Back in the Shop--It's All in the Prep

Kim Sat Mar 07, 2020 4:35 pm

So, brushing another clear coat on one project while trying to decide whether or not to drag out the paint gun and shoot some color at the other, I split the difference and went to work on a third project (this why I 'bout never get these suckers finished).

My late Cousin Bill built this Cox/Sanwa "Q-Tee" back in the 1980's, eventually giving it to my Uncle Wayne. When Wayne gave it to me several years ago, it was in fair shape, though the wing's silkspan was very brittle, and it had some "nose rot" from all the castor oil that had been slung on it.

I finally got around to re-covering the wing, and while rebuilding it's snout, I decided to beef-up the area behind the new firewall, and modify it to take detachable "plates" of ply, that had engines pre-mounted to them. This way, I could cut a stack of ply plates, coat them with epoxy, and put any of my orphans on them without drilling multiple holes in the Q-Tee's firewall to match their mounting patterns.

My shop now has the aroma of both Brodak clear dope, and Sig 5-Minute Epoxy wafting through it.

Smells like "Model Airplane" in there!

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I also tucked one of Bernie's Cox micro servos in the Q-Tee's cockpit as a "Stand-By" to operate the throttle on some of my engines.

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rsv1cox Sun Mar 08, 2020 8:32 am

A plusses for the following Kim:

Interchangeable engines and mounts. Love that Spitzy.

Readers (I can't live without them) and safety glasses (I often do)

Mini Dremel

Sanding block...……….and

Standard High Wing uncomplicated functional block of a red airplane.

Kim Mon Mar 09, 2020 9:22 am

STILL brushing coats of Brodak clear dope on the Navigator while messing with the Q-Tee as they dry.

I decided the Q-Tee needed it's own "Board of Engines", so I cut one out that can accommodate any of the .020 backplate styles I've got..

Making some racket----

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7imoLtV7xKo&t=18s

rsv1cox Mon Mar 09, 2020 9:25 am

As the Brits would say - Brilliant Smile

Kim Mon Mar 09, 2020 9:36 am

rsv1cox wrote:As the Brits would say - Brilliant

Thanks Bob!

As long as I'm not a "Wanker" !!!!!!!!!!! Smile

OhBee Mon Mar 09, 2020 3:11 pm

Bloody fine job!...

NEW222 Mon Mar 09, 2020 6:38 pm

A well executed plan there Kim with the interchangable firewalls and engines. It is nice to have the ability to make it nice and gentle, and wild all with a few turns of a screwdriver. Definately have to remember this if I come to build my next model.

Kim Mon Mar 09, 2020 8:16 pm

Thanks Guys !!!!!!!!!!

fredvon4 Tue Mar 10, 2020 8:58 am

finally saw the electric finger on the floor.....grin

Kim Tue Mar 10, 2020 9:38 am

fredvon4 wrote:finally saw the electric finger on the floor.....grin

Oh yeah...the Hornet gets used a lot!

getback Wed Mar 11, 2020 7:39 am

Yes good idea on the mount replacements of difft. engines Thumbs Up

Planes is looking good man ! Popcorn

Kim Wed Mar 11, 2020 8:53 am

getback wrote:Yes good idea on the mount replacements of difft. engines Planes is looking good man !

Thanks Eric! Gonna get the radio in the Q-Tee today!!!!!!!!!!

Kim Fri Mar 13, 2020 5:32 pm

The Q-Tee's coming down to the wire. Making a new windshield, hatch, and fixing a warp in it's silkspan-covered tail gave me some entertainment today.

Had to do a little surgery to check out it's battery because I couldn't remember what I put in there, and didn't make a note...duh.

Cousin Bill's little model ought to be ready by the time we get some decent weather. My new/old Royal Spitfire .065 will be it's powerplant on it's first flight.

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Kim Sun Mar 15, 2020 5:58 pm

The Navigator and Skylark are now ready for their white base coats, but need some less blush-worthy weather before I point a paint gun at them.

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The Q-Tee is ready but for a little cosmetic stuff, which I wasn't in the mood for, so the Swap Meet Rescue Veco "Brave" became my first test of the doctor's exam table paper Andrew sent me a while back (thanks again Andrew!).

It's builder had covered it with silkspan that had gone brittle with age, and also had done some filling work on it's forward fuselage. I intend just to clear-coat the bare wood (with sanding between coats) 'till I get a shine, then go with some base orange, with black & white trim. That's the plan at the moment...

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The paper's fibers don't seem to be quite as strong as my silkspan, but it held together enough for me to dip it in water and blot it on some paper towels before doping it to the Brave's wing. It looks pretty good, so now, we'll see how a couple coats of clear Brodak will work on it.

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The engine mount holes were drilled to fit a McCoy .35, so that's what it will get...though the engine looks a bit large for the thing.

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Ken Cook Sun Mar 15, 2020 7:52 pm

I love all of the Veco Indian series. My dad just gave me his Veco Chief which has been in the box for I don't know how long. I sold my Warriors last year but it's good to know the person I sold them too is still flying them. If I'm not mistaken, the Brave is a .19 size plane? These get very confusing, my Warrior was dual cockpit for .35. I had a Squaw with a LA .25. It flew well but seemed wrong to have a modern engine in it. Looks too cool, keep up the nice work. I'm certain it's going to look great.

Kim Sun Mar 15, 2020 8:42 pm

Ken Cook wrote: I love all of the Veco Indian series. My dad just gave me his Veco Chief which has been in the box for I don't know how long. I sold my Warriors last year but it's good to know the person I sold them too is still flying them. If I'm not mistaken, the Brave is a .19 size plane? These get very confusing, my Warrior was dual cockpit for .35. I had a Squaw with a LA .25. It flew well but seemed wrong to have a modern engine in it. Looks too cool, keep up the nice work. I'm certain it's going to look great.

Thanks Ken!!

I need to look it up...it certainly LOOKS like a .19 size plane...can't remember if the case sizes between the .19 & .35 are the same. If they are, I'll probably wrangle a .19 for it from somewhere...don't need it to fly like a combat plane.

Yeah, having a big time out in the shop lately, and hopefully be adding some new (and old) flyers to the roster pretty soon.

Come on Springtime!!!!

getback Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:41 am

Hea man , i think that is a Squaw all the Brave kits i have seen were 2 seaters ? https://www.hippocketaeronautics.com/hpa_forum/index.php?topic=5427.0 And a .19 size engine ? But it does look cool either way ! Very Happy

Well it is early lol the Squaw engine is inverted DUH

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But why is it 2 seater ? Huh...

Kim Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:31 am

Oh, OK! Thanks Eric, you're absolutely right!! Thank you for the Scan!!!!!!!!! I ought to look these things up before I tag them! Gonna give Breezy Hill Billy some grief over this!!! My scanner has croaked, or I'd post it's ad page.

After finally looking it up, I discovered that Ken was right about the Brave, it IS designed for a .19, while the Squaw's ad calls for a VECO .29. Now, I may be looking for a Veco .29 if the bolt pattern is close to a McCoy. Anybody got one for sale in their stock, please let me know.

So, it shall now be referred to as the "Squaw", though that name may draw some flak from my goofy sister-in-law who discovered a few years ago that she has just enough Miami Indian DNA to pow-wow with the tribe down in Oklahoma! Nothing more sensitive than a "Born-Again Indian"!

Last Stand Kim

Marleysky Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:32 pm

Kim wrote:
Ken Cook wrote: I love all of the Veco Indian series. My dad just gave me his Veco Chief which has been in the box for I don't know how long. I sold my Warriors last year but it's good to know the person I sold them too is still flying them. If I'm not mistaken, the Brave is a .19 size plane? These get very confusing, my Warrior was dual cockpit for .35. I had a Squaw with a LA .25. It flew well but seemed wrong to have a modern engine in it. Looks too cool, keep up the nice work. I'm certain it's going to look great.

Thanks Ken!!

I need to look it up...it certainly LOOKS like a .19 size plane...can't remember if the case sizes between the .19 & .35 are the same. If they are, I'll probably wrangle a .19 for it from somewhere...don't need it to fly like a combat plane.

Yeah, having a big time out in the shop lately, and hopefully be adding some new (and old) flyers to the roster pretty soon.

Come on Springtime!!!!

If you can’t wrangle up a K&B 19 for it locally, there is one on Craigslist Chicago with a BabeBee sidekick!

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roddie Tue Mar 17, 2020 7:42 pm

Kim wrote: Nothing more sensitive than a "Born-Again Indian"!

Last Stand Kim

I needed a laugh bro.. and you gave it to me!

Your Veco (Squaw?) looks a lot like their Warrior model. I have my Dad's Warrior and the Veco .35 engine that was in it. I another Warrior which was 95% built (by my uncle) but never covered/finished. Both models have the "pinked-cloth" hinges on their flaps/elev. Old-school solid-wire lead-outs.

Dad's Warrior and Veco .35C engine.

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Uncle Vin's 95% built Warrior. Note the water-stained tail-section. Hangar-quality wasn't always up to snuff.. over the 20 some-odd years that I've had the model.

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Virgin beams.. ready to accept many .19/.35 2-stroke glow-engines.

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I'm tempted to check-fit an Enya .19 that was also my uncle's..

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If your curious to see what might fit in the nose of your Veco; I have the above-referenced Enya .19, "McCoys" .19 (RH) and .35 (RH) also Fox .25RC/CL, .29/.35 "Stunt" designated.. also Veco .35 and OS .25FPS. Any of those.. I can give you mounting-measurements.

I LOVE the modular-mount firewall app. to the Q-Tee! We'll have to be patient and wait for the vids.. which are always EPIC.

I hope that you get a dry-spell for being able to paint. Our weather here in RI is all over the road..

Kim Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:49 pm

roddie wrote:
Kim wrote: Nothing more sensitive than a "Born-Again Indian"!

Last Stand Kim

I needed a laugh bro.. and you gave it to me!

Your Veco (Squaw?) looks a lot like their Warrior model. I have my Dad's Warrior and the Veco .35 engine that was in it. I another Warrior which was 95% built (by my uncle) but never covered/finished. Both models have the "pinked-cloth" hinges on their flaps/elev. Old-school solid-wire lead-outs.

Dad's Warrior and Veco .35C engine.

Uncle Vin's 95% built Warrior. Note the water-stained tail-section. Hangar-quality wasn't always up to snuff.. over the 20 some-odd years that I've had the model.

Virgin beams.. ready to accept many .19/.35 2-stroke glow-engines.

I'm tempted to check-fit an Enya .19 that was also my uncle's..

If your curious to see what might fit in the nose of your Veco; I have the above-referenced Enya .19, "McCoys" .19 (RH) and .35 (RH) also Fox .25RC/CL, .29/.35 "Stunt" designated.. also Veco .35 and OS .25FPS. Any of those.. I can give you mounting-measurements.

I LOVE the modular-mount firewall app. to the Q-Tee! We'll have to be patient and wait for the vids.. which are always EPIC.

I hope that you get a dry-spell for being able to paint. Our weather here in RI is all over the road..

Well, the Mystery of "The Plane With No Name" continues! AND...looking a the inverted engine, and rounded contour of the Squaw's snout, vrs the square nose / side-panel cowling and upright engine of the Warrior...maybe this thing IS a Warrior after all. The dual cockpit can easily be covered. The mounts are already drilled and fit a McCoy .35, so that may be what it gets.

I finally took a tape measure to it's span, and came up with 37"...nothing like an odd number to put it right between the Warrior's 36" and the Squaw's 38" !!!!

It'd be neat for you to get your Warrior going!

Yeah, think the Q-Tee will be fun, and it will ALSO be fun to break out the video cameras again...been a while.

I missed a good day for painting today due to a short-lived bout of responsibility that saw me do a major load of laundry and other boring grown-up stuff. The paint gun, it's hoses, and their victims are staged and waiting for that combination of mood, opportunity, and weather to line up.

Hope you and yours are safe out there!

Responsible Kim

Kim Sat Apr 25, 2020 8:18 pm

Finally, at least ONE "Finished Post" added to this salad of model projects.

Cousin Bill's Q-Tee is totally ready to go, with it's 1st Flight since restoration to be powered by an Anderson Royal Spitfire.

I had wanted to keep it as original as possible, but was pretty worried that the tiny wheels Bill chose would not let it roll across my yard (most of it's life was spent landing in clover or beans). So I tagged the originals and used these vintage style wheels that go pretty good with it's personality.

It's got a two ounce tank that should give some pretty good cruising time for the various engines that are gonna power it.

Next time you see it...it will be flying !!!!

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https://youtu.be/mjI3nuU04RE

NEW222 Sun Apr 26, 2020 1:35 am

Great job Kim. She is a looker. Will be watching for the maiden video, as I know that too will be great!

MauricioB Sun Apr 26, 2020 2:01 am

Hi Kim, I've been spying on your work :-) ... I'm glad to see how you finished it.
I like its restoration that maintains its vintage history.
Those little machines that have pleased others (Your cousin Bill), must be very happy that their model is in your hands. Without a doubt, friend!
I hope you stay healthy and I will be here accompanying you at all times. It is beautiful to share with you and with all of you.

Kim Sun Apr 26, 2020 6:31 am

Thank you guys!!!!!!!!!!!

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