Well, here it is. Finally...

Just need to wrap the leadouts.... then jack it up and drive another one under it. Came out porkier that I had planned and the heck of it is, I'm not really sure where the extra weight came from. Hmmm. Problem is, it's tail heavy as it sits there. Rather than add 2 ounces or more to the nose, I'll probably just retrofit a bigger engine in. I'd rather add the 2 ounces with additional horsepower than just dead weight. But it looks OK, I guess. Man, it's big. I finally measured the wing accurately tonight (using the Ted method). 774 square inches. Yikes! Maybe it's isn't so heavy afterall.

It won't make the NW Regionals, though. I see a lot of work coming on to dial this thing in.

LAST EDITED ON May-19-06 AT 00:05 AM (CST)
 
I've heard tell of 70+++ oz patternmasters with a ST60. Who knows.
Sure is purty.
Walter

Very nice Randy!
So ... you never did mention the final weight...

Will,

It's about 66oz as it sits there. Normally, I'd be happy, but that wing really isn't designed to carry a lot of weight. Could be I'm just paranoid, it is 50+ square inches bigger than the USA-1 and has a lot more flap.

Hi Randy

Do you have a figure for the weight of the finish?

Really pretty

Regards

Mike

LAST EDITED ON May-19-06 AT 08:00 AM (CST)
 
Randy,

66 ounces with 774 square inches works out to a very light 12.28 oz./ft2 wing loading. My bigger planes run more like 13.25 - 13.5 ounce loading and fly like gangbusters with the RO-Jett 76. IIRC, Kent Tysor has been doing very well with a Strega (740 squares) at 74 ounces, with his big RJ.

My theory is bigger wings fly better and can carry higher loading with no adverse effect. You're getting into better Reynolds numbers and the wings are more efficient. There is a practical limit, but it's based on the radius of our circle more than anything else. Anyway, that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

Personally, I would just throw the two ounces in there and give it a try. You have a wing that's over five square feet. Your loading will still be about 12.6 ounces. What's another suitcase on the Queen Mary?

PS - Very nice job. Love the jet look.

EDIT - Brain lock on the calculator.

Ron King

Yeah Randy, I'd say you're right on the mark for weight, though getting the CG right will add a little. My Gladiator at 720 squares weighed in at 63 oz new, I was shooting for 58-60. It turned out still to be what I could say was too light. With the high aspect ratio, large area wing, its really "nervous" in the wind, prone to lots more bumping in the gusts then a model with a lower AR. Still very flyable though.

Anyway it looks great, how'd you like the Brasso?

Very pretty . . . though I still prefer the gorgeous yellow Cobra.

Mike,

well, depending on how the beast flies, I may agree with you. The Cobra does have a certain amount of coolness.

LAST EDITED ON May-19-06 AT 09:32 AM (CST)
 
Mike,

Well, I thought it would comeout around 58oz based on the weight before I started finishing it. But I was probably way to light on my estimates for finishing materials. It weighed about 52oz ready to fly without finish, so there you are. Not sure how I picked up that much in dope, but hey, life's tough sometimes.

Ron,

Yea, my plan is to throw in a spinner weight and take it out this weekend to try it out. we'll see what we get. If it's OK, great. But I suspect the .65 with get retrofitted into it. I'd rather pick up 2 more ounces in the nose with a heavier, more powerful engine than just dead weight. We'll see.

Randy,
It's very beautiful...Not ot worry about the weight, it seems very reasonable to me.
My experience has been that my "good" (not as good as yours) finishes add about 10-11 oz to a typical 700 sq in airplane. The only exception I've had to this "rule of thumb" is the Geo-XL (725 sq in) and the finish there is very, very thin. It added 8.5 oz (total finished weight of airplane is 54 oz). It is however a lower middle of the pack finish.
You truly have another great looking airplane and my bet would go for an excellent flier also.
I'm interested in how the trimming cycle goes. Best of luck!

Randy,

Well, we'll find out this weekend. My sense at this point is, it will be awhile before it sees a contest. But you never know.

>Personally, I would just throw the two ounces in there and
>give it a try.

If it doesn't balance properly, there aren't any options. Wouldn't matter if it need 8 oz, you'd still have to do it. There's no trim magic that will "correct" for being tail heavy.

Brett,

Exactly. My only point was, since the weight has to go in anyway, as you note, I'd just as soon also add horsepower. The .65 I have is right on 2oz heavier than the OS. Coupled with a slightly heavier header and the ability to pust the RO-Jett back a bit (since there is room), I'm hoping that will do it. In the mean time, I'll just add some temporary weight and fly it. The amount I have to add to balance should tell me if just adding the bigger engine will be enough.

It currently balances about an inch behind the design CG. I think 2oz will be enough.

Oh Baby!!!

Hey Randy,
Beautiful job. Good luck with it and I hope it flies real well for you. I would say at 66 oz. with whatever engine you stick in there at 774 squares, you're on the light side.
Best of Luck again and remaining yours in STUNT,
Bob "Champione" Lampione

Bob Lampione
AMA 605
New York Stunt Team
Flushing, N.Y.

LAST EDITED ON May-19-06 AT 06:46 PM (CST)
 
Wow Randy I remember when you first started this post/airplane, I had just finished my Injector and all told me how nice my plane was, but I have to tell you this is sweet!!! Awesome work my man Awesome!!
Thanks
Dwayne

I've been following this build and was thinking it would almost be a shame to cover the beautiful woodwork. But when you cover it like THAT...

Absolutly stunning!

God bless!

SO Randy, I'll ask again, how did you like the Brasso?

Randy,
She sure looks purdy! Nice job. Pretty fancy paint scheme too!

LAST EDITED ON May-19-06 AT 11:58 PM (CST)
 
Thanks for all the nice comments. I appreciate it.

Randy,

The Brasso worked fine. I went back and forth using the Brasso then the Aurora Hand glaze. Parts of the clear look really good. Others, well, if the thing flies half way decent, I'll spent a bit more time with the sand paper to flatten out some spots that are less than sterling.

Crist,

Yea, the scheme drove me nuts. Never had so much problem with tape slippage. Finally went to using some vinyl adhesive paper from Office Dept that worked a bit better. No more complicated paint schemes for me for awhile.

On the other hand, I've already started the next project.

Wow! Very nice. Can you show us a closes-up of the cockpit?

Heman Lee
Alameda Aer-O-Nuts
Woodland/Davis Aeromodelers
www.aeromaniacs.com

Heman,

It's not as great as you might think. Not my forte. From early in the finish process. But Raefael is peeking out.

"Raefael"? Is that one of the "Star Wars Action Figures"? I would have expected "Ichiro" or "Rauuuuuuul" (with 7 u's). I like it, Randy, and hope to see it at a contest soon. Especially looking forward to the real name. I do like my red, my white, and my blue...but this is cool, too. Old "Seadogs" colors? Steve

OK, so I can't spell. Raphael! As in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

First flight tomorrow if the wind cooperates. Spent some time today packing a ounce and a half of lead in the nose and turing down a 2oz spinner weight I made to fit in the 1.75" spinner. Overall, added about 3.5oz to the nose and the balance, while still a touch back (mostly my own paranoia) is in the adjustment range. Guess we'll see.