[TBrum]

Originally Posted by scaleguy

Hmmm I am suspicious of your QC guy.... I think he is STILL on the bottle!

Kiddin of course... Guys Trevor's workmanship on this thing is outstanding, I saw it last night,... hard to believe this is only the second kit he has ever built....... I'm going back to ARFS, I can't compete with him.

Good point Jim - he's still "on the bottle", but he has a sharp eye!!

Thanks for the compliment on the build - lots of work left though and many chances to screw up still!! I hope the pilot knows what he's doing after all this work!!!

Cheers

Trev

[atc666]

Great job on the covering, looks awsome.

[sarawnty]

Originally Posted by TBrum

Steve.. your DA85 pulls around that 35% Carden Edge nicely.. what weight did that combo come in at?

Cheers

Trev

Hey Trevor,
My 35% Carden Edge was 25 pounds, 6 ounces with two Fromeco 5200 mah Li-Ion packs. I've since switched to A123's and saved 5 ounces. So now it's just over 25 pounds.
Steve

[TBrum]

Originally Posted by sarawnty

Hey Trevor,
My 35% Carden Edge was 25 pounds, 6 ounces with two Fromeco 5200 mah Li-Ion packs. I've since switched to A123's and saved 5 ounces. So now it's just over 25 pounds.
Steve

Wow that's light!! - I see what you mean about the DA85 then! Regardless, I don't think a DA85 will work now - the cylinder is too tall and I think it may stick down through the cowl, which wouldn't look good.

Cheers

Trev

[TBrum]

The cowl work continues!!!...

Pic #167 --- My plan was to space out 6 bolts on each side - after some quick calcs, I needed to space the holes out 81mm. I used some masking tape to mark the locations, ensure a straight row of bolts and also prevent the fiberglass from spalling as I drilled the holes.

Pic #168 --- I also glued (4) hardwood blocks to the cowl ring... (2) to accept blind nuts to secure the upper cowl in place and (2) as inforcement for future dowel pins that will stick out of the canopy. I pinned the blocks with CF rod.

Pic #169 --- After drilling and then installing the blind nuts, here is the end product - really nice, tight joints to the lower cowl and the fuse!!

[TBrum]

Onto the cowl finishing !!!

After a bunch of inquiries, Mr. Ed Smith has offered to paint the cowl this coming week!! - Thanks to a good chat with Ed, here's the quick overview of the plan:

1) As per pic #171, some drywall compound is rubbed into the cowl to fill in all the pin holes! - once it's dry tomorrow, I'll sand the drywall compound off and admire the smooth finish - I'll go down to 600 grit.

2) This weekend I'm off to Home Depot with a few samples of covering ironed onto some balsa - flame red, cub yellow, blue and white... I'll be picking up some colour matched Behr Exterior Latex, Flat Paint !!

3) I'll paint a couple samples and make sure the colour is accurate - 4 pints of paint should run around $50.00.

4) Ed will prime the cowl with an epoxy based primer next week, thin each colour of paint and spray onto the cowl.

5) After all layers are on, a crystal clear automotive clear coat will be applied overtop to ensure a gloss, long lasting finish.

I'll post more pictures as the painting progresses!

[TBrum]

Well... the cowl is finish sanded and ready for paint next week - I can't wait!!

In the meantime, I still have to finish the horizontal stabs and cover them.

Pic #172 shows both horizontal stabs shaped, finish sanded and the control horn reinforcement blocks added - huge elevators on this baby!!

After about 3 hours of work, I got the right stab covered (pic #173) - the slow part is getting all the individual templates made up for each piece of covering.

Pic #174 shows the bottom of the stab.

OK - now the real trick - covering the left side to be identical - could be a long night ahead

[TBrum]

Mr. Ed Smith is just cruising right along on the cowl painting!!!

Here's (2) pics of the cowl with the epoxy based primer on it... so far, so good!!!

[always flying]

So..............This will be the only part of your build not done by you hey?.. From what i've seen on the site "Mr. Ed Smith" will do a auesome job on your cowl! I'm very excited to see the out come!

This might start Ed into a part time gig!..painting cowls, wheel pants,spinners,...hmmm even planes for all us RCCanada users!..hey Ed!

mannyh

This might start Ed into a part time gig!..painting cowls, wheel pants,spinners,...hmmm even planes for all us RCCanada users!..hey Ed!

I could be talked into that. The timing is right. I am sort of semi retired.

I do like the "Mr" part.

Ed S