Max would have the answer to that. I suspect that it is a standard Ultracote color; but you have to realize that there can be some color variation between production lots of the same product/same color. That situation has improved in the last few years it seems.

Bob

Well, after being away from it for a while (due to work and having to repair a profile) I got back to the Edge.

It’s been an enjoyable build and so far everything is going smoothly. A bit slower progress because I’m modifying a few things. First mod is that I'm installing a modular fuel system so that I can switch between a smoke vs. no-smoke setup at the field. I also made some changes for the control horns, pushrods, etc. I'm also using some central hobbies CF rods in place of the set we got in the kit. Those are not bad, just the weight of the steep ends seems to negate the saving of using CF - the Central versions with titanium ends are almost weightless.

Second, I’m using a modified version of the du-bro HD horns. I found a source of *relatively* inexpensive 8-32 titanium all thread. I cut it to the needed length, drill and tap into the hardpoints, screw in the rod, a couple drops of ca and a nut to lock it in place. Then just attach the stock du-bro standoff, mark the distance to the hinge line, redrill and cur it to length. The end result only weighs about 2/3 what the regular du-bro does.

Other than that my setup is fairly typical - Hitec 5945/5955s, dubro horns and ball links, etc. I can get 55+ deg on the elevators and about 45 on the rudder. I could go to 50 on rudder but the cables will start to rub on the fuse sides. I’ve considered going to an offset servo arm so I can cut the rudder horn standoffs back for more clearance, but from reading the thread it sounds like this bird will KE loop easily so I take it its not worth the trouble. Thoughts?

So after 2 days of work I've completed:
* Reglued all suspect joints
* Added lightening holes to stab roots, tail wheel plate, fuse sides, etc
* Cut a new firewall from carbon laminate
* mounted tail wheel (Pete’s CF) and main gear
* Mounted receiver and all servos except throttle, setup all control rods, horns, linkages
* Installed modular fuel tank system (more on that later)
* Started work on wheel pants and cowl

At this point I'm on hold until my engine arrives on backorder. Then its on to engine installation, final radio and battery setup, cowl prep, covering, paint and final assembly. Probably a month worth of evenings once the engine is in (I work slow).

** EDIT** I got some questions on it so I'll mention it here - the source for the titanium all thread is www.smallparts.com **EDIT **

Here is a bit more on the smoke system. What Im trying to do is:

1. Get the fuel as close to the CG as possible.
2. Make the smoke system removable at the field.
3. Keep everything as light as possible.

So this is what I came up with. A modular system where the fuel tanks and smoke system mount to removable panels of 1/8 carbon balsa sandwich that mount just in from of and under the wing tube. There are 2 setups - 1 with just a fuel tank (5oz) and one with 2 tanks and the smoke pump (13.5oz). I think the pictures explain it better than words can:

Something else I noticed that is worth mentioning. Since I've got the ARC and am doing a custom scheme I plan to paint the landing gear. The existing paint was applied thick enought that it ran in a few places, so I figure why not sand it down since I will primer it anyway to make sure that my paint bonds properly.

Well I got a bit of a (not so unexpected) suprise. The fiberglass gear has a lot of air pockets that are filled with bondo. Same story as was reported on the BME Yak thread by a person who had gear failure:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_29...e%2Cyak/tm.htm

Anybody have issues with this gear?

JHarkin--- Sounds like you are on the right track all the way. I really like your smoke system install. 45* of rudder is plenty if you have the CG placed properly. The landing gear on mine started delaminating at about the 50th landing (lots of touch and goes). I have some picture of the fix I instituted on the Yak thread using CF gussets. That fix is still working well and I have done the same to my Yak gear prior to painting. The air pockets in the gear probably have nothing to do with the delam problem per se they just indicate a less than optimal build and finish to the gear. The gussets take a bit of overall flex out of the gear but it is still springy enough to make those less than feather-touch landings look good.
BTW, thanks for sharing the source of the titanium threaded rod.

Bob

Max got back to me. I asked if he would send me some covering or tell me what type of covering it was so I could go and buy it. He says that he does not stock the covering where he is and would have to go out and buy some and cut it up and ship it to me. He mentioned that it's just the standard Oracover (in Europe) or Ultracoat (in the US). So I'm just going to get a roll, hopefully the color will match. Maybe the local HS has some. I may just take my cowling to the LHS and see if I can match it up.

This is the color that looks the closest. It's Ultracoat Deep Blue.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...ProdID=HANU873

Or this one. It's Ultracoat Midnight Blue.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...ProdID=HANU885

Joe

PS: Did anyone else get the smaller Edge 540 decals in white? Mine are, I thin think they are supposed to be black.

Joe-- Let me know what you come up with on the color match. Yes, the vinyl graphics are black although there are some white ones also. I used a black "Edge 540" on the fuse sides and a white "BME Aircraft" on the cowl. I can't seem to find the others, although I am sure they are here somewhere in the disaster area called a "workshop".

Bob

Hey guys, went flying with Ken today and put 4 more flights on the edge. I really like this plane! Here are some pics, we took some video too, Ill try to edit it tonight or tomorrow and get it posted for you guys to see. This thing is a missle with the da on it!

Enjoy!

Thanks Ken for taking the pics and video!

Hehe....I am kind of fond of my Edge as well. Np, he pictures look pretty good for being a rookie.

Ken

Nice pic's John, you're already flying on the deck I see. That plane feels so stable IMO. When my DA has a few gallons through I'll start bringing it down too.

DA sells a graphic that would look great on the top of your cowling. It's only like $3 bucks. You can get it in black or white.

Thanks Joe, no need to buy decals, I make my own... used to do: www.cutimages.com

JohnVH,
Good lookin pics there. I can't wait to see the vid. Did you get your tickets for Puyallup yet?

Bruce

Hey Bruce, Ill have a booth for www.3dfoamy.com

Cool. I will be there. I am going to sell off some of my stufff in the Swap area. I will stop by and see ya and pick up a kit.

Here you guys go, just finished the video Ken and I made the other day, Enjoy!! This was flight 10 on the plane for me.

[link=http://media.putfile.com/BME-Edge-540-II]Edge II Video[/link]

nice!

Nice vid John. Sounds like your engine is running great. Harriers look like a 40%'r.

Hi Joe

I checked the pics of your maiden flight , congrats!!!

Thanks George. I got 4 good flights in and decided that I should pack it up while I was ahead. The plane is a blast to fly.

Now I need to get the graphics on there.

Bob I bought a roll of the Ultracoat Midnight Blue. It's an exact match to the BME's blue, my eyes can't tell any difference in color.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...ProdID=HANU885

Thanks Joe.

Bob, I just finished the fuse and all I can say is wow, how sweet the blue looks. I have to do the wings now. I just pulled the covering off in one piece, used it as a template to trace it on the new covering with a pencil. Cut it with an exacto. Used Top Flite trim solvent. The stuff works ok but it's a kind of a beeotch to re-position. I ended up finishing up the loose eges with a trim iron. Looks WAY better. I'll get pic's tomorrow.

I'm looking forward to the pix. I guess it's the rainbow on the side of the fuse that bugs me most so I'm anxious to see what it looks like without it. The curvy stripes on the wings are not my favorite either. I like a scheme that looks good in the air and helps me with orientation; these multicolor designs just run together at a distance and sort of blur.

bob

Here are the pic's of my "rainbowless" Edge II. As usual I took too many pictures. Enjoy.

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