Tony

What did you cover your Monocoupe with? Looks great.

Originally Posted by LJH

SD,
Your Coupe looks awesome, while I love building and flying I do not have the patience for the finishing details that bring a plane together but I think the Monocoupe demands the finishing details. I have my Coupe sitting on my deck at my home office and have been looking at it thinking I should detail the engine. Wondering if you would mind taking some detail shots of what you have done.

Hi Jim,

First, thanks for the compliment. I like this plane a lot, and I had a lot of fun putting it together.

See the attached closeup of the motor. There's very little to it.

I started by cutting out the areas between the cylinders. I used a small rotary bit on a Dremel for this. I recommend doing it that way, as you have no sharp edges present, which helps to prevent tears in the plastic.

Next, I painted the whole thing silver. When that dried, I used a fine point Sharpie to draw black lines on each cylinder to simulate the fins on the head. Then, I used a bit of black to add some depth between the cylinders, and make it look a little dirty.

To simulate the pushrod tubes I used toothpicks. I used a small drill bit to put holes in the appropriate places in the block area and near each cylinder head. (There were divots in the plastic already, if I remember correctly.)

I then cut the toothpicks to length, a bit oversize. Beginning from the inside of the cowl, I ran the pointed end of each toothpick through the holes in the engine block and then into the corresponding outer holes. I glued them in place with CA.

When viewing the engine from the back, you will be left with a series of nubs protruding into the center of the engine. I gave them each one more hit of CA, then ground them nearly flush. After that, I just had to paint them silver to complete the look.

It's really very simple, but it's also very convincing from a foot or two away.

Wow that engine looks sweet! My 'Coupe has been sitting fully covered (black) for a couple years now. Just never could decide on the final trim. Along with at least a dozen other "in progress" builds this one definitely needs to be drug out and finished. After seeing how great your engine turned out I'll be sure to spend some extra time in that area.

Joe

Thanks Joe!

Definitely give it a go. It should only take about an hour.

Well I just pulled the box of "leftover" parts out and had a look at the engine/cowl. Looks like I already removed the area between the cylinders at some point in time. Did a pretty good job if I do say so myself. Gotta get some toothpicks for pushrod tubes now. All I have are those newfangled plastic flossing picks. I do have a bunch of CF rod that might work too. Oh well, it'll be another few months until I get back to this anyway. Who knows what I might find to use on it in that time period. At least it's back in the "to be finished" queue.

Joe

OK guys ya gotta forgive me for being lazy but trying to dig through a few thousand posts on this plane will drive me even deeper into insanity. I built my 'Coupe a few years ago with the intentions of using a Medusa brushless 12mm 4100kv motor (I have a few of them) in a GWS IPS gearbox. Well.....quite a while back I gave all of my IPS gearboxes and parts to a new pilot. Now it's getting hard to find the stuff. I don't have any tiny brushless motors of the size needed for this little bird. I need some recommendations for a CHEAP but reliable motor to run on 2S packs. A collet style prop adapter is a must. I hate prop saver setups and don't want any motor that requires it. I always like to have some power in reserve so a little "over powered" is just right.

I stopped progress on my build after initial covering because I wanted to go with too elaborate of a covering scheme. I'm now going to change it up to be easier but probably look just as good or better. I'll have to re-cover the wing and tail feathers but that's OK. I'm not going to do anything until I line up a new power system though. I want to drag her out of mothballs and finally do the finish job. I'd love to hear what motors worked well for you guys.

Joe

Joe:
I belive the last one I built that I sold to Tony I put an AXI 2204/54 in it on 2 cells. I've also got a pretty big box of new IPS stuff from trying to build a 70" span IPS Lancaster. P/M or e-mail me with what you think you need and I'll see if I can help you out.
Rick

How long has it been since anyone heard anything from Zeke?

I ordered a kit last month that has not been received even today, tomorrow is one calendar month. I inquired via his web site twice and have received no reply.

I realize this enterprise is a part-time affair, but a month for delivery of a paid order is a bit much. Two weeks to reply to a paying customer is inexcusable.

Originally Posted by BluIIs

How long has it been since anyone heard anything from Zeke?

I ordered a kit last month that has not been received even today, tomorrow is one calendar month. I inquired via his web site twice and have received no reply.

I realize this enterprise is a part-time affair, but a month for delivery of a paid order is a bit much. Two weeks to reply to a paying customer is inexcusable.

Blulls I know he has been swamped the past month on every weekend. He was not home. His wife had him out doing something else. I do know today that he was packing and shipping orders. I will check and see that yours has been sent and also have him get in touch with you

Originally Posted by BluIIs

How long has it been since anyone heard anything from Zeke?

I ordered a kit last month that has not been received even today, tomorrow is one calendar month. I inquired via his web site twice and have received no reply.

I realize this enterprise is a part-time affair, but a month for delivery of a paid order is a bit much. Two weeks to reply to a paying customer is inexcusable.

Don,
You sent an email on 12/12 and 12/14. I responded to your email on 12/14 letting you know I was waiting for a shipment of ESC's to come in. I wasn't able to respond right away because I had been out of town at my brother-in-laws. My wife had 'volunteered' us to help him out at his Christmas tree farm every weekend since Thanksgiving since it's his first year being open (ain't family great!).

The ESC's came in on Wednesday and I took your order to the post office this morning since it's the first chance I've had to get to the post office this week.

Zeke

I did not receive that e-mail of 12/14; it would have been sufficient if I had.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I am looking forward to the kit.

Don

Originally Posted by BluIIs

I did not receive that e-mail of 12/14; it would have been sufficient if I had.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I am looking forward to the kit.

Don

No worries Don. Have a great Christmas!

Originally Posted by BluIIs

I am looking forward to the kit.

Don

Don:
It's a great kit. I've built 3 or 4 of them now. If I build another one I'll make sure that I hang on to it.
Rick

Don't mean to but in something that not my business but I am told email is becoming passe' and texting is a more efficient way of communicating. If you read enough on rcgroups you will see that zbrubaker is stand up guy.

Originally Posted by IWC

I am told email is becoming passe' and texting is a more efficient way of communicating.

Oh man am I ever behind. Maybe I'll get my kids to teach me. Oh wait don't you need one of those phones that take pictures and play music to do that.

OH and yes Zeke is a stand up guy I've never had an issue in all my dealings with him.
Rick