RE: 2012 Hog Bipe rides again
Glad you still got an airplane! A pitchy hog is not a happy hog for sure. Some of the same things I went through (except the rearward cg thing)....A generous dose of exponential is also in order if you haven't already ....minimum of 20, and I am not so sure if i wouldn't go 30 on elevator... You mentioned where you set the cg eariler, but my plans are stored so the inchs were unknown values to me. Percentage wise I think I am about 29 % .....A little over half way back if i remember right. My hog was almost impossible to handle without exponential with throws set at recommended high rates . On approach it would pitch up and slow to stall speed in a heartbeat especially with a low idle the time or two I flew it in the beginning with no exponential. If your cg is too far aft...the loose throttle cable might have helped saved you.,..:) You might have been keeping in some spare power down final without realizing it. One of the for sure deadly zones with an aft cg is when you loose the prop wash over the tail on approach... real easy to stall it in an instant pitch up......I would think anyway.
Posted on: 9/3/2012 2:24 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11216036

RE: 2012 Hog Bipe rides again
Congratulations!!!!!!! You just kept plugging til you gotherdone!! When do you plan to fly? I got somebody to do that......Too emotionally attached and close to all that work to trust myself on that one:)
Posted on: 9/3/2012 6:09 AM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11215472

RE: Sig Hog Bipe Beginner
What's up?????:) Saw you posted some pics over on the hog thread.......You are coming along great! Won't be long before you are flying that machine. I have run about 1 1/2 gal of fuel through mine so far..It flys like a dream once i got a handle on it charastics and got the gear moved forward. Slung thge hatch off the other day doing a snap roll, but that was my fault. I had taken the tank out to test fit the tank style in a PCA-2 autogyro i am building, and when i put it back in the hog i didn't cinch it down tight enough and it shifted enough to pop the magnets aloose. Miracle we found ity in waist high sweet potatoes:) Check out the build thread on RCG when you get a chance.....It is under: Special Interest-Autogyros-2012 PCA-3 by Steve Keep me informed on your progress and give me a hollar if you need some help on a bit of brainstorming......Later, Steve
Posted on: 8/26/2012 9:40 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11207174

RE: Whirlybirds PCA-2 Pitcarin
Rv, Thanks on the thread. There is lots of build logs on the rcg site for those interested. Including major 'how tos' from Jodini of Whirleybirds and others. Dave, Really like the job you are doing on the sheeting....Got my wood ordered this morning and threw in an extra sheet of 1/64th with that in mind. Hope it is enough. I heard back from Don on the cowl. He has been all up in what it takes to get moved. I feel for him. He said he could help me round one up or build it for me a little later on if i want to go that route. LOL I said that you would be through before I got mine framed up.....You gonna be the be done before i get parts!
Posted on: 7/5/2012 12:33 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11141422

RE: Whirlybirds PCA-2 Pitcarin

Posted on: 7/5/2012 10:55 AM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11144006

Whirlybirds PCA-2 Pitcarin
]This is somthing that I wasn't so sure I would be interested in building at first. Then the more I read about this odd flying machine, the more I became tempted to try it. Joe With Whirlybirds Aviation is in the process of putting a short kit together and getting it out the door for me. I have my basic wood order organized and ready to go. Have all the build threads i can find gathered up and when i get the plans in hand and get familiar with what is going on, I will (hopefully) be able to get most of the materials from one or two supply houses with a minimum of orders. Kind of important for me to get this squared away since the LHS is a hour and a half of heavy traffic away. I don't know beans about an autogyro and plan to conduct myself accordingly. My plan is a straight by the numbers build that is glow powered by a Supertiger 91 fs if i can round one up over the next few months. I understand that it is a good motor choice for a couple of reasons. It is comparitively heavy and i understand these things need weight in the nose. That and to send a relatively less expensive motor into harms way. And this project might entail a fair amount of that. If anyone has one of these in good shape and needs a home, i am looking for one. Help and advice from the veterans is most definately welcome. There was a lot of interest in this bird a couple years ago, and that interest appears to have cooled somewhat as things do over time and people move on to other projects. I decided to start this thread early on in case some that have built one might have suggestions that will add to the materials list. And good luck to you Dave, at the rate you are going, you will be flying yours and moved on to somthing else by the time i get my fuselage framed:) A dream.............: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUeYZ_STm3c[youtube][/youtube] And a blank playing field!
Posted on: 7/3/2012 5:54 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11140833

RE: Pitcairn PCA-2 Autogiro by Whirlybird Aviation
Hey Dave, Had figured out gear block material from sig's site and ordered the wood today from NB. I can snag a 3/16 block on another order depending on what i do there.. Will hope for the best on the sizing. Not rigged up with that type shop equipment . Got Savox mini metal gears comming for the wing. High torque mg standards for the other surfaces and thanks for the standoff info.
Posted on: 7/3/2012 5:48 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11141918

RE: 2012 Hog Bipe rides again
Shepard, It is looking good!!! I havent checked this thread in a while and havent seen your post. Just keep on swimming. I have gotten past the issues with mine. Got the polycrlic removed with turpentine, the landing gear moved forward 5/8 in (All the room i had on the plate) one of the Nimh glow batteries removed (overkill on the onboard glow) and moved the remaining glow battery into the tail in front of F6 with the reciever battery. With a little bit of a high idle, she is now a dream on approach and landing. Probally close to 50 landings now, and the nose over issue is resolved. I don't know how much weight i removed in all, but it behaves beautifully. Rock solid on turbulent days and a joy to fly......Will try to get some video and put up here eventually. Keep working on yours and don't loose momentum! Steve
Posted on: 7/2/2012 10:15 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11139782

RE: Pitcairn PCA-2 Autogiro by Whirlybird Aviation
The paint characteristics are beginning to sound like it's more kin to Randolp GA fabric paint. What is the cross linker your refering tt and do you sand between coats?
Posted on: 7/1/2012 5:58 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11139116

RE: Pitcairn PCA-2 Autogiro by Whirlybird Aviation
Rv, Funny you should mention, I was talking to a gray head from that part of the world about nelson paint the other day. He was in a shop that painted rc car bodies (dirt tracks) and used it day in and day out and said it was really good. He knows the people best i remember.....Said they use same raw materials suppliers used by PPG or somthing like that. What do you thin with?
Posted on: 7/1/2012 10:21 AM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11138653

RE: Pitcairn PCA-2 Autogiro by Whirlybird Aviation
Dave, Never had a problem with the stick thing and can see what an unnecessary pain that can be. How do you cut your own? Also one LG piece has a sig description. I know from experience the haphazard wood wood you sometimes find in sig kits, but also have heard their custom ordered is about good as it gets, wonder about sig stick quality any idea? Was never an issue to me in their kits. Haven't heard back on the cowl, and leaning toward a wood nose anyway. Homemade cowl, a 90 fs scrounged up somewhere, and a twenty dollar tower radial suits me for the beak end. I would think that tower would have the stand offs your referring to also. I am a long ways from crossing that bridge, but do need to get the major parts togethers so i can get the pieces figured out. Saw some new (to me) servos, Savox, on National Balsa's site that looked pretty nice, dug up a few reviews singing their praises and wondering if anyone out there has any experience with them? TTYL Steve
Posted on: 7/1/2012 7:19 AM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11138469

RE: Pitcairn PCA-2 Autogiro by Whirlybird Aviation
<![if gte mso 9]> <![endif]><![if gte mso 9]> <![endif]><![if gte mso 10]><![endif]> Yup Dave, A couple months behind and the clock is running! Going to do my traditional 'tear the shop apart and reorganize' routine this weekend. A treasure hunt of what i misplaced on the last build. I have built on sheetrock in the past and picked up a box of ceiling tile and am going to give that a try this time. Thanks for the heads up on the threads on who did what. Skydance is who does the cowl molds i think. I sent him a mail asking if he still had those available and haven't heard back yet. This will be my first short kit build so there won't be a box to just reach into and grab the part. Got to get the long wood ordered......haven't decided on a supplier yet, and suggestions there are definitely welcome. Going to keep it simple and light. Build in provisions to add detail later if it survives the test flights. Haven't decided on covering yet.... I used Worldtex on the last build and it worked great, but might take the plunge and go with Koverall and dope. LOL I built a Bud Nosen Citabria years ago with Koverall and spray paint:) Weighed a ton and would barely fly with the weak 4 strokes of the day. You mentioned on one thread about weighing the blades and how close they needed to match (no response to the question that i saw).....I almost bought a set of scales at the post office the other day. 10 lb capacity with one gram resolution. Think that will be good enough? Forty dollars and my post office buddy said they would swap them out for a year with the receipt in case of failure. Watching ebay for a scroll saw.....i lost mine in a move years ago and been doing without one. Details details......Steve My last build:
Posted on: 6/30/2012 7:00 AM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11137504

RE: Pitcairn PCA-2 Autogiro by Whirlybird Aviation
Hey Dave, Now that i got dumb question about a four blade system out of the way.......:) I know i gotta whole lot of reading to do between now and when i get the kit!!!!!! Trying to get organized on the reading and get all the threads in one folder. Would like to think that i am a fairly decent builder, but Jeeez! This is a whole different animal and the first day of school. Will be watching your thread, and it appears that most of the whirley freeks hang out at 'The Other' site. You are doing a beautiful job! The more i read the more i realize the hugh amount of blood sweat and tears that these guys have put into making the launch of this venture suscessful and thanks to all of them....... Steve (Steverc123 in the other place)
Posted on: 6/28/2012 9:49 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11136005

RE: Pitcairn PCA-2 Autogiro by Whirlybird Aviation
A newbie's question for you guys......What would happen if you shortened up the blade legnth say in 1/2 inch increments on the 4 blade sys ? Or is the actual weight where the problem is (which really isn't logical)? 4blades and a prerotator while i am dreaming ?
Posted on: 6/24/2012 6:52 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11130374

RE: A HOG BIPE BASH-
That is really a cool looking airplane! Definately a one of a kind creation...... And really good to see this bird on the 'Front Page'. I had ran across this thread a number of months back, and wondered if it was ever finished. Good luck and keep banging away on it!
Posted on: 6/21/2012 6:10 AM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11126341

RE: Pitcairn PCA-2 Autogiro by Whirlybird Aviation
You have come a long ways in two weeks! Lot of people watching this one, me included. If it is a practical, fun flyer..........might be my next project. Good Luck!
Posted on: 6/19/2012 8:38 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11124661

RE: Help! Polycrylic Disaster
So far the covering hasen't fell off :) Plane is parked in my ride in the sun, pretty warm in there and it smells a bit like the cab of a MS log truck. Might need to run some more cleaners over it. Denatured alchol will do the same trick? Good to know, but plan not to ever have to find out. Thanks to all for the paint tips and links.
Posted on: 6/17/2012 10:51 AM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11121306

RE: Help! Polycrylic Disaster
Again, thank for the steer in the right direction.. Test area was fine this morning, and i couldn't stand it any longer. Half a can of turpentine and a roll of paper towels later, and it is done. Came out beautiful. Started on the bottom of bottom wing first and found a piece of loose trim which got the solvent on the back side. Ironed back down with no problem. Neturilzed everything with alcohol and cleaners, baked everything in the sun for a while and in process of reironing and tighting everything back. At this point, i am beginning to think turpintine may be a good 'Deep Cleaner' for periodic use on this type covering.. Trim material seems to be stuck tighter than ever with no evidence of the adhesive disolving. I had really been getting discourage with this brand new airplane disolving into a gooy mess. And unless the covering explodes and disolves tomorrow, i have a 'new' tool on my bench:) And as an added bonus, since i coated the airframe components as soon as i finished covering everything early on, i had a protective layer of polycrylic over all components. I have never built anything that i didn't get some epoxy and ca ghost smudges, especially around all the hinges, during final assembly. That has all gone away. Floated off off with the Polycrylic!!!! Looks now like it should, like a brand new airplane. As an added, added bonus. I look forward to seeing how much weight this rather heavy build loss. I had put two coats of the stuff on. About 1 1/2 spray cans. How much weight was actual materal remains to be seen, Will re weigh to see. Again, thanks Charles P and to all who contributed.
Posted on: 6/14/2012 12:55 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11118253

RE: Help! Polycrylic Disaster
<![if gte mso 9]> <![endif]><![if gte mso 9]> <![endif]><![if gte mso 10]><![endif]> Hallelujah ! Charles P., You are a true Oracle of wisdom and applied home remedy chemistry !!!!! The turpentine appears to do the trick. Tested it on some scrap black Worldtex with white paper towels, and you would get a little bleed off on the finish side after rubbing a pretty good bit, and it appeared to have little to no effect on the adhesive side. The polycrylic washes away as fast as you get to it. Did the bottom of the fuselage and it appears to be the ticket. The goo is as good as gone it looks like. Went behind with my bench cleaner, (Windex with a dash of simple green) and then Windex . Still a slight pine smell, but that’s about it.. Really temped to keep going, but I think I will watch it for a day or two before I commit the whole covering job to it.. Again thanks to all for your help!
Posted on: 6/13/2012 6:46 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11117413

RE: Building music.
The way i fly makes funeral music appropriate Wish i had a video of yesterdays stunt.
Posted on: 6/13/2012 2:45 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11117163

RE: Sig Hog Bipe Beginner
The fabric will do fine going over the glass, will not make any difference on the application.....Just iron away!
Posted on: 6/11/2012 3:49 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11114824

RE: Help! Polycrylic Disaster
You know........You might have somthing there. I know that it don't like polycrylic. Had some smudges i experimented trying to clean using Acetone, and i saw real quick that it attacked the poly. Couldn't find any turpentine close by. Will try the acetone on some scraps...Thanks.
Posted on: 6/9/2012 9:19 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11112882

RE: topflite elder 40 build
Hello to all on this thread:) Recently traded with a guy on one of these kits having thought about building one for a while now. I have an os 48 fs that i plan to use for power. It has been dragging around a Toledo Special (really fun airplane) for a year and a half or so now. (Pat, you answered my question about the suitability of this engine for an Elder, thanks!). I have built several airplanes over the years, but this is my first WW1 venture. Michel, Congratulations on the sucess of you project.............Say it flys like a cow, huh? My last build was a 9.5 lb. Hog Bipe that lands like a fat sow, so i ought to be right at home with this cowbird. (good nickname for this new rc/girlfriend......Cowbird:) This thing has to have a ton of drag, just looking at it. I am getting jazzed up about the project, and the kit should arrive soon! Again, Greetings and Salutations to All! steve
Posted on: 6/9/2012 8:23 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11112843

RE: Help! Polycrylic Disaster
<![if gte mso 9]> <![endif]><![if gte mso 9]> <![endif]><![if gte mso 10]><![endif]> I really want to thank you guys for the suggestions and putting up with my frustrated behavior . I picked up some lacquer thinner today...Cleanstrip Green brand. Tested on a piece of the Worldtex Black i used for trim over the base cover of Antique. It is a no go. Swabbed it on the finish side and it immediately started taking off the black pigment. Flipped it over and tried it on the adhesive and it started eating the glue. So.........Charlie P suggested turpentine....Will try that next. Trying things in order of being able to aquire easily close by.....Again, thanks to all.
Posted on: 6/9/2012 7:36 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11112799

RE: Sig Hog Bipe Beginner
Looks really good! You said you finished the wings..........You must have got the interplane strut mount issue resolved. Just keep on swinmming-You will get her built!! One thing you might consider on the balsa headrest. I used a soft easy to carve chunk of balsa then put a single layer of glass using polycrylic as a filler. Should have used two layers of glass there. Mine is very easy to dent. That is a wear area that my stand contacts and the headrest catches considerable abuse if i am not careful.
Posted on: 6/9/2012 5:38 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11112680

RE: 2012 Hog Bipe rides again
LOL the view from cockpit on the 'Oh S___!!!' landing probally looked like this:) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10271042
Posted on: 6/9/2012 5:10 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11112652

RE: 2012 Hog Bipe rides again
Hey Guys! Looks like great progress with a couple of y'all. Figured i better get over here and get to typing before I give in and buy that Coverite Peashooter kit listed on RCGs....I haven't heard tell of a Coverite kit in years. Had forgot they even built kits. Anyone know anything about them? Shepard___You will getter done, slowly but surely................There was an old cliche in our family about a long slow process and hanging in there to get it to completion....'Like a Cat Eating a Grind Stone' (And why a cat would want to eat a grind stone is beyond me, but apparently somewhere in our family past, cats had reasons to dine on grind stones). Just hang in there, plan ahead, and one task at a time. LOL if i would have been cutting lightning holes in the elevator of my build, it would have been to put lead weights in as nose heavy as mine is with the twin. Hogs generally build out tail heavy according to legend, but if memory serves me, i think your plan is to go with a light, high powered motor of some type. What are you putting in it? Tom____Another Hog rides the sky) And a darn good looking one at that! Really nice photos!. And true to this noble bloodline's heritage, after its first aerial adventure, she flops in like a fat sow diving into a wallow You did good moving the gear forward. We each had half the equation and weren't sure how good the advice was in the threads (me anyway), Dubro gear, and move it forward (which entails enlarging the plate), is the only way to go! (Prospective builders please note these suggestions) You didn't mention any nose over tendencies, which have been causing me all manor grief till i blocked the gear forward using spacers on the mount bolts, (and it still isn't far enough forward on mine, which will hopefully improve as i creep back on the cg). With yours, it's a shame the stock bolt pattern is different than the Dubro gear. Huh.....One easy solution for you on the strength issue is to get a set of the Dubro gear, re-drill to fit the stock gear pattern, and bolt her up. In fact, i am going to step out to the shop for a look see.......And this is what i see. A couple of solutions for thought. The Dubro gear is part 978 and had a rectangular 4 bolt pattern if you want to go that way. I don't see why you can't re-drill for that (kinda cheesy, looks like bad load distribution to me) 3 holes in a line pattern into the Dubro gear. Your wheel pants will fit, just have to drill the holes for them.........And just a thought, i wonder if you can't just whack the leg ends (see photo) off another set of identical stock gear, spray some paint on them and assemble them in a stack? Wonder if the bends would match? Might could tweak them till they fit together using a vise. Or use washers between the two to get the spacing right if the geometry doesn’t jive. Be like a set of leaf springs and strong as heck:) I will be glad to stick the unused gear from my kit in a mailer and send them to you if want to try it. A few more Hog dances, you are gonna need them anyway. (And i don't need them, they are just in the way around the shop). It shouldn't add but a couple 3 ozs. or so to you pig's 8.75 lb girlish figure, and it would be worth the postage to me just to see if you could make it work. Out of the 25 to 30 or so landings I have done so far, I have done about 4 or 5 were porkers that ranged from 'Jeez.... I kinda bounced', to 'Oh S___!!!!' On the worse one, it went over on its back on the second bounce..... My gear is at the ragged edge of being far enough forward, and i have that 9.5 lb.empty weight, .75 lbs. more than you. Throw a little crosswind in and you set things up for great hog dance watching for the vultures in the peanut gallery:). When i did that double porker belly flop and she ended up on her back, the tires getting cramming in on the first bounce (I have read that technically the proper term is better described as a 'Jounce') and with that crosswind loading them sideways the first impact caused a lot of scrubbing side loads of the tires, trying to roll off the rims against the pants which was like hitting the breaks for an instant or two. This started the rotation of the airplane over on its back which the second pork bounce a couple seconds later completed. Nasty looking...., a 'Ground Lomcevak'. Fortunately, nothing was broke. The spinner contacts first in nose-overs which is getting hard on the alinimun finish on the spinner, but keeps the cowl out of harm's way. Haven’t broke a prop so far, RPMs being low when it happens and running a tough APC. I sure hope things improve when I move the CG back a little futher and i get my dumb thumbs trained better on airspeed management.. Otherwise I will have to re-drill the plate and move the gear location forward. Since I built in a large enough plate to do this, I probably should just bite the bullet and go ahead and git with it. I really need to get to work correcting these issues before i tear something up. Happy Hogging to all!! And remember, you better keep your approach speed up, (Before she loses interest in living and self destructs), if you want to make out with a flying fat girl!!
Posted on: 6/8/2012 11:50 AM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11111313

RE: 2012 Hog Bipe rides again
Hey Tom, Too slow. Guess i am used to 'floaters' and have a bad habit of getting too slow on approach which don't work well with this airplane at all. It's all good, just got to get used to it barrelling down final. How are you comming with yours? You are getting close to be ready for the maiden? steve
Posted on: 6/7/2012 5:12 AM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11109790

RE: 2012 Hog Bipe rides again
I appreciate that, Tom:) Really frustrating. There has been a bunch of guys working really hard to come up with some ideas on taking the polycrylic off on the above mentioned thread. Been flying the Hog when i get a chance. I am going to experiment with some radio programming to set up some kinda approach mode programming for pitch and power parameters. Be somthing interesting to play with that might get me better consistancy in my landings. At this point, about one out of four is a belly flop, but i am getting better:)
Posted on: 6/5/2012 7:11 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11108058

RE: Help! Polycrylic Disaster
sorry you feel that way, rgburrill:) Thanks guys for all the help. The laquer thinner souinds like it may do the trick. Will experiment some and see how the cover and adhesive acts. If that looks to be a no go will try the other tecniques put fourth. Again, thanks
Posted on: 6/5/2012 6:41 PM by Author "Steveibrc" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11108015