i realy like the paint job that is one nice looking plane and i bet it fly just as good or better

Hello Todd
Have you others pics of this plane ?
Is there others Defiant MK II in buiding ?
Claude

One word... CLEAN!

Hello Claude!


I've been busy putting a few kits together for some friends. I'm planning to build another myself after these kits are delivered. My friends should take delivery before Christmas (I hope!) .

Todd

Todd,

From what I can see, that is some absoultely immaculate work! What are the weights of the fuses including canopy and chin cowl now?

What do we have to do to be your friend?

Great design and amazing handcrafted job.

Hello Ryan,

The total fuse in the picture comes to 32oz. Heavier than I'd like, but still should be able to be built to around 10.5 pounds. I believe a lot of the weight I'm getting is from the PPG primer I'm using. I made a chin cowl, same layup, one primed in the mold and one unprimed. Difference in weight is about .75oz. While building my first fuse, I found blocking out the fuse saved about 2oz, and more primer could have come off.

Hey Julius, thanks for your kind words!!

Todd

Hello Todd
Thanks you very much. Great job, awesome pattern, I love.
I'm disapointed to live far from you (in France Europe). I put a thread in french forum about your building. Many french guys are impressed with your job.
you are a professionnel !
Claude

Todd,

I forgot to ask you in my previous post, but what layup are you using, CF/Kevlar/FG or the molded balsa you were inquiring about in the composites fabrication forum. I'm toying with the idea of making my own pattern plane and am just looking at different avenues. The molded balsa route particularly appeals to me. Thanks!

Claude,

Thanks for your comments, they help me believe I'm on the right track of the evolutionary process of making a good pattern plane. Your's and others feedback, good or bad, means a lot to me. Also, I wanted to tell you I've enjoyed your thread of your all wood build. Very impressive work indeed!!

Ryan,

The layup on these are still kevlar, carbon and foam inlay. I tried the glass, balsa, glass laminate on one fuselage side and it didn't turn out so good. The shape of this fuse might make it to difficult to acheive. I haven't given up yet, there's still some things I want to try.


Todd

Three hatchlings ready to go to their new homes this week. Hopefully they'll be full grown birds by season start!

Merry Christmas Joe, Jerry, and Chris!!!!

They look great Todd!! BTW I'll be happy to drive up and deliver them to the 2 guys. Oops, was there 3 there? I'm sure Joe won't miss his. hehe

Steve Ford

Wouldn't you love to see one of those under your tree on xmas morning?......beautiful workmanship.

-mark

Todd,

Are you planning on selling some fuselages or short kits ?

tommy s

Hey Tommy,

Offering kits is something I would like to do in the near future. However I currently have a space problem in my shop that makes the process of making kits in an efficient, timely manner difficult. I'm going to try and finish a space in the second story of my garage that could serve as an area just for composite work. Have to get this Ok'ed by the boss (wife) though!

If all materializes, I would offer short kits (fuselage and cores). I do have CAD drawings and a construction manual already developed.

Mark,

Really like your new bird and what your doing with your CAD. Outstanding work!!!

Todd

Hey Todd do you know any one who would like to buy one of your Defiants?

Here's a new fuselage I've just finished painting. It's amazing how a paint scheme can change the looks of an airplane. Hopefully this will be in the air before season end.

Todd

Hi Todd

Awesome pattern. You're right. I like very much design of your Défiant II
Claude

wow Todd nice paint job!

Very nice shape. I particularly like the thiner appearance in the nose especially in comparison to many of todays pattern ships that look like pregnant goldfish. I do have a question, how do you join the two halves of the fuslage? Do you do the layups of each half and then after they have mostly set lay in the final layer of glass joining the two halves? If so how do you get all along the seam to make sure it is even and complete? Would there be an advantage of laying one up entirely in carbon? Would it be cost prohibitive to do so? Most of my experience in fiberglass involves rifle stocks and i know the lightest and stiffest ones i can get are layed up in carbon.[:@]

Thanks Claude and Robert for your comments. I went back to my old colors in hopes I can see this one in the air better than the red plane I'm flying now.

Kaos2,

Seaming the fuselage involves bolting the molds together then laying seam tape over the seams. I wet out the tape first, then drag it through the fuselage, position it, then press it down. Works real good and makes the seam job go pretty fast.

Laying a whole fuselage in carbon would be really expensive. Carbon is about $90 a yard for the weights we use in modeling. So, we find ways to make laminates that are strong, light, and cost effective. There are several option being used, one just needs to find what works for them.

Todd

Todd your defiant looks excellent would be interested in a kit if you produced them. Cheers.

There's a possibility of making kits in the near future. I'm putting together a composite shop at the moment in the second story of my garage. Hopefully it will be operational sometime this winter. I made three kits last winter in my basement shop not enough space to work effectively. When the new composite shop is done, I'll be able to have all the materials and molds in one place ready to work with them when needed. Should work out good and make my the jobs more enjoyable.

Thanks for your comments!

Todd

Still not done, but getting there. Radio installation in progress, still waiting on my DZ160 to come back!

A few more pics

Todd

Very Cool.