Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

Hey Balsa Brain, Third time into RC, eh? Well, this is my second time. I had to interrupt the upper wing assembly for a couple of days, as I found that my table had some "flatness" problems. I ended up buying a "REALLY FLAT" hollow core birch door, cutting my table down a bit, and rebuilding it. I glued a sheet of Homesote to the top of the door and now I feel confident that it is a good building surface. I had to straighten three of the four spars, which are now ready for assembly. I have all the ribs placed on the spars ready for gluing. I was able to acquire some L angle aluminum from a window installer and made up about 30, 3/4x1 1/2 right angles for rib positioners. I drilled a 1/16" hole in the short leg for pinning to the board, then use a small spring loaded clamp to hold it to the rib. That way I can set everything up straight ready for the CA. I also made two spacers for placing the ribs the same distance apart. I found by measuring between the ribs, that they are not all equal. So if you gang cut and sand the shear webs, they won't fit.
I also just recently read a great article in RC Report by Bruce Tharpe of BTE, about the different grades and weights of balsa. He had some great tips about placing the heavier balsa parts closer to the center of the wing or forward in the fuselage.
Thanks for the heads up on the tank. You know the most time consuming part of building for me is the "thinking and planning ". I look things over and try to plan ahead on what I want to do. I know a couple of our club members who just fly through the building process, because they are familiar with a certain plane. This P90 is just aching to be modified. So every change has to be thought through, since it will effect anther part.
I have enjoyed working on this plane, and partidipating in this forum. I have had some great insights from modelers who have share with us.
How are you positioning your engine? On it's side, inverted? How about a muffler? Smoke?
Thanks again,
Loren

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

Hi Guys,
I just made an interesting discovery on the top wing last night. I was getting ready to glue it all together when I noticed that the top spar was sitting a little high in the rib cutout. If the leading edge sheeting is to cover the spar, it was not flush with the rib surface. I ended up using a piece of the spar that was cut off and gluing 100 grit sandpaper to it. Then I would place it into the rib slot and move it back and forth until the top of the sanding stick was level with the top of the forward part of the rib where the sheeting would be. By placing a scrap piece of 3/32" sheeting on the rib with the sanding stick, I also noticed that the rib area directly behind the spar was also high. That will need to be sanded to match the sheeting. I remember when I was building the lower wing, that the fit was poor in those areas (after the gluing was done, of course). Matching up these areas will make sheeting the top and bottom center section and trailing edges alot easier and with less sanding to get a good surface.
Thought I'd pass that on for future reference.

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

I had the same problem when I was building mine.It looked like the ribs and spar was set up for cap strips and that is what I did.Ripped some 3/32 on my table saw about 7/16 of an inch and glued the suckers on.I think I will be alot happier when it comes time to cover.But now,in order to cut in alierons for the top wing,I am going to have a little more work.But it all smoothed out real nice.I mounted my OS 108 sideways and used a muffler made by Slimline with the two exhaust stacks coming out the bottom.Looks great coming out of the cowling.

Bill

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

Hey Bill,
Are you cutting off a portion of the trailing edge for ailersons, or adding a slab aileron to the existing trailing edge?
Loren

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

Flyin,I may be a lot like you in that I do as much looking and thinking as I do building,probally more.I have'nt made my mind up yet,but am more than likely going with the hobby shop slab.I've hacked this kit all the way through and think she will be just fine when I line her up and ease in the power.I just got through installing a CB ASS. tailwheel assembly that I had not planed on and it took about 3 hours to unbuild the lower tail and get it glued back together.I have a building table much like yours with a hollow core door on top of two small fileing cabinets I bought at a flea market for $10.00.The cabinets gave me six heavy duty drawers that I have filled with engines,fuel tanks,ect.I use drywall for the building surface.Build a kit,chunk the old sheetrock and spend about $5 for a new flat building surface.Works great.Hope you can get the warps out of your lower wing.Good luck,Flyin.

Later,
Bill

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

Hey Bill,
I have a Sullivan 6#-10# tailwheel to install. If I don't like the looks of it, I'll probably order one from BTE (Flyin' King). They have a good looking tailwheel, as well as landing gear, canopy and trim. When I changed the design of the tail, I also added a liitle to the end of the fueslage. The stock look is a slanted tailpost including the fuselage. I have a vertaical tailpost and the end of the fuselage is also vertical. I used Robart hinge points, which take a little more work, but I like the fit and the look. Should be ready to start glue tonight on the upper wing.

Get some pix!!

Later, Loren

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

I start to work on the phaeton 90 but I not sure what engine use on it. the plane is big to put a 60cc engine but the estructure.......

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

I think you would be kidding yourself to think a 60 would be able to fly a plane in the 12-13lbs. weight range that this plane is suposed to come out.A 60 would probally get it off the ground but that would be about it.I don't pretend to know it all,but I think you should at least think a 90.Good luck,dude,and happy building!!

Bill

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

are any of you guys that have posted replys got anything new to talk about your p90 project?I had a kitchen fire and had to redo my cabinets and have been on the side as far as building is concerned,at least as far as model airplanes is concerned.Would like to hear from you.

Bill

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

Hey BB,
I have put my P90 aside for a while. We have a Mall Show coming up in Feb. and I wanted to finish my 120 Ultra Hots for it. I didn't have all the parts I needed to continue with it, so in their absence I renewed work on the UH. I don't think I would buy another P90 kit as the parts fit on mine was very poor for a kit. I would build one from scratch next time and maybe even from foam. I am interested in comparing the two; balsa versus foam. I think it would be interesting to see how they compare in weight, durability, cost, easy of construction etc. Once I get the UH done, then I'll continue with the P90 and begin it's counterpart.I also purchased plans for a Standard Lazy Ace bipe that I'll start this spring.
Sorry about your fire, those incidents are never fun.
Keep on keepin' on,
Loren

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

loren,where do you get a 120 ultra hots?

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

The kit is no longer available. I happened to see the Hot Hots in RCM last year and posted a question on RCU concerning a kit and any other sizes of Hots. I received information about the plans at Model Airplane News and a contact that would cut out a short kit for me. This fellow was quite valuable and we emailed back and forth with questions and answers. I have the Ulta Hots with a wingspan of 80", and there is a larger version, the Big Hots, which is a monster!! The UH is a big plane, which will have an MDS 1.48 in the front.
Hopefully I can complete it soon, so that I can get back to the other bipes that are waitng for finishing.

Loren

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

Loren,I am also interested in the hots planes and have the plans for the 60 size one.Can you put onto the guy that cut the short kit for you?Would appreciate the info.

Thanks,
Bill

Ultra Hots :o)
 

I would also be very interested in who cut the parts for you for that kit. I sure would like to build one of those. I do have the plans for aww heck lol. the .40 size hots and the .40 size profile hots and the Super Hots by M.A.N. and the Ultra Hots as well, but if someone can cut them for me that would be Grrrreeeeeeeaaaaaatttttttttttttt as Tony would say :)

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

Hey guys,
The fellow that cut the short kit for me became dislocated from his long time job and had to move. I haven't heard from him for over 4 months now. I do know that there are sources for a foam wing for the UH. Try http://www.dbalsa.com/. Look through their foam wings tab. The rest of the plane is very simple to construct. I have mine about 75% done.I think if I had known how much fabrication I had to do early on, I probably would have bought a 120 Stinger, or 120 4 Star. Even the Balsa USA Sting Ray or Thunderbug would have been candidates. They all share about the same wing design and fuselage.
Loren

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

Hi Guys,
Here is the link to the foam wing for the Ultra Hots. http://www.dbalsa.com/foam_wings/win...ing_list_u.htm just look down the page and you'll see the Ultra Hots wing for 39.95. The rest of the plane builds fairly fast. Hope that helps!
Loren

Thank You so much but :)
 

To me to scratch build the wing is the easy part it is the fuse that kills me lol. Maybe someone here can do a trade I will cut out the wing parts and they can cut out the fuse and misc parts :).


Okay dreaming outloud lol. :)

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

I'm getting to the point where I like the looks of the ARF's more and more. Scratch building is OK, but there are other things in life to do, like remodeling? HA! I guess I want to get my project done so quickly I get frustrated with the time it takes to complete. I need to slow down and learn patience!

Loren

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

Have we all quit on our p90's.After our little fire and the rebuild,the boss has moved on to the living room and god only knows whats next.I see a rebellion and overthrow of power getting ready to happen here.At least,I think i can see it.Actually,i hold all the power in this household in that i decide when we are going to raise taxes,impose traiffs on inports,ect.The wanna be dictator only gets to decide when we get a new car,big screen and all that other trivial stuff.HA HA!! :D Anyway,would like to hear some more p90m stuff.Come on guys,charge me up!!

Bill

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

balsa brain...I think you misunderstood rseravalle's post back on page three. He said he was thinking about using a 60cc engine but you seemed to think he was talking about a point 60 engine, as in a .60. I think he was talking about something like a G62...
Anyway reseravalle, if you're still around...I think the 60cc is a little big myself....but it can be done. There's a guy who's a regular in the forums who has been flying his for years with a Quadra 75. He shortened the nose and probably mounted everything in the rear fuse.

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

Just have a couple questions re;the P90.Have a very hagard swap meet special that I am trying to get in the air.Only larger engine I have is a OS 90 Surpass which happens to bolt into the motor mounts it looks awfully small up there.Also have a Lazy ace 73" if there is such a thing anyway supposed to be one.It had a Saito 180 so need to find an engine that will work in both of these and I don';t think the 90 OS is it.Just replaced it in my astro-hog with a OS 61FX like getting a new plane sure lot more power.Anyway can anyone tell me the balance point.Have humg everypiece of scrap iron I can find in the shop on the firewall and still seems tail heavy.Need heavy engine!Will that OS 90 get it in the air?See the adds say 90-120 4 stroke.It had a twin from the cutout on the cowl but no sign of how they mounted it as the present mount is low on the firewall no where near the hole in the front of the cowl?Getting m,ore enthused with it as get it a little patched up and will probably look for one of the mid sized Saitos120-180.Your comments will be appreciatted.Bob Moodie

After Market Cowls for Phaeton 90
 

I'd be interested in getting info on after market cowls for the Phaeton 90.

Thanks,


Rick Taggart, AMA 23715, IMAA 26601
[email protected]

Phaeton 90 engine
 

Hea Moodier,

If you need the weight in the front try a Zenoah G23 or G26, power to spare and the weight will balance the plane out.

I just started using gas engines and love them. Pay less for fuel and the sound can't be beat.

Anyone out there know about how big of a tank to use with the Zenoah G26? I'm thinking of about a 24 oz tank. don't know how long it will run on a 20 oz? I'll be testing that by running the engine high and time it. Then i'll know the max time to stay up.

My Phaeton 90 is starting to look like a plane now. The wings are framed up, servos in each wing, engine mounted, heavy duty nirods in, servos mounted. I do need to think about changing the landing gear? Wire or Alm. formed gear??? Might go with a heavier wire gear, not sure how much thicker to go though.

Any ideas?

Thanks for the help,

Rick Taggart, AMA 23715, IMAA 26601
[email protected]

Balsa USA Phaeton 90 Bipe
 

RickT,
I ordered the landing gear and wheel pants for a Sig 4*120. It has a 20" width, without the wheels. It is heavier aluminum and fits the P90 fuselage perfectly. I purchased several units as it works great for the other 120 sized planes I'm building. Cost is $18 for the gear and $11 for the pants.

Loren

Landing Gear Phaeton 90
 

Where did you order them from, I'd like to order a set of pants and the gear.

Thanks,

Rickt