Big Bird questions

[Ken J]

I,ve got a big bird that I'm getting ready to build. But I've got a few questions.

1. Did you glass your fuse and if so, how much weight did it add?

2.If you added spoilers, did you use one servo in fuse or 2 in the wings?

3.Did you beef up the wing any for winch launch's?

[rpd]

I built a Big Bird this Winter. I glassed the fuse with light weight cloth (1/2 or 3/4 oz cloth, I can't remember) and painted it with Aerogloss. It came out at 46.3 oz. That was with 3 oz of lead for balance. I decided to sand off all the glass and cover it with Ultracote to try and get rid of the lead in the nose. It worked, I now use about 3/4 oz of lead to balance. Unfortunately, all the sanding has left the fuse a little thin aft of the wing. I baby it when I launch.
I used two servos in the wing for spoilers (JR 331's). The small spoilers shown on the plans bring it right down.
I built the wing stock. I usually launch with a highstart, but have used our club winch a few times with no problems.
Mine flies great. I flew today with 100% cloud cover, 12 mph wind and a temp of 39 and managed to spec it out once. I am new to this, so it was luck, but this a great flying design.
Patrick

[Ken J]

Thanks for the info RPD.

After you removed the glass on the fuse and most of the nose lead what is new weight ?

Also are your spoilers 2 or 3 spaces wide ?

[Hawksnest]

Originally posted by Ken J
Thanks for the info RPD.

After you removed the glass on the fuse and most of the nose lead what is new weight ?

Also are your spoilers 2 or 3 spaces wide ?

I fly birds, 2M birds, 100"Big birds, 132" Sky birds, I have never glassed any of the fuses. Except for my first Big Bird (40 ounces AUW) no carbon, no glass. I have added .014" carbon to the top inboard spars, and .007" to the bottom inboard spars, then .007" to the top out board spars. I also use 3/4" wide strips of carbon on the fuses sides, and bottom sheeting, from just behind the TE, to the last bay in front of the stab. This brought the weight to 46 ounces AUW, and I can launch and zoom it very well. The 2M Lil Birds are extremely strong, with or without carbon on the spars. They launch very hard and weigh 25 ounces. My Sky Birds (2) weigh 85 & 92 oz respectively, and will launch and zoom very hard. All are good flying planes. I have two of each, 'cause I fly one of each with spoilers RES, and the other with flaps REF.
My spoilers on my big bird are two bays wide, 1.5" deep, and the rear edge is 2.5 inches from the trailing edge. They start in the first open bay from the center. Very effective. I use two servos in the wing, one on each spoiler. Bill G.

[lsf810]

Bill
I just wondered if you reinforced the fuse because of past problems or were you just trying to make it bullet proof. I have seen the stock fuse stand up to some serious abuse.
Don H.

[Hawksnest]

Originally posted by lsf810
Bill
I just wondered if you reinforced the fuse because of past problems or were you just trying to make it bullet proof. I have seen the stock fuse stand up to some serious abuse.
Don H.
I didn't reinforce the first one, but after reading that Ray suggested in the info that it might be a good idea, I added the carbon strips. Like you, I have never broken a bird fuse to date. It is easy, and doesn't add much weight, so I now add the carbon strips to the fuse. Probably overkill. Bill G.

[Ken J]

I'll be using a hi-start most of time so I've decided against any glass on the fuse or carbon on the wing. I'll keep this one light.

[Hawksnest]

Originally posted by Ken J
I'll be using a hi-start most of time so I've decided against any glass on the fuse or carbon on the wing. I'll keep this one light.

You will have an excellent flying bird. My first one still fly's well after 4 years. No carbon in the wings or fuse, no glass anywhere, just spoilers with 2 CS-20 servos in the wings , HS-81s in the fuse.
Flying weight is 40 ounces. Perfect for high starts or winch. Bill G.