AMR 35% Super Decathlon
 

I have one of these on the way and there's really not much chatter out there about the kit. Does anyone have any expierence with this?

http://www.amr-rc.com/index.php?path...enu=&langue=en

Ken Spears aka Big_Bird did a build thread on his 42% AMR Decathalon in the giant scale forum a few years ago. Was a very nice build.

I have built 3 AMR kits, 33% Waco, 33% J-3 and 30cc Stick. All very well engineered kits with excellent quality wood. You will like how their kits go together.
Later!
Anthony

Recieved my kit and I'm quite impressed with the quality. I'm really looking forward to digging into it. It's been a few years since I've built from a kit, but I'm a little worn out on arfs. Just need to extend the fun of the build instead of knocking out another arf. Of course it may take me a year to get it done but that's ok.

Finally got a small start. Catalogued all the parts and organized everything. The only plans included are for the elevators and rudder. Guess the rest of it goes together like a 3d jigsaw puzzle.

Have fun with it.
The supplied wing jigs make building the wing a breeze. It is almost impossible to build an AMR kit and get anything crooked and warped.
Later!!
Anthony

Making some headway. Overall I'd say this kit is about as idiot proof as it gets. I'm very much enjoying it, although I do have to say I'm surprised at the amount of typos and mistakes in the manual there are.

Couple more

Moving along

I am impressed with these AMR kits and just watching one go together makes me think one needs to be my next build, I have been looking at there line up and seeing more being built of late may help me make a decision by fall. Your making good progress on yours and I like what I see.

Leroy

i really can't recommend their kits enough, while this is only my first AMR kit, I guarantee it won't be my last. I only hope they will be expanding their line up.

I had to pull a late nighter, since it's Mother's Day weekend tonight was the only I'd be able to work on it. A neat feature on this kit is the bump outs that you build onto the fuse sides to give it a more scale look, instead of just having covering on flat fuse sides. You can see the 1/8" x 3/8" sticks framed under the window and the side rail running down the side. I'll definitely be covering this one is fabric.

Hay Mpizpilot,
What are you going to finish your model with. I've always used 3/4 oz. glass cloth and resin to cover my balsa framed models, or Super Monokote. That has been my main stay for many years, but in my early years, it was silk and dope, or tissue covering. I've never used Coverite painted fabric heat shrink before...and I just may use it on this model. Have you ever worked with Coverite fabric before...? Did you have to prep the wood with some kind of mix first, to make it stick better?

Lets see more pictures of your build...

Soft Landings Always,
Bobby of Maui

On these large planes I use Polyfiber-Lite uncertified fabric from aircraft spruce. It is a little heavier than Koverall but it also takes less dope to fill the weave. The strength of the fabric is amazing and will last forever. You can get it for about $8 a yrd and it come sin 72" widths. Much cheaper than Sig Koverall by far.
Later!!
Anthony

With so much open structure on this one, fabric or film is the way to go. I have used coverite before and like it and have not needed any prep bedsides a good tack cloth.

Worked on getting the only sheeting done on the fuse. Found some nice soft 1/8" balsa in the huge stack AMR provides, did not even need to wet it to make the curve. I was also able to get the fiberglass front deck/ instrument panel to fit. It's impressive how well the kit is engineered. All the 3/8" pieces, 1/8" sheeting and fiberglass cover end up flush with each other. All this with no plans, amazing.

Looking great! I'm in the process of building my own Super Decathlon...only a little smaller than yours 40 sized to be exact. :cool:

Is it the GP Decathlon? I built one about 20 years ago myself. I actually going to cover this one in the same yellow/blue scheme I did back then. I don't remember much about it, except that I flew the hell out of it for a few years before selling it.

Yep, got the kit from a co-worker who originally got it from a garage sale and hadn't touched it in years. Somehow in passing hands all that time it's still complete. Been an on again off again project for me for the last few years but I'm bound and determined to finish it now. It's getting close to the point of covering...which I'm a little gun shy about since I've only covered one other plane in my modeling career. With that said I'm debating on a color scheme for it, thinking maybe blue/white or yellow/white. Either way looking forward to finishing it.

Keep this post updated, looking great so far!

this is is the scheme I'm going with.

Just love the Champ Decathlons/Citabria's...err "Airbatic's". Such a cool, versatile unassuming aircraft until it's airborne! Unless I want to make my own stripes I'm somewhat limited to white stripes since that's what the kit comes with. There's not a company out there that makes aftermarket decals for these things is there? Been searching Decathlon color schemes and am really liking the black fuselage with red shooting stars but we'll cross that bridge when I get to the point of covering. Black might not be the easiest to see in the air however. Oh well, I'm getting ahead of myself. Need to finish the building stage first!

Finally getting back to work. Fuse is basically done, starting on the stabs now. The elevator trailing edge is built up from 5 pieces of 3/32" x 5/8" balsa laminated around a jig that is supplied with the kit. You have to soak the balsa for it to take the bend, install on the jig and let them dry before removing and gluing all together.

After a long, long break I've gotten back to it. Finished up the stabs, elevators and rudder. Started the wing build last night. The kit comes with a wing jig to build each wing panel. The lumber involved in building the jig is impressive all on its own. I have been running into issues with the stick wood not being the same. None of the 3/8" x 1/2" spar material is actually 3/8". I had the same issue with the 1/2"X1/2" balata for the stabs and elevators. Nothing was the same. Overall, I'd give the wood quality in this kit a 6 out of 10.

Hay Mpizpilot,
For the price of the kit...I would expect quality wood. Did you end up replacing all the wood...or did you make do the best you could?

I'm looking forward to pictures of your wing.

Soft Landings Always,
Bobby of Maui

I was able to make the 1/2" balsa work, but have replaced the spar material.

Bummer on the wood, but glad your back at it! Such a great airplane, just did my checkout in the new Xtreme, need to build a 'small' one :D