These shoe strings are really coming together and looking good. For some reason I quit getting emails for new posts on this thread so I haven't seen your progress. But they are really coming along. I can't wait to see Doug make one of his hairy landing with it.

Here's the daily, The canopy deck is a little challenging. The 1/4 '' balsa rails dont line up easily [tri-stock] . A lot of shaping/sanding. Strange that it is a flat deck on top [ for the canopy ? ] and then flat the entire length of the turtle deck on top. Flat underneath too. At this point, it kinda looks like a Shoestring.........sorta ........ MM

I haven't abandoned the project. The time I have taken off must have done me some good, because I felt like going to the shop tonight. The glue is curing on my canopy deck, and after supper I'm going to go down and work on my switch hatch mod and see if I can make something work.

Mike, Keep sanding on that deck and fuse. Sooner or later the square goes away! Someone here on RCU has the sig line..."Sand off everything that doesn't look like an airplane" This is one of those builds. Ain't it cool?!

PS-- Thanks for the wood scraps. But your previous picture made me go clean. Hopefully I'm not missing parts now.

BTW you refer to your job at the hospital. Are you in plant services? I'm a field superintendent for a large electrical contractor, and hospitals are one of our specialties. Just wonderin'.

Hello Doug. I'm in charge of all the HVAC at Logan Regional Hospital , Logan, Utah. I have to take the wife to town in just a few minutes, So I'll post some photos tommorow. Canopy deck is coming along fine, I will make it to be a permanent part of the wing. Pushrods and servos are being installed in fuse, A lot will get done between now and Sunday night. Oops, here's the wife, gotta go, MM

Things are starting to look up. I've got all of the remaining parts identified, accounted for, and figured out. I really like how the cowl attaches with no visible fasteners. Keeps in line with my maintaining an almost seamless airframe. I haven't quite figured out where the best location for the hatch concealing the switch/charge jack will be, or if I can incorporate the fuel fill at the same location, but I have decided it's the way I'll go. Also the Deck will be held in place with the earth magnets I mentioned earlier. I have a blind nut and bolt installed now to hold things in place for shaping, but they will be removed and the magnets installed when that's done.

I won't post any pics, because I'm basically at the same place with the deck that Mike's earlier pics show. Getting real close to the detailing phase that will probably take the most time with the least visible results.

Still trying to decide if I'm going to film cover or glass this one. As much work as the airframe has been to prepare, I almost think I'm going to glass and paint at this point. Still researching weight differences, and that should be help to decide. With the big Saito 100 up front, I'm not concerned about power/weight ratio, more about wing loading. Anyone with any insight please chime in!

90% done with sanding and shaping fuse. Wasn't really as much work as I thought it was going to be, looking at the box shape I started with. I say 90% because there are some area's that I'll have to fill, regardless of how careful I was during assembly, due to small gaps that were left between parts that appeared during sanding. I'm also going to work on the wing saddle, using resin/micro-balloons to build up and fill the gaps. I'm going to need a zero clearance model now, because I've finally decided that I'm going to glass and paint. I've already got almost as much time in sanding as assembling, so a few more hours sanding for paint prep won't matter!

Pictures here show the deck and fuse assy before shaping...almost. Forgot to take a picture before I put the plane to one side.

Here's the finished (90% anyway) fuse. You can see some of the gaps I referred to previously.

Excellent work Doug. We are about neck and neck on this. I'll proceed with the Ultracote this coming week. I'm getting ready to "hawg" out the cowl and align engine for install, It's all quite easy from here on. I see the point for a removable canopy deck, it could be a little difficult laying Ultracote into compound curves. Your epoxy and micro-balloons mix would take-up the gap between the top of wing and bottom of deck. It's still not too late for me to re-think this part. What are your thoughts on the cowl cheeks [ open them up at the ends for more air-flow cooling ? ] or stick with the plans ? Lastly, that wing loading, I'll need to calculate that. Maybe more Sunday night, Seeya, MM

The cheeks should lay out almost the same as the Sundowner you can see in corner of the last picture, mating into the wing LE. I've done a lot of research and question asking about engine cooling when I got into gas engines. While you need the area for hot air to escape the cowl, the most important part is forcing the air to flow over the cooling fins of the engine, via baffles. But you already knew that. My 4s Saito shouldn't have a problem with cooling, and I wouldn't think your 2s should either, if tuned right. A good portion of the engine is hanging out in the breeze with mine. I'll probably build mine as the plans show.

Since you'll get there before me, post your weights and what you get for wing loading. I was thinking about that tonight. With the glass and paint I'm hoping to get on the high side of 7 or low side of 8 lbs finished, using specs as a baseline.

Doug, I too am starting to get a little burned-out. Here's most all dry assembled. Cheeks are next. My air compressor went "south". So I need to go buy another [ to blow off the balsa ] So that's holding me up covering the plane. Yes, that is a novel way of attaching the cowl, with wood screws into the firewall. Uh.... er,.... would blind nuts behind the firewall be more secure ?. Could wood screws loosen up from vibration ?. MM

Not much tonight. Finish sanding, lining up the cowl, odd's n end's. Time to ly down on the couch and just veg for a couple hours tonight . MM

Hello Doug, Just got off the phone with John from TNPC and the figures he gave me show the wing at about 764 sq inches, around 21 oz wing loading average. [ but depends on the powerplant ] Somewheres around 6 1/2 to 7 pounds weight. Should fly just fine. Back to work, seeya, MM

Seems an eternity since I've had a chance to work in the shop. Maybe if I get back down there I'll get moving. Glad to hear your's is coming along MM.

Greetings Doug. Here's a photo of the cowl. A really tight fit and a lot of the bottom of the cowl is going to go bye-bye. It 'll still work, I'll post Saturday night. MM

Started addressing the wing gaps last night. Used finish resin and microballoons, and after I pulled the deck and wing off tonight when I got home, I'm pretty happy with the results. Sanded down the excess, and have a second coat applied to a couple of areas now. The front area where the wing meets the forward fuse is a problem area. If you form the deck to fit the wing, you can't remove or install the deck. If you form the fuse to surround the wing, it's difficult to install the wing. I've opted to add the filler to the wing, and hopefully I'll post the pics of the finished product later this weekend. Lot's of detailing to be done before I even think about glass, so my progress will appear to come to a screeching halt, even though I hope to work on it an hour or two a night. Took advantage of some excess resin/balloons and patched a few dings from assembly.

On a brighter note, I sold my JR 7202 (I now fly a 9303) to a friend, which allowed me to upgrade the servos I planned on installing. [sm=thumbup.gif]

Pictures show progress of last nights work.

Look's good Doug, I see your point on the wing. I'll get mine worked out. My Bisson Pitt's style muffler wont work. It's way too big. So I've ordered a Slimline type Pitts. I can start covering Saturday. I ordered a new Hangar 9 Piper Pawnee today, Just what I need , another plane. Seeya then, Mike

Ever hear the saying "Can't see the forest for the tree's."? That's what I did. The gap between the LE and the fuse is inconsequential, because the cheeks will cover it up. Spent too much time thinking about things I guess. I've got the gaps all sealed up everywhere else, and the wing joint is glassed with the first layer. I'll get it sanded down and the finish layer on the joint tomorrow, and hopefully get the cheeks started.

I also picked up my new Saito FG36 today (for my H9 Mustang) to replace the little Evolution 26GT I flew it with last year. That thing is magnificent! Now I have another distraction. I will need it though while the PolyC and glass sets on the String.

Sounds good Doug. Well, all thats left to cover is the wing and that wiil be done tommorow. I'm leaning towards making the canopy deck removable. Pins up front and the mounting block is all that's needed. It's coming along. Almost like building an ARF now , just might have this done on schedule after all . Seeya, MM

"Whellp" the wing is covered, now for the servos, hinges, etc. Still waiting for the Tower parcel. This would go a bit smoother if my mind did'nt drift a little. [ My miserable hospital job ] I wish there was some way to parachute my boss into the center of Pyongyang city, wearing a Tee shirt that says "Uncle Kim is a midget !". But of course, that's silly, better stick with this build thread properly . Lastly, wing and horizontal stab came out zero-zero incidence, and the Ultracote job is first-class. Seeya, MM

By this time, MM, you're probably finished with the String and moved on. Me, I'm still dawdling. Thats what I would call it anyway. The wing is ready for glass, got the final fill and sand with 320 grit done last night. I plan on diving into the fuse this weekend and trying to marathon it to the first spot fill by Sunday night.

Remaining details: Add two hatches-one for switch/charge jack and one for fuel fill, and also I am building balsa pushrod fairings for the rudder and elevator exits. Other than that, I just need to add the magnetic hatch "system", glass, sand, fill, sand, fill, sand, sand, and then sand a little more, paint, sand, paint (monotonous, isn't it?) and then I should have it ready to be at final assembly stage.

No pictures, because no one wants to see sawdust and a well sanded wing. Besides the only real difference is the wing joint is fully glassed and feathered.

Doug, I'm still building it. I might send the Slimline muffler back, I designed my own here at work . It takes up even less space and I'm going to test it first for RPM's against the factory muff. If it works, great. I'll post a photo tonight. You might be impressed with it. I'll be doing the cowl and wheel pants this weekend along with the little stuff to finish. This plane will work but for some reason I think this will be just "another" plane. Hope I'm wrong. Seeya later, MM

Here's the pics. If the RPM's match the factory pipe, were in business ! MM

Doug, whats your feelings on those little-bitty wood servo mounts for the aileron ports. Does'nt look like there's enough "meat'' for the servo screws to bite without splitting the wood. Did you use them ? MM

Haven't even looked at them yet Mike. I've used a similar set-up before, and it worked good. When in doubt...upgrade!

Can you post a pic of your finished cheek cowls? Curious how they came out. Both a side and a front, if you have time. Got mine glued and waiting for the ply ring in the cowl to set, but I'm curious as to how yours came out...especially at the wing and at the cowl. Thanks.

My wings, ailerons, tail group (complete) and hatch are ready for glass. Going to visit an experienced member of our club for some tips (and encouragement!) and then I should be ready to start. The fuse is probably still at least a week out from being ready.

Well Doug, I have'nt really started on the cheeks yet, I was getting all the other stuff done. I'll get back with you on that in a little bit. Gotta go, MM