Here's the link to my Tiger 60 conversion and build thread:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1646827

I've been thinking of putting together a magnetic building system before I continue with any of my airplane builds.

I picked up a 3' x 8' piece of 26 gauge galvanized steel at a local HVAC dealer this afternoon for about $15. The dealer is part of a chain, so folks can find them many places. (R.E. Michel Company).

I also ordered 500 cabinet magnet latches, part MAG-123, from All Electronics for a total of $174 with shipping. I'm going to cut my own jigs based on the one on Airfield Models site here. Details on making the fixtures can be found in the graphic in the zip file here. I figure 500 magnets will let me make about 100 fixtures. That should be plenty for anything I'm building in the near future.

I'm planning to build a torsion box as described by the Wood Whisperer podcast number 18 (Wood Whisperer #18), although I am going to do some of the changes identified here: Len's Torsion Box. Instead of making the hardboard removable like the Wood Whisperer does, I'm going to replace the hard board with the galvanized steel, but will use contact cement to put it in place permanently. My overall size when I'm done will have a 3' x 6' metal surface to build upon.

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Tom

Yet another project for me to work. I'm starting a "plans" build of a P-61 Black Widow night fighter from a set of Ziroli plans my GF bought for me. She is also paying for the wood order I placed through Balsa USA. This is about $200 worth of wood. I bought "seconds" for the sheet stock and saved about $100 on the order. The wood all looks pretty good. There are some color changes, a crack or two on a couple of sheets near the end, a few rough edges, and maybe one sheet with a defect in the middle that could impact strength. However, for the amount it saved by buying seconds, I can easily go buy a piece at the LHS to replace anything I can't use. And since it will be glassed and painted, the discoloration isn't an issue. (Besides, I'm a woodworker and like some character in my wood!)

I don't expect this to be a fast moving project, but hope to chip away at it from time to time and will post updates as I go. I wouldn't be surprised to see this build take over a year to get complete.

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Tom

I have a GP Super Skybolt kit I started building about two years ago and then set on the shelf. I was going to put a Sato 1.25 four stroke in her. However, I haven't flown glow for well over a year now and am converting everything over to electric. So, here's what I'm thinking of putting in her. Not near the power, but should be adequate for a .60 size plane.

Servos: JR DS-821
Motor: Brushless Motor PEAK 60 (50-65) 450kv (Suppo 4130/6)
ESC: Suppo ESC 100A OPTO
Batteries: 2 3S 5000 Zippy Flightmax in series to make a 6S1P 5000 pack.

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Tom

I started working up an FPV setup last summer. This BLOG entry is focused on that FPV setup and where I'm going from there.

I'm almost done with construction of my Bird of Time. However, before she can rule the LMR at SEFF, she needs a means of getting in the air without using a hi start. So, I'm building a power pod.

Why a power pod? One of my local clubs has a flying field in the Manassas National Battlefield park, but they do not allow powered planes, strictly gliders. So, with a pod, I can easily mount it, or not, and hopefully have the best of both worlds.

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Tom

Okay, I started posting this in the forums, but have decided to pull the info together into a build log so it's all together.