OK after a quick detour into scale gas aerobatics which ended with my spankin' new Christen Eagle tree-raped. And my club 25 racing career stalled while seeking a sponsor with deeper pockets (I discovered FSR's are no match for Webra speeds) I've decided to return home with a new ride.

Ta Da! My new practice plane...

I've discovered with my high maintenance 'trophy classics' I don't get a whole lot of quality stick time. A lot of time fiddlin' and fussin', primpin' and prepin' a few minutes of holding my breath while my thumbs are shaking and prying to God I can finish with out breaking something.

...suddenly I have the urge for a cigarette(?)

Eric,

sweet stuff... but I'm talking about your new ride in the background...

David

This is about all the work I've gotten done so far.

Going old school with an upright Kraft .61, mechanical retracts with chrome DuBros. I did get a 12oz slim Hayes stuffed in there pretty easy. I just pulled out the aft former, wrapped the tank in foam and shoved it up to the front former.

Originally Posted by edh13

This is about all the work I've gotten done so far.

Of course, what was I thinking!

David

Wow she has nice curves !!!

Clean up on isle 6......

BTW, nice airplane Eric.

-Robert

All finished. I'll try and maiden this weekend. The only real deviations from stock are 4-40 pushrods instead of 2-56, Robart mechanical retracts instead of the cheapo Hobbico's called-out. And I removed the aft tank former and stuffed a foam wrapped Hayes 12oz in there. It comes in at 7lbs 12oz ready to fly dry. It balanced with no extra weight with the batt just in front of the servo tray. I've got a couple inches fwd and aft to play with if needed. Perfect.

I literally took this new 30 something year old Kraft out of the box, installed the carb, and stuffed it in the plane. Flipped it by hand once and it fired. Flipped it again and it was running!! I got about three heat cycles on it with about a half a tank of gas. I figure about three more cycles and I'm flying it. Hell I trust it now.
Why doesn't DuBro bring back the chromes? They are so pretty...
Eric

very nice mate

lokking forward to seeing a video of her flying

Shane

Got it up today!
...and I also maiden'd the Dirty Birdy...

It was pretty uneventful, thank God. I'm looking forward to having a nice dependable practice plane. Three good flights. All I need to do is a little lateral balancing and move the battery aft a bit and it will be hands off inverted. It flys a lot like the Mystery Plane on a diet. I can really feel the 2.5lbd difference. The thing I'm most impressed with is this Kraft .61! Nice dependable American muscle. It ran like a watch all day, stronger every flight. Stock with no pipe it pulls hard. I can't imagine how fast Paul's is with the NovaRossi, scary!

My buddy took a vid with his phone. When he sends it I'll post it.
Eric

Congrats on the maiden voyage of you DB. It looks great, but I just have to ask - where the heck did you find a Rev-Up 11-7 1/4 prop?????

Originally Posted by ReelDoc

Congrats on the maiden voyage of you DB. It looks great, but I just have to ask - where the heck did you find a Rev-Up 11-7 1/4 prop?????

I can be found at the various club swap meets diving for Rev-Up's in the always present Big-Bucket-O-Props that the old fart electric converts put out for sale. That and I will by any online I find. I only have a few 11x7.x left. But I couldn't stomach seeing an APC bolted to the front of this Kraft.

Originally Posted by edh13

I can be found at the various club swap meets diving for Rev-Up's in the always present Big-Bucket-O-Props that the old fart electric converts put out for sale. That and I will by any online I find. I only have a few 11x7.x left. But I couldn't stomach seeing an APC bolted to the front of this Kraft.

I haven't been to a swap meet lately, so I suppose I need to go. Our LHS used ot be a distributor for Rev-Up props, so I've used a lot of them. Guess I'm not as much of a purist as you about vintage props on vintage engines. If it works, it's OK by me.

Back before APC came on the scene, my pattern prop of choice was a Yoshioka 11-7.7. That thing was awesome for it's day. I think I even have one NIB left stashed somewhere.