RC Groups - rec.models.rc.air

Nobler Yet

Tim Wescott — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:03:40 GMT

Well, I _thought_ I was done with the covering -- I still have one stripe
to add to the bottom, and my AMA number on the wing. But it's looking
rather complete:

http://www.ccwebster.net/robintim/Nobler/

--
www.wescottdesign.com

Painting Equipment

Tim Wescott — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:00:14 GMT

(splatting this across multiple groups in hopes of finding someone who
knows)

The Problem:

I want to set up a small paint booth for painting model airplanes. I'm
cheap, so I want to start collecting equipment for it bit by bit as it
comes up for sale on Craigslist &c.

This will be for model airplanes, so the actual spraying will be far more
intermittent than for (say) a car -- in fact, the worst-case painting job
would be if a fender from a car project accidentally found it's way into
the booth along with some primer (I dunno how _that_ would happen :-).

I used to work at a shop with a paint booth, so I know all the
procedures. But I was just a peon, and it was a long time ago, so what I
_don't_ know are things like what capacity compressor do I need, do I
really need an HVLP gun, what sort of exhaust fan is recommended, etc.

Currently I'm only planning on using airplane dope, which is basically
butyrate lacquer that's formulated to stay flexible so it won't crack
when it's painted on fabric. I may eventually branch out to multi-part
paints, but I doubt it -- I really like dope finishes, and I don't like
the amount of hassle necessary to dodge toxicity with the fancier stuff.

I'm thinking that I want to get an automotive touch-up gun (a regular-
size automotive gun is way bigger than necessary). But what capacity
compressor? It's looking more and more like I need something
significantly bigger than what you get to go with an air nailer -- is
this correct? Do I want to look for anything special (beyond explosion
proof) in an exhaust fan (I have a room in mind, and am planning on just
poking a hole in the wall for the fan)?

Thanks.

--
www.wescottdesign.com

Tis a Far Nobler Thing

Tim Wescott — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:57:43 GMT

Now that it has some _black_ on all that unrelieved _orange_!

This color scheme isn't too bad, after all! I think I'm taking nearly as
long to do it this way as I would have to do silkspan and dope, though,
and for a lower-quality finish. Granted, some of both the time and
quality issues are 'cause I know how to paint better than I know how to
shrink film, but still...

(Dang but I wish I had a paint booth. It's been _years_ since I worked
at my dad's shop and could just waltz in and start painting. Need to get
stuff set up, need to get stuff set up, oh boy oh boy).

It's always comforting when you get to this stage of a finish job and
find out that the scheme you chose isn't whacked after all --
particularly this one, because it was driven so much by exactly how much
orange I had on hand.

http://www.ccwebster.net/robintim/Nobler/

--
www.wescottdesign.com

Screwdriver Type

Paul — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:07:52 GMT

I am looking to order a screwdriver suitable for the screws which Futaba
provide with the servo's. Can somebody provide a link to one as trying to
determine what I need is a bit bewildering.

An Ignomious Moment, really, I mean it this time

Tim Wescott — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:51:52 GMT

Link, Tim, put the _link_ in:

Proper use of the S-word (0 min 5 sec)

(and don't let your kids film you flying).

--
www.wescottdesign.com

Do You Know This Covering?

Tim Wescott — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:49:19 GMT

So, I'm finally putting trim on the Nobler! It's amazing how good
International Orange can look when you mate it up with black.

But, the black iron-on covering I have is just not acting right. It's
stuff that I picked up at a garage sale almost 30 years ago, so I don't
mind declaring it trash. The problem is that it seems to have a very
narrow heat range between shrinking and the adhesive melting all the way
and permanently letting go of the film.

Does that ring a bell with anyone? I'm thinking of just chucking it and
buying a roll of Ultracoat tomorrow (so much for my grand plan of running
out of plastic so I can just use silkspan from now on).

Please, someone tell me that Ultracoat won't just do the same thing!

--
www.wescottdesign.com

I wish you like it

savy — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:10:51 GMT

I saw this site and I like it so much, I'd like to see it to learn a
lot of things
http://zzrz.com/english.htm

On Line Videos: Armstrong�s X-15, Assembling a P-47, Leyte Gulf, Spinning F6F Hellcats, Galland & more

Zeno — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:00:18 GMT

Zeno's Warbird Video Drive-In Big November 2009 Newsletter

Hello RCers!

You are invited to drop by Zeno's Drive-In http://zenoswarbirdvideos.com
to take in this month's flight of six exciting air combat documentary
films playing over the Internet, including three Drive-in Premiers
showing for the first time.

****BREAKING NEWS!**** Due to our move to a spacious new web server,
all films showing this month "At the Matinee" are now available for
viewing in "Windows Media Player" video format, as well as "Real
Player-Real Video" broadband & dialup. Soon, all videos at the Drive-
In will have Windows Media as a viewing option.

As always, all of the videos showing on our web site are for your free
viewing pleasure.

Now showing "At the Matinee" at Zeno's Drive-In

"The Second Battle of the Philippines: The Battle of Leyte Gulf " New
- Premier! The Second Battle of the Philippines, popularly known today
as 'The Battle of Leyte Gulf," was the largest Naval engagement in
history, swirling around the 1944 invasion of Leyte Island and the
Japanese navy's surprise counter strike. You'll see dramatic naval
surface battles and carrier air footage from several engagements,
including: "The Battle of the Sibuyan Sea", battleship action at "The
Battle of Surigao Strait,� "The Battle off Samar,� where the gallant
jeep carriers and destroyers of Task Unit 77.4.3 turned back Japanese
Admiral Kuita's massive Center Force Fleet, and "The Battle off Cape
Enga�o," where Admiral Mitscher's Task Force 38 carriers pounded
Japanese Admiral Ozawas carrier force.
[
"X-15 1960 Annual Report" New � Premier The X-15 program really takes
off in a record breaking year with Joe Walker, Scott Crossfield, Niel
Armstrong and other legendary test pilots at the controls, soaring
past Mach 3. Two planes are used for flight and engine testing --
there's an amazing scene of a walk away explosion. More remarkable
color footage of the series of test flights and a couple of wonderful
post mission debriefings by Scott Crossfield.

"Avoiding and Controlling Spins & Stalls " Learn why aircraft spins
and stalls happen and how to deal with them in this thorough Wold War
2 US Navy training film. Features examples using an F6F Hellcat, F4U
Corsair, PBY Catalina & more!

"Flight Deck Crew Landing & Re-spotting Carrier Aircraft� Major air
battles in the Pacific in World War II often turned on the ability of
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the tiny deck of a CVE "jeep" escort carrier.

"Luftwaffe Finis: The end of the German Air Force� Exclusive
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fighter forces Adolf Galland, Stuka pilot & tank buster supreme Hans
Rudel and many more. Captured aircraft are shown as well, including an
Me 262, the first jet fighter, and an FW 190. These color images make
history come alive

"Uncrating and Field Assembly of the P-47 Thunderbolt" This remarkable
step-by-step training film shows how a ground support crew of fifty
men could assemble a P-47 in a field using nothing more than muscle,
unpowered hand tools, and pieces of the shipping crate it came in.
You'll also get a unique look at the inner workings of the big Jug as
it is literally bolted together by field personnel. A must see for
P-47 fans and shade tree mechanics alike! "One of my personal
favorites!" Zeno

If you haven't stopped by Zeno's Drive-In before, we also feature
1940-45 vintage WWII Army & Navy films and pilot's manuals on how to
fly the F4U, F6F, P-38, P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51, P-61, TBF/TBM, AT-6/
SNJ, B-17, B-24, B-25, A-20, A-26, B-26, B-29, and Stearman N2S.
Alert! � don�t miss the F-86 & B-58!

That's over 14 hours of rockin' World War II props & jets for free
viewing over the Internet!

Zeno

Zeno's Warbird Video Drive-In
World War II Aviation Videos Playing Online 24/7
www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com

On Line Videos: Armstrong�s X-15, Assembling a P-47, Leyte Gulf,
Spinning F6F Hellcats, Galland & more

New Subscriber - Need new elec aircraft

Byron Lane — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:36:09 GMT

Hi, New subscriber and novice in this field. I had a gift from my
children about 6 years ago of a Wingo aircraft and electronic package
recommended by Hobby Lobby. After the 6th or 7th flight, on a breezy
evening, I skillfully flew it into the side of the local school. The
aircraft was destroyed. I just tested the electronics and batteries
and they checked out good. I want to get back to learning and would
welcome some input on a new aircraft that would take the electronics
that I have. Wingos appear to be unavailable now but I don't want one
anyway. The package included a 6 v Speed 400 C with a 125x110 prop,
Jeti 6-10 NC JES 110 ESC, 7 cell NiCd (1.2v 600mAh), Hitec RCD Micro
555 RCD 8500, 2 Hitec HS-81 servos, and a Laser 4 Transmitter (up/down
and left/right throttle combined). I was not happy with the aircraft
performance. If I did the math correctly, it had a Static Thrust/AUW
of 30%. It would just barely make it up off the tarmac (forget if off
the grass) and it had to be hand launched. I don't know a heck of a
lot about it (but learning) and would appreciate a recommendation on
an aircraft and some minimal improvements I might make to my set-up to
make the replacement aircraft fly better than the Wingo did. Thank
you for any help. Byron Lane

Getting the Nobler Covered

Tim Wescott — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:34:54 GMT

Made some progress, it's in the "half-covered and ugly" stage.

With that color, maybe it'll always be ugly...

http://www.ccwebster.net/robintim/Nobler/

--
www.wescottdesign.com

slow fly by Sealink

Joe — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:55:22 GMT

I'm looking for any of these apparently discontinued models that might
be floating around still. They were available in the US 7-8 years ago.
They are quite large (I'd guess 48" wingspan) twin engine rc planes
and are called "Slow Fly", made by Sealink Technologies. They were
yellow winged with white plastic fuselage. I have searched high and
low, near and far, and even emailed the supposed company in Asia, and
have come up empty. I can only find their single engine slow fly. If
anyone can tell me where to find one (or preferably 2) I would be very
grateful

Adhesive for Saran Wrap orEquiv.??

JFL34 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:30:00 GMT

Googled this question with no good reults.
Application is attaching covering on balsa stick models.
Can someone help? Thanks, Jim.

New Kinda Drill Bit

Tim Wescott — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:17:17 GMT

Or maybe an old one. At any rate, it cuts clean little holes in balsa
wood, which is no mean trick (try it with a twist drill sometime). I did
experience some break-through on the back side, but then I wasn't using
the mandatory sacrificial backing board (what was I thinking!).

All you need to do is cut a sharp "V" groove in the end of an appropriate-
sized bit of wire (I used an old bicycle spoke that happened to be just
right to clear a #2 screw).

(view with fixed-width font)

//-----------------------------
/
/
|
\
\
//-----------------------------

Obviously it isn't going to be self-clearing like a Forstner bit or a
twist drill, but it's OK in thin material, you can make it with a Dremel
tool and a rectangular sharpening stone, and the price is right!

--
www.wescottdesign.com

Molly

Randy — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:09:38 GMT

50 years ago I was flying control line on a dirty grass field. After a tip
over landing we would rinse off our motors with fuel then fly the model
again. We never stopped to carefully clean the dirt out of our motors.
Needless to say, they lost compression quickly. We had a substance we
called Molly . It was a grey colored oil. We would put 3-4 drops into the
intake of a worn motor while running and the compression was magically
restored. You could treat most motors 3 or 4 times before having to replace
pistons and cylinders.

I have recently come upon 4 old Baby Bee .049 motors that have been abused
and have little compression. If I could find that old "Moly" substance
again, I would try it before buying repair parts, as the parts cost more
than a whole new motor on EBay. Does anyone know anything about this
"Molly" substance? Is it still available?

An Ignomious Moment

Tim Wescott — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:07:53 GMT

Moral:

Don't let your kids film your flying.

(even if he did go a good job catching the moment).

--
www.wescottdesign.com

Looking for radio reviews/comparisons

Skywise — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:21:20 GMT

I lost my easyglider today. I was going for a little more altitude
than I have in the past and apparently lost radio contact. I almost
brought it back but it finally went straight down really fast and
toasted everything. Complete loss except for the two wing mounted
servos.

Why do I suspect the radio? Because in searching the net a bit
today I find that the Spektrum 6100e receiver I had is considered
a park flyer receiver, and apparently that doesn't just mean size,
it can also mean receive range. Live and learn.

I'll still use the DX6i with the Blade 400 heli it came with. I
don't even get past 50 feet away with that. But I want something
better for the next plane.

Anyway, I am looking for web sites that compare and review radio
systems. I'd also like to find real world range tests. Currently
I'm looking at either a Spektrum or Futaba 7ch 2.4ghz system,
leaning towards Futaba at the moment provided I find info that
the zero id problem has been nixed. I'm also open to other brands.

TIA

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

.40-.60 Pitts ARF?

Steve — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:50:22 GMT

Does anyone know of a company that makes a .40 to .60 sized Pitts
ARF? I've poked aorund and found only a few, and none in this size
range.

Thanks,
Steve