RE: Fleet Brotherhood
Ah, nice coastal community. Been through there times. Ray W.
Posted on: 9/18/2012 8:09 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Golden Age, Vintage & Antique RC"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11232341

RE: Fleet Brotherhood
skipb, where in SC do you reside. I'm in Summerville. Ray W
Posted on: 9/18/2012 6:07 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Golden Age, Vintage & Antique RC"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11232217

RE: Ron Weiss 1/3 Fleet
You referring to "safety wire" or "lock wire"? I bought a little tool that has two gas bottles and a rose bud nozzle. O2 and Mapp gas mixed at the handnozzle. This is a different mfg but it's about the same thing. According to all the tutorials I've seen, I should lay in a supply of O2 bottles. http://www.worthingtonprograde.com/item.html?id=9 With some practice, I'll be able to weld wire down to 1/8 inch or so. Ray W.
Posted on: 9/18/2012 5:15 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11232164

RE: Fleet Brotherhood
I'm here to. I may contact the guy I sold mine to and see if he will part with it for some cash. It will need an overhaul/annual but I still have the Enya 240. Earlier mention of the bobbling tendancy of the Fleet. Mine too to the point I was leaving balsa and coverite on the paved runways... this Fleet on the boards and am slow as molassas this past year: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum
Posted on: 9/17/2012 5:26 PM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Golden Age, Vintage & Antique RC"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11231688

RE: Concept Fleet Biplane
Dubro 1/3 scale Cub wheels on the 1/4 scale Fleet. Made small pot holes near invisable. Ray W.
Posted on: 9/17/2012 11:53 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11231319

RE: Concept Fleet Biplane
I'm in Ray W.
Posted on: 9/17/2012 8:26 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11231093

RE: Ron Weiss 1/3 Fleet
Fuse covered, doped, taping applied and some test coats of yellow done. The next paint will be sprayed in a auto booth a friend lets me at. Tailwheel reinstalled and cabling hooked up. Landing gear fairing installed (1/4 balsa sheet) and fiberglassed with 3/4 oz and Z-Poxy,. This is my first time with Z-Poxy laminating and must say it is a nice product but quite expensive. It sanded well and that was a big suprise. Until now, I've always used 30 min epoxy thinned with denatured alcohol and squeegied. Using the lighter grade of fiberglass allowed more flexability around curves et.al. The heavier variety gave me fits as it wanted to lift around corners and cause air pockets that needed to be filled later. Simulated tape is medical stuff. The 1 inch is good cotton stuff and the dope goes through the weave for a good bind. The smaller (1/2) variety for rib and abrasion protection is water proof and is lousy as the dope wont go through as well if at all. Got my roundels and numbers online with GetStencils. Fast work those folks. Most helpful with color hues. Ray W.
Posted on: 9/15/2012 5:16 PM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11229622

RE: Dope cover question
It IS alot of work but I'm reminided of the old saw that bikers would say: " If I had to explain it, you wouldn't understand anyway". It is a deeper satisfaction had from doing something well and a bit different. Besides, there is no other solution for simulated rib stitch and rib tape. Ray W.
Posted on: 9/11/2012 3:29 PM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11225432

RE: Air hole in cowling (pics)
5 to 1 is the industry average ratio to area coming in vs. area going out. My $.02 Ray W.
Posted on: 9/11/2012 11:19 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11225198

RE: Dope cover question
Budget smudget, if you looking to save money, find another hobby. Just kidding. The reward is greater when you sit back, sip an iced tea and admire your work. Not everyone is into building airplanes anymore much less go the fabric/silk, and dope route. Pizza guy came to the door via my garage shop and noticed I build airplanes. He was agast that it still can be done. I'm not sure that it cost anymore than a few rolls of 'tex, or what ever is out there. Ray W.
Posted on: 9/10/2012 2:46 PM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11224151

RE: Dope cover question
It would be my guess that Randolphs is the only source in the States as they have been at it much longer than I can keep up with. Aero Gloss, Sig, and all the others may find their roots in it. In the 60's, one could go to the local FBO/Repair Station and get a quart of Randolphs from retail sales. Not cheap then as the FBO had to add their efforts in the cost. That written, I could , with thinning, cover nearly two to three C/L birds. ...then came iron on stuff. Alumnium power used to be added to Nitrate as the second coat on a cotton fabric plane. First coat on cotton was a fungicide for obvious reasons. Dacron and Ceconite don't need the fungicide but the alumnium tint would help with UV and outdoor hangering. The blue is so thin and I've found no source as to what they used. I bet it wasn't food coloring... or maybe it was. Now, I think Rand O Fill may be the same treatment. Ray W.
Posted on: 9/10/2012 11:23 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11223884

RE: Dope cover question
In case your were interested...
Posted on: 9/10/2012 11:07 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11223899

RE: Plane suggestion for an Enya VT-240
I found some pix. Peeking thru the faux Kinner you'll see the VT 240. Until I built in some baffling, the engine wanted to run hot. Cured when I opened up the cowl and flow directors to the cylinders. Ray W.
Posted on: 9/9/2012 1:06 PM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11222926

RE: Dope cover question
Here is a pic of my PBY. The elevators are super shrink coverite with Randophs tinted non-Tautening Nitrate thinned. Over the elevator ribs are strips of super shrink to look like what, I don't know. I'd be using Nitrate to fill the weave on my Fleet but I've so much butyrate to use up and I just didn't want any more at this time. Ray W.
Posted on: 9/9/2012 12:40 PM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11222901

RE: Dope cover question
control. I sprayed the color on my 1/4 Fleet and used the Universal Retarder in lieu of thinner. Still, a spot or two came up. This year, I'll paint my 1/3 Fleet in my friends EPA/DEHC
Posted on: 9/9/2012 9:52 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11222781

RE: Plane suggestion for an Enya VT-240
Mine , before I got it, had flown in #1 possition on a Ziroli DC3, a Ziroli Corsair (flew very good and sounded great). I purchased it and put it up front of a 1/4 Fleet and it just loved it. Now, it is slatted for a TF giant Coursair. Ray W.
Posted on: 9/9/2012 7:34 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11222670

RE: Ron Weiss 1/3 Fleet
covering in progress. Sig Koverall and Randolphs dope and color. I haven't covered a bird in years and my mistakes make proof. After a few hours or re-aquainting my self to doping, I got the hang of it back. Big problem around the wing filet. I cut the Koverall to fit the 1/4 balsa but when I applied heat to shrink the fabric, it came loose and shrank nearly off the parimeter. Pics show the issue and how I added another 4 hours of correction. As soon as I am happy with the overall covering, doping will begin with a full 1 1/2 inch brush and thinned buty at 50/40/10 %. The 10% is retarder and that may be upped a bit as our South Carolina Summers into Fall are legendary with heat and humidity. Thank Gawd for Balsarite and fabric irons. Ray W.
Posted on: 9/8/2012 12:11 PM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11221918

RE: Concept Fleet Biplane
Real nice John. I'm so jazzed about mine. It is close to wing and fuse cover time. Classic looks of a bipe. Ray W,.
Posted on: 9/4/2012 12:24 PM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11217214

RE: Concept Fleet Biplane
Quit nice. Good flying Ray W.
Posted on: 9/3/2012 10:43 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11215774

RE: Guillows planes ?
Scientific had a line of 1/2A CL birds if I remember. All identical fuse but the wings and fins were altered to produce the needed design. Lil' Devil I had and found out that the cloth hinges would last longer if Ambroid was smeared all over them. Dampened down my youthful over controlling at the handle it did. Wen-Mac and Testors had a line of plastic ARF in the 60s. I had a P-40 that couldn't get out of it's own way and my buddies SBD couldn't get high enough to drop the dropable bomb. Still.... like someone earlier said..we made our oun fun. I pity my Grandsons. Ray W.
Posted on: 9/3/2012 8:45 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11215656

RE: Guillows planes ?
They have been around for over 50 years. I built many as a kid in the early 60s. Wood sucked, die cutting sucked and they taught me alot about building and designing. My daughter when 16 built a J-3 and did a good job with little help. Now, her two sons (13, 11yo) admired it from afar as I have it safely put on a shelf. I've never seen one fly but have been told , if kept extra light, will function to a point. Ray W.
Posted on: 8/30/2012 2:02 PM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11211868

RE: 58 Inch F8E Crusader buildig Log
May this be R/C or U/C? Many years ago, a friend who flew slow combat U/C had an A-7 Corsair that he flew with great ease and skill. Ray W.
Posted on: 8/28/2012 5:10 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11208779

RE: Ron Weiss 1/3 Fleet
Sitting upright and on it's own pins...temporarily that is. I couldn't get the wheels to fit smoothly on the 1/4 axles. I drilled 1/4 inch through on the drill press but it was most snug. Not the rolling snug I was wanting so I worked some pumice and water with a 1/4 drill rod but it helped only so much. Corrected to 17/64 drill and very small amount of slop but acceptible. Now , on to drilling some wheel colars to 17/64. May have to go buy a machine vise for the drill press. Ray W.
Posted on: 8/27/2012 1:25 PM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11208005

RE: Charlie Kellogg's TBM Avenger Build
Sorry for the double post. Anyone know how to delete a message by chance?
Posted on: 8/27/2012 12:02 PM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11207899

RE: Charlie Kellogg's TBM Avenger Build
That Skyraider really fills the hold. Good for the folding wings. By chance, anyone reading has a lead on some swing hinges for the Avenger or other Grumman planes. Some years ago, I was at an model flyin and a young fella had a large Corsair built from plans (don't remember which plans). Even thow it had fixed gear, the wings folded up as the prototype. He designed the hinges from round bar stock. Mearly pull the wings out from the center section about an inch which revealed the hinging and the wing just lifted up to the stowed position. Sure fit in his van much easier. I dream about some kind of mechanism to keep the Avengers wings folded up. Ray W.
Posted on: 8/27/2012 11:59 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11207894

RE: Stick Cutting Tech ?
I prefer a razor saw (Krona or Exacto) and a jig so the blade stays plumb and straight. Cutting thick stock requires a real sharp blade and numerous passes. ...but everyone has a personal technique garnered from experience. Ray W.
Posted on: 8/26/2012 10:01 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11206494

RE: Ron Weiss 1/3 Fleet
Bending up some landing gear. Main struts are 1/4 medium steel or what ever K&S puts out at the hobby store. With the old bender, I quickly realized I needed to soften up the steel if I were to bend it. Areas of bends marked with a felt pen and then heated to very red and allowed to cool to room temp on its own. The bends were much more tame. After assembly, bends were heated back up and quenched to gather some stregnth back. My bronze brazing got better with practice. Anything less than MAPP gas just wouldn't heat up enough with the thickness of the wire. The jig was carefully fashioned and the first gear looked real good. Then.... put to the fuse to see my skill and voila! I dropped an inch somewhere in the measure twice cut once senerio. Adjustments made to the gear jig and the fist drag wire cut loose and joints cleaned up. I weighed using the same gear leg but it would require some adjusting in length that just didn't look good. So.... a new one was built up and fit much better than the first one. More bazing and quenching and she fits real nice. Some of the extra wire you may notice is rubber banded together and apply compression to the joint to be brazed. Ray W.
Posted on: 8/24/2012 2:35 PM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11204780

RE: Charlie Kellogg's TBM Avenger Build
Meandering around on the net looking for "stuff" and found this. Nothing notable but it is Avenger related so I'll stick it here and y'all can meander with me. http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/98/language/en-CA/But-Sir-Im-a-Reserve-A-Horse-man-in-the-Navy.aspx The Guppy modification I remember well. In my youth, my Dad was stationed at MCAS Miami and there were a few of the radar modded planes. The rear turret removed and the radar operator station was in it's place. Ray W.
Posted on: 8/23/2012 3:55 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11203062

RE: Ron Weiss 1/3 Fleet
Two days worth of off and on with the fuel tank installation. 32oz layed in foam and then plated to 1/4 inch ply with tending rubber bands. Worse part was having to insure that the fuel tank's position is as close to center carb as possible. Lots of lay out lines and the old saw... measure twice, cut once. I measured countless times and still held my breath until the epoxied rails set up. Seems all the work payed off. Began to fill in the fuse places with solid balsa blocks cut to fit. Firewall painted black over the thinned epoxy and throttle servo mounted. I've never put a servo outside the fuse before but I see it in more and more applications soooo... Lastly, broke out the Benz torches and read up on my metal bending techiques. Bending 1/4 inch steel rod is just too much for my old elbows and KS bender so I annealed the places where the bends will be and they worked out good so far. Plans are to braze the connections without any copper wrapping as I think the copper will melt before brazing temp is reached. I would love to hear of anyones take on that. Ray W.
Posted on: 8/19/2012 2:45 PM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11198920

RE: Charlie Kellogg's TBM Avenger Build
If I may offer my $.02 on the trailer thing, I'd go with the velcro strips with components firmly layed in foam mounts of sorts. One impact is enough to be wary but with bungies, two or more impacts could be expected from a pot hole jolt. Pot Hole Jolt.... I like that. Good name for a band. Ray W. PS wives can be quite expensive if you try to dump them. Keep Babs.
Posted on: 8/12/2012 7:21 AM by Author "Fleet" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11190279