I don't know if this is of interest or if this is the right forum but I'm attempting to put together a Graupner Mini Nimbus 3.5M. Absolutely a beautiful ship.
I bought it NIB and, while I have put together a few ARFs, this one looks to be a bit of work. The wings need to be covered which I have never done.

I was hoping there were one or two of you out there that have this bird or have put it together and can shed some light and give some tips and tricks. The instructions are a bit sparse.

I'm going to go full house and tow release.

Any advice appreciated.
I'll ask specific question as I go.
Thanks for any help.
Perry

Here's the real one:
http://aerotow.evl.uic.edu/cgc/photo/nimbusv12640.jpg
http://soaring.aerobatics.ws/SOARING...i_1152x751.jpg


Here's the model (auf Deutsch)
http://www.flugmodelle-online.de/mininimbus.htm
http://www.ig-modellflug.de/modellgalerie_6.html (mine won't have the motor)

Model is c.1978

A little off topic, but, I see you're in KOP. We've been getting refugees at our field because I hear the park stopped mowing at Valley Forge. If you need a place to fly come on down.
http://www.skss.org

Terry

Hi Perry,

I have the bird, but the fuselage is in my mother“s house here in Coimbra and the wings in a coastal village

I“m going to visit her tonight, so will post some pics of the fuse tomorrow

Nice gentle bird, go for it !

Cheers, joćo

Terry, Thanks for the invite!
I went to SK field for the first time last week with Will Bushnell. One word - AWESOME! VF is sweet but you can only winch on Sunday mornings and then till 2pm.
Your site is simply fantastic and I'll be down again with my BOT on the 19th. BTW, VF still mows and we just had a fantastic fun fly today. I got some great footage that I'll post later.

Thanks Joao,
Upon reading the instructions further, I see that the spoilers were an add on kit. Hopefully I'll be able to get some good advice here on how to do this from scratch. I look forward to your pics.

Here are some shots. After looking more closely at what was inthe box, I realize that I have ample instructions. Three sheets of scale drawings should help. The only thing I need to locate/fabricate are the spoiler assembly. I assume that these will work:
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/spoilers.htm (ones at the top of the page)

Also, there were two glue types in the box. I think after 26 years these will not be any good. I need to find replacement adhesives. Any suggestions?

Finally, what do you cut the platic (cockpit, inst. tree, canopy) with? I have had zero luck in the past. Dremmel w/cutting wheel gets too hot. What do you pros use?

Thanks

Hi Perry,

Here go the photos:

I got the model second-hand a few years ago "ready to fly" as I like, due to a cronic shortage of time and also as what I really like is flying.

Two points:
Coordinated aileron-rudder turns are mandatory as ailerons alone do a very poor job.
I have a mix aileron->rudder that I switch off at will.

The brakes are not that much effective but they do increase the rate of descent indeed.

The field assemby of the ailerons and brake linkages requires some time and you might want to create some dedicated tools to do it.

I still have the model in a radio memory. I will take a shot of the neutral settings of the all flying tail.

I only used the model in slope soaring

Any questions welcome

Regards, Joćo

PS the hole in the "instrument panel" has to do with a crazy idea I had at the time of using a surplus two channel radio with the transmiter inboard and a small vane mechanically connected to one of the channels to give a side slip indication.
The receiver would be in my hat, a small pointer connected to a servo in my field of view-> made the hole, the radio is in a mess, has yet to be tried

Joćo,
Thanks for the pics. I'll be asking you a few questions!
But first, how does it fly?

It“s kind of a floater really, no problems at all. Flies very well.

Never "pushed the envelop" in respect for the advancing years
Joćo

Does anyone have an idea of the best size servos for a 3.5 ship? I am thinking about:
HS-85BB for Ail, Elv, Spoiler (44.8 oz tq)
HS-225BB for towhook and rudder (65 oz tq)
Thoughts?
Here is what the instructions call for!:

OR I could go with JR
MN48 for Ail, Elv, spoil (48 oz)
ST47BB for tow and rudder (47 oz)

I'd go with MG+ servos over BB servos. If you can squeeze in the 225s for ailerons, it's to your advantage otherwise 85s should do. If you have the room for a stronger tow release servo than a 225, it will give you an extra margin of safety.

Steve

Thanks Steve.

Another question. Since this was designed before standard size servos, all the servos are shown located it the fuse. Can I/Should I put the aileron and spoiler servos in the wing?