Lins

Definetly keep me in touch with what is going on! I'm very interested in this plane!

turbo prop..

Hi everybody. I am surprised of how many people that have been in contact with me about making this model.

I regret to report that the project is cancelled for now and i haven't been working on the model since back in 2006.

But ever since i put this post out here, i have received so so many emails from people wanting to buy this model,
even alot of questions about buying the unfinished project. But i have managed to resist the urge to just sell it
So with that in mind will still look into making this a kit, produced by a third party because i don't have time to do it my self anymore..
But if i ever do make these plans of mine come to life, you can be sure the kit will be like the original 100%
I don't want to just throw a model out there that looks like crap like some others have done.

It's gona take alot of money to start making this dream come true, and i don't exactly know if i want to do that.

What do you think? Is it doable?

thailazer

Nice to hear from you again! I am sure that I speak for most on the forum when I say that we hope you do continue with the project and make it available. You have probably the finest specimen of a Twin Otter out there! I retired my 100 inch span Twin Otter years ago and I have regretted not making a plug out of the fuselage. It would have made a fine kit as well. If you do go on, I think that you would find it one of the most rewarding things you have done. If you would like me to connect you with third parties here in Thailand, send me a PM. Best of luck to you in whichever direction you go!

John La Belle

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1/6 scale Twin Otter prototype (130" ) extremely successful 1st flight rock solid and very stable plane built by HankHarjes mine is still only 80% with not much hope of getting if finished before snow but his flights make me want to try for this fall

Lins

Awesome! You need to hurry up and start offering these for sale!

dasintex

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I am big time interested in one as well; I have always wanted to build one of a Canadian Armed Forces Twin Otter, like the one pictured here; tell me, on the prototype flying, what engines or moters are being used?

Lins

That twin (802) is stationed where I live!

dasintex

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440 Squadron, right?

Lins

Yup!

dasintex

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Correct me if I'm wrong; the 440 is known as the Red Bat Squadron!

Lins

Not sure 100% what they call themselves, but they do have red bats on everything, even their vehicles. Even on the radio they even call themselves Vamp (Vampire) Bat 1, 2, 3, etc.

dasintex

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From the RCAF Website.

http://www.rcaf.com/squadrons/400series/440squadron.php

John La Belle

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The plane shown on it's first flight is powered by large AXI electric motors I am using Evolution 35GT 2 in mine which is app 80% completed I really wanted both prototypes flying by fall but mine more than likely won't be ready until; spring. The plans are completed ( as if anything in this hobby is ever complete) but do not want to offer them until the planes and plans are as near perfect as I can make them. I was able to get the factory prints from Viking and have tried to exactly copy the former shapes-outlines etc as well as I could. I used the sams tail size, airfoil shape,incidences, balance (26%0 as the full size plane and lucked out as this one flew perfectly and I hope mine does also. The problem for dasintex is I used the long nose version and he needs the shorter one, maybee someone else will model the short Twin Otter

dasintex

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I thought of that; is the nose on the prototype 'Balsa Frame/Sheet Built Up' or 'Vacuum Formed ABS'; I would think that if its balsa built up, I could modify the plans? and if its ABS, I could build a Plug and get one made.

John La Belle

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sorry Dasintex the nose is built up may be not easily mad short you can decide

jetfixr

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Did you have any problems keeping the motors cool? I am building a 120" turbo commander that is going to be electric, and it has closed in nacelles a lot like the twin otter. I was just worried about the cooling of the motors. Do you have batteries, speed controls, and motors in the nacelles, or just the motors?

John La Belle

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Batteries are in the fuselage which helps balance the battery box vell vented temperature after flight app/ 110 degrees well even below 120 suggested for lipo operating temp also the temp outside app 60 degrees which also helps along with the plane only using about 1/2 power for flight. There appears to be no major reason not to use electric for large models as this one is just over 40 lbs and 130" span but I am using 35cc gas engines on the prototype I am building

jetfixr

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Good info. I am actually planning on putting the batteries in the nacelles on mine. They will be right under the CG, so should be neutral weight wise. I am glad you didn't have any trouble out of yours. That makes me think that mine will be ok, especially since mine should weigh in at appx. 25-27lbs.

dasintex

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There's an old saying 'if theres a will theres a way'; and you are correct, I would have to look at the plans, and decide if I can modify it for a 'short nose' or 'long nose'; that would be the only modification I would make, other than fuselage windows, the model may not be an exact scale replica of the 'Canadian Armed Forces' Twin Otter, that I am proposing, but would be more than close enough.

Doug.

jetfixr

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That mod would be really easy to do. All you really need to do is re-draw the formers forward of the windscreen. You could actually just blow up the nose section of the picture you have for the outline. Then you would have the scale length and you could draw the top profile by hand. Now you have height and width measurements for the formers. Then it is just up to drawing them. That is what I did for my turbo commander nacelles. I used Adobe illustrator and Paint to fine tune them. You really only have to draw one half. Then you scan it into your computer and mirror it. Now you have a completely symectrical former.

AhmicAir

Doug,

802 goes by the call sign Vampire Two.

I’m not sure if there is any truth to it but the vampire (bat) is suppose to have originated from the Bacardi Rum logo. (The house brand)

I’ve always gotten a chuckle when you here the boys up playing in the circuit – such an intimidating call sign for a twotter.

http://www.bacardi.com/#

170dv

I am interested in the plans too (with short nose). John, I would like to get the plans reduced slightly, when available. Will you offer different scales?

John La Belle

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Anything more than a slight reduction might be a problem as the plane is designed to be 130 or larger ( and a couple people are considering large Twin Otter from enlarged plans) and the weight vs wing area might make the wing loading too high ( bigger flys better) . The plans are on autocad so enlarging or reducing them is not a major problem . Making the nose to whatever shape should cause no major problems as in the model that area is not structural and would require only the reshaping a couple formers and making the shape you desire. I could provide templates if necessary but scaling off the photos, 3 views of the exact plane one wants to duplicate should be quite easy. John

thailazer

Another thing that builders might be able to do is install a flat fire-wall like bulk-head just forward of the cockpit, and then carve a blue-foam nose per their model. (That is what I did on mine. The bulkhead also mounted the nose-gear.) Fill the foam with microfill and glass or just paint with resin over the microfill.

John La Belle

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That approach should work fine but some reshaping of the former that mounts the landing gear probably would be needed -very minor problem -also the forward nose cavity is a great place to mount balance items such as batteries weight etc. the tail section is quite long with not a great deal of space forward for balance except the engine nacelles if a short nose is used but should be a very doable change without major problems John