Been A While.....

Hello ,

My wife has been very ill and is now on chemo. Things are looking encouraging, so far. But we are just taking thngs one day at a time.

Leonard,

Had to set security setting for cookies on low to get logged on. I know I haven't changed it. Sorry for bugging you, but didn't know who else to get a hold of. Thanks for your patience.

Was able to get back on my Magician this past week. Hope to have it complete in the next couple of weeks. Up to this point, I've been using colored tissue and clear most of the time. This is my first attempt at using an all dope finish with color dope. Got some help from Jim Lee and a few on this forum, if anyone remembers????

It's Sig dope, Cub yellow and Tennessee Red. Will need to put a couple more coats of clear and then it should be done. I got a new Harbor Freight HVLP gun that really seems to work well. I used an air brush to put the red and the canopy on.

Our Memorial Day contest Topeka Control Line Association (TOPCLASS)is this coming weekend at Gauge Park in Topeka, Kansas. I am planning on being pit boss. So plan to see ya for those planning to attend.

Cheers for now.

John

Nice looking plane. Will we get to see it fly at the Wichita KS contest on the 7th and 6th of August?

See you this weekrnd if you promice to not pull the belcrank out of my Goldberg racer.

Bigiron

Hey Marvin,

I promise not to pull your bellcrank out.....anyway not while you are looking.

I don't fly well enough to enter any contests. I just kind of putter around. I've been to your all's contest few times and would like to this coming year, too.

John

Hello John,

Glad to see you back and I hope your wife continues to improve!!!!!!!!

Very nice looking Magician.

Hi John,

Thanks for your concern and thanks for your welcome back. Anyone ever tell you you have a pretty good name???

John

John Ramsey,
You did good.

Wow! Nice job! Looks great

Thanks Greg and Tom,

I don't know what it weighs since I put on the red and clear. Was at about 18.5 ounces prior to that. I have a nice running Red Head McCoy 35 for a period engine for it and a big red spinner. Walter Umland sure makes a very nice kit. It practically fell together all by itself. I am hoping it comes in at less than 34 ounces all complete. That would be just over 10 ounces per square foot. Very nice wood in the kit, too.

Cheers,

Glad to hear things are turning around for you and your wife John. I think your plane looks great! I noticed the painting rig for holding the plane. I HAVE TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE! Where did you get it or is it a home built job?

Thanks Larry,

I cut and pasted an earlier post with pictures about the stand below It's not very hard to make one and I find I use it to hold the model while I sand it once I get it nearly finished and it's good for holding the model so you can check out alignment and stuff too. Take you about a half hour to make once you have all of the materials.

Hope this works. Here is the earlier post with pictures:

I got the idea for the stand from Jim Lee. They are not too hard to make. Mine is just two pieces of one inch lumber about 4" x 7" mounted on a 2 x 4 base. See photos. I used a one inch hole saw in my drill to cut the holes for the dowel. The dowel is just a piece I got from a worn out lawn rake handle. The last photo shows the clip to keep the dowel from coming out....which it will if you don't put something back there. You can get the clips at the local hardware store or use a piece of piano wire to make one.

Note the tubing used to hold the model out away from the holder. This one of the tips Jim showed me. They are just short pieces of brass tubing in-between the mount and the model.

I made the "U" shaped piece for the motor mount out of some sheet aluminum. Depending on the engine you're going to use, you'll need a couple of them so the holes line up for different engines.

I extended the dowel from the one in the pictures, so I can paint the front of the fuselage better. The one in the pictures is too short. I drilled holes at right angles and stick a long allen wrench tool in there to hold it steady. Hope this helps you out, if you decide to make one.

Regards,

Hi John; Hope your wife continues to get better. Great looking Magician. I think you will really like the way it fly's. I was Just finishing up mine several years ago as my wife was getting over viral pneumonia. I think mine came in at around 35 to 36 oz. depending on which muffler I used. Good luck on those first flights. Hope to see you this weekend.

Hi John,

Your plane looks slick.

And I hope that your wife feels better.

Sincerely,

Thanks Paul,

Got that Oriental built yet? Take care.

Regards,

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your kind words. Your Magician sure looked nice and you put in some very nice flights at our last contest. Glad to hear you are planning on making it. We got weather here in Topeka tonight. Typical Kansas this time of year. Thanks again and take care.

Regards,

John,
I'll pray for you and your wife. Looking forward to the Topeka contest. Nice job on the Magician.

See you this weekend,

My wife went through chemo about 15 years ago and it's tough.

Keep your pecker up! (That's your nose by the way)

I'd like to build a Magician one day.

Best wishes.

Tony

Hi John,
Very sorry to hear about your wife. I hope she really continues to show improvement. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Great looking Magician! I can tell you listen to Jim.
Bill <><

Hi John,

Good to hear from you and will pray for you wife's recovery.

As I suspected, that Magician is looking fantastic!!

Crist, Tony, Bill, Randy,

Thanks very much for your thoughts and your prayers. It's been tough, but we are making it for now. Some good days and some not so good, but we are making it.

We'll be out at the circle Thursday evening to mow and get ready for the contest. Look forward to it and seeing you all.

Thanks again.

Best Regards,