More OTS

These pages need more OTS news. So here is one that I'm Proud of. A 1952 Bob Palmer VENUS. This one is about 10 years old and was in need of fixing. So I stripped it down to bare balsa, and it looks better than new. OS40FPS for power. Watch for more amazing OTS news.

Hi Doc,
Been a while since I saw one of those built. Yours look very vintage, real nice! I always like to see a paint job fitting the period.
Where did that nice looking cowl come from?
Bill <><

Bill. Believe it or not, the spun aluminum cowl was purchased in a hobby shop by me in 1947. I saved it all these years for just a project. I found another similar unit at the VSC in Tucson a couple years back. The guy wanted $10 but I gave him $20. Unless you work for an Aerospace company, spun aluminum is really hard to find.

Not sure if this one got posted. A Bob Palmer/Ted Goyet Hi-Boy. Published in 1956, but just wait until I show you othwerwise!

Floyd....what are some of your techniques for stripping an old model? My wife and I sat with you at the banquet at VSC's in 2001. Have been doing some reserch on OT and the more I do the more I want to start doing FF again, just got plans of the Miss Arpiem. Might make an excellent 1/2 A Texaco project. I have several Models that need complete restoration that were "inherited", basiclly save from the trash can, one is a Circus King, and a couple of YAK-9s. Jim Johnson

Jim, interesting you should ask that question here! I smashed my OTS Yates Dragon pretty badly at the Nat's so this will fit both your question and more OTS stuff. I decided it would be easier to rebuild the Dragon than turn out a whole new ship. In the process I had to remove some of the finish. This works well for me, I have done it many times. Get a gallon of acetone. Take a rag and soak it and start by removing the color dope, When you see clear covering material, get it wet with the acetone and it will start to come up in big pieces. I use a tweezer to get a corner started. Just keep at it until the whole airframe is bare wood. I find that the wood looks like a new build when you get everything off of it. I have done the Dragon 3 times, a complete Stearman in one piece plus several others. Simple but a little messy. If the model was built with regular model cement I can't say how this will work, I build with CA and aliphatics. The Dragon now has a new nose, some LE sheeting, tail repairs and some new wing covering. It is ready for dope at this point and may come out lighter as the old front end has had 3 different engines in it. If my body and fender work is OK it will look just fine. Should be ready by Tulsa meet.

>Jim, interesting you should ask that question here! I
>smashed my OTS Yates Dragon pretty badly at the Nat's so
>this will fit both your question and more OTS stuff. I
>decided it would be easier to rebuild the Dragon than turn
>out a whole new ship. In the process I had to remove some of
>the finish. This works well for me, I have done it many
>times. Get a gallon of acetone. Take a rag and soak it and
>start by removing the color dope, When you see clear
>covering material, get it wet with the acetone and it will
>start to come up in big pieces. I use a tweezer to get a
>corner started. Just keep at it until the whole airframe is
>bare wood. I find that the wood looks like a new build when
>you get everything off of it. I have done the Dragon 3
>times, a complete Stearman in one piece plus several others.
>Simple but a little messy. If the model was built with
>regular model cement I can't say how this will work, I build
>with CA and aliphatics. The Dragon now has a new nose, some
>LE sheeting, tail repairs and some new wing covering. It is
>ready for dope at this point and may come out lighter as the
>old front end has had 3 different engines in it. If my body
>and fender work is OK it will look just fine. Should be
>ready by Tulsa meet.
>
>Don

JASCO epoxy stripper works faster and it is safer. Cleans up with water. Strip a plane in 1 hour. Great stuff.

I used JASCO heavy duty epoxy stripper. Bad stuff because it contains methyl chloride, which also eats human skin! I couldn't use acetone because I build with Ambroid (yes, people still use the stuff). Several days later and dozens of rolls of paper towels, and it was ready for sanding.

Nice idea. Let's see some more ots. More info about good planes and motors. I am just getting into it so I can't offer anything myself; sorry. Thanks, for any info.
Nick Vanmatre