This is my main 2014-2015 winter project; a 96" wingspan Grumman Albatross flying boat, twin powered model, from Zeke's Park Scale Models. The kit and some extra wood parts cost about $640, and I've already started purchasing balsa for sheeting.
It is an extensive builder's kit of exceptionally well laser cut ultra-light balsa wood, that builds like a self-jigging 3D puzzle, without building on plans. The plane is literally being built in my hands.
The wood for this massive model (except surface sheeting) fits in a box about 24" x 16" x 4".
I haven't decided on a finish yet, but I'm leaning towards a USA Coast Guard theme; I already did a Canadian theme on my DC3 last year.
This thread will not be a step-by-step building log, but simply to show some of the progress.
The stabilizer is about half-done here. It will have a span of about 30".
As mentioned above, this is being built without plans.
Looks Good, It will be an interesting Blog.
Look forward to following it on the forum.
Jack.
Very cool Michael.
I'm sure it will be awesome.
Ken
Nice Mike! That'll go together so fast you'll be done in no time. Ahh the beauty of actual instructions and parts that actually fit! sigh. (jealous! :'( ;D)
Colin
Some more colour scheme inspiration....
you got to go total Margaritaville on this one just like Jimmy Buffets:
http://www.buffettworld.com/aviation/albatross/
Now I'm leaning Canadian ...
bah... you already have a Canadian plane in the fleet ......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CICf8xoLyG8
you can sign along while flying at Frenchman's bay
Stabilizer construction finished; work started on the elevators.
Parts are perfectly laser cut, but some are tiny and delicate. Work is slow but steady.
Note the pre-cut hinge slots and spaces for the hinges in the elevators.
Quote from: Michael on November 07, 2014, 02:44:36 PM
Now I'm leaning Canadian ...
While I'm a Parrot Head (Buffet fan) and regularly sing and hum lines from "Wasting Away Again..."there can never be too many Canadian aircraft over ROGO!
Stabilizer and elevator construction done.
I sanded a bit, but there's quite a lot to do, so I'll leave it for later.
I'll start the fin and rudder next, and when they're done, I'll sand the entire tail group.
Wow. Looks great.
It's SO nice to see so much building going on! And large flying boats at that!
The Albatross is looking great!
What power systems are you thinking about?
Quote from: piker on November 12, 2014, 03:25:29 PM
The Albatross is looking great!
What power systems are you thinking about?
The Albatross is looking great?
It just a darn stabilizer!
*************
What power system?
I'm thinking an E-flite 15 and one side, and an E-flite 25 on the other, to help compensate for the torque.
On which side should I put the heavier motor?
Right side ;D
And yes... a fine looking stab...
Fin constructed and temporarily mounted on the stabilizer. Nice fit.
Fin and rudder construction finished. (there is still a fin-base to be constructed.)
The X-Acto knife at left gives an idea of the size.
Next, I have to sand everything I've done so far.
Cool!
I wonder what the diagonal brace is for. i assume to stabilize the rib supporting the joiner tube, but I wonder how or why.
There are no plans and nothing (other than sheeting and fill) is cut to shape.
The diagonal brace holds the angle for the first installed rib and the spine. Everything else then falls into place.
OK, a few more hours work and well into the tip-floats construction.
Despite the interlocking parts construction, this is slow and delicate.
Lots of filling and sanding later.
This kit has laser cut planking. which I have never seen nor used before.
(Of course, this was an extra cost from the manufacturer.)
I've done one side of one tip float, and it worked out very well. Only the last plank needed minor trimming.
Tip float and struts construction completed.
Filled and sanded.
I'll do a bit more sanding, and maybe a light coat of water-based polyurethane to help keep them waterproof.
Will monokote stick to polyurethane covered wood?
These were a lot of work, despite the laser cut parts and planking.
Ailerons construction completed.
These are now moved onto the pile of things to be sanded.
Starting on the flaps.
This is an ingenious way to produce thin, light and very strong flaps; laser cut long oval holes filled with exact-fitting laser-cut long oval pieces of cross-grained balsa.
There's a lot of parts to this model, and a lot more work than I thought, but I'm really enjoying this.
Wing construction, without plans.
Close-up of leading edge shows how it fits onto the ribs.
Nice! I'm officially back onto the Stranraer as of about 1/2 an hour ago. Just trying to figure out where I left off last March and where to go from here.
Those spars don't look very substantial. I was asking if you were going to "beaf" the plane up a little so it's not such a "park flyer", but maybe you don't want to go too heavy with those spars.... :o
I plan on building without undue added weight.
I may 'waterproof' some areas (fiberglass?) such as the tip floats, flap interiors, hull, etc.
The entire fuselage is sheeted, so I may actually fiberglass the whole thing and paint it.
It looks great, wow! But did you weigh your Skywriter for me? :-*
Oops! :-[
I'll send myself an email to remind myself tonight!
Total weight for my Skywriter is a touch over 5 pounds, with Battery.
****************
I spent a couple more hours working on the wing.
It's very light and delicate, but I still need to glue on spar-doublers and the sheeting.
Right now I'm peeling CA glue off my fingers. ;D
Wow! You're moving! Looks great.
Inspired by Michael's "interlocking parts" style build, and having now got the build bug, I snagged myself one of these in the Black Friday sales!
http://www.mountainmodels.com/product_info.php?products_id=201
You should do an RAF Version. I'm so tired of "blue nose' mustangs.
Jack.
I may just do that, Jack! Or a Canadian version (to keep Bill happy! ;D )
OK, back to our regular programming now, .... ;D
Wing sheeting is done, and nacelle construction is finished. Next is nacelle sheeting, and that's a more intense job. That may have to wait a week as work is getting busy.
Here's a shot of one wing with the flap and aileron.
I still have the wing tips to do as well.
Very nice! You're so far along! You'll be done before January.
You'll have to build something else to keep entertained for the rest of the winter.
I hope to have major construction completed in January, but I anticipate finishing the model in Feb or March.
I still have a few ARFs to assemble, a used ARF to modify, and a fuselage to build for my Piker-class racer.
I've started planking one of the nacelles, bottom first.
It's slow but steady work, and the parts fit very well.
It's a superbly engineered kit.
Cowl structures completed, like a 3D puzzle.
They still need balsa filling, planking and sanding.
Filling and planking the cowls ...
The balsa-fill parts are perfectly laser cut and fit without any trimming. This will be sanded round later.
The planking is easy but very slow. Essentially, this will be a big model airplane built out of many hundreds of small and very-small parts.
I finished planking the cowls; these cowls have more laser-cut parts than most models I've built!
The design of the model, using this construction technique, will ensure that this 96" scale model will end weighing perhaps less than 9 pounds. With this weight and corresponding light wing-loading, the plane likely be about half the weight of some other big planes being built, and will really fly much more like a scale airplane.
Right, Robert ?! ;D
And just in case anyone was thinking that this kit is easy to build, which it sort of is, it still requires a lot of time and effort. Now that I've prepared some wiring for the wing, I'm getting ready to plank the top of the nacelles. Even though the planking is precise, it took nearly 45 minutes to take the pieces off the balsa sheets and sand off the little balsa parts that were holding them to the laser-cut balsa sheet.
Nacelle-planking is completed.
I'm leaving a lot of sanding and finishing work for a later time.
The work is slower than what I am accustomed to, but it is very precise and I'm still enjoying it.
Fuselage begins with construction of some formers.
To get an idea of the size of some of these, see the X-acto knife in the second former from the left, in the top row.
It took about an hour to take these out of the sheets, sand the balsa tabs, and assemble and glue them.
No plans were used; the parts fit was perfect.
Now it's beginning to look like a flying boat!
It's been a busy and a productive day of model airplane construction.
Fuselage sides are built up, then joined with a built-up plywood center section which supports the wings and the servos for the tail. Also glued in place is a built-up plywood platform for a battery, and the formers are glued in.
All right, that's all I can get done on this thing this weekend. We have guests coming over to visit soon.
The servos and pushrod sleeves are installed, and the top area over the wing has been sheeted. The servos were supposed to be completely sealed in, but I built a snug-fitting hatch for access.
The last image (with the red arrow) shows balsa sheeting on a compound curve. I spray Windex on the sheeting before gluing it on. It becomes pliable and rubbery, and then can be worked as needed. I glue on the sheeting while the wood is still wet.
Quote from: Michael on December 14, 2014, 02:41:53 PM
All right, that's all I can get done on this thing this weekend.
That's
all? ??? ;D You'll be done the entire plane before I even finish my fuse! (deadline Jan month end)
Colin
Wow this looks amazing! What a fabulous model and build thread.
Quote from: wollins on December 14, 2014, 03:05:30 PM
Quote from: Michael on December 14, 2014, 02:41:53 PM
All right, that's all I can get done on this thing this weekend.
That's all? ??? ;D You'll be done the entire plane before I even finish my fuse! (deadline Jan month end)
Colin
The construction is the easy part.
Finishing will take the most time.
BTW, the fuselage at this point, with servos and pushrod sleeves and all plywood parts, weighs 576 grams (a little more than one pound).
Decals ordered.
Canadian it is!
So where's the fulsize picture???
Jack.
Quote from: Papa on December 15, 2014, 02:39:32 PM
So where's the fulsize picture???
Jack.
Reply 7, first page of this thread.
You change your mind so frequently I figured you had a new Prototype in mind.
LOL
Jack.
I'm back at it!
Here's about 3 hours of work; essentially sheeting the upper fuselage and lower fin.
The fit is remarkable.
Jack.
Those parts were not laser-cut; those were cut out by me from templates, and then sanded to a fine bevel.
This rear part of the lower fuselage has been planked, but will be covered by more structure and sheeting later.
With the tail in place, it looks like an airplane!
Quote from: Michael on December 15, 2014, 01:40:34 PM
Decals ordered.
Canadian it is!
Wow! A Canadian marked Skywriter and now a Canadian Grumman Albatross! I'm feeling overwhelmed with patriotism! ... and awed by the speed at which you build! Do you ever sleep or just stay up and build model airplanes?
Fantastic work! I can't wait for float flying season!!!!
Lower fuselage sheeting is complete, but I still have to construct a keel for the front fuselage bottom.
Boy does that look like very strong construction!
Jack.
That's it for today!
I feel like I have a pound of balsa dust and glue fumes in my lungs!
Canopy/cockpit/battery-hatch constructed and planked.
Wait 'til you start sanding!!!
Jack.
I made some progress, but not as much as yesterday's marathon.
The nose is nearly sanded to shape; the keel has been constructed (that was challenging); and the internal linkages for the rudder and elevator have been prepared.
All major fuselage, fin, rudder, stabilizer, elevators and canopy/hatch construction, carving, shaping and initial sanding is complete.
Servos and linkages are installed (except at the tail), magnets are on the hatch and fuselage, receiver and receiver battery are in the fuselage.
Total weight including everything mentioned is 1.148 kilos, or 2½ pounds.
Visually, it's not too different from previous photos, but a lot of work has been done.
I'll work on finishing the shaping and initial sanding of the wings, nacelles, cowls and motor installations next. That probably will take a few days.
Is this all CA?
Jack.
95% CA
3% 'express' white/yellow glue
2% epoxy
At this stage what are you guessing your final AUW is gonna be, Michael?
I'm hoping for under 9 pounds.
The weight indicated in a couple posts above does not include fiberglassing (of the fuselage), paint, flight battery (probably a 3-cell 5000 mah), wings, covering, 4 wing servos, motors, speed controls, covering, etc.
The model has to be light.
Despite the amazing engineering that went into this design, it's construction is essentially like a huge but ultra-light park flyer type model airplane; the structure is not really robust, and the plane will have to fly slowly and gently.
Quote from: Michael on December 28, 2014, 08:35:56 AM
flight battery (probably a 3-cell 5000 mah), 4 wing servos, motors, speed controls
Cool. What of the following components are you intending to use?
Motors?
ESC's?
Servos?
Also is that ONE 3s 5000mah pack?
Just trying to gauge/extrapolate what my weight
might be based on what your weights are! Thanks!
Colin
I'll be using E-Flite 15s, 60 amp E-Flite ESCs, and high voltage servos throughout, standard size for the tail, minis (not micros) in the wings, and a single 3S 5000mah pack.
Others who have built this plane have used E-Flite 10s, and they say they fly at half throttle.
My DC3, which weighs 9 pounds but with a smaller wing, flies on 4S and E-Flite 32 motors.
Most planes this size tend to weigh in the 12 to 15 pound range, and need bigger motors. My Hangar 9 Twin Otter (which I sold a few months ago) flew well on 25-size motors and 3S batteries.
More carving and sanding; cowls shown.
Today I worked on the servo bays in the wings, closing (waterproofing) the wings under the flaps, carving and sanding.
Before installing the motor system, I want to fill and fine-sand everything, so I took a photo of the assembled model before making a huge mess.
Everything here weighs just over 4 pounds, or about 1865 grams.
Looks like a real airplane now!
It will be fantastic when it's glassed and painted.
Jack.
Really Beautiful!
Looks kinda like Mickey Mouse ;D
the 'filling' has started.
Did you mention how you're planning to finish the model? Are you glassing and painting the whole thing like your DC3?
I haven't decided yet.
The fuselage and tip floats will be fiberglassed and painted, the rest will be covered with Monokote.
For the benefit of other folks (ok, mainly me! :)) ) planning to do similar stuff with similar sized planes, PLEASE record and share your before and after weights for the fiberglassed and painted parts!
Thanks!
Colin
Quote from: wollins on December 30, 2014, 08:22:03 PM
For the benefit of other folks (ok, mainly me!planning to do similar stuff with similar sized planes, PLEASE record and share your before and after weights for the fiberglassed and painted parts!
Thanks!
Colin
No problem.
I've been working . ;D
yep it looks filled ;)
All construction, filling, sanding, radio installation, linkages, motor installation, ... done!
Covering is next! :o
I'll look everything over carefully first.
I may want to use solid balsa instead of clear plastic for the front windshield.
Yup!
Balsa windshield.
Covering has officially started! ;D
Much of this plane is in silver or light grey colour, so this will have to wait, since I have no such Monokote yet.
Hopefully I'll start preparing the fiberglassing parts later this week.
Most of the tail is covered now (white, aluminum and red), but there will be some black and decals added.
The aluminum colour is extremely difficult to work with.
I've spent about 5 hours covering one wing, and that doesn't include working on the flap, which needs to be covered in fiberglass, as well as the cowls.
The aluminum colour covering remains difficult for me; it seems to retain some characteristics of aluminum foil. It creases and remains hard, and also doesn't shrink like the red and white Monokote.
As difficult as it is, the really shiny spots in the photos are not covering problems; they're just reflections of light.
All internal wiring for the wing is complete.
I also added a bit of black trim to the leading edges of the tail, and it really looks better.
Looks great to me! :)
You do know it's still winter Michael, for your winter build?
Coming on great. Why did you decide against the plastic windshield?
There is no room for a cockpit/interior nor pilots, and a piece of clear plastic simply glued on will not look nice.
Also, the graphics I ordered included decals for windows, and since my DC3 seems OK like that, I decided to do the same with this model.
Quote from: Michael on January 03, 2015, 06:15:59 PM
The aluminum colour is extremely difficult to work with.
Plane is looking great
BTW...just saying Jimmy's plane doesn't have any silver in it.....
The black strips look like anti icing boots. Nice touch.
Jack.
I just wanna say that you guys (Michael, Bruce, and Colin) are doing some fantastic, super awesome, flying boat, building.
It brings a tear to my eye! :'(
I can't compare my flying boat project to any of these you guys are building. At least I know if mine won't float or fly, I know it can be parked in the shade under one of the wings of these other great projects. I am looking forward to seeing all these out over the water.
Bruce :P
All flying boats are AWESOME! Heck, all airplane construction is awesome!
The biggest difference between your smaller model and the behemoths that these guys are building is that yours will be easy to transport, easy to set-up for flying, and fun and stress free to fly :) But no one can claim a twin hull, twin boom, "push me/pull you" power set-up like yours yet.
Michael,
That is a very nice model. May have to get one!
Glenn ;)
Michael, let me know when you are ready to sell this baby! ;D
Ready to start the fiberglass work.
The balsa hull has already been sprayed with sanding sealer (so the wood won't warp when it gets wet from the water-based polyurethane.)
Total weight of the hull, before fiberglassing, including servos and pushrods, but excluding hatches, and the nose-piece, is 803 grams, or 28.5 ounces.
What weight cloth are you using Michael? .75 ounce?
Colin
Quote from: wollins on January 18, 2015, 07:05:13 PM
What weight cloth are you using Michael? .75 ounce?
Colin
1.4 ounce.
I've started the fiberglass covering.
I'm using heavier cloth than my last year's project (DC3) as the structure is very light and delicate, and it can use a bit more weight and strength.
The cloth easily goes over compound surfaces and shapes.
Fiberglass covering continues.
The canopy/cockpit/battery-hatch is covered in one piece.
Looks awesome Michael! I'm planning to do the same with my cessna.
Quote from: Michael on January 18, 2015, 04:54:47 PM
Ready to start the fiberglass work.
The balsa hull has already been sprayed with sanding sealer (so the wood won't warp when it gets wet from the water-based polyurethane.)
What was the sanding sealer product you used, Michael?
Total weight of the hull, before fiberglassing, including servos and pushrods, but excluding hatches, and the nose-piece, is 803 grams, or 28.5 ounces.
I am using the products in the images below.
The spray is for sealing the balsa (I assume that's what it's doing), and the water-based-poly-urethane is for applying the fiberglass.
Both from Home Depot.
Robert suggested that I apply additional layers of fiberglass on the bottom of the hull if I intend to takeoff from grass. Basically, I applied extra layers and generous amounts of water-based poly-urethane to the keel on the forward fuselage, the rear part of the keel at the rear of the fuselage, and on the bottoms of the tip floats.
The fuselage is fully covered with fiberglass cloth and water-based polyurethane, and is essentially dry. It still needs to be trimmed a bit, sanded and touched up, but later this week I hope to be applying a coat of gray primer.
Weight for this component is now 951 grams, or 33.84 ounces. It ws 803 grams, or 28.5 ounces before applying the fiberglass cloth.
That's about an 18% increase in weight (148 grams; 5.3 ounces). I still have to paint it, but at just over 2 pounds (with servos and a few other things), it still feels pretty light.
I applied oil-based polyurethane to the exposed balsa areas of the inner split flaps.
Nothing exciting; no photo.
I'm in the middle of a busy time at work, but within the week or so, I'll start sanding the fuselage and prepare it for painting.
A little more progress; primer spayed on the treated balsa and fiberglassed surfaces.
Mike do you paint inside the house?
Yes, a little at a time, wearing a breathing filter. I usually paint at work.
Warning to all followers:
In case some of you are accustomed to Robert Pike's flawless but unrealistic finishes on his magnificent models, mine won't look like that.
I have carefully studied images of full scale airplanes (of the Grumman Albatross), and I realized that the surfaces have many imperfections, smudged paint, hand-hammered repairs, etc., and I've decided to try to replicate this accurately.
So, what may appear on my model to be less-than-perfect fiberglass covering, poor sanding, non-exact painting, etc., will actually be the results of my intensive efforts to reproduce an accurate airplane.
;D
Michael, Slave to Perfection!
He also has some excellent land in Florida for sale!
Right on the water!
Jack.
A rainbow paint job???
Progress!
Great decals!
Quote from: Michael on February 08, 2015, 10:44:04 AM
So, what may appear on my model to be less-than-perfect fiberglass covering, poor sanding, non-exact painting, etc., will actually be the results of my intensive efforts to reproduce an accurate airplane.
;D
LOL! I like that! :)
"Windows" (black Monokote trim) done.
The model is ready for radio and power system installation (motors are already installed), and then basic assembly, balancing, and then control adjustments.
Another masterful build is coming together. I wish I had one tenth of your skill and dedication to aircraft construction and finishing.
Man, that's lookin' good! What grey did you use Mike? I'm looking for a rattle can match for my stabs and this looks awful close. Luvin' your scheme!
C
Quote from: bweaver on February 08, 2015, 07:10:52 PM
Another masterful build is coming together. I wish I had one tenth of your skill and dedication to aircraft construction and finishing.
The secret is that it's 30% skill, 70% dedication (or rather ego and stubbornness).
Quote from: wollins on February 08, 2015, 07:12:26 PM
Man, that's lookin' good! What grey did you use Mike? I'm looking for a rattle can match for my stabs and this looks awful close. Luvin' your scheme!
C
Temclad glossy winter grey, from Home Depot, over Tremclad grey primer.
That looks fabulous! Congratulations!
I don't know about that. I don't see enough "scale" detail. I think you sanded too much. ;D
It sure does look fantastic!
Will you bring it to the meeting tomorrow?
... and subject it and myself to all that criticism?
Maybe.
Hinges done, linkages done, cowls on, etc. All need to be fine tuned, and the tip floats need to be secured.
Still to do
- secure carbon fiber wing joiners
- water proof wing-fuselage joint
- install speed controls, wiring, and battery tray.
- balance
- adjust radio, and program steering by rudder-throttles mix.
Looks super, should be a real hit at Show & Tell tomorrow.
Jack.
It was so nice to see the Albatross at the meeting on Wednesday. It looks wonderful and will be fantastic at the summer float flys!!!
OK, so the power system is a bit more work than I expected, and I'm not even trying to mix rudder with throttle yet.
The ESC's and wiring are installed, and both radio-control leads are plugged (with a Y connector) into the throttle port on the receiver. The props are turning in opposite directions, the top of the arc towards the fuselage.
With 9/7 3-blade props and a 3-cell lipo pack, full throttle draw is about 36 amps, which is about 400 watts, which is about 50 watts per pound. It feels OK, but just OK.
The exact same system but with a 4 cell lipo pack draws about 70 amps - way too much for the 60 amp ESCs, even though I'll never need that much throttle.
I think now I'll try 10/7 props with 3 cells. The props take time to install, as the rear/bottom hole (it's not a dirty joke; stay calm) of the prop has to be widened to fit the prop adapter. The 9/7s look a bit small anyway.
Quote from: Michael on February 14, 2015, 05:28:33 PM
400 watts, which is about 50 watts per pound.
So you're AUW as of now is around 8 pounds? Could you weigh your wing and fuse (without battery) separately please?
Thanks!
Colin
I'll try to weigh it later this weekend, as I'm testing things assembled.
In the meantime, 10/7 props draw a total of close to 48 amps, which 'feels' better than adequate.
I'll stick with that. It feels really strong and probably more than enough to fly off grass and water.
All done. (I'm getting a slightly longer carbon fiber tube for a wing joiner, so a few more grams will be added.
Weights:
Wings (including 2 props, 2 motors, 4 servos, wires, 2 carbon fiber tubes, tip floats) is 1607 grams or approx. 56.7 ounces
Fuselage (including 2 servos, on board radio battery, all tail parts, 2 60 amp esc's, wires) is 1660 grams or approx. 58.5 ounces
Flight battery (3S 5000 mah) is 391 grams or approx. 14 ounces
Total flying weight is 3787 grams, or 133.6 ounces, or 8.35 pounds.
Wing area is 1035 square inches; wing loading is 18.6 ounces per square foot.
Power is 65 to 70 amps per pound at full throttle; excellent for a twin, especially with a low wing loading.
Photo from Greg H at the last club meeting.
Quote from: Michael on February 14, 2015, 09:16:07 PM
All done. (I'm getting a slightly longer carbon fiber tube for a wing joiner, so a few more grams will be added.
Weights:
Wings (including 2 props, 2 motors, 4 servos, wires, 2 carbon fiber tubes, tip floats) is 1607 grams or approx. 56.7 ounces
Fuselage (including 2 servos, on board radio battery, all tail parts, 2 60 amp esc's, wires) is 1660 grams or approx. 58.5 ounces
Flight battery (3S 5000 mah) is 391 grams or approx. 14 ounces
Total flying weight is 3787 grams, or 133.6 ounces, or 8.35 pounds.
Wing area is 1035 square inches; wing loading is 18.6 ounces per square foot.
Power is 65 to 70 amps per pound at full throttle; excellent for a twin, especially with a low wing loading.
Excellent! Thanks Michael, I appreciate that.
C.
Congrats to Michael on an amazing maiden ... and the landing had to be seen to be believed ... smooth like "butta"! ;D
Colin
Thanks Colin.
... And yes, the plane has been flown!
Take off was a bit difficult due to the wind, and a tip float broke off, but once in the air, the plane flew superbly. As Colin mentioned, the landing was very smooth. (Actually, it was perfect!)
It was difficult to taxi back, but Robert helped in his boat. Thanks Robert.
Remarkable Plane, Remarkable Pilot, Remarkable Landing.
Perfect all round.
Jack.
Quote from: Michael on February 08, 2015, 07:25:36 PM
Quote from: wollins on February 08, 2015, 07:12:26 PM
Man, that's lookin' good! What grey did you use Mike? I'm looking for a rattle can match for my stabs and this looks awful close. Luvin' your scheme!
C
Temclad glossy winter grey, from Home Depot, over Tremclad grey primer.
Hey Mike, any possibility that you could post a pic of the can of the Tremclad glossy winter grey? As I mentioned today at the bay, I can't seem to find it.
Colin
paint.
Maybe Lowes instead of Home Depot.
Colin,
Canadian Tire also sells that brand.
Glenn
Michael,
congratulations on the flight. I'll be there for the next one :) :)
Quote from: Michael on May 03, 2015, 12:01:38 AM
paint.
Maybe Lowes instead of Home Depot.
Aha!!! See I was looking for Tremclad not Rustoleum! Thanks!
Despite a forecast of rain and bad weather, Jack called me out to fly in what turned out to be mild and almost windless conditions.
I brought my Albatross along on a whim, and worked up the nerve to fly it from the field.
I am happy to report that it took off slowly on the runway after about a 10 foot slide, and then flew as beautifully as could be wished for. The only thing more exciting was the smooth and very slow landing, also on the runway, maybe sliding 10 feet as well.
That's awesome that the board has finally approved use of the runway by the big flying boats! You guys just saved me at least a pound in AUW for my Solent. Awesome!
Colin
Quote from: wollins on May 11, 2015, 09:57:38 PM
That's awesome that the board has finally approved use of the runway by the big flying boats! You guys just saved me at least a pound in AUW for my Solent. Awesome!
Colin
Maybe it's not so awesome.
Before taking off from the runway, Jack and I carefully made the decision, based on the very smooth bottom of my plane, and its unusually light weight.
As such, the plane barely slid forward about 10 feet and took off. If the plane would have rubbed against the large staples in the runway, that would have severely damaged my plane.
Next time, as long as the grass is relatively dry (it's 'sticky' when wet), I'll take off from, and land on, the grass.
Video by Greg Hazelton.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VBBvHYqKCM&feature=youtu.be
Very very nice! Makes you look good! Lol
Not as good as when I stand next to you. ;D
For those who missed it on the previous page, .... ;D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VBBvHYqKCM&feature=youtu.be
Love it!!! :D
Quote from: Michael on May 14, 2015, 10:06:58 PM
Not as good as when I stand next to you. ;D
Too true!
Awesome flights, Mike. What flight times are you getting?
Colin
Considering that I'm using a single 3-cell 5000 mah lipo battery for the 2 motors, I'm limiting flights to 4 or 5 minutes for now. I've only had 4 flights so far.
Very nice flying plane, Michael. I hope the Spitfire flies as well.
Thanks, André, but anything you build always flies great!
A few shots from Andy:
A couple shots from the funfly:
Model Airplane News magazine Pilot Project of the Month; November 2015.
Hey Michael
That's fantastic... and your smile in the picture says it all.
Awesome looking plane.