Hay Mike are the dates for GMA contest final , the D3 schedule says tenative. Just need to get off work .

Thanks Kirk

Yep, dates are final, field open for practice at noon Friday 20th. I'll be making a post on it soon.

I hope you can make it!

-Mike

Mike....can you get it closer to Pittsburgh? I'd love to make it, but the drive precludes that being a possibility.

Where's it going to be? I'm in Cincy and would love to come.

Hey All,

I am framing up two Black Magic V2 for a client. These are my first builds from Mike's new kits. All I can say is WOW WOW WOW. Ya you all know I am biased, but guys this is for real.

These kits ROCK!

The quality of these parts are second to none. The wood is top quality and super light. The CNC and Laser cutting is excellent. The Carbon parts are amazing - sorry if I am going on an on here but I just gotta...

the best thing is you can get a single fuse box together in about 2 hours - that is going from the raw parts to pulling it out of the jig. My sctrach build fuses takes upwards of 4 hours, most of that time is spent cutting, measuring, and re measuring and more cutting parts. Mike has done most all of the "leg" work with these kits...

The weather is warmng here in Altanta, I am about to finish sanding the final prime on my build and hope to start shooting paint very soon. Been working on finish schemes...

oh,

and since I've got the jig and everything set up for framing fuses. Let me know if any of you all might be interested in some building help...

cheers!

Dean

Wow, that does look like nice laser cutting. Who is doing that for you if you don't mind my asking, Mike?

Mike and Debbie Doud. They are new at it, but thier willingness to roll thier sleeves up and try to outdo themselves with each new project is really what sets them apart.

Plus, they put up with my flakiness and bugging them about changing a part 7 times until I really like it.

They are up in your neck of the woods around Winston/Salem. We both used to work at the slave pit of heavy jet overhaul up there....interesting experience. But tought me a lot.

SO are you guys coming down to GMA or what????? [8D]

-Mike

.
.
.
It's on the radar screen. . . we'll see how my April schedule works out. . .
.
.
.
Did you order up some good weather?
.
.
.

Hi All,

Just picked up my V3 kit today, and it's awesome, here are some sneak peeks of the parts. Check Mike's website for more details about the new kit. The kit is not officially released yet and I'll be building one of the first planes.

As most of you know the prototype is well on it's way. Yea, you all heard me talk about the v2 kits being awesome - well the V3 kit raises the bar to a whole new level.

I've prepped the fuse parts and have the firewall parts laid-up in the press with a nice piece of carbon plate on the firewall facing. I should be able to finish the assembly on the fuse sides this weekend and be ready for the jig monday or tuesday night.

There is a huge amount of carbon laminated pieces in this kit. I am also planning on adding some sweet little carbon accent panels to the visible areas in the fuse. With my vinyl cutter I can also add the carbon look vinyl to create super light weight dress up panels too, I have this super cool silver carbon vinyl material, the stuff I have been cutting dragon logos from. I've got all kinds of cool materials in the shop now to play with.

I have a complete set of sheeted cores for the v3 done and ready, so I should be able to get it together in short order. I also have a new YS 160, complete JR airborne radio package and every-bit of hardware to complete the v3 in house. I am hoping to be able to paint my V2.2 and V3 at the same time - hopefully inside of the next month.


I am going to tear though this build... : )


loving it...

dean

They are very nice kits indeed.

The cool thing is in the engineering. there's not much "scratch building" to do at all. Just shaping a few blocks and foam core capping, that's about it. I'm monokoting the prototype, but the rest of my own planes will be all paint...even the wings etc.

Sorry no pics yet, but it is umm...interesting to say the least. I really had a problem with the profile until I changed the vertical and rudder. now, it screams Black Magic again.

Although I'd have to say the Zeque is the new "look", this new plane is pretty hot itself! We're about to begin the flight testing, and if that goes well, we should have kits this summer. I expect a few issues, as is always the case with a plane ths new and different. The question is do you finish tweaking and trimming the plane before it's "released"....lots of manufacturers don't, or they stop one step short. I can't promise 0-0, but I can garuantee nobody will get one until I'm satisfied that there's no better flying plane in the world. I'm really in no rush, except for the guys I'm building the first planes for....they need them badly. But I intend to keep refining as long as it takes.

We don't need a replacement for the V2, it's fine as it is. The new plane is for the absolute upper end of competition, and with the new schedules for next year, it's VERY demanding on a design and set up is more critical than ever before. Until it will comfortably do every manuever in the book, and some not in the book, without any wierd tendancies, it's simply not done yet.

But for anyone who is interested, I plan on having the prototype at the GMA contest in April. It won't be the prettiest thing in the world, but you can get a good idea of what it is supposed to be like.

At any rate, I'm finishing up this phase of the process and all that's left is fine tuning and getting a good supply of parts in house.

And yet, I flew my trusty old V2 the other day, still in original configuration (except almost a pound heavier), and I can't imagine a better plane for AMA classes. Good thing we're reworking the V2 kit a little to be more like the VF3

BTW I'm getting together the pics for the finishing process and I hope to have all of that posted by this weekend.

-Mike

Well I am bummed. The Black Magic gssr (gasser) is no more. I was hoping to bring it to Ocala but won't be going anywhere but in the big black trash bag. New radio caused the owner to do a very stupid thing (reversed the ailerons). So now I sit here pondering what to do with the MVVS 26. All electronics and engine survived but the hyde mount needs new beams. Mike got a V3 kit?

Sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to seeing your plane. I can feel your pain, having lost one BM last year also.

Emory.

OK, I finally took some pictures of my Black Magic build. This is a REAL easy build. Lucky for me because I always get really busy with consulting work during the building season. This year is no exception. Anyway here are some pic's of my jig (this is one of Pete's heavy duty jigs with 8 stations - Nice!!!) with a laser mount that I put together.



John Pavlick

John,

I really like the laser station. That is a lot simpler than the one I made.

It is a shame the guy who builds the jigs has no time to frame up his own plane and is having Dean do it. At least I know it will get done with him doing it.

Pete

What is the matearal in the clear bag rooled up next to the cores in pic 2 an 3?

End grain balsa.

-Mike

Maintenance tips

Ok, better late than never. Just a few routine maintenance items for the glow Black Magics, what I would call an annual inspection. In no particular order:

-Remove all access areas...belly pan, canopy etc.

-Check engine mount bolts, be sure they are tight

-If the plane has been sitting, replace fuel lines and filters. Make sure your connections are secure.

-Inspect throttle linkage, this item tends to wear. How fast depends on your engine/mount.

-Inspect all joints and seams. Flex the plane a little and make sure no cracks have developed. This is especially true for the gear plate.

-Check to make sure the nuts on the adjusters are tight, and that the attach screws aren't letting the adjuster move. If you haven't already, put some red threadlocker on your adjuster nuts.

-Check control horns for wear. make sure they aren't loose or sloppy. Fix it up if anything is loose.

-Remove stabs. Check the fit of the wing tube and stab tube, they should be tight and not sloppy. if they are sloppy, there are ways to tighten it back up.

-Inspect all attach points. This includes where the wing bolts on, stab bolt hold downs. if they are getting sloppy, you have 2 choices: oversize the hole and tap for one size bigger, or turn the tube 180 degrees and redrill. If the wear is severe, you may have to do both. if the hole is just slightly sloppy, hit the threads with thin CA and retap.

-Inspect all linkages. make sure you haven't developed any slop there. if you have, replace the hardware.

-Inspect servos for centering and wear. With the radio and reciever on, grab the servo arm and rock it back and forth. A tiny bit of play might be normal, but if it's deflecting your surface more than a tiny amount under load, either replace the servos or send them in for repair.

-Replace the battery and switch. This is cheap insurance. if you want to keep your plane intact, this is a small price to pay to take it out of the equation. Replace these items once a year, whether you think they are good or not. if you are running a voltage regulator, replace it too.

-Check your aileron extensions. because these get plugged and unplugged every time you go flying, this is a high wear item. Again, replace them once a year whether you think they need it or not. You can always put them in a sport plane and take your chances there.

-Consider servicing your engine. if you plan on a long hard season, it's a good idea to have your engine rebuilt at the beginning of the year. Specifics here depend on the engine itself. If it hasn't seen much use, just make sure it's not developing rust and goo. take it out and clean it at least.

-Clean your exhaust system. If you run a 2 stroke with a tuned pipe, or a CF long pipe on a 4, flush the whole system with 91% alcohol. Just pour it in the pipe, shake it, and dump it out. Do this a few times. you won't believe the crud, and it can stop up your exhaust system and affect your engine's performance.

-Thoroughly clean the engine and exhaust area. You can have over an ounce of oil and gunk accumulated here.

-Check the hinges. Just tug on the surfaces and make sure one doesn't pull out. You'd be suprised.

-Replace your rudder pull-pull system if it's steel line. This stuff does fatigue over time, and better to replace it before you lose your rudder in flight!

-Check all of your radio equipment thoroughly. Check for chafed or frayed wires, insulation etc. Replace as needed.

-Clean the entire airplane. get the gunk out of the hinge lines, etc. Clean it thoroughly, and wax and polish that sucker.

-Check your landing gear and axles, along with the wheels. if the wheels are sloppy and don't turn true, replace them. Look for small stress cracks on a carbon gear.

-Replace any worn or rusted hardware, screws etc.

-If anything needs repair or to be redone, this is the best time. During the season it's hard to take your plane down for any extended period of time. So if you want to do any major repairs or modifications, do them now.

-Put it all back together, and use thread locker where needed. Don't take chances.

I hate to use a cliche, but if you take care of your plane, it will take care of you. If you let your maintenace slide, sooner or later you will get bitten. I hope this helps a little, if you have any specific questions, just ask and I will do my best to answer what I can.

-Mike

That sucks Dan. I really wanted some stick time too. I'm glad you liked the plane while it lasted.

Well, we'll fix you up if you want.

-Mike

Hi John,

Your build is looking great!!! It's also great to see everybody using lasers on their jigs, I had so much fun with those little lasers a year ago when I started playing with them, seems like it's becoming the norm now. And yes Pete Coskey's jig is awesome, I see your using sheet balsa as station pads, another great ideal. I am building laser stations almost like yours. I am thinking of just how to make a swing arm.

Be careful with those Bushnell lasers - the two I got a year ago ended up with warped bases, I don't know how that happened, I just upgraded to the 3M- X3, it's at Lowes for about 20 bucks. But it dosen't give you the crosshairs.

I have a total of 5 Black Magic fuses to jig up over the next week or so. I'll be having fun : )

Let me know if you need any graphics, I am going to offer my "SLAY THIS" belly pan flames free to anyone that orders a complete graphics package from me. No black Magic would be complete without my belly flames : ) check my vinyl back on p 38 - http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=5438683

Send me a PM if interested.



later all,

Dean

Hey Dean what's up? Yeah I'm finally building my airplane. What an easy build. Mike is the man!!! I have the wings and stab's sheeted and now the fuse is really starting to take shape. I should have it on the table (out of the jig) by the end of the weekend. So far everything is coming out pretty light. I'll put together a list of all the parts and their weight as soon as I'm done with the final sanding. Are you going to the GMA contest next month? If so, I'll see you there. I don't think the 'Magic will be ready by then, but you never know... [8D]

John Pavlick

LOL

Dude.....having fun I see.....

let me tell you guys, these are the best graphics I have ever seen, and I've seen them all. (I hatethe red flames on the V2 in that pic, those have GOT to go....LOL). Dean is still stretching his legs with this stuff and experimenting. I've seen what he can already do close up, in case you didn't know Dean is a graphic designer by trade. I ask him for something really cool and off the wall, and he exceeds it. Every time. I'm really pumped about the graphics for the prototype, much less the full tilt paint masks for my personal planes.

Emory Schroeter does a darned good job too, and did all of the paint masks and graphics on my planes last year.

This is going to be one heck of a busy year for me. But man it's been FUN!!!

BTW, for some reason my email is screwed up from my site. So if any of you need to get me, just use [email protected] or *gasp* call me....

Jeez is it really 5:00am? I'm not even done in the shop yet...

-Mike

Hi All,

Had my first really good practice day today with my new V2.2 - About 9 flights - spent most of the day trimming and I ended up with no rud-elevator mix at all 0-0. So it looks like Mike's V2.2 mods are spot on and really close to perfect. Now I am sure I might need 1 or 2 percent here or there, but it's a huge difference from the V1 proto where I was up at around 15% mix.

Now I didn't have my two Gurus out with me but the plane was flying so sweet. When I get out with Mike and Jim I. we will get it fully tweaked. but for now all I can say is she is flying great. the new rudder is extremely efficient with no noticeable pitch coupling. Knife edge is very neutral. oh, and what an awesome day here in atlanta mid 70's pretty blue sky with little clouds a perfect pattern day.

cheers all,

dean

Awesome Dean! That's really good to hear. Now I REALLY can't wait to fly mine. If all goes as planned I should be covering it next weekend. I probably won't get too much sleep this week...

John Pavlick

Hi John,

That's great news, you will be happy I bet.

once I get a chance I am going to re-check my balance point, my Cg was about 1/8" back from the front of the tube. The plane tracks really well with the CG in that position. I'll confirm it later this week. The other thing that impresses me about the plane is how easy it is to roll. and my plane flies inverted with almost no pitch correction as well. When I was doing my square loops it was almost hands off across the top. I do have a slight amount of down elevator mixed into throttle for down lines, I am going to play with that next time out.

looking forward to seeing more pictures of your build, looks like you'll have it for GMA - I'll be there.

dean