Yo Mike,

Well, after having to take a break on building my BM V2 to remodel a bathroom at the old homestead, time may available to resume construction. After much thought concerning E-Power, I may go this direction. So a couple of questions if I may.
1. On Emory's plane you used a laminated firewall, could you substitute 1/4" carbon/nomex in it's place?

2. You put 1/4" carbon/nomex in the floor, any particular advantage over the standard balsa floor? Seems skeletonized balsa would be lighter.

3. Do you have any photos of the interior of the fuse with the battery, ESC, and such things showing the final set-up? Or did the motor power packs go in the belly?

4. In fact, any more photos showing the E-Power set-up would be terrific.

Thanks Bro

Gene

The jury is still out on a lot of that, it's sort of a work in progress.

That being said, I'll take some pics of Emory's set up Monday and post them probably Tues or Wed.

If you use a mount like we did on these, then I wouldn't use carbon nomex. Might be ok, I just wouldn't do it myself.

As for the floor, yes it would probably be ok to use balsa, but I honestly don't know, because I don't know how far is too far. As in, there have been no structural failures so I don't really know how much is overkill. Proceed at your own risk.

The packs are mounted on a tray mounted over the wing tube, the ECS in the forward compartment. I'll take pics.....

-Mike

That's one of the jigs I built for my friend Buddy. We only put 4 of the 8 stations on it for the photo just to give someone an idea of what it looks like.

I was in the shop cranking out some more since getting inquiries about them and Mike taking a few sets to the NATS

I have 4 complete jigs with 8 stations and strut ready to go. It may be a little while, maybe a week or two before I get around to building some more as we just brought our newborn son home on Tuesday......gotta have your priorities.

Ok guys I guess it's time I joined in and shared my Black Magic build. I started by locating a suitable building area and since I live in a condo with a roommate I had to look elsewhere for the space. Well after an hours drive to my parents house and a little chatting with dad I was given half of his workshop. Which meant that the riding lawnmower had to find a new home.

The first matter of business was building the work bench. Dad found plans for a woodworkers table in American Woodworkers magizine. I don't think I was doing the type of woodworking they had in mind but it'll work. The workbench is made from two pieces of 1/2" MDF board with a 3 inch honeycone in between them. I'll include some pics below which makes it much easier to visualize. That's it for now, more to come later.

Rick

Wow, that's an awesome looking table Rick!

I'm interested in how it resists warping under load and age. Like how much weight could you stack on it to sheet a wing, how humidity affects it etc....how long it takes to build it

-Mike

It looks like the frame for the foundation of the Empire State Building. Just joking.

Mike,

I build it almost a month ago, and it's been sitting in a non-climate controlled shop and so far it's rock solid. I wouldn't be afraid to put a couple wings on it for sheeting. I can tell you that when we carried it from the garage where I built it to the shop it didn't warp one bit. I'll keep you guys posted on how it holds up.

I think I started building it at around 10 in the morning and finished around 9 at night. All I can say is thank god for that new nail gun. Without it I'd still be putting nails in

I didn't think of using it for a foundation, if the whole airplane building thing doesn't work out I'll give it some thought!!

Rick

Rick,

Here's the deal. I'll buy a 12 pack of your favorite brew if I can get a hold of that rather badass table when I build my Black Magic(s?).[:-] JK

In all seriousness, that's quite command center for aircraft construction, if there is any way that you could get me the plan number for it, it would be much appreciated. This winter I'm planning on cranking a couple out, I know one for me, and maybe one for Robert Gainey and Blaire Page. That's really stout looking. Hope all's well with you. If you want to get out and practice sometime, let me know. Take care buddy.

O.K it has been about a good week now an I am ready for the D.E.P.S. system an antenna tube. The Antenna tube will be installed along the fuse side but the DEPS is another thing. I need to know exactly where the Elevater servo will be located so I can route the DEPS tubes at the right height. Doe's anybody have any measurments of the servo mount or even better a couple photo's of it's location?

Hi Wendell,

the Elevator servo sits on the floor right in front of F4 - the DEPS tubing needs to be about 2 inches above the floor on the center line. The elevator servo tray is the full width of the fuse about 2 3/4 or 3 inches wide. In the photos you can see my reciever and regulator to the side of the elevator servo.

My outer deps tubes end at f5.

looking good so far brother!

cheers, dean

Hey all,

another little thing to do, is lay in some carbon cloth from the fire wall to the top strip sheeting. Mike suggested doing this to prevent cracks in the sheeting.

this photo is a bit tight but you can see what I did. I layed up about 2 layers of 2 oz cloth. It's hard to do it super neat, but no worries cause nobody can really see it without hurting themselfs...


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spent the day yesterday flying with Mike, Emory and Jim Ivy - had a great day of practice.

I videoed Emory flying the Masters pattern with his eBlack Magic - super impressive. I'll try and get it up on a web link early this week.

later all....

Hey Dean,

I don't know if we should put that video up or not. Did I really screw anything up during that flight? If not, then OK. BTW, did he mention that was only the 10th flight or so? If I think of any more excuses, I'll post them.

Emory.

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Yeah, but now we all know where to look!!
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Anyone going to Nashville this weekend? Just made my hotel reservations. . . .

Ryan,

I'll make you a photocopy of the plans from the magazine. I'll be building in Raleigh today and tomorrow, but if you're up for it we can get together to practice a little anytime on Wednesday. Let me know.

Rick

This BUILDERS THREAD has turned into a general chat room.

As has practically every other builder's thread on RCU.

It happens.

-Mike

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So. . . . do you guys think that the AMA should raise or lower dues next year?
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ok guys I got the sheeting for the fins finished and the fins sheeted. The order that I have sheeted components is a little different from how Mike did his, this was mainly due to the wing and stab tubes being on back order and noone decided to inform me of this little fact. Oh well, trust me there was plenty to do before they were actually needed. Then it hit me like a truck that I have a peice of brass tubing and a 7/8" wing tube from another airplane that I could use. So as soon as I get the pictures off of the camera that is in another city (forgot it this morning), I'll post more.

Rick

OK......back on point......

What landing gear would you suggest since the Bolly gear are not available anymore?

Hi Mike . .

Maybe, seeing you have nothing to do , you could "cut and paste" (complete with the pics) the more relevant steps in this forum to www.customairframes.com

I am being selfish here [sm=red_smile.gif]. . it will save me wading through all the stuff when I build mine . .

Cheers, Jeff

Hey Petec,

Mike used the ES carbon gear on ours. Here it is at Central Hobbies...
http://www.centralhobbies.com/landing_gear/esdflg.html

Emory.

Thanks Emory....did he use Gear A or Gear B?

Pete

A on mine, B on Emory's electrics.

I have already copied and pasted the relevant posts and images into a single document. I have to format it a little nicer and then I will be sending it to Mike for posting on his web site if it meets with his approval. It will still be a few days before it is ready (work, family, etc.).

These pitures really helped but I don't know what the regulator is for. Boy I tell you if I had a couple more detailed pitures of fuel tank hookup( different angles ) that would help. A piture is worth a thousand words. Waiting on Lone Star today, at a stand still. Any sugestions on wheel skirts an wheel size. And I guess I should have had a carrier pigon deliervy my Carbon fibe wing tubes.