Tee Dee Performance Crank

To be sure you invert the plane when checking the CG correct?
Remember flight test one change at a time.

1/2A Nut wrote:To be sure you invert the plane when checking the CG correct?
Remember flight test one change at a time.

You mean turning it upside down when checking the CG because the plane is a low-winger and the CG is located close to the belly?

Yes sir fast way to confirm static balance at the wings airfoil

I seem to have completed the settings before the next flight planned for Saturday. I ended up with a CG position around 25% off the leading edge. The plane with tank empty weighs 14 ounces.

Thank you all for your continued suppprt. i will post another video on the - hopefully less hectic -flight on Saturday.

So you're up 1oz at 14oz, given the amount of wing area available should this next landing prove stable and you get to enjoy a nice glide in let us know how well it floats in to base camp. Dont forget to fly closer to the pilot so the camera can get some plane action

I re-maidened the SEED (Skortch Eastern European Dragster) today, and can tell you the plane flies super stable and even glides with the engine off very safely.

1/2A Nut, thanks fior the inspiration, the design that I stole from your pics and the numerous advice you gave me. I also thank Kris (I hope I did not offend him with the TD051 rpm discussions), Rusty,Mark for their useful advice, and all other readers who took the hassle of following the building thread of an enthusiastic amateur..

Now it is high time I tried to remove the CA spots from the kitchen platform for an all-around satisfaction including that of my wife...

Fantastic Andras!!!! Any vid???

1/2A Nut wrote:Fantastic Andras!!!!  Any vid???

I was alone in the field today (let alone a bunch of people walking dogs) and tomorrow my wife cannot join me either. The next time I have a co-pilot I will have him/her shoot a video.

It flies straigh and does wingovers equally easily.

I am comtemplating to change out the TD050 with a more powerful, exhasut-throttled TD051.

I have some different cox powered options for the Skorch.
In the pic:
- Galbraith head
- Nelson plug
- Tornado carb with air bleed
- Red anodized aluminum carb body
- Tatone muffler with pressure tap
- Tornado grish 5x4 prop with TD .09 spinner
- Phenolic thrust washer
- Non SPI .051 cylinder

I sourced some finishing supplies online:
I have applied 7 coats of fuel proofing gloss clear coats over the ply fuselage. I first filled in the grains with 2 part Z-poxy finishing resin squeezing off all excess resin off the fuselage so primarily only the grains were filled in then applied the gloss thinner coats using LustreKote by Top Flite. This method allows for a lighter finish without the need of fiberglass and a thick coat of the more heavy epoxy resin. With the drying / curing times involved the whole process took about a week to finish.

I have some other hopped up cox engines and a stock TD 050 RC that will get a pressure tap on the muffler to try for the fun of it but the reality is the modified engine in the pic will provide statically additional
rpm 1.2k to 2k and serve the plane well as it can idle low for stunt flying and with pressure maintaining great fuel delivery at full throttle.  

I like the natural wood finish. Good job Nut!

Thank you Cribbs!

Agreed I just couldn't bare to cover up all that lovely wood grain.

Do you fuel-proof the tank compartment as well just in case leakage occurs? The plywood will absorb castor and get stained.

Yes good point, I fueled proofed the inside just past the landing gear former.

- First with Z-poxy resin pressed into the grains
- After 24hrs wiped clean of residue
- Finished up with 7 thin coats of the LustreKote.

The process seems to have kept the weight down nice glossy hard finish. After the 6th coat I fine sanded everything smooth and applied the last coat.

The Lil Speedy TD .020 version did not get its grains filled with Z-poxy a mistake on my part. The fuselage had 4 coats of the LustreKote yet the sneaky castor oil has stained the front end thru migration or time, lucky for me I have used ply so its still very strong. The inside was clear coated the oil appears only on the outside surface.

I am continueing the Skorch build adding new posts and photos here:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/1-2-1-8-airplanes-70/11602404-ply-rolled-fuselage-part-deux-1-2a-mini-skorch-6.html

Woooot pass the gravy!!



Happy Gobble Gobble Day.

Congratulations 1/2A Nut, a beautiful one..is this powered by a 049 TD?

Yes just very modified TD .051.
Im down to covering the wing with white monokote adding racing numbers and installing the wing servo's will knock that out this weekend.

SWEET !! That looks shricking wit a 051 mod should knock down some good numbers Another fine build to play with There 1/2ANUT .  Eric

Thank you Eric!

With a carbon/plastic 4 x 4.5 should see 80+ mph level with 40% nitro and with some diving should do nice passes around 100mph. This one only has 88 Sq.In of wing so less than a larger 1/2A pylon class wing. Current weight less two 9g carbon geared servo's 263g ready to fly with wing covering should be about 10.8 oz. I have a some open exhaust modified TD's also running on nelson plugs to test out which may eek up to 90+ mph 4.5P prop with a exhaust throttle.


Still eating Turkey sammies and left over fixings

András,

Something to consider I know you like the cox 5 x 4 perhaps you should try the APC 4.75 x 4 pylon / combat prop?
I have bought a set of 3 to test they do look good and will hold their pitch. One shown here mounted with a Queen Bee spinner or a .09 spinner will work also can use the cox 1/2A small rubber spinner and adapter as shown in the second pic. Down fall of the rubber spinner you will have to use a spring starter.

Thanks 1/2A Nut I will try. APC props are sold here though larger than you suggested.

I had a mid-air failure with a new 5x4 nylon Thimble Drone yesterday. One blade broke in the stem for probably internal material defect or fatigue reasons. Makes me more cautious in future to stay away from the plane of the spinning prop.

The new production black cox props have had some problems, the 5x3 ones can also shred their blades around 20000rpm.

The APC props can be bought directly from APC, and the 4.75x4 is a very good prop. They need to be protected at landings though. The Norvel .049RC will spin these at around 20500rpm (10% nitro and stock muffler), while the .061 will give you an additional 2000rpm (approximately).

Here is my little speed plane, also made from sheet balsa, it just needs an engine cowl before I maiden it;