Edwin

My Feedback: (2)

Hmm! Started on 7-26, here it is 8-30 and you've done most of the covering? Me thinks you gots a time machine.
Edwin

pettit

My Feedback: (23)

No, I have done ALL of the covering and a lot of the painting too.

It's 90% completed and I only have 75% more to do!

Edwin

My Feedback: (2)

Sounds like my model math.
Edwin

pettit

My Feedback: (23)

According to my prototype photos, this is what the Fly Baby colors should look like.


UPDATE TIME!!!

I found out that the manufacturer of the maroon paint no longer manufactures it! I need 3 more cans!

I have to special order it (a case of 6 cans) through Lowes and it won't be here for a week to 10 days.

Oh, bother.....

gene6029

Looking good Dick! Cant wait to see it in person, allways liked that plane....Gene

pettit

My Feedback: (23)

The paint finally arrived Friday and I masked and painted everything that needed maroon paint. Saturday, I added the white and black "cheater stripes" and installed just about everything else.

Sunday I assembled everything, checked weight and balance and found the plane weighed 21 pounds dry and balanced close to the 30% point, with a little room towards the nose heavy mark.

This week I'll set it up outside and run the engine on the plane and do some taxi tests.

Flying will be this coming weekend.

gene6029

Thats looking beautiful! Really nice work......Gene

JNorton

My Feedback: (2)

Dick,
That is simply gorgeous. Really a work of art.
John

foodstick

Man that is looking good,

In my prime building days I could hang with you Dick, But I have NO IDEA how you have built SO FAST SO LONG !!

You should get a cement sidewalk block in front of the AMA building in Muncie !

Keep it up !

eddieC

My Feedback: (2)

Dick, great job as always! Can't wait for the maiden!

I thought I wanted the Balsa USA 1/3 Cub for my FK50, til I saw the FBB at Toledo.
Now I'm torn... May just have to do both!

pettit

My Feedback: (23)

The engine runs perfectly, turning a 20-8 Xoar at 6600 RPM, easy hand starting and idles at 1600 RPM with no hesitation.

Taxi tests were also perfect on my street and through the grass.

All that's left is the flying!

pettit

My Feedback: (23)

The Fly Baby flew yesterday. Excellent flying model, plenty of power from G-38, handles very scale-like, and can do rolls, loops, stall turns, etc.

Link to video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYmhOfeRHUI


Photos to follow shortly

smkrcflyer

Thanks Dick.

Would this make a good first Bi-plane?

pettit

My Feedback: (23)

It was an easy to build, but it is a kit, so I would recommend starting with something a little smaller.

Flying-wise, it's a perfect first biplane!

Edwin

My Feedback: (2)

Great video. This is definately my kind of plane. How are the incedences setup? I normally like about -1 1/2deg on the top wing. I'm about to do a maiden on a ziroli stearman (77") which has +2deg on the top. Thought I would try it like that and see how it does. Many years back I built a Pheaton 90 and absolutly loved it. Very gentle and wonderful slow aerobatics with a saito 120. This Fly Baby Bipe looks like a natural progression from the P90 on up. One thing I've noticed on several of my bipes was a lot of down elevator trim to fly level. I'm thinking about +1 1/2deg elev incedence on my next bipe. Did this one require any of that?
Edwin

pettit

My Feedback: (23)

Wings are +1 top and 0-0 bottom. It did need a bit of down trim to fly level.

lazyace

My Feedback: (126)

dick

looks good what cg did you use , I fly mine at 7" back from LE of top wing , just about perfect

pettit

My Feedback: (23)

I did some calculations and set the CG at about 8 1/2" back. That works out to about 30% of the MAC.

As you can see in the video, with full up and idling engine, it never snapped or rolled off to either side.

pettit

My Feedback: (23)

Are these two close enough for government work?

JNorton

My Feedback: (2)

Very nice build Dick. Even the prop looks scale!
John

zipman

My Feedback: (22)

I found out that the manufacturer of the maroon paint no longer manufactures it! I need 3 more cans!

I have to special order it (a case of 6 cans) through Lowes and it won't be here for a week to 10 days.

Oh, bother.....
Dick,
Another Beauty like your Concept Fleet was. I wanted to buy that bipe so bad when you sold it. If my daughter wasn't getting married this year I would have owned that one. Oh well, I will have to start saving now for the Fly Baby.

Could you please post the Lowe's paint code you had made for the maroon color. Some of us may need some in the future.

Thanks

pettit

My Feedback: (23)

I didn't use a custom mixed paint, I used Valspar spray cans.

Valspar code is 410.0065011.076, but they wont be making it any more.

I got mine from a place in Oregon and had to buy 6 cans, so I have a few left!

mrbigg

My Feedback: (21)

Dick's a building a machine!

warbird110

My Feedback: (4)

Dick,
I've read your build thread on at least two websites. I received my kit a week ago & started building a top wing half. Everything went together pretty well until I got to the wingtip. Could you explain how this goes together a little better than the instruction book does?? Am I correct that its not flat on the plans & needs to be built up a little bit on the end?

Thanks

pettit

My Feedback: (23)

I believe the wing tip goes between the vertical center of the leading edge to the center of the trailing edge.