I think with glassing directly to the foam the foam absorbs way too much resin. i have seen in the foamies section where guys are doing it with success but havent looked into it too deeply. I guess in this case i felt if it wasnt broke dont fix it.

One cool thing about pattern is that there are so many people invovled in the building process' that someone is bound to have tried it and when it doesnt work, they let EVERYONE know (usually). The only surprises are technology anymore which still escapes us.

Mike, i would hope to see a Black Magic build one day to see how you assemble your roachs...

I believe i figured out at 3 am last night why my plane is also gaining weight. I am using a lot of CA. I used CA because again i am impatient and so when sheeting i spread it really thin.. I think. This is believe is why i am heavier than marks original build.

We will see where we end up. i am sure i will be under 10.75

I framed the nose up tonight.. funny transition from the firewall to the nose piece so you have to "twist the wood". Scared the hell outta me at first. Second i got the wood wet on the backside (away from glue) laid a small bead of rubber ca and stuck it down .. kicked it and it was done. PIECE OF CAKE. I am really beginning to become fond of the rubber ca (black in photos) It sands easy and cuts easy too.



chuck

My best guess is 2 weeks tops. I have 2 framed up and 2 in process, and about 200 pics. The plans are basically done, I'm working out some details for the parts. Soon, very soon. It's different than the Insight. Not better, not worse, just different. Mark was smart, he kept the design simple and extremely effective. Mine has lots of curves....and it's fun making a 6 1/2 foot compound curve out of flat pieces of wood. But it's just another roach after all. *cough*

But this is the Insight thread, so I'll leave it there and stop hijacking Sorry Mark. I hereby give you permission to hijack my Black Magic thread!! LOL

-Mike

Here is another shot of the front end.

Hey Team Bud Light....that fuse doesn't look too bad. As long as the fusebox is straight (regardless of how it looks inside) it should be fine.

Mike,

I'm as anxious as others to see these new Black Magic's....

Seeing your plane fly at the Nats was gratifying.

rc pattern flyer,


What kind of glue is that in the photo? it looks black, like flex CA.

Flex CA is correct.. very easy to work with and it bonds great to the wood. Good for firewalls especially.

This I got from the gentleman with the airplane next to Mikes in the above post (Symphony) with checkerboard wings.

I am very pleased with how well it sands, bonds and penetrates the wood.

Chuck

Wanted to add a few pics before the night was over... I will fill in tomorrow with info to go with them.

Enjoy [:-]

The rear top turtle deck built up in depron.

Looking good Chuck !!!

Bill

Thanks Bill. I have picked up the rest of the foam package from mark and what a great job he does cutting eerything out. i paid extra to have him sheet the parts with contest grade balsa and also put the wing tube/sub ribs in and also cut out the control surfaces.

I have not gotten a price yet on what he did for me but in my opinion it is priceless! Way better than anything i can do.

i will post some pics tonight if i can or when weather permits this weekend.

I am going to try and set the stab this weekend as well.. if i can get it all glued together in a resonable amount of time to work it on sunday.

What else... well... my assistant builder Bud Light has been trying to influence me towards a canopy, i will post my ideas tonight and we shall see.

Later
Chuck

Chuck,

I'm glad you like the foam parts...hope to see them in your pics soon.

-mark

p.s. I have started on John's Insight and will post some pics along with you if that is o.k.?

Hey,

I did get some formers cut out....thought I would try some of this laminate stuff. Weight seems to be about 20% less than 1/8" lite ply and it is plenty stiffer. The c.f. piece will be the firewall.


-mark

Post along, i think it will add to the comic relief.. kinda like that cartoon.. Good vs EVIL ( is that the name? )

Anyhow, trying to post a pic of the canopy i am going to MORPH into the plane.ack, i will edit later with pic.. prolly tomorrow morning.. sorry

Chuck

What started out as a simple little morph canopy job turned into what looks like an explosion of the foam factory. Holy moly this stuff gets everywhere and sticks to everything. I would take a picture of the mess but it just too darn embarassing.

The canopy if off an Aries with needed to be much retired. So.. i cut out foam blocks and started cutting angles and what not till i got the angles, height, shape i thought i was looking for and then started sanding and sanding and shaping. In actual fact, it went really smoothly. Someone with a little more builders skill and it would be a piece of cake.

Here a the results of the Bud Light intervention.

note the blue from the canopy will be removed and blended to the new colors of the plane.

I've got all the foam cores cut for John's Insight.....

Setup and cut the wing tube holes......


-mark

p.s. BTW, I like the morphed Aires canopy....."chucksight?"

Mark,

Looking good.....I have the color scheme and monokote waiting!!! I have a canopy from an Epicure ( I still miss that Epicure) if you want to morph it into the One you are building for me........but I still like the angular fuse as well!!!!

4u2nv

John,

The Epicure is only about half as wide as the Insight....could always send it to me though to play with....


As for the new plane....I have been playing with vacuum bagging and so far the results look good. I have your stabs and vert. fin sheeted now and next will be the turtle decks and wings. Once all the components are sheeted, capped, sanded, etc. I will start on the fusebox structure. Got a landing from our friend the other day and it looks like it will work great. In fact, it is nearly identical in sweep and height as the Icepoint L.G.


-mark

Made a little progress last night on the stab. Glued the sticks on and lots and lots of sanding, and a little drinking.

ok ok , so it was a little sanding and a lot a drinking cause i sanded the trailing edge of the stab for the hingline. DUH! oh well, it will look pretty but a little overboard. oh well.

enjoy... tonight try to align for mating to the fuse and possibly doing the deed. also a shot of the help marks supplied when sending me my cores already sheeted.. what a guy.. still hasnt told me the damage yet

Chuck

Well, i think i got the stab mounted tonight.. well, lets put it this way.. the stab is glued to the plane.. i THINK it is actaully at the 0 line but whose the heck knows... nothing in the room measured level.. so i set it on the table made 2 nights worth of measurements, fiddled around, fiddled some more, made things worse, made them better, made them more better????? frustration.. that was yesterday.

today.. same thing, remeasure, reset.. remeasure.. reset.. hmmm more thinking

when i built my last sport plane, i threw a square against the fuse and measured to make the elevator perpendicular to the wing.. 5 min epoxy and the damn thing flew straight.. what am i doin.

2 more beers... more measuring, adjusting, making things more better and i keep getting back to 0.. sorry mark.. but 0 is the mark for me i guess..
so
glue, more glue.. remeasure .. ahhh (*&%$#$, it moved.. actually just kidding, it aint moving. i think.

more beer... watch the glue dry.... (poly style ) more beer with lime salt.. goes down smooth

the more beer = things are straight

i am going to do the rudder tonight so i can take advantage of the investment i have made in making things straight (6-pack)

more later

here is a pic of the lightning i did with the depron..... hopefully it took enough out to make up for my test.. we will see.

i only sheeted the bottom as far as the pipe tunnel.


enjoy.

Chuck

Chuck...have you picked a paint scheme for your Insight. Ramsey flew his today and reports it was really great!

Chuck, if it isn't quite straight, I suggest more beer. I find things much straighter after about 7-8 Heinekens. Well ok 7 so far, but at least 1 more before bed. But then I'm actually through building for the day.

Hint: after the 6th, close one eye. Otherwise you're building a biplane.

Cheers!

-Mike

[&:] and with 9 or 10 that bipe will likely turn into a twin engine design!


p.s. would like to hear what the final weight on Ramsey's turned out to be...with YS140L correct?

With a lack of alcoholic beverages....I was able to start capping all the sheeted tail surfaces. As you can see I cut away the elevators and rudder and capped with 3/8" (light) balsa sheet. I concur with Mr. Hester about using 4-6lb sheets to make the hinge lines and leading edges....hobby store stuff is made for house building.

Also forgot to mention that the sub ribs and sleeves are now in place (glued with polyurethane glue). The wings should soon be ready for sheeting..

Unfortunately I have not been using conest balsa except for wings, stab and rudder sheeting. a lesson learned. but i think i will be ok.

hmm. twin bipe. interesting.. wait, no beer yet, gotta go to work. haha.

Color scheme is going to be very cool.. Black, orange and yellow... blended together like a nice flame job. I have an artist on hand who I trust will take my ideas and make them come alive.

Mike, your thread is great to read on the Black Magic... very through.. adds to the comedy within here.

More tonight hopefully... we will see if i can get the rudd into this mess and i will prolly do a lot of capping tonight.

later

Chuck

Hehe. Just teasing, guys.

This is a fascinating thread. Especially to see this plane "evolve"....or at least change between builders, everyone adding thier own personal slant to it. That's a true custom pattern plane.

Mark, how do you feel about the angular fuse sections in high wind vs perfectly rounded ones? Can you tell much of a difference?

-Mike