slight down to hold level.

The roll to opposite rudder does happen. Remember I chopped all the tips off. It does make for some interesting flight.

Flaps. THis is my first plane with flaps. Boy I like it. Craft looks just super on landing! Don't try to deploy flaps att high speed, the pitch up is large but not uncontrollable. At normal flap deployment speed, fast idle on approach, there is a slight pitch up then it settled into a nice slow float to landing. Touch and goes are wonderful! I did not have any real ugly touch and goes but the plane sticks to the ground through all of them.

Tried a knife edge but I'm not sure it could be done. The craft wants to roll opposite the rudder so it is completly different from my Hog Bipe. It needs the right rudder and left airelon. Unaccostumed to the roll I could not hold it. Anyway do not think it will do one anyway.

Plane tracks very well. The flaps are great fun. Rolls are quick enough to keep you interested. Remember I chopped the tips and added a 1/4" to the outside end of the airelons.

Negatives is I do not think it will knife edge. I'll count the rudder-opposite roll tendency in the negatives but a little programming on radio mix should cure this.

Recommendations from hind sight. If you are used to flying low wing craft doing spins, rolls, snap rolls, loops and all the other standard aerrobatic stuff add some extra to the ailerons. Roll rate is just fine for me but I would imagine with the tips and unmodified ailerons it would be to slow.

The conclusion is this is a nice flying bird, tracks true and the flaps are great fun. I can't imagine that a 60 engine would make it much better. My 46 obviously won't hover it but if I had that ability it would be useless as rest of craft is not a 3D machine. Besides I can't 3d anyway! I'm sure I'll enjoy this plane.

Scott

Sounds like all went well Scott... Congrats!

Been too cold here to even think about flying... atleast for me it's been too cold. lol.

Should be interesting on how mine acts beings that I kept the upsept tips, added much more to the rudder & small counter balance, added 1/2" to the aileron from root to tip not just the tip and counter balanced the elevator. Hmmm.... well just have to see when it gets warmer. [8D]

Meanwhile I've been in the process of dropping a new os120ax into my edge540 .

I'll be sure to give a flight report when I finally get the Contender out.

Scott,

Congradz on the maiden. Sound like you had a pretty fun day at the field. Good luck and well done!

Regards
Mike

Scott, thanks for the flight report. I am looking forward to that day. Work on mine has been rather slow.

I have the fuselage finished except for the cowling, the wing is finished on the bottom and I am ready to roll it over
and sheet. I added 1/2" to the ailerons, straightened out the rudder and will use the optional tips.

I hope to have the building complete, with the exception of cowling and covering in the next couple of weeks.
I have ordered the servos. I have kinda stalled on a couple of things waiting for the servos. I want to install
them before I complete a couple of minor steps. The cowling is waiting for me to order a 2 3/4 Tru Turn spinner.

Thanks again for the report. Keep the flight reports coming. Kieth, I noticed you said you "counter balanced" the
elevator. What does that mean. I allready have all the moving surfaces built and ready to hinge. But, I would
rebuild the elevator if it will imporve flight characteristics.

Thank all of you for your help.

Jim

Jim,
Refer to the pic in post #21 on the first page of this thread. However... It's way too early for me to recommend it since mine hasn't seen the sky yet. Plus... I did this in attempt to make my contender as wild as possible without changing it's looks, with exception to the rudder.

Jim,

I think the contender had plenty of elevator for sport flying. The counterbalance reduces servo load and increases the elevator response. Since you have yet to solo your trainer I would say leave alone and a standard servo will have plenty of torque to operate the elevator. I feel the rudder should be modified like OverTheEdge, myself and I think flmlm did. i.e. rudder being larger at bottom then top this should reduce the opposite roll with rudder application.

However you may be like me I build so I can personalize my planes. Can't do any harm but reduce the throw a little on elevator for the first flights or use low rates.

Scott

Scott and Keith:

I understand about counter blance now. Thanks for the pic and the explanation. I really like the looks of it, but I will wait for my next build. I did modify the rudder somewhat, (Post 131, pg. 6) but not as extreme as you guys did. I just
straightened it out some Do you think I should rebuild? I could do that later after the initial flight testing by a certified instructor.

I am really enjoying this. This is my first build in 45 years. I appreciate all of you guys help and suggestions.

Jim

If your happy with it, leave it. You said your enjoying it that's what its about. I do not believe you'll end up with any kind of performance issue. I still have the roll/rudder coupling.

Scott

Hello Fellow Contender Owners;

As you can see from the pictures I am making progress. Slowly, but surely.

I have the leading edges sheeted top and bottom since this picture. I have all the servo rails
in and the holes drilled. Tonight I want to install the leading edge. Then I will shape the leading edge and install
the webbing between ribs, cut off and sand the tabs on ribs, cut hinge slots and the wing build will be complete.

I have built the upswept wing tips. I have added a rib for better support and also, additional web supports,
top and bottom of each edge for strength. First for strength because these wing tips may rub the
ground from time to time, second, when covering I will have the additional webs for tacking the
covering.

I think I have narrowed the color scheme down. I am going to use yellow overall, with 2" (yellow and
black) squares on the bottom of the wing. I am thinking of using 1/2" (yellow and Black) squares on
the bottom of the elevator and horizontal stabilizer and verticle stabilizer. The rudder will remain
all yellow.

I may run a band of 1/2" (black and Yellow) squares around the fuse about mid wayback behind the wing.
Finish off with black pinstriping along the fuselage and a 1/4" black stripe around the canopy.

Who knows, but I like yellow and I think the 2" squares will help with orientation in the air.

I hope you all will continue to update on your progress and please submit flight reports.

Best Wishes,

Jim

Jim,

Your build looks great, making good progress with your Contender. I've had to put in some extra work time over the last two months and haven't had a chance to do much. Hopefully by the second week of this month I can get back at it! Your covering ideas sound great. I'm a big fan of yellow too. I find it easier to see in the air for me

Regards
Mike

Thanks Mike:

Congratulations on the overtime. It will help buy servos, receivers, fuel, etc. My Lawn Mower repair business that I operate
on the side is beginning to pick up. So, I need to get done what I can now. May not be much time later on.

Keep me posted on your progress. Will do the same.

Jim

Jim...
Glad to here you're still plugging along on your build... you're on the home stretch now!

Refer to post #187
I described how I covered my wing tips (upswept). It seems to have worked very well for me.

Hi Guys:

I don't like the landing gear that comes with the Contender. I would like to use an aluminum one that you can bolt on
after covering. Did any of you substitute your main gear.

I am going to use the Fultz nose wheel gear. It has two springs. All three wheels will be 3 inch.

Also, I want to use a 3-blade prop on my OS .61 FX. I think it will look better, have more verticle and brake better.

The OS book recommends 12x6 - 8 or 13x6-7. Could any of you tell me what this would translate into a 3-bladed prop?

Haven't progressed much from the above post. I did get the leading edge glued on, but have not shaped it yet.
I have about 1/8" warp in my wing. I have weights on it, hoping it will go away. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Jim

I used 3" wheels also. I fly from grass and the larger wheels work better.

The aluminimum land gear will be difficult to adapt the the contender. It is a tricycle gear plane so the main gear must be behind the CG. You'd have to mount it in the wing and that structure is not strong enough to take the aluminmum gear.

Can't help you with the three bladed stuff but I agree it would look nice compare to the two bladed.

If you have not glued all the wing stuff together try bending it past straight about 1/2 the amount of the origanl warp. You can also try this when the wing is covered with covering. i.e. bend past traight then shrinkthe covering tight. THe covering could hold the warp in check.

Scott

Why can't the aluminum gear (main) just screw to the blocks already mounted for the spring gear after the fuselage is covered. Aren't the main (std. spring) gear blocks
mounted behind cg? I could reinforce them a little.

What do you think. It's not a big deal, I just like those flat alumn. mains better.

Thanks
Jim

Well, it has been over a month since I worked on my contender, as I got caught up in a bunch of stuff with family, church, new job, but this weekend I spent a few hours working on the wing again. I got the lower spar glued in, added the dowel guides, sub=leading edge and trailing edge. Here are a few pics. Slow progress for sure, but I am really enjoying it.

This is my first build.

Jim

Actually, now that I think of it I have a question. I am using CA for most of the build, and I noticed that a couple of the ribs did not permanently attach to the trailing edge when I let go after gluing them. Is there a trick to get them to stick after using CA once on them? It does not seem to want to stick at all anymore. Can I run some Wood glue in there or will the CA prevent the glue from holding?

What about a small piece of balsa along the edge where the rib meets the trailing edge, or would that throuw off the weight and balance too much?

Appreciate your advice.

Jim

jbakic,

Whenever I have a small gap I like to add a piece of small balsa to fill the gap and then use wood glue.I prefer a balsa to balsa joint and not just a lot of glue filling the space between the two pieces. How big of a gap are you seeing? Is the wing straight? Good luck with the build and have fun with it.

Regards
Mike

jbakic,

If the CA did not hold the joint, use CA to reglue. Wood glue does not stick well to CA soaked joints. My experience with this joint failure you describe is you'll need to reglue and insure you have a nice fillet of glue. My reglued CA joints are noticeably weaker, thats why I insure a nice glue fillet.


Dafebet,

You'll need to reinforce and fab a 1/4" plywood plate to mount the alum gear. Usually this gear mounts to the fuse next to former with tri stock to reinforce and a 1/4 ply plate to mount. The wire gear gives more than the aluminium, especially front to back movement. With the stiffer aluminium gear you need to to some serious reinforcement.

scott