CEF speed contest Design Discussions (2014)

Space Duster looks good !! that's a long wing 24" ?Eric

Hi Guys

I finished the Nemesis last night.

The plane came out at 58g (2.05oz) and with everything fitted it is ready to fly at 136g (4.8oz).






Now I just hope it flies!!

Theo

Very cool Theo!

Pick your best photo and post it on this thread to qualify:
https://www.coxengineforum.com/t7268-reed-speed-20-qualifying-photos

Very very nice....

I feel very ashamed of my lack of progress now. I just check the rules and should still have time to get last years unfinished model ready in time. Man, life is busy right now. I need to retire so I can fly and build more.

Me too Duke. I've been pretty scarce around here for the last month or so because this a busy time in my business, but I have been picking away at my race planes.

The Conquest Bearcat is painted and awaiting final finishing and assembly. The Red Baron Mustang is completed construction-wise, but I haven't even begun the finishing process. I'll try to post some pics this weekend.

I hope I can get at least one flight in, even if it's not with a full race motor, just so I can be in the show!

Mike

I ordered parts to get my duster from last year running on bladder. I think my real problems stem from fuel delivery failure.

Or cast cases are garbage. I got a solution for that too - build a second engine for bladder with a billet case!

Phil

By the way, what are you guys using for clear coat (assuming you are)? Is there anything that comes out of a rattle can that will hold up to 35% nitro? I've used Rustoleum on my stunters, but I only use 15% max in those.

I have a feeling this has been covered before somewhere, but haven't found a real answer so far.

Rustoleum colors are hit and miss with high nitro. Black, grey, and white are the only sure fire high nitro colors I know of. Reds and blues not so much.

A friend of mine is testing a spray protectant for aluminum wheels, I'll keep you posted.

Jim

The Glossy Rustoleum sprays are acceptably fuel resistant. When you clean the plane with alcohol you can see the color on the rag, but it doesn't ever seem to take enough off to bother it, even as the plane ages. You just have to give it plenty of time to cure in a warm dry atmosphere before splattering fuel on it. I like to give it a clear coat of Lustrekote, but after touchups and repairs I never bother with that. I use 35% fuel in my 1/2As and uprotected Rustoleum has never ever sloughed off.
Rusty

Ya know, it's funny. Generally an APC prop is the first thing to break when things go south. Not this time! Go figure.

Weird aint it!

Owey, was that a maiden flight Jim?

RknRusty wrote:Owey, was that a maiden flight Jim?

No, the sixth or so. It's been repaired plenty already. I was testing an apc 4.25x4 and the engine was singing a song I hadn't heard before with that prop on it. It torque rolled in on launch. I already have flight video I'm happy with so I may not repair it. I will definitely tach the engine with that prop. I'm guessing 24k from the sound it was making.

Jim

Well glad you got the official flight in Jim , 24 K man that would bee tough to compete with. I have got to get mine out and run it and try and get this thing in the news before it s too late and not wait till the last day and think everthing will go good ! Eric

JPvelo wrote:Ya know, it's funny. Generally an APC prop is the first thing to break when things go south. Not this time! Go figure.

Sh#t... sorry Jim. I hope you try to fix it again. I would.. it's such a beautiful model. What I would do.. (probably no one else would..) would be to add a single N-strut to the outboard wing for more support. It would also add to the tip-weight and create bit of induced "drag" to help keep the model from coming-in on you during launch. With a 24K engine run... I wouldn't worry about it slowing the airplane down much!

I've made struts for my bipes using popsicle-sticks.. and they work great.

25 years ago.. my 2nd self-designed model..



and current.. This plane was crashed several times.. but the wings never came apart from each other or the fuse. Check-out the later added flap on the top wing.. and the purely "red-neck" linkage off the top of the elevator, to deflect it.  

Hi Guys

I am not sure if I will be able to get an official flight in for the speed event. The weather this year has been terrible for us here in South Africa. I have been looking forward to this since I finished my build, but weather is something we cannot control.

Over the last 6 weeks, we have had the worst winds imanigable and then 3 weeks ago the rain started. So it has been tough to go and get the flight.

This Saturday it is raining again. Sunday will be the best day to try, but it might rain still.

So I will try and get the flight in on Sunday.

Theo

Theo, I hope you get a calm day. Flying in damp weather is doable.. as long as it's not pouring.. and as long as you don't slip on the wet grass. Best of luck!

Theo hope things work out //// on the other hand tried to start mine again today no go , pulled the engine apart the back plate is cracked in several places and will need to replace !!! Is this going to be OK ?? ( same engine diff. plate) Eric

Eric,

That will be fine. First and foremost this is supposed to be a fun event that doesn't get to bogged down in rules.

Theo,

You're not the only one having trouble getting in the air.  In deference to that fact  we will extend the deadline by two weeks!

The new deadline is midnight Sunday December 14! This will give our international competitor more time to fight Mother Nature and U.S. entrants a chance to relax, eat some  turkey this weekend, and not stress about getting a video.

Jim

Whoo, midnight Sunday. I better do it tomorrow or Thursday.. Weather looks good. Only minor changes to the Mustang, and I'll be dropping the nitro to 25% since that's what I have. Maybe I'll remove the engine offset, try a couple of props and steel lines. And some tail weight That's about all I have time to change.

RknRusty wrote:Whoo, midnight Sunday. I better do it tomorrow or Thursday.. Weather looks good. Only minor changes to the Mustang, and I'll be dropping the nitro to 25% since that's what I have. Maybe I'll remove the engine offset, try a couple of props and steel lines. And some tail weight That's about all I have time to change.

That's Sunday December 14th, take time and get 'er tuned right!

JPvelo wrote:

RknRusty wrote:Whoo, midnight Sunday. I better do it tomorrow or Thursday.. Weather looks good. Only minor changes to the Mustang, and I'll be dropping the nitro to 25% since that's what I have. Maybe I'll remove the engine offset, try a couple of props and steel lines. And some tail weight That's about all I have time to change.

That's Sunday December 14th, take time and get 'er tuned right!

Oh! I missed that part. That's great because I don't intend to miss it. Maybe I'll spring for a quart of Sig 35. Thanks Jim.

My son is coming for TG, maybe I can get him to pit for me for a couple of prop tests. I pitted for a plane with a Rossi engine Saturday. Man that was scary. Especially watching him lean backwards against the lines. I wonder what the AMA pull test for that thing is.
Rusty