Glad you''re back Alex. Now we can see some building! I know what you mean about the post-vacation catch up, catching up seems non-existant. I will be having a house built starting in the next few weeks, so my flying will pretty much take a back seat so I will have to depend on you guys to keep me up on everything!

On a positive note, I have been able to wring out my hog bipe since the weather has started warming up. I flew it for the first time with a .90 four stroke and oh boy....what a plane! This is now by far my favorite plane. Nothing like that 4 stroke rumble on a slow, low flyby. Having a blast, hope you guys are too!

I hear ya r2!!

Spring has srpung here and I needed to get a bunch of things taken care of ... you know, the "honey-do" list? That, and I have to get a few other planes ready to go (radio installs, engine break-in, etc.). Since the Hog is likely going to slip into late Spring, I wanted to make sure I had a couple other new planes to debut at the field. I know, weak excuses!! I think I ought to be back at the Hog this weekend (depending on weather) or early next week.

Glad to hear you''re having fun with your Hog!

-MA

Real life does tend to get in the way of having airplane time.
My Hog Bipe was started in October '06, got shelved while I built a plane for my brother, then sat untouched for a while, then finished up and maidened in August '07 just in time for a club kit build contest (which I won )
I have been working on a GP Corsair off and on since August of 07 and it is just now covered and ready to paint, it still needs the cowl to be installed and all the stuff put in it. I figure it will be ready for the kit build contest in September '08.
If I get one done in less than a year I am usually happy.
I have been trying to decide what to build next. The kits I have on hand are another Hog Bipe (which I plan to bash into something that resembles a Fokker DVII), an Astro Hog (which I plan to bash into something that resembles a PT-19), a FunAero SE5a (60 size that I will try to add extra scale details to), or a Tower Hobby Uproar (which will be built pretty much per print).
Of course I still need to finish up the Corsair before I start anything else, but it is fun to look ahead

... ooooh a Corsair - that's my favorite. I would love to build one of those. Had my eye on the GP version, for what seems an eternity. I keep saying, "one of these days..."

-MA

I have the GP Corsair still in the box waiting to be built. I'm hoping I will finish me GP Extra 300 before I start having my house built. I sanded the extra last night, so its ready to cover. I should be able to have it flying by next weekend if all goes well (knock on wood)!

Hey MA,
It seems like a bunch of us have hijacked your build thread LOL
Sorry 'bout that.
Once you get back on the build I for one will get back on topic.
[8D]

No worries chashint! Keeps the thread towards the top of the list

Hey all. Haven't been flying much lately but took my Hog Bipe, um excuse me, Hog Bipe minus one wing (Astro Hog) for only it's second day of flying today. Built it last winter and it's just been sitting around waiting to fly. Went to a big fly in yesterday and then just had to fly. Man that Hog floats forever. I think on my last landing it bouced three times before it finally settled in. It's all orange ultraocoat and I'm intending to add white sunburst on the top of the wing like the box but just haven't. I really need to as I can't tell which end's up. Got a Saito 72 on it and it flies great. Getting my confidence up as my first Hog Bipe was flown by gremlins into the woods at full speed on the 7th flight or so and still don't know what caused it. But she was on the transplant list so lots of her parts live on in the Astro Hog. After a few more flights it's time to fit the floats to it and try to keep in dry on the lake. Anybody got any ideas about keeping water out of the servos that are on the underside of the wing that will surely get splashed while water taxiing? Should I smear vasilene on them to keep it out? That is my only concern.

Jim the occasional flyer

My suggestion is to make servo covers.
You will need a two liter plastic bottle that has smooth sides.
You will need to find or make something to use as a mold.
The objective is to form the plastic into an oval or rectangle with a lip all the way around.
Depending on how far the servo sticks out of the botton of the wing will determine the thickness of the Balsa for the next step.
Find a piece of 3/8" thick Balsa and cut it so it is about 3/8" to 1/2" bigger than the servo when the servo is in the middle of the block.
Carve the block into an oval and round all of the edges.
Cut the top and bottom of the bottle off so you are left with the flat middle part. Cut it in half lengthwise.
Put on gloves or get an oven mitt, use you heat gun and form the plastic over the Balsa mold you made.
The plastic will conform pretty easily so don't overheat it.
When you are satisified with your handi-work cut the oval out leaving enough of a flange to put screws in to hold it on the wing (you can aslo tape it on the wing).
Cut a hole for the servo post to fit through and you are in business. Scuff it up and paint it or use peel-n-stick covering, I doubt if you can iron covering on without deforming the plastic.
Adjust all measurements to fit your particular application.
Good luck.

Any progress, anyone ?

Yes and No. I have been EXTREMELY busy and non-focused on the Hog. I had a couple of "projects" that I had to complete before wrapping up the Hog. One of those projects was the Lanier Stinger 40. I bought this when Tower had their "fire sale" earlier this year on the Lanier product line. Here are some pics of the final result.

BTW, I absolutely despise the amount of time and effort it takes to setup fuel tanks, engine mounting, radio installation, etc. I call these the "hidden" tasks when getting a plane completed. These tasks always seem to take me 3-4 times longer than I mentally prepared myself for ... the plane appears to be done but its not. [:@] I am sure this is more my anal-retentive building practices, but it kills me. This is the main reason I've not continued the Hog. Believe me, every time I go to the shop I have her calling to me!

I have one additional plane to mount the engine, radio, control surfaces, and fuel tank before I return to the Hog. Sorry guys!

I feel your pain about the timing for all of the pesky electronics installation. However, I finished up my GP extra 300 last night and surprised myself about how quickly I got it buttoned up. Its kind of one of those planes that I finally decided to not worry about how clean and smooth the finish was. I viewed it as a plane to just throw together and rag the heck out of, but built solidly enough to withstand it. The funny thing is, that is the fastest that I have buttoned up a plane, but it is my best looking and cleanest engine/electronics installation to date!? I guess lesson learned!

I have a Tower .75 motor on this 40 sized extra....to some this might not be too extreme but I am nervous! I guess I need a trusty throttle servo for this one!

I understand the interruption too - exchanged a Goldberg Ultimate 10-300 for a Hog Bipe kit and began collecting pieces - started to bash a Kadet Senior kit, rebuilt a new Sky Raider Mk II, got hooked on combat and started building an Avenger B2, crashed the Sky Raider - repair time - back to the Senior, oh, the servos for the Avenger just arrived, friend just showed up with a gorgeous Hog Bipe ...

Don't 'cha just luv this sport?

MA,
I can't believe you cheated on the Hog Bipe with a Lanier Stinger ........ I am so disappointed

I wonder what kind of excuse you came up with to tell the Hog? I can hear you talking to it now while in the shop working, "But I need get some practice to make you end up even sweeter!"

Cheating? Naw! Cheating would be if I started another build. My Hog knows no stinkin' ARF could replace the love I have for her[8D] A true Hog knows what kind of addiction we have and allows for a few indiscretions every now and then.

-MA

Hummmmmm .... I don't know ..... it sorta kinda looks like cheating to me ....... I am with r2champion ....you better do some major sweet talking to Hog Bipe .... I don't know if I would take them to the field together or not either ..... LOL

bump

Charlie, thanks for the bump. I'm sure you all feel as though I've fallen off the face of the earth. Sort of ... at least from a RC building perspective, I have. Weather here in Central Indiana has turned from building weather to flying weather (you guys in areas of the country that fly year round, how do you ever make room to build???). I have been very pre-occupied flying and haven't spent any quality time in the basement wrapping up the Hog. That coupled with the requisite yard duties and other "spring time" honey-do's and well, you all know the rest...

I am also one of our club's instructors, so I have been very busy helping a couple of new members get their wings too. Hopefully that garners some "good will" from the masses here and saves a bit of flogging

Regardless, I have not given up on the Hog. Weather here in Indiana changes by the minute, so I am sure there will be days/weekends where flying is not possible. Hey, when you live in a place with limited flying opportunities, you take advantage of them when you can.

Sorry this thread has gone dead for a bit. I will complete this puppy, I assure you all of that. And I will document that here as well.

-MA

I think you mean I will complete this Piggy!

Oink! Oink!

You betcha!

C'mon alex.....GET THIS HOG DONE!!!!!

This thread has helped me immensly on my own hog build and I wanna see it finished!

And hey r2champion.....I'm stealing your covering scheme(except for the wing top design) for my own build ,becuase you've got the nicest hog I've seen yet (IMO),lol....just wish I could figure out how you did that checkered pattern on the rudder(I LIKE it)?

I've did a couple mods so far on my own build such as I didnt glue the little notched piece to the back of the firewall as I'm going to use it as the front piece of my fuel hatch. And I've mounted the firewall back 5/8" further in the fuselage to allow enough room for my Thunder Tiger .91 on dubro rubber motor mounts.

Thanks for letting me butt in here.

I've got a Hog Bipe, that I picked up at a swap meet, ready to fly.
Balance plane and test engine Saito 80....
but some how over a long harsh winter, I've managed to mis-place the top wing mounting screws. [&o]
Along with the top strut screws.
Can someone tell me what to get for top wing mount?
I'll get out of your way and go flying. [8D]

Thanks,

Toledo Bob

I don't think your butting in, this thread seams to have gone dead!
According to the Sig plans, the top wing attach screws are 8-32 nylon and the interplane strut attach screws are 4-40. Good Luck!

... I prefer to think of it on hiatus rather than dead. It's flying season here in the Midwest - gotta take advantage of that