Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

I've actually been making progress with the Ercoupe, and I am almost ready to cover the wings.

The control surfaces and tail pieces have already been finished with 0.5 ounce fiberglass cloth applied with water based polyurethane.

I applies a few coats of sanding asealer to keep the poly from wrinkling the thin wood sheeting.

It took 6 to 8 coats of poly to get it to fill the weave, but since most of the it evaporated away, it added very little weight.

The wing center section and fuselage will be next, but I may apply glass cloth to the whole structure.

The wings will be fabric covered, like the full sized Ercoupes (as originanlly built, that is)

Paint will be Nelson Specialties water base paints, white with a small amount of red trim

Here's the progress so far. (yes, the nose gear is installed 180 degrees out of phase)

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

Thanks for the pics, Dick. This plane is on my "Gotta have" list.

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

Dick, I envy you :)

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

1. How much pizza does he pay you to build 60 hours/week? I can't believe the number of planes you get into the air in a year!
2. Tell me that's a Sun Dancer in the back, please :D
3. Thanks for all the solid info, yo da mon!

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

Yep, that's a Sun Dancer in the background. Review will be published later this year.

I'm building the Ercoupe primarily as my Top Gun plane next year.

I'll be doing a review too, but I am entered in the "amateur" division.

Lots of things to do, like "making square things round"...

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

This plane is on my "must buy list" also.

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

Hi Dick:

You are building one of my favorite airplanes. I have designed and built the Ercoupe in 1/5, 1/4, and 1/3 scales. You will love this one. I just completed and have about 30 flights on a new 1/3 scale Ercoupe, but have no photos. However, am attaching a photo of my original 1/3 scale Ercoupe designed in 1981 or thereabouts when the G-62 engine hit the market.

I fly mine with a G-62 swinging a 22/10 prop.

Also, while I'm at it, "Thanks" for the nice review you did of one of my designs; the "8-Ball Trainer", published in RC Report several years ago. Do you remember it? To refresh your memory, here's a photo of that plane also.

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

How are things coming, Dick? Just ordered my BUSA Ercoupe a couple of days ago..... Very anxious to see how the kit lays out! Thanks for the great construction photos - It helped greatly in my decision to purchase this magnificent kit!

What power did you decide on using?

Scott

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

Got my ercoupe kit last week - and WOW! It's the only kit I know of that comes with a T-Shirt in the box!!! :-)

Very complete kit, lots and lots of parts to look at.... cast aluminum control yokes.... The landing gear is amazing - lots of assembly to make 'em work, but I'm sure it'll be worth it! Three packages, One large square box with the cowling and landing gear, along with misc. parts, another with a small lumber yard worth of wood, and a large tube which held the aluminum wing joiners, 7 sheets of plans, and large rolls of plywood sheeting......

Couldn't wait to get started - looked over the book and I was off..... Managed to build the wing center section, frame up and finish the wings over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.... Here's some photos of my progress so far....

Scott

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

What do you Ercoupe people think of a Kavan FK50 for power? Mine currently flies a 40 lb. 1/3 scale Cub on floats. It swings a 20-8 prop with authority. I checked with Balsa USA, and they say it will fit in the cowl. How about an Ercoupe on floats? The Balsa USA 1/3 scale Cub floats should fit well.

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

I plan to use a G-62, mainly because I happen to have one on the shelf. The Kavan will do a good job too.

They say it should weigh in the 28 to 32 pound range. I may have to add ballast to get mine to weigh that much.

I used the fiberglass in the kit and applied it with water base polyurethane. The wings are covered with Nelson LiteFab.

Last weekend, I primed and painted the 'Coupe. I used Jerry Nelson primer and water base paint with an HVLP sprayer.. The results were pretty good.

It looks like a flying refrigerator! Stripes and N numbers are next, then interior work and final assembly.

The pilot in the photo comes from "Pilots by Diane". The prototype I'm modeling is the actual Ercoupe used by John Travolta for basic flight instruction..

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

Thanks for the finishing info. I had planned to use F&M Stits fabric on the wings, epoxy/glass on the remainder, and the F&M Polytone paint on all. Are the water based paints glow fuel proof? My Kavan uses 2% oil and 7% nitro fuel, with an on board glow plug driver. Incidently, the Cub is a ModelTech ARF, and weighed 30 lb. on wheels.

I forgot to include some images of Ercoupes on floats that I found on the web.

You may have seen my 1/4 scale Widgeon (two JAG Ryobi 31cc gas engines) in "brand X" magazine.

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

Yes, the Nelson paint is glow and nitro proof. You have to add a tiny amount of an additional ingredient to mak eit so, but it's good up to 25% nitro.

That 'coupe on floats looks interesting, but there's no water down at Top Gun.

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

I am strictly a sport scale float flyer, so that is why most of my models wind up in the water. But it would be sad to waste those beautiful Ercoupe scale landing gears.

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

I am wondering how Scott and Dick are coming along on the Ercoupe. If you have time, a picture or two would be great.

Thanks,

Ed

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

OK, OK, twist my arm!

Here ya go.

It's just about ready to fly. 27.75 pounds dry and balances perfectly at the recommended place with no additional weight.

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

Dick:

How many months did it take you to get it to this stage?

Will the G-62 fit under the cowl?

I have a G-38. I would guess that this engine would be weak for this large aircraft.

Ed

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

I started construction in early September this year.

In the mean time, I assembled 3 or 4 ARF's and went to my 40 hour a week job every day.

The G-62 fits with plenty of room. The G-38 would be a little too small, but Balsa USA used a G-45.

Why I used a G-62 ? I had one on the shelf!

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

Proof of the addage: "if you want something done, give the task to a busy man."

Awesome work, Dick.

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

I've been working on the landing gear - which is very interesting.... and goes together pretty easily, once you get the soldering technique figured out.

So far, I've built all the main airframe components, except the fuselage. Starting on it tonight. Nothing's sanded yet - but everthing's gone together quite nicely, so far. I'm thinking flite metal for the finish.

I've decided on the G62 for economy, and like Dick, because I have access to one! :-)

Saw the attached photo on the internet.... very nice!

Scott

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

Scott

Your work on the aircraft looks great. I assumed that the landing gear was all assembled. Are we looking at a few hours to assemble the landing gear, or less???

Ed

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

Scott,

How far may one dissassemble the finished aircraft? Does the center wing unit come off the fuselage? Does the horizontal tail come off the fuselage? Do the two vertical tails come off the horizontal tail?

Thanks

Oscar

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

ed, Looks like a couple of hours if you've got the soldering equipment.... torch, etc. I've spent a little extra time filing and polishing the gear a bit.

Oscar - The center section is an integral part of the fuselage, and is not removable. Although you can take the horizontal stab and the verticals off the stab, off, it's not recommended. Lots of linkage to consider. Not the most portable airplane, but it does sit on it's wheels when the wing panels are off, making it convenient to handle. Plans say the fuse is just about 8' long.

Scott

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

Here's a few more photos from the Ercoupe construction. Had a little time last weekend to build some more! :-)

Landing gear, framing of the fuselage, and fitting everything together once in a while - something I like to do to see how the plane's coming together.....

Scott

RE: Balsa USA 33% Ercoupe progress
 

Wow!, those castings (or are they forgings?) look really massive and rugged! I am considering flying mine on floats. Is the wheel landing gear furnished easily removable? Would removal leave some hard points to which one could attach the float struts?