Re: The RMH Bipe build thread

[fredvon4]

Thread hijacking is tolerated here and I am quite guilty on occasion

HappyDad...I am 10 years your junior but have several very similar SNAFU stories

Probably best for another topic and or hijack later...grin

In fact here on CEF we have several veterans with interesting stories to tell

All my army brat youth, no matter where we were stationed, there was somebody doing model airplanes, or cars or rockets or working boats...I had a lot of mentors

[happydad]

Thread hijacking is tolerated here and I am quite guilty on occasion

HappyDad...I am 10 years your junior but have several very similar SNAFU stories

Probably best for another topic and or hijack later...grin

In fact here on CEF we have several veterans with interesting stories to tell

All my army brat youth, no matter where we were stationed, there was somebody doing model airplanes, or cars or rockets or working boats...I had a lot of mentors

Fredvon4: I wasn't a military brat, but my dad worked at Consolidated Vultee, which became General Dynamics, Convair later and he built the bombers for WW2, then later worked on all kinds of special aircraft that GD developed for NASA and General Dynamics. He did sheet metal work on the first aircraft to break the sound barrier, the XF-1 and other aircraft for General Dynamics that never made it to production such as the pogo stick, XFY-1, and the Sea Dart, XFY-2.


Pogo Stick



Sea Dart

General Dynamics Convair lost several good pilots trying to make these 2 planes work, but the planes failed not the pilots.

enjoy

happydad  

[getback]

DAmn i'll finish reading that tomorrow , I don't want to say that ya'll have done it and seen it yet ... Nice looing plane Fred ! I like the scheme and should fly great at 6 gm. and a Medallion, I was taking a break from the Zero and have to getback now . Eric

[fredvon4]

I love wood props especially for old style aircraft

I sharp eye will see the copper I pinched over the wheel struts to add a bit of weight and get CG further forward. Now about 3/8" back from LE of top wing


This photo reminded me to take a sharpie to the RH wheels where I did not get off all the silver used to fill in the lettering


If the wood prop is too light to make the Medallion happy I have a good selection here to play with


This photo shows why you can not brush silver. When I sprayed the part it was beautiful but masking and dorking around I made scratches and blemishes....Tried brushing the silver over the bad areas and once dry it sucks


Well folks this is the kit from Roger Harris and all in all I really enjoyed building it. I want one more to build and finish better .... never to fly but to hang above my growing flight deck

In the back ground you may see a Demon under construction...going to start another thread about what this summer has been like with my shift from competition combat to concentrating on old skool combat and stunt aircraft

[cox24711]

I love wood props especially for old style aircraft

I sharp eye will see the copper I pinched over the wheel struts to add a bit of weight and get CG further forward. Now about 3/8" back from LE of top wing


This photo reminded me to take a sharpie to the RH wheels where I did not get off all the silver used to fill in the lettering


If the wood prop is too light to make the Medallion happy I have a good selection here to play with


This photo shows why you can not brush silver. When I sprayed the part it was beautiful but masking and dorking around I made scratches and blemishes....Tried brushing the silver over the bad areas and once dry it sucks


Well folks this is the kit from Roger Harris and all in all I really enjoyed building it. I want one more to build and finish better .... never to fly but to hang above my growing flight deck

In the back ground you may see a Demon under construction...going to start another thread about what this summer has been like with my shift from competition combat to concentrating on old skool combat and stunt aircraft

THAT LOOKS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ps my great great uncles was a taill gunner on a wellington bomber and the other was a navigator of a landcast they were british an emigrated to canada and then came back to england to help out in the war and they both died on the same night in 1943 the wellington was shot down over the channel the whole crew died and the lancaster was shot down by a yellow nose fw 190 ace over France and my great uncle was the last to get out but he was too late and the port wing folded and he got crushed... his name was bruce and the other was john and my grandad was then named after bruce

[fredvon4]

See---- even our youngster from down under has interesting history to add.

Thanks for sharing Greg

My experience is all of us little boys at some time or another dreamed of flying, or racing cars, or building a bad ass boat and sailing around the world. Many of us had some acquaintance or ancestor that did those things. Ohter of us reead about such adventures in comic books or on the real world news. Some of us followed the dreams to some extent and other wise found MODELING a great compromise and very fulfilling

I have flown several times in Stearman bi-planes (crop dusters) mostly as passenger and a few times being coached through basic maneuvers. Alas I only ever could afford to own a Ultra Light and that short lived as I was sent to Germany and had to store it to the point of deterioration of all the covering

Too old now to build or buy a real biplane-- but that is where my dreams take me....this Roger Harris Bipe was as much fun to stare at and dream as it was to build and finish

[happydad]

See---- even our youngster from down under has interesting history to add.

Thanks for sharing Greg

My experience is all of us little boys at some time or another dreamed of flying, or racing cars, or building a bad ass boat and sailing around the world. Many of us had some acquaintance or ancestor that did those things. Ohter of us reead about such adventures in comic books or on the real world news. Some of us followed the dreams to some extent and other wise found MODELING a great compromise and very fulfilling

I have flown several times in Stearman bi-planes (crop dusters) mostly as passenger and a few times being coached through basic maneuvers. Alas I only ever could afford to own a Ultra Light and that short lived as I was sent to Germany and had to store it to the point of deterioration of all the covering

Too old now to build or buy a real biplane-- but that is where my dreams take me....this Roger Harris Bipe was as much fun to stare at and dream as it was to build and finish

Too old for what? you have got to be kidding me. I'm 70 and my goal this year was to surf with my daughter, but my hip interfered and the other one is just as bad, let alone my right knee. My new goal is to body surf this year with the grand kids. They live near the water and the ocean and go almost every weekend because the water has been as warm as 76 degrees F. here in the shallower waters. Like La Jolla and even in some parts of Carlsbad.

happy happydad

[roddie]

See---- even our youngster from down under has interesting history to add.

Thanks for sharing Greg

My experience is all of us little boys at some time or another dreamed of flying, or racing cars, or building a bad ass boat and sailing around the world. Many of us had some acquaintance or ancestor that did those things. Ohter of us reead about such adventures in comic books or on the real world news. Some of us followed the dreams to some extent and other wise found MODELING a great compromise and very fulfilling

I have flown several times in Stearman bi-planes (crop dusters) mostly as passenger and a few times being coached through basic maneuvers. Alas I only ever could afford to own a Ultra Light and that short lived as I was sent to Germany and had to store it to the point of deterioration of all the covering

Too old now to build or buy a real biplane-- but that is where my dreams take me....this Roger Harris Bipe was as much fun to stare at and dream as it was to build and finish

Reading the above really hit home with me. There's something about a biplane that's extra appealing to me. The excitement of "wind in the wires".. flying! A wood prop.. tail-dragger. I have some really great VHS tapes of the early days of U.S. Air Mail.. Dare-Devil "Wing-Walking".. golden age of aviation. I'd highly recommend watching if you can find them.

I built (1992) a 1/2A profile bipe using tracings of the top and bottom wings of a Sterling 1" scale Dr1 kit E2. They're solid slab-wings of 1/8" (3mm) balsa. The fuse is a 1/4" balsa profile of the Sterling kit's fuse. The tail-feathers are tracings as well.. made from 1/8" sheet. I balanced it for a Babe Bee.. and it became my utility plane. It towed banners.. and was a test-bed for different props. The Babe Bee was bone-stock.. and I used Sig Champion "25" for fuel. The landing gear was tall enough to fit up to an 8" prop. I once bushed the hub of a wood J. Zinger 8 x 3.. and the Babe Bee actually achieved a 2-stroke firing. The sound was more in line with a scale exhaust note. I used to fly it on 25-26 foot lines in my side yard. I later swapped-out the Babe Bee for a Prod. Engine (horseshoe back-plate) and 10cc wedge-tank. The reedies draw fuel pretty reliably. This airplane however.. was too heavy for aerobatics. A Tee Dee (I have two now..) might wake-up the design.

[fredvon4]

Roddie, You have shown that plane a couple of times and I always wanted to copy it. I may get Roger to cut me a few more RM Bipes and kit bash one to look like your wing design and profile.

Well folks Ringmaster Fly- A- Thon is fast approaching and I see only 4 of the Roger Harris beginner Bipe builds in this thread

I would have to go back, but I thought about 7 or 8 of us CEFers ordered the kits

Would love to see how others built and finished theirs

I will ask in a PM to Roger if he has time to cut a few more RH RM Bipe kits. It occurs to me he has not posted in a bit or at least I haven't noticed any thing from him here in about a month

[rogermharris]

WOW fred!! it came out really cool! love the color scheme. it should really move with that engine. i could do a scalloped version of the wing. i love that one too roddie!

Fred i have not been on much. i have been stopping by for a quick look around now and then. been so busy i have not even had a change to repair my planes from my last outing mid july... i am going to do my best to make repairs this week and get out for the fly-a-thon we have unsettled weather forecast for most of the week so hopefully that changes.

killing me not being able to devote some time to the hobby the last few weeks...

[fredvon4]

Yea I understand I have been super busy also but being retired I can pick and choose some projects...except the ones from she who must be obeyed....grin


Let us know when you come up for air and can do some more of your kits

[roddie]

Roddie, You have shown that plane a couple of times and I always wanted to copy it. I may get Roger to cut me a few more RM Bipes and kit bash one to look like your wing design and profile.

The scallops are an approximate 2" radius. IIRC, I used an Aero-Gloss Bottle with sandpaper taped to it, to form them. I had to look at the model tonight, to see how I installed the bottom wing in the fuse.. (it's a 23 year-old scratch-build) I cut up from the bottom of the fuse for the wing's root-chord to fit up into. I then installed a filler-block to fair into the belly. It's a pretty wing.. but I stand corrected. It's a tracing of the DR-1's central wing.. not the bottom one. It's span is 20.5" w/a 3" chord. The top wing has a 23.5" span/5" chord.. with a 117" area.. compared to the 20.75" span/102" sq. area of the Ring-Bipe.



Those lead-outs were OVERKILL .050" solids.. why not just put a lead-filled pipe on the inboard wing.   It flew fine with a nickel on the outboard tip. The wing struts are popsicle-sticks.



Below adaptation of a horseshoe back-plate/external tank. A Killer-Bee on bladder-feed would've provided some muscle.



The Ring Bipe is a little smaller. I cant wait to see some flights!

[happydad]

Roddie, You have shown that plane a couple of times and I always wanted to copy it. I may get Roger to cut me a few more RM Bipes and kit bash one to look like your wing design and profile.

The scallops are an approximate 2" radius. IIRC, I used an Aero-Gloss Bottle with sandpaper taped to it, to form them. I had to look at the model tonight, to see how I installed the bottom wing in the fuse.. (it's a 23 year-old scratch-build) I cut up from the bottom of the fuse for the wing's root-chord to fit up into. I then installed a filler-block to fair into the belly. It's a pretty wing.. but I stand corrected. It's a tracing of the DR-1's central wing.. not the bottom one. It's span is 20.5" w/a 3" chord. The top wing has a 23.5" span/5" chord.. with a 117" area.. compared to the 20.75" span/102" sq. area of the Ring-Bipe.

Those lead-outs were OVERKILL .050" solids.. why not just put a lead-filled pipe on the inboard wing.   It flew fine with a nickel on the outboard tip. The wing struts are popsicle-sticks.



Below adaptation of a horseshoe back-plate/external tank. A Killer-Bee on bladder-feed would've provided some muscle.



The Ring Bipe is a little smaller. I cant wait to see some flights!

Roddie: Don't you ever have time for work? All you ever do is build.
         When can you come down this way and straighten me out so I can get some building done?
               Very nice work. What else can I say?


happydad

[roddie]

Roddie: Don't you ever have time for work? All you ever do is build.
         When can you come down this way and straighten me out so I can get some building done?
               Very nice work. What else can I say?

happydad

 Oh man... I haven't done much building lately.. not compared to some of the members here who pump out 4-6 models a year. I see this hobby as one that I will really enjoy in later years. I enjoy stocking-up on building-materials, collecting useful data, building fixtures/jigs etc. When the time is right, I'll be pretty well prepared to build models on a regular basis. Space is at a premium in my basement.. and it's the only space I have to work in right now.

[getback]

Just a little loose fit update I got the upper wing looking better , Trying to work on two planes at one time is about all I can handle now the SUN is out I need to go Mow ! Now I see Jim has got the reed speed qualifying photos up all I got is sticks . Eric

[rogermharris]

colorful bird there eric.. i like it!

[fredvon4]

I like it also, gonna look cool when it is done

Our weather down here is still hot and no rain so no mowing yet but it is coming soon

[rsv1cox]

Wonderful Autumn colors Eric. Finish it in time for Halloween and fly it at midnight under a full moon. I'd buy tickets.

Bob

[roddie]

Just a little loose fit update I got the upper wing looking better , Trying to work on two planes at one time is about all I can handle now the SUN is out I need to go Mow !      Now I see Jim has got the reed speed qualifying photos up  all I got is sticks . Eric

I Like it Eric! I'd like to see you put a woman pilot in it.. with long blonde hair and big sunglasses. I'm in the same boat as you with reed speed.

[Oldenginerod]

Well, it's been a while since we heard any progress on the RM Bipes, and with the Ringmaster Fly-a-thon coming up, how many have made it into the air yet?  Mine certainly hasn't progressed very far, but a few in this thread look to be complete by some of the pictures, but no flight reports?   Only Roger's own video.  Surely there's gotta be a few out there that have done a few circuits.  If not, why not?

[rsv1cox]

Well, it's been a while since we heard any progress on the RM Bipes, and with the Ringmaster Fly-a-thon coming up, how many have made it into the air yet?  Mine certainly hasn't progressed very far, but a few in this thread look to be complete by some of the pictures, but no flight reports?   Only Roger's own video.  Surely there's gotta be a few out there that have done a few circuits.  If not, why not?

Why not? Because I'm



Don't want to get the pretty little thing all gummed up with castor and nitro.

Afraid I will "lawn dart" it.

Can't find the time.

Don't have a stooge.

To hot.....etc. etc. etc.

[Oldenginerod]

Yeah, me too, but there's a lot more seasoned & regular flyers than us, so I'm surprised that nothing much seems to have happened amongst the regulars.

[rsv1cox]

Gimmie time Eric, gimmie time.  I may poop out yet, my attention span isn't what it used to be.  

I used my handy dandy Dremel hinge slot cutter.  Cut eight perfect slots in less than a minute.





Cut the forward cockpit for this trainer version of Rogers Bipe.



It's loosely based on and will be painted like this:



Final sanded with 320 grit,  Next to assemble, add one last coat of primer, then color.  

Poor neglected F4U.  Up on the shelf for now.  

Well Rod after reviewing this thread I think that many did such a nice job on their builds that maybe they don't want to dirty them up or worse. Mine doesn't fall into that category so I will fly it. Let me build a reliable stooge and set a date.

Meanwhile, I continue to work on the F4U-1 designed by Sterling to be C/L but the previous owner modified it for R/C so I'm continuing that effort for better or worse. I am making use of that "clownish" canopy as a receptacle for the receiver which works out well as there is no accessible space inside the air-frame for it. A splitter allows use of two aileron servos one in each wing making control linkage so much easier. Tiny servos and a tiny receiver will keep the weight down. Power will be an OS .20.









Maybe building them is more fun than flying them.

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