Jack's Spad VII 5/20/12
I thought you might like to see the photos I made of Jack's Spad VII on it's first flight. The first photo shows Jim (red shirt), Ron (AMA LMA inspector), and Jack (white shirt). It is 45% scale and powered by a DA-150. Jack drew his own plans and the plane is completely scratch built. Unfortunately plans are not available. Jack has a very nice pilot made in Germany but decided not to put it in on the initial flight. Jim and Jack collaborated on the Spad project and built their planes at the same time. It will be at Bomber Field next month.
Posted on: 8/23/2012 9:34 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11203459

Jim's Spad XIII
I thought you might like to see the photos I made of Jim's Spad XIII on it's third flight. It is a beautiful flying plane. On the 5th shot you will notice that it is dead stick. The engine quit because the tank pickup tube fell off inside of the tank. He fixed it so it won't happen again. It is 42% scale and powered by a DA-150. Jim drew his own plans and the plane is completely scratch built. Unfortunately plans are not available. It will be at Bomber Field next month.
Posted on: 8/23/2012 7:58 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11203318

RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon
Very nice Marcus.
Posted on: 3/30/2012 7:09 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11020996

RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon
Sure looks good Marcus.
Posted on: 2/26/2012 10:35 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10976713

RE: Ace RC 1/3 Scale Weeks Special (Pitts)
Sorry, no.
Posted on: 2/22/2012 6:29 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - 3D & Aerobatic"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10970485

RE: Jim Pepino's YMF-5 Waco
Tim, the Waco has held up very well, I just haven't flown much in the past year. I'm not sure I completely understand your concerns about the wing fittings but here are some photos. I can't recall if I posted them before. If these don't answer your questions then let me know.
Posted on: 1/18/2012 1:31 PM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10915539

RE: Gary Allen 33% Bücker Jungmeister
Great flight. I would guess that the Jungie is one of the best flying planes that you have ever had.
Posted on: 1/10/2012 8:50 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10901740

RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon
Good to hear from you again Steve. Right now I am putting a charge on my Hostetler SD. Not for any particular reason other than I haven't done it for some time. A few days ago I put a new landing gear on our 42% AMR SD. The old one was two piece and the right side had been bent so many times that I was getting afraid that it would crack. The new one is 3/8" 6061-T6 and single piece. I heard from Michel at AMR that they were starting a production run on the 35% SD. Marcus I'll bet your Citabria will be a very good flyer.
Posted on: 1/7/2012 4:37 PM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10896906

RE: Balsa USA Fokker DR1 1/4 scale
Congratulations on another great looking plane Anthony. I just finished putting a new landing gear on the Super Decathlon. It is a one piece 3/8" thick 6061-T6 gear.
Posted on: 1/5/2012 8:27 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10892848

RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50
Rich, that looks sooo good. I'm looking forward to seeing it tonight. I have my electric loaded up for the midnight flyin.
Posted on: 12/31/2011 4:19 PM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10885096

RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50
Really looks good Rich. You can demo it for us Saturday night.
Posted on: 12/27/2011 11:29 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10878215

RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon
Marcus, that plane is outstanding. Now you need to get started on one for yourself to keep.
Posted on: 12/20/2011 8:03 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10868026

RE: Gary Allen 33% Bücker Jungmeister
John I sure am sorry to hear of the crash. When you get it rebuilt check, check, and re-check everything before you go fly it. Make the CG spot on according to the plans with the horizontal stabilizer level. Use an incidence meter on the wings and horizontal stabilizer with respect to the center line of the plane. I assure you that this is a very easy flying airplane when every thing is right. Viliam how does the plane behave when you are flying at full throttle and suddenly chop the throttle. If it needs some down thrust in the engine the nose will drop instantly due to the down elevator trim. Of course the down trim may be needed because the horizontal stab leading edge is a little low or the wings are a little too positive. Lot of factors here to consider.
Posted on: 12/13/2011 6:27 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10857211

RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon
That is sooo good looking. What turns on your landing light? Ours comes on when the ignition turns on.
Posted on: 12/12/2011 3:32 PM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10856327

RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50
I actuall have had it installed but it needed a paint job.
Posted on: 12/4/2011 4:38 PM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10843232

RE: Don Smith Cessna T-50
Rich, the gear is really the work of two masters. I'm looking forward to seeing this gear work after they are electrified. I am also glad to see you back on the T-50. I finally got all of the holes drilled in the 3/8" thick 6061-T6 gear for the Super Decathlon. It is now over at Ross house for painting.
Posted on: 12/4/2011 8:40 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10842535

RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon
Very nice.
Posted on: 11/30/2011 8:50 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10836190

RE: Gary Allen 33% Bücker Jungmeister
Viliam, I have mine balanced right where the plans show. I think you will like it even better when you get it right. Nice dogs.
Posted on: 11/24/2011 7:20 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10826947

RE: Gary Allen 33% Bücker Jungmeister
Congratulations! Great to see the flying photos. I have found a nose heavy plane to be almost as problematic as a tail heavy one.. Is Fredo your real name?
Posted on: 11/23/2011 6:20 PM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10826304

RE: Gary Allen 33% Bücker Jungmeister
Fredo, I have experienced all of the emotions with both of my Jungies that you have just been through. It takes several days to settle back down. Congratulations on a great maiden flight. For the first few flights you will find several things to fix or modify. The big thing is that it flies like you were hoping for. WONDERFUL!!! The cross braces between the cabane struts are dummied in on mine
Posted on: 11/18/2011 7:29 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10817939

RE: Gary Allen 33% Bücker Jungmeister
Best wishes for a great maiden flight.
Posted on: 11/15/2011 7:25 PM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10814152

RE: Gary Allen 33% Bücker Jungmeister
Interesting videos Gary. It sure flies nice.
Posted on: 11/13/2011 4:36 PM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10810469

RE: Gary Allen 33% Bücker Jungmeister
"Thanks Ken, that looks simple enough but I noticed that your little extended lever is only retained with one bolt. If it supposed to be fixed I would be worried that under the load it can move and change things slightly. Or is it pivoting as well?" Fredo it is fixed. Before putting the aluminum extender piece on, I roughed up the mating surfaces and used JB Weld (a super epoxy for metal) and of course, the screw. Never a problem with it moving. Do335a, Some planes need differential aileron and some don't. My Extra 300S would be really messed up with diff. However, my Waco YMF-5 had a pronounced wobble during a roll. I used a second channel on the radio to provide differential aileron and it rolls like it is on a string. I don't have diff on the Jungie because it doesn't need it. The difference in the planes probably has to do with rib shape, wing sweep, dihedral and other factors. CharlieK I really am sorry to hear about your tumor. I hope you the best.
Posted on: 11/9/2011 7:53 PM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10805051

RE: Gary Allen 33% Bücker Jungmeister
Glad I could help. I forgot to answer your question. "If you're reading this post Ken, I have a question about your soldered rod ends. Sorry to remind you about your unfortunate crash, but did the soldered joints remain intact during the shock of the "arrival", and if so, did you prepare the ends of the bracing rods in any special way, eg notching them to improve the grip of the solder?" None of the soldered Dubro rigging ends pulled loose in the crash. On the wire I take a Dremel sandind drum and lightly rough up the wire where the solder will go. I put a little Kester solder flux, made for steel, on the wire and then tin the wire. I quickly wipe the excess solder off with a rag while it is still molten. The solder is just plain 60/40 radio solder. For the rigging end I put a drill bit slightly smaller than the ID of the rigging end in my drill motor and run it back and forth through the rigging end a few times to clean it out. Finally, a little more flux and solder the end on.
Posted on: 11/9/2011 1:40 PM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10804540

RE: Gary Allen 33% Bücker Jungmeister
Fredo, when I built the Jungie I put the top aileron horn on top of the aileron and the geometry came out fine. However, when I built my 1/3 scale Waco YMF-5 I had exactly the same problem that you described. The fix turned out to be pretty simple. Since I was using ball links for the connection between the two ailerons I made a small aluminum extender piece to move the ball 1/2" forward toward the hinge line on the bottom aileron. If I were using a horn it would need to be moved the same amount.
Posted on: 11/9/2011 6:25 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10803969

RE: Gary Allen 33% Bücker Jungmeister
Gordon I really enjoyed your detailed account of the building activities. Your plane looks outstanding. Here is a bit of non Jungie related information. I am still standing on cloud 9. Yesterday I got a ride in a B-17 from Ft. Worth TX Spinks airport to Tyler TX airport. Flying time was about 45 minutes. The plane was the EAA Aluminum Overcast based in Oskosh Wisconsin. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Here are a few photos. I am the guy with the Handy Cam around his neck.
Posted on: 11/8/2011 4:05 PM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10803188

RE: Jim Pepino's YMF-5 Waco
[quote]ORIGINAL: zenith16 BigBird I've been experimenting with this tail wheel set-up with no luck. I've been unable to get it welded or brazed. What type of tubing did you use and what type of weld? Do you do any contract work if you had all the parts cut and fitted. Thanks. Tim [/quote] Hi Tim, From your description I don't know what you are unable to get welded or brazed or what parts you are using. I used this item from Robart: http://www.robart.com/products/15-scale-mechanical-retractable-tail-wheel as the starting point. I used 4130 alloy steel tubing with a 5/32" ID. You could probably get away with brass tubing. However, you must use high temperature nickel-silver solder with the proper flux and not the low temperature hobby shop silver solder. A propane torch will work for soldering. I don't do any contract work. Good luck.
Posted on: 10/26/2011 9:15 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10783441

RE: Hostetler 33% Decathlon
As usual Marcus, very good looking. When is the first flight?
Posted on: 10/25/2011 11:27 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10782001

RE: Gary Allen 33% Bücker Jungmeister
Gary, the details that you added really do set off the model. The Jungmeister is a great looking plane but it flies even better than it looks. Have you flown it since you refurbished it? In the many flyins that I have taken mine too I have never run across another one. I am puzzled as to why. The plane is really easy to build.
Posted on: 10/14/2011 12:36 PM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10765176

RE: Gary Allen 33% Bücker Jungmeister
It would almost be a shame to cover up that beautiful engine.
Posted on: 10/13/2011 6:57 AM by Author "Big_Bird" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10762971