Sr 70

[gavoss]

As a tribute to Bob Martin, we are proud to announce the upcoming availability of the SR 70. The prototypes are almost ready, as is the fuselage plug.

This isn't an exact replica of Bob's SR7, but an updated model with similar looks and even better speed thanks to a new airfoil.

We expect kits to be ready in late December. We don't have a firm price on the kits yet, so this post is sort of a 'dangle the bait' post to get a tentative list of those interested in the kits.

The wings are blue foam with a fiberglass fuselage. The fuse bottom and lower wing to body fairing will have carbon and kevlar in their layup to help protect the bottom of the fuse from rocky landing areas. It's still up in the air whether we will sell either short kits, full kits, and/or pre-sheeted kits. I guess that will be determined by response to this post.

We will more than likely make a limited number of kits available, so if you've ever wanted one of these delta beauties, you better get them while you can!

I'll be posting photos as soon as they are available.

[lrsudog]

Dibs!

[target]

How much will they be?

T

[gavoss]

Prices haven't been established yet. I know the core cost already but I'm not sure of the fuse and lower wing/body fairing cost yet. That will be what drives the cost of the kit.

Would you be interested in a basic, fuse and core kit or something more complete? gvv

[target]

Depends on the prices, mostly. I guess you'll be posting them later on this thread when you find out more. For me, I'd rather get JUST a fuse, then cut and bag my own wings and tail, but I know that is an unusual request.
I'll be subscribed.

[droydx]

George,
Excellent! Hope you are feeling better and I'd be interested in one, a basic kit with cores, fuse and canopy. Are you planning on a seperate clear plastic canopy or will you mold the canopy and make it an all fiberglass kit? ..... anyway, definitely a short kit for me.
Andy D.

[dr.E]

I'm on this faster than Opra on a rack of Baby Back Ribs!!!!!!!!

George, get your Brick* on...........

[Ric Duley]

Count me in too. :cool:

A fuse & cores would be fine with me.

[shhhhh!]

I want one!!

[Doubletap]

Put me down for a couple of short kits. I'd like to be able to choose/provide my own sheeting and tail plane materials, although I think for the mass market a full kit option would be good.

Also, what type/thickness of sheeting are you planning on using? My vote would be for 1/32 ply. Also, I would suggest using kevlar in at least the forward 1/3rd of the fuselage (especially where the canopy cutout is) as this is where the stress fractures originate. Please post some pics ASAP.

Thanks,
doubletap :D

[ClayH]

I look forward to hearing more about the wing.

Clay

[MTT]

I'm interested, too.
When you write "kit", do you mean a kit like Bob Martin used to deliver?
I mean fuse, cores, sheeting, etc., and you had to sheet the wings yourself ?
Or will it be more like an ARF/ARC, with ready wings ?

Michael

[target]

Shouldn't this thread really be in the "Slope" Forum, not the "For Sale" Forum? There's no prices, and it's really more of a discussion, anyway.

T

[droydx]

Shouldn't this thread really be in the "Slope" Forum, not the "For Sale" Forum? There's no prices, and it's really more of a discussion, anyway.

T

yup.
Andy

[My Precioussss!]

"better speed thanks to a new airfoil."

What airfoil are you going to use? I'll take one, depending on price.

Todd

[timmig]

YEah-- but our moderators are busy looking for "bad words" and not content! Should be a slope forum discussion.
T

[Hutch]

Sounds awesome! I've been on a vintage glider kick lately.

-hutch

[gavoss]

Who is the mod for this forum? I'll notifiy them and have this thread changed to the slope forum.

As for the airfoil, I'd rather not say at this point since the design isn't finalized. The price isn't finalized either. It's not going to be outrageous, but typical to this type of plane.

As for the kit contents, would you rather have a fuse, canopy and core only, fuse, canopy and sheeted wings, or do you guys want full kits? It seems to me, most slope guys just want fuses and cores and they can sheet it with whatever they want. Personally, that's the way I like them. That way the kits are less expensive, and I don't pay a premium for wood and hardware.

When we get closer to production, I'll let everyone know. gv

[target]

Hi, Goerge-
In my experience, you can't really use whatever you want for the sheeting due to the fact that there is a big difference that will result from sheeting a core with say 1/64" ply, if they are meant to be sheeted with 1/16" balsa....
So, unless you're willing to have different cores cut, and allowing "options" for the skin material, I'd find out what most of the guys want fo theirs, and make 'em for that.
I for one, would only be interested in a fuse, mainly. I might want to v-bag a set of wings for it, instead of sheeting them.

As for the hardware, yeah, I can get my own, but it might not be a bad idea to have a couple sets around, or at least a list. Seems a lot of guys these days have never even sheeted a wing, and for them, having all necessary pieces is a plus.

Just my opinion,

Target

[Doubletap]

I would prefer a kit consisting of a fuse, canopy, bottom fairing, wing cores cut for 1/32 sheeting, and a set of plans. Hope to see some basic layout pics soon.

Doubletap

[Ric Duley]

Who is the mod for this forum? I'll notifiy them and have this thread changed to the slope forum.It doesn't currently have one - he resigned in protest a few months ago. ;)

PM either Dave Lauck (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/member.php?u=33763) or Mike Kolesnikov (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/member.php?u=10687) (they are RCG admins) and ask one of them to do it.

I vote for fuse, canopy & core. Keeps the costs down and let's us do it the way we want.

Get to work. :D

[ClayH]

I vote for fuse ,canopy and cores cut for 32nd balsa or 64 ply. Also , George, is the plane going to have the split elevator like the SR-7? If so, it would be nice to get the elevator control horn/torque rods piece in the kit. That internal control setup kept the exterior very clean.

Clay

[target]

I vote for fuse ,canopy and cores cut for 32nd balsa or 64 ply. Also , George, is the plane going to have the split elevator like the SR-7? If so, it would be nice to get the elevator control horn/torque rods piece in the kit. That internal control setup kept the exterior very clean.

Clay


Simple is good too, You can hang the elevator off the tail of the fuse, and have a strip elevator, with no torque linkage, and an easily accessable horn/clevis setup....

T

[jwspilot]

Keep me informed, please....

[gavoss]

I haven't made any further progress on the fuse plug as I've had other 'stuff' I've had to take care of first. I'm hoping to finish the plug by the middle of the month and then make the mold. I'll have the fuse mold to the manufacturer by the end of Dec. and we'll have to find out from there how long it'll take to get the initial 25 fuses. Once I'm done with the mold, I will have the design finalized and the cost of kits determined.

As for the tail, I plan on having the elevator control horn hang right off of the back of the fuse. I'm considering having a filler plug to finish off the back end so it'll look nice. You'll hear about it first right here on RCG!

[just_steve51]

No updates in two months ............

Brining a new model to market - costly and time consuming

Hope this is successful -- Id love something to resemble the SR-71

[gavoss]

Well, life, pain and my disability have caused a delay in getting the fuse mold finished. Like evertything else in my life, I'll do it when I can. Please keep prodding me as it does help. :D

[Doubletap]

Hope you're feeling better nowadays. Just wondering if there's been any new progress on the SR-70. Perhaps some line drawings or illustrations to show what it will look like?

Thanks,
Doubletap :)

[gavoss]

Actually there is some updates! Though my back problems are slowing me to a snails pace, I recently made myself do some building! I'm finishing up the fairings hopefully this week and then we can start shooting primer.

Please feel free to bug me! Sometime I just need a swift kick in the behind. gv

[McLeodAviation]

Please post a picture or pictures of the original SR7.
Thanks, Mike

[gavoss]

Updates:

Today the fuselage got its first coat of primer and a basic wetsanding, which as anyone who's made a plug knows, showed a million 'issues' with the previously "thought smooth" fuselage. After sanding I applied some spot filler that will sit over night and I'll sand and prime again tomorrow. After 4 days of this, the fuse should be ready to be used as a plug. I'll have photos of the fuse and wings tomorrow. For now, here is a couple of photos I found of the original SR7.

[gavoss]

Update 17 Mar.

The plug is 98% finished. I'll have some photos tomorrow after I clean the workshop. I have the plug for the canopy roughed in. It is currently pink foam and the final finish on the top will be fiberglass so the mold won't crush under vacuum.

Now a question: What would you guys rather have, a fiberglass canopy or a clear on? The FG canopy will probably raise the price about $5-8. gv

[Doubletap]

Update 17 Mar.

The plug is 98% finished. I'll have some photos tomorrow after I clean the workshop. I have the plug for the canopy roughed in. It is currently pink foam and the final finish on the top will be fiberglass so the mold won't crush under vacuum.

Now a question: What would you guys rather have, a fiberglass canopy or a clear on? The FG canopy will probably raise the price about $5-8. gv


I'd rather have a clear canopy for this type of model.

Doubletap

[gavoss]

The canopy is ready for its second to the last sanding before I finish the plug. From there we will make a fiberglass coating a the surface for pulling either fiberglass or clear canopies. I can make them both available and then go with whatever the majority says.

gv

[CoastalFlyer]

I vote clear also.