mtcarey

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Caelus 2019

papaone

Hello

Friend of mine Eric did maiden flights yesterday with his Harmonie I built for him.
I took opportunity to fly mine.
Claude

papaone

Hello

Maiden flights bip Arpege.
claude

papaone

Hello

I'm building an Excess (kit design Pascal Nowik from Pegase Composites) for my friend Yves.
Quality of the kit is excellent so very easy to built.
Claude
Pegase composites

CW

Scorpio has done 11 flights now. Trimming out pretty well. Specs - Length 2000 mm, span 1935 mm, wing area 64.5 dm2 ( 999 sq ins), stab 16.2 dm2(251 sq ins). Plettenberg 30-10 Advance with Falcon 19.5*13 3 blade. Weight ready to fly with 1110 gm pack is 4430gms

wattsup

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Very nice CW. Could you tell us more about the actual kit of this particular pattern plane? Probably only a few of us have heard about the Scorpio. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

CW

Thanks wattsup. The model is designed by a well known Australian pattern flyer David McFarlane. The model is scratch built by me and is a development of David's previous design - the Arbalista. The plug for the new mold was made by modifying the Arbalista fuse. The layup is 1.5 oz fibreglass/ 1.5 mm balsa/ 1.5 oz fibreglass with carbon fibre reinforcement for the undercarriage and motor mount. Wings, stab, rudder and cannaliser are 1.5 mm balsa and honeycombed foam with Monocote. David's original pattern design was the Slingshot ( 1990's I think) and we have used the medieval weapons theme in naming subsequent models that include Trebuchet, Ballista, Mangonel and Arbalest. We had run out of names so the previous model was the Arbalista- combination of Arbalest and Ballista then I saw an article on a Roman torsion powered crossbow that was called the Scorpio or Scorpion- hence the name. Mine is the first one to fly with three more under construction. Build is pretty conventional- always trying to get things lighter of course. You may find a few pics of the build interesting

wattsup

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Thanks for the timely response CW. Much can be gleaned from the pictures included with your explanation. An AUW weight of 4430 grams ready to fly is nothing short of amazing. I too am a firm believer in one's ability to pay attention to detail and keeping the plane's weight as light as possible. It does not take much talent to crush the 5050 gram limit but it takes skill and attention to detail to reduce the AUW of the Scorpio by approx 600 grams! Are you planning on making a basic kit available for purchase? I am sure there are other flyers interested in the Scorpio. BTW, I am familiar with the legendary designer and builder David McFarlane. Again, thank you.

papaone

Hello CW
I know the time it takes to make a master, molds and fuselage.
Congratulations, It takes a lot of patience and motivation to complete the project.
I go regularly to the website Talking F3A Australia where there are many beautiful pictures of building.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/vicpattern/
Claude

CW

Thanks for the comments wattsup and papaone. David owns a model shop and I have sometimes done a kit of previous models for sale through him. I am retired and the building is a hobby and is certainly not a commercial venture for me. I have done a couple of builds for other people and enjoy it as long as there is no time pressure to take the fun out of it. I enjoy the challenge of trying to build as light as I can. Unfortunately light balsa is hard to get at the moment so that is adding some difficulty

papaone

Hello

Painting of plane Excess is done. Remains the varnish.
claude

CW

Very nice job. Flying soon?

speedracerntrixie

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speedracerntrixie

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speedracerntrixie

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speedracerntrixie

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MAVROS

Hey Bill,

It needs wheel pants.......

regards

papaone

Hello
I like to repair and give live back to pattern (Nuance of friend of mine very disappointed but is happy now !)
Claude

chuck4816s

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flywilly

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Really nice repair, Claude!

papaone

Hello

I repaired friend of mine plane Element which lost batteries in flight. Plane stalled on landing and fuselage was cracked.
Claude

papaone

Hello

After maiden flights of the bip Arpege to detect possible defect and modifications, paint of the fuselage was made.
claude

papaone

Hello

Paint and varnish finished. Just missing name of the plane.
Friend of mine and his dog are very happy.
claude

papaone

Hello
We have time to keep busy !
After 4 years of loyal service and a few hundred flights; my best plane decided to embrace the earth following a blocked servo fin.
The wings and the front part of the fuselage did not withstand the impact (built probably too light!)
As he was flying really well, I started to make a small repair to give him a second life.
Claude

drac1

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Nice work Claude.