Originally Posted by CoolerByTheLake

So how did the glassing go? Did the ducts strengthen up like you wanted?

Yes, it actually did a really good job. I realized when looking closer to how I constructed the duct that the area was way too little, so after glassing I made the intake duct larger.

I'm still going to glass the outside, the weight with the battery is up to 1150 grams now, so all I have left is some more filling/sanding/glassing and painting!

I forgot to ask what you used, polycrylic miniwax , or epoxy? If your going to do the outside with polycrylic miniwax, and use the baby powder trick, make sure it's talcun powder, and not cornstarch based. I tried it once, only to find out I had used the corenstarch one, dosen't work at all

It"s looking good, really shaping up!

Thanks Cooler! I used the miniwax.

I knew about baby powder, but not about avoiding cornstarch based products! What kind of mixture should I am for (babypowder:miniwax), should I use the babypowder mix for glassing or should I apply the babypowder mix after glassing?

I believe it's used in the 2nd coat to fill the weave of the cloth. Tried to find the thread/post- no luck yet. I think it was by sloperjoe or waltjg, good explaination on use.\\


This just popped up this morning, take a look. http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1544677

Had a busy weekend away from building, but I managed to make some more progress. Glassed upper and lower surfaces, and sanded the upper surface after coating it with babypowder+miniwax. It's super smooth, but still needs work.

Vinyl graphics printed out, almost ready to paint and apply!

Sanded and primed...all ready for a paint job! More will come tomorrow, here she is now. Extremely smooth, I expect it will look great after painting.

First coat, light spray...looking decent.

You have done a great job, came a long way in a short time. The next coat of paint and decals, will really make it stand out. Congrats!!!

Nearly done! Just have to paint up the detail for the thrust cone...but I'm very happy how it turned out!

First run up with everything complete, no more flexing around the intake duct. Weighs in at 1.25 kg, 50 grams more than I wanted but not too bad. Very easy to taxi, I just need to find a place to fly this baby!

Where is a good spot to fly 1.2 kg, 37 inch wingspan airplanes? I usually just fly at recreational fields...soccer/football/baseball fields.

I was considering using a 400m track...giving myself a long enough runway but I don't know if there will be enough space once I'm airborne.

Your finished product looks great. Good luck on the maiden.

Let me suggest that you go to your profile and add in your location, City,State, or country. It makes it easier to answer questions, like " Where is a good spot to fly 1.2 kg, 37 inch wingspan airplanes?" when we know where you live!

That would make it a little more clear. I'm at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. I usually fly around the football fields, avoiding the light posts as best as I can.

This is what I am thinking right now...

Red box is where I'll take off, approx 400'.
Yellow outline is where I can fly.
Orange X's are the light posts that I have to avoid.

Now that I think of it, I might be able to do a take off from the soccer fields. I'm just not sure how the ground roll will be through the dirt/grass. We do have astro-turf on some of our fields, maybe I should try that?

I just want the best conditions for the maiden. Any advice is more than welcomed!

Sure seems to be a large enough space, but from take-off area to over Dewey field there are some visual obstructions. Are those garages, storage buildings? And some distace across the roadway. Once you clear light poles, you have it made! Execpt for landing, You will need to thread you way in. Of course once you get used to the plane you will know what kind of sink rate you can get by with.

Being in the Naval Academy, mabe your next build should be a F-35B/C!
Best of luck on maiden.