TF Contender, a beginers view
 

So after a few years of ARF's, I'm flipping through a catalog and run across this plane, a Top Flite Contender, and I fall in love with it and have to have it. Much to my dismay at the time, there is no ARF. After a few weeks of reading this forum I decided I could build one myself. This is a condensed version of what it was like for a first time builder with no help to build a kit. I'll go ahead and admit that I'm hooked now and don't plan on owning any more ARF's any time soon. I enjoyed building during the south Texas windy season as much as I enjoy flying. Don't tell my wife, but I'm already looking for my next kit.

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

This is where it all started. fabricating the tail and then right into the wing. I thought I was sunk as soon as I saw those wing plans. I thought "well this is what's gonna cause the crash" I actually laid up the ribs and spars pretty quickly after a quick RCU search revealed what I needed to know.

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

The wing went wayyyy faster than I thought it would, only a few nights and I was sheeting. I can't say much for the sheeting, had to edge glue pieces together, but that's the worst thing I can say for the whole kit. I think it ended up looking pretty good. (for a first timer) Seemed like each portion I did came out better than the last. the bottome of the right wing is worst, top of left wing is best. I learned as I went I guess!

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

Nice work , i put flaps on mine and coast guard colors and i like it thanks frank

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

In no time at all, (it didn't seem that way) I had a wing! I did learn that a razor plane would have been a nice tool to have. unfourtunatly I didn't learn that until I had carved everything free hand with a #11 blade! Once again, I learned something! In the plans, there was an option for up turned wingtips, suposed to correct an adverse roll coupling issue. I decided to build the upturned tips, really, cause I liked the way the plane looked with them vice without. I'm very pleased with how well they came out. Both ended up at exactly 40 degrees as called for. (due to good plans and not great skill I'm sure)

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

Great job!

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

Another builder is born!<div>
</div><div>HUZZAH!</div><div>
</div>

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

Your next one will be even better. Keep up the good work.[sm=thumbs_up.gif]

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

Excellent work!

If there are any others out there who think they might like to try their hand at building, I encourage you to read this article:

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=1196]Kit Building 101[/link]

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

When I got to the fuse it went together quick and easy, so quick and easy I forgot to take a picture, othe than the in the livingroom floor when wing first met fuse.It seemed odd to mount the engine at this point, but being the newbie / follower of directions......and MinnFlyer, that article and your covering video's were a great "fill-in" for my lack of having anyone living near by, that had built a kit before. So in a way you taught my to build by proxy. (does that mean I can blame my mistakes on you? ha ha)

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

HB for power plant?

It looks like a HB with PDP and a ST muffler. If this is true you will be VERY happy with the motor (minus the muffler).

I'd like a contender myself, actually. Nice project.

Brian

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

now that the engine was in place, I started with the cowling and the fake airscoop. These both were carved from balsa, a lot from the inside face had to be removed to flush these blocks against the fuse sides. the left and right were joined the front center with a supplied balsa ring and the rest was filled in with scrap. this was really a learning process for me.....on how to use filler! http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...eeth_smile.gif

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

That's exactly it, an HB .61 PDP. It came free with a ragged Hawker Huricane someone wanted me to get out of his way. He thought it was worn out due to the dykes ring feeling like there is no compression while sitting. I tore it down went to order parts and got educated by mecoa! The muffler was aslo a freebie, A friend had it lying around at random. Told me it if fit it was mine. I did have to order a carb from perry though as the old one was missing too many parts. Great engine though, just cant seem to slow it down enough to get her to STOP pulling planes on the ground.

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

You might as well, everybody else does :D

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

I suppose since I'm not too upset with the mistakes I made........you're kind of off the hook.....for now.

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

Now with the cowling carved it was time to attach the scoop permanently. I decided it would be easier to cover the scoop before I did that so out came the iron for it's first trip down anything not square and flat. One last search of RCU brought me to these videos, and I'm proud to report mediocre results. (as long as you stand back a few feet that is http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...wink_smile.gif)

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

All of the sudden I had a plane sitting on the ground. It took a lot of patience and 60 min epoxy (thinned out with denatured alcohol) to fuel proof the inside of that balsa cowling. Then it took even more patience to let that mixture dry. It was 2 full days of sitting in the south Texas sun before it set up enough that I felt ok with moving on. My seven year old wasn't too happy that he lost two days helping me build during spring break. The wind that drove me indoors to build was still blowing and kept us from flying and fishing, his favorite activity's.

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

OK, just a few more pictures in the raw form, man I love the way a plane looks between build and covered. Wish I could just take them out and fly them like this. I bet I would work a bit slower and really try to make it look nice on the inside then.

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

You could always cover them with Clear Covering

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

On to the covering, man everything about this was a test of wills, I used 2 full rolls of white and 3/4 of a roll of yellow ultracote. Man did it work great that you can lift and reposition it 'cause I did a lot of that. Also did a lot of pull it off, throw it away and start with a new piece. I decided to just use the decals tha were in the kit (and a few from previous ARF assemblys) I think next time I will try to go a bit wilder, but this time just wanted to do a decent flyable job.

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

Forgot the most important part, my son's helping touches. He picked out the pilots for me. He brought me a broken Optimus Prime toy and a green army man and set them in the cockpit while I was still building and told me that's what he wanted me to do. So here is Optimus and his army man "tail gunner". The other pic is my son blowing grass off the edge of the pit area with my birdy forty. (Which is a lot of work with a .40 FP)

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

Cool build! Thanks for sharing this with us.

That HB ought rip the wing off!!! I like it. I don't remember, but there may be a throttle stop on that carbonmaker of yours. Maybe it needs to be screwed out to allow a bit more travel???

It could just be a low end adjustment... Good luck, I hope you get it fixed.

Please share flight reports... and camera footage... maybe?

Brian

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

Really great build and I like the decal on the tailhttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f.../thumbs_up.gif.
You convinced me, bought one off of eBay today. $99.00 +shiphttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f.../msn/49_49.gif.
Like how you include your son, thats what keeps the Hobbies going, now if only more would follow your lead!

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RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

Hope you have as much fun with your Contender .60 as I have. A really great Dave Platt design from his days at Top Flite a long time ago. Here is a picture of mine. Using an OS 61FSR ABC and standard servos.

RE: TF Contender, a beginers view
 

Bipe, I think I just haven't found that magic spot where the needles make lots of power and give a nice slow idle, if all else fails, I'll take the power and just tighten the wheel collars a bit. I know it's a band-aid, but hey life's full of compromises right? In researching this engine I've found your name a few times, what prop have you found that worked best? Right now I have a wood 12 X 6-10 and it's a screamer! Just looking for other ideas.