FliteMetal

Hello Steve:

George and I were concerned with the issue of the coax portion of the diversity antenna set up could be compromised if the actual antenna portion was permitted to be blow back by the slip stream.

That is why George utilized the plastic tubes to firmly hold the inserted antenna not only vertical, but at Futaba's recommended differentiated angles. 90' to each other and centered vertically with 45' to the fuselage.

The antenna angles between the two and their positioning within or on the fuselage is critical to the diversity (an actual operational term...not a catch phrase) arrangements proper function.

Here's an image of the way George arranged the plastic tubing for support.

SteveD-RCU

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I have since lengthened the tubes since you mentioned it Ed.My new scale NZ cowls just came in also.Those others were too heavy.

FliteMetal

Looks like you're good to go. Seems we'll be doing the same drill this weekend. I have some B-17 cowls to cover and get finished before the IMAA Rally Of Giants in Waco. I'll be sitting in the booth demonstrating covering several others.

I am guessing my weather this evening will ruin your weekend flying opportunity. That's one very large LOW that's spinning your way.

SteveD-RCU

My Feedback: (2)

Well I finally got the maiden flight in today.Had some minor tail wheel control problems but we finally got her in the air.She needed some right aileron trim to keep her level and a few clicks of down trim.On the first downwind leg a brought up the gear and at that point I new she was going to be alright.Other than a scary takeoff its a very good flyer,I flew about 3 circuits and on my last upwind I tried my flaps which is set at about half flap,at 40% throttle,she pitched up some so I throttled back to about 30% and she settled into a very nice slow decent.I got into my downwind and dropped the gear.Noo problems ,and solid as a rock on final.As you can see in one pic the wind was just perfect for a test flight..I'll try and get some better inflight pics and maybe a video.
Steve

kram

My Feedback: (7)

My sincerest congratulations, Steve!

That's a beautiful aircraft you've got there, and I've enjoyed watching you build it over the years.

I hope it has a long and busy life.

Thanks,


mt

F86_SABRE

Congrats Steve...looks majestic both in the air as well on the ground!

Reuben

jerdavis

My Feedback: (3)

Do not use "plastic props" on gas engines. Use only wood or carbon fiber. I was was using 3 bladed MA props on my G38 powered
Ziroli DC3. On about the 10th flight, one blade failed on the left engine.......which ruined my whole day.

Too late I found out that the gasoline engine vibration mode will fatigue the prop at the blade root resulting blade loss. These props do work good on glow engines.

JD

SteveD-RCU

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks for the heads up JD,we just had a club member loose a Hanger9 Sukhoi with a3W106 turning an APC prop and it lost a blade which in turn tore the engine right out of the airplane destroying both.I'll be going with some different props as soon as I find a bigger 3 blade like a 17x8 maybe..

DelRay

SteveD-RCU, congrats on the good first flight, and thanks for the nice pictures of an excellent looking bird, one of my favorites.

mulligan

Great job, Steve!!

Now for God's sake, get some sun on those white legs!!!!

SteveD-RCU

My Feedback: (2)

Ha Yes George thanks,I'll work on my tan,I also need to lose about 10lbs.Thats what happens when you work on building models all the time.
I made a trailing edge adjustment and added about 6oz of nose weight for the next flight.Hope to get some better pics.

2engsout

My Feedback: (2)

Hi Steve, congrats on the maiden !! I have G-45's turning a 3 bld Mezjlik 18-10's 8000 rpms , with a "Twin Sync". Slightly overkill but I love the way she climbs out !! A G-38 turns that same prop 6600 rpms. Your engines should turn it about 7300-7600. With the Tru-turn 1-1/4" prop hub and dummy engines, she looks great. My 18-10's have a 10 mm hole in it so you may have to adapt it. Love to see a vidio ! Rick Simmons Twin Sync /Zenoah engine beta tester

SteveD-RCU

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Yes Rick ,that one of yours really hauls,I'll probabily get carbon fibre 3blade props.I was thinking 17x10 though like a Biela 17x10,maybe I'll go 18" if you think she'll get 7000+ that would be great.

ScaleAero

Yo Steve:

What's the latest on your DC3? Or have you suffered from rain up there as we have down here next to the Gulf?

SteveD-RCU

My Feedback: (2)

Got a flight planned for this week Ed,I'll be getting some better pics I'm hopeing on Tues/Wed.Also have some CF 17x10 props coming.

SteveD-RCU

My Feedback: (2)

Have 3 flights on her now.No problems.I've decided to sell now to make room for other projects.Its listed in the marketplace.Thanks everyone for your interest and help during this project.
Steve

FliteMetal

I am glad Flite-Metal met your expectations with 2.4 gig radio systems. What's the next project...

richblin

Hi all-
It's been a couple of years since my last post, but finally I can contribute a couple of decent flying pix of my Douglas C-47. As mentioned before, it's an all composite build of the Ziroli 1:8 DC-3/C-47. The scale subject is the last serving Dakota in the Norwegian Air Force, retired in 1973 and now on display in the military air museum at Oslo Airport. The model has a dry weight of 20.6kg or approx. 45lbs. Power is by two Saito 200TI v-twins with 18x6W APC props or Menz 16x8 three blades. The wingspan is slightly increased by 10cm (approx 4') with some added washout. The plane is now in its second flight season. I can report that it flies almost like a big twin trainer and needs no more than half throttle for scale-like flying.
Best regards
Richard B.
Oslo

SteveD-RCU

My Feedback: (2)

Really nice job Richard,you can't tell by the photos that you stretched the wing span by 4".Congrats.I've decided to keep my 3 and will continue to fly it.I'm waiting for the new 2.4 modules to come out for the 9C so I can add some more functions to mine.6 channels are a bit thin for a big twin.
Sorry for the slow response Ed,I'm currently working on a 1/4 scale Mk9 Spitfire from Mick Reeves.Wings are just about done and hope to start the fuse soon..
Steve

crtmmac

My Feedback: (12)

Congratulations.

iI have just picked up a crashed Ziroli C-47 so your project is of great interest to me. On it's maiden flight she stalled after take-off and pranged in. A lot of damage. So I bought the wreckage inn the hopes of rebuilding it over the winter. Ii'm not worried about the re-building, but I am worried about the next maiden voyage. I think the crash was caused by the plane leaving the ground too early followed by excessive elevator to get it up above the trees. Your comments on the take off technique would be useful as well as anything else tha make expedite the repair.
Again, congratulations on a great project.

regards
/colin

SteveD-RCU

My Feedback: (2)

You shouldn't have any problems on takeoff Colin,I just keep my takeoff climbouts flat.If you need too make steeper climbouts you'll need some flap.Thats about it,check your wingtip washout and make sure you have reliable engines and you should have a winner.
Steve

crtmmac

My Feedback: (12)

Thanks, Steve
That's kind of what I thought. I know that flaps were not used on this take off. Would you recommend to always use them? Can you think of any reason not to?

cheers
/colin

SteveD-RCU

My Feedback: (2)

All depends.If you have lots of power and lots of runway with no need for a steep climbout you don't need them,otherwise I'd use a little flap.It also gives it a more scale like look when its flying a bit slower with flap.I've seen DC3's flying way too fast for scale.if you see a full scale flying it appears like its hardly moving up there.Its flying around 100-120 knots but it sure doesn't look it from the ground.I think everyone is worried about tip stalls so they fly em fast with flaps up.
I tip stalled mine at about 100'-150' on awindy downwind leg once.I had the power back and was just doing an overhead flyby with flaps down.As I got towards the north end of the field I retracted my flaps,I noticed a bit of a wing drop and before I new it I was in a full stall.I immediatly dropped my flaps as it went into the first turn of a spin,applied opposite rudder,got it straight,and it flew out of the stall/spin loosing only around 50-75' maybe.Right after that I landed without incident.I learned a lot on that flight needless to say.So you have to be aware of your speeds,don't pull it off on takeoff let it flyoff with or without flap,and keep your banking angles low and you'll have no problems.
Steve

CK1

My Feedback: (60)

richblin, I am interested in the composite fuselage . Did you create your own or did you purchase it ?
I would be interested in any information you could share .
Thanks , Chris

alexzach777

My Feedback: (25)

Hi Chris,

Did you ever receive an answer back on the composite DC-3/C-47 fuselage?

Thanks for your help!

Jeff