View Full Version : Vampire for 90 mm fan on the way
Well guys this is my first post here.
For years now I've been wanting to have a nice Vampire for 90 mm and retracts. There were few kits and many of those were less than scale.
I built a 480 sized foam Vampire a few years ago that was pusher some of you might remember. Still have it. Retired without a scratch and that's because it was always a good flying plane. No vices or bad habits. Just solid. That and being a vintage bird from WW2 always made this jet a passion for me. The WW2 period is my favorite. Thus the ME P. 1101 and the TA-183 I did. Early jets are a turn on for me.
Barry Macdonald and I worked on the Huck project together. Barry carved the foam plugs for me and I glassed them, did the detail work and molded and produced the kits. It was great working with Barry as he's always there and greatly inspired. We would shoot emails and pictures back and forth until 3 in the morning sometimes. There are never any problems with Barry only solutions.
So not long ago I said, "hey how about we do a Vampire"? I sent him some plans I have and he went to town. The idea I had was to wire cut two fuses in foam, sheet them with balsa and have a couple of nice larger Vampires. Light too.
But I was making another scratch built U-boat and Barry was watching the thread and picked up that I was using RTV to make the mold. this got his attention and he wanted to try it. Good by foam and balsa.
I do this in to halves. When the plug is in the parting board the actual division point of the plug sits higher than the parting boards center point. There is a scribe line on the plug to point out exact center. Then the mold is made top and bottom capturing the scribe and extending beyond the scribe line by about 1/4 of an inch.
When you cast up each side you can now flat sand to the the scribe lines and join the two halves. This is almost always done with sub models but not aircraft very often. But since the Vampire has those tricky ductings to install Barry thought this might be a nice way to go. And when he uses epoxy in the molds he doesn't have to wax and PVA. The parts release like butter capturing a great deal more of the details then a glass mold.
So it went from there and he wire cut the foam plugs, glassed them, put the rivets and panel lines in and is just about to make the molds.
As you can see he's starting with the hatch first that is the access to the fan.
In the early picture there before glassing you can see the wing plan form. He also has made plugs for the booms so they too will be glass with the tails mold in. This all makes for a nice easy build. The picture with the green primer and the raised panel lines is drafting tape. After several layers of primer the tape is removed leaving a nice panel line. It's my prefered method to do this. Scribing can be better but it's harder to master.
Well there's the whole history of this project. Hope you didn't find it too boring but I felt it had to be told.
As soon as I get more pictures from Barry I will post here with a shorter story. Eventually this thread will document the building and flying of this fine airplane. You know me. There will be a nice video or two to end it all. I have all the guts and retracts sitting on bench waiting to go into her. Nice change. you can never have to much surplus hardware. Right?
Steve
http://www.sneill.com/vampire/vamp1.jpg
http://www.sneill.com/vampire/vamp2.jpg
more pictures
http://www.sneill.com/vampire/vamp4.jpg
http://www.sneill.com/vampire/vamp5.jpg
http://www.sneill.com/vampire/vamp6.jpg
http://www.sneill.com/vampire/vamp3.jpg
Synwpn
12-10-2005, 09:54 AM
very nice Steve! and Barry! you got that nose just right!
Steve, what set of retracts do you have waiting to go into this thing?
The EJF retracts. Finally a nice home for them. And yes he got it just right. Where are you Barry? Report!
Steve
tashley
12-10-2005, 01:39 PM
Very nice work!
monkamarm2000
12-10-2005, 07:39 PM
Reporting as ordered sir! lol Sorry I've been busy slopping Ultracal. Hope to get the hatch mold done today and pull a test hatch tomorrow. So far I'm real happy with it. Gotta give David some credit too cause as I was pulling my hair out on a few things he was my sounding board and gave me alot of idea's to get out of some dilemas. Next week hopefully main fuse molds and boom molds. After that I can lay a quik and dirty to cut up for formers and inlet plugs. And yes I have to make another canopy, the 5th one actually, not happy with them as usual.
Barry
That's more like it! Soldier! LOL! Barry if you want larger pictures posted here we can use my server. I'll give the keys and the location folder for the Vampire project.
It's your thread too my friend. Your doing an excellent job and it's refreshing to see someone else doing all the good work this time! LOL!;) 2-3 years of scratch building for me. I need a short break here. It's your turn!
Steve
P.S. Tashley. Thank you!
Andy m
12-11-2005, 02:28 PM
Steve,
Very nice work as usual from you, good to see you back in the aircraft mode!
Also nice to see you on this forum. :)
Synwpn
12-12-2005, 04:57 AM
heh, Steve's going to build something meant for AIR flying? ;) and you DID scratch something this year for planes Steve, i saw a very great looking pilot for the new F-20 Tigershark from HET.
and thanks Barry. Lots of the ideas i gave you came about because i didn't know better i think!
Andy thanks. But Barry is the man this time.
Yes I did do that pilot but Markos paid me to do them for warbirds rc alone.
Thanks guys,
steve
Mr. Boogie
12-13-2005, 06:19 PM
Nice work Steve/Barry,
You guys do some fantastic work together and your construction/progress threads are always great to read and follow.
Mr. Boogie
Well Mr.Boogie you don't do so bad yourself! ;) Thanks a bunch! From both of us.
Steve
newcomer
12-17-2005, 01:18 AM
Steve,
you mentioned RTV for the mold - what is it, exactly ?
david
Silicone rubber or Room Temperature Vulcanizing rubber.
Glad to see you here BTW.
steve
newcomer
12-17-2005, 01:35 AM
Steve,
if you're using it, it must be interesting. how about one of your famous building article/tutorials so the rest of us can learn?
david
Bill G
12-17-2005, 04:17 AM
Not boring at all Steve. This (molds) is exactly the kind of stuff I would like to progress to. Love faom shaping. Also like only the vintage jets. You'll get my reputation vote. So far I have built the Meteor F-8, Arado 234, Yak 23, and 3 ME 262s. Even gave 1 262 away, to inspire another build (better one). What have been my latest build thoughts, you guessed it, the Vampire. Maybe EDF64. Well, to keep it British, here was the latest:
Bill,
Just beautiful! Lets see more of your work. I want one!
Steve
Bill G
12-18-2005, 06:32 AM
Bill,
Just beautiful! Lets see more of your work. I want one!
Steve
Thanks Steve. Been a follower of your work for quite a while. Other than the Meteor and the Yak 23, its Luft 45-46 all the way. Same problem the Germans had with all the incredible proposed jets at the end of the war: so many planes, so little time. I actually gave the white nose 262 away, to inspire the Nowotny build. Pics are all scratch builds. No offense to ARF owners, as I own some too, but after so many, its almost as bad a die cast car collecting. Gotta make it to enjoy it!
major1
12-18-2005, 01:34 PM
That Looks Super !!!!!!!!!
Bill G
12-18-2005, 04:06 PM
That Looks Super !!!!!!!!!
Like your work too Major.
In your thread, Steve couldn't have said it any better concerning scratchbuilding and passionate building. That's how I got into it. Make whatever I want, whether a kit is available or not. If not kit, then all the better, as I have one of the few. It is definitely a passion. A whlie ago, while having a conversation with a friend about my lousy life, they had a positive comment about my time in the hobby as they said, "I wish I had something I felt even close to that passionately about". Got me thinking about how much enjoyment scratch building planes has given me in life. Better than having the Ferrari.
Steve, if the Vampire is to get landing gear, it will be interesting. I spent about 2 weeks of 6 hour evenings scratch building and installing a removable front steerable/retractable nose retract with door, for the Meteor. Works well. Worth the effort, but now I see why people go the Robart route.
monkamarm2000
12-19-2005, 07:41 PM
your right Bill! Thats why I dont make kits! Cause then its a biz and not fun. I have my own biz and it keeps me plenty tortured, this is what relaxes me. Kits are nice but basically if I want a plane my first thought is how can I build it from scratch, and luckily most of the planes I want they dont make kits! Plus im a stickler for details, Steve knows that well from my midnight pestering sessions, always works out well cause we can reel each other in from building problems, or in my case going off on tangent over nothing. Vamp is still trucking along, low emps have slowed things down a tad though since the primers and fillers take much longer to dry. But this week work is lighter and I'm starting the part boards.
Barry
roccobro
12-19-2005, 09:15 PM
Wow. Alot of the masters in one thread. You guys are awesome. Some day when I have more time and skill, I'd like to do exactly what I see here. until then, just ignore the drooling and staring at your work. :D
Justin
Kevin Cox
12-19-2005, 11:43 PM
I guess I will have to stop by here from time to time to see what you are up to Steve. ;)
Looking good man!
Kevin,
Thanks. Very peaceful here.
I will be using retracts as will Barry. Flats. Yes. Full house. I'm looking very forward to this plane. It should be a real pleasure to fly and a good one to bring to the shows.
The silicone is giving Barry some different issues to deal with in regard to laying up the glass. But we will work it out. I used BJB 50/40 RTV for my sub model and didn't have a beading problem and Barry is. I think this might be due to the fact that he's using a different RTV. We are looking into that now.
Also Barry you might want to try a thin gel coat. May be the ticket!
Steve
monkamarm2000
12-20-2005, 10:36 AM
The gel coat was the thing that was killing me. I think your right about what you said earlier, just try it in one shot. But i will work it out before I use the same stuff for the main mould. I need to pick Merrimans mind a bit too.
Barry
newcomer
12-20-2005, 03:54 PM
Steve,
BJB 50/40 RTV ? whats the BJB?
david
David,
It's the company name. BJB. Do a search on the net for their web site and the material. It's great stuff because it can be less than 1/8 thick and so strong you can't rip it apart if you tried!
Steve
monkamarm2000
12-22-2005, 02:18 PM
Well here is phase one! lol Mae a spill control board more than a part board. I just took P.B and waxed it with Part-All tomake sure nothing sticks. This first coat is thinned out, next will be thicker so I can build up around the under cuts. Under cuts area's that the shape actualy tuckes under somewhere, which is a pian with glass, but should be easy with this stuff. Ok had pics but apparantly cant show them
Barry
Here you go guys.
http://www.sneill.com/vampire/vamp7.jpg (http://www.sneill.com/vamp/vampire7.jpg)
http://www.sneill.com/vampire/vamp8.jpg
(http://www.sneill.com/vamp/vampire7.jpg)
monkamarm2000
12-23-2005, 03:23 AM
thanks Steve! I'm starting the thicker run as we speak. Hopefully it will be ready for hglass tomorrow and who knows, maybe first pull in a day or so!
Barry
Barry,
It's best to let it sit a few days first and let it fully cure out. The RTV will be stronger and last longer if you do. Take your time. This is going to be one nice aircraft and you put lots of hard work into that plug-plugs.
Steve
Bill G
12-23-2005, 05:07 AM
Man that picture was so large I accidentally hit the back button to get to the thread again! Can see every bit of detail. I could easily do what you're doing 12 hours a day, if I could make a living at it. Also have to learn it, of course. I love the pics, as that's what its all about for me. By the way, can I ge a 'Boro off you man?
So where can I get the book on "All about RTV molding processes"? Have to try this stuff. I love the mold shaping procees, so Ive at least got step one down. As I was building my last 262, I kept thinking about plastic wrapping it and making a few glass fuses, but was too anxious to sheet it and move on with the build. I noticed I forgot to show this one before. I have a better pic less than 1k over this oddball file size limit. They need to make it 100k, since all mine are under that. We'll give you the one on my "high tech" thrust tester. Here's anoter Luft for you Steve:
monkamarm2000
12-24-2005, 06:40 AM
well had more pics but i give up trying to get them to fit! lol Got the RTV glassed today and all backed up, hope to pull it off tomorrow morning. Could have tonight but taking Steves advice and taking it easy
Barry
Barry I'll get those new pictures up tonight!
Steve
termite
12-28-2005, 02:08 AM
:p I'll be watching :p
Randy
Ok Randy. Soon the builds will begin. Barry and I will both build them side by side. I'm going for all silver. EJF retracts. Midi. 22-30-2. Flaps and a big 16 cell pack of GP 3300's as all Vampires are tail heavy.
I'd rather have the usable weight rather than a bunch of lead up front. Also these GP 3300's rock! Gets that 7 pound Huck right off the pavement in a big hurry as it has the same problem with the short nose. Flight times are short. About 5 minutes but the batteries are cool to the touch after a flight and charge right away. They're good to 70 amps and I'm no where near pushing that. About 80 bucks for the pack too!
Steve
Bill G
12-28-2005, 03:11 AM
Ok Randy. Soon the builds will begin. Barry and I will both build them side by side. I'm going for all silver. EJF retracts. Midi. 22-30-2. Flaps and a big 16 cell pack of GP 3300's as all Vampires are tail heavy.
Steve
When I thought about building one, that was my biggest concern. For ease of building, I envisioned the EDF mounting right at the outlet. Keeping the tail and booms as light as possible, I still saw having the battery clear in front still not doing the cg job. Problem with retracts is that they help needed front cg weight, but push the needed fromt batt weight back. With my Meteor it was not a problem because the nose is long, but still have the batt as far forward as possible. I made the rud/steer and retract servos sevicable through the cocpit floor, moving the batt back even further. The batt is directly behind all this crap and is even angling, to get as much forward as possible, above the servos.
Like to see how you work out all these variables.
Bill I missed your above post sorry. I don't know if there's a book or not on the subject. Best bet is to ask here. I learned all this stuff working for the studios many years sculpting, mold making and making models for film. I learned from the old masters.
Nice work there on your birds too. Scratch building is the best way to go to have anything you might dream of. Plus you get a nice pat on the back when asked who's kit and you say scratch built. ;)
Work it out? One big brick of man killing GP 3300's.;)
Steve
R Winger
01-01-2006, 07:28 PM
Hi Steve and Barry
Sounds like a great project. I'll be watching this thread with interest. Just to keep you inspired here's a great pic of Mr. Travolta's ex Vampire.
Roger
monkamarm2000
01-01-2006, 10:03 PM
Cool pic Rog! Thanks. And so far its scootching along nice. Had a setback with the boom molds but got it pretty well sorted now. there smaller and a bit detailed and my first RTV molds were a bit flimsy for vac bag, so I had to redo them for a firmer mold. I did get to verify my assembly method though. For accuracy I made just one boom, then split it in the band say, then took 2 molds form that so I get 2 identical sides and booms. For assemlby I am laying one layer of 3.7 cloth across, spanning the dips of one side, then putting them together. This attaches them and gives a strong spine to them also. I'll shoot pics to Steve
Barry
Bill G
01-03-2006, 06:18 AM
Hi Steve and Barry
Sounds like a great project. I'll be watching this thread with interest. Just to keep you inspired here's a great pic of Mr. Travolta's ex Vampire.
Roger
Looks like a nice little personal Hot Rod!
gbruce
01-04-2006, 07:29 AM
HEy guys:)
So this is where you are all hangin' out!!
Nice work on the Vampire!!
Bruce
monkamarm2000
01-04-2006, 11:18 AM
hey Bruce! ltns
Barry
mode101
01-06-2006, 08:13 PM
Looks good but you might want to do the Venom instead, look's like someone already been there and done that already.
http://www.jetarrows.com/vampire/page.phtml?go=spec&lg=en
This is a personal project and will not be offered to the public. I like ours better than the one in the link you provided. Ours looks a bit more scale.
I'll post pictures later tonight of the castings. But again I'm out of the airplane kit biz these days after the Huck and 1101.
I had a lot of people blame there poor flying ability and lack of skill on my kits despite the fact of all the videos posted of successful builds. Not to mention the Wren 44 version of my Huck in the UK. That put me off. How do you tell a guy the plane is ahead of your skills? Not easy. Kit makers deal with this all the time but not me. I now make submarine kits. They don't have to fly! LOL!
Steve
monkamarm2000
01-07-2006, 12:56 AM
LOL! That other one is a very nice plane but still a bit out of scale. Thats half the reason it went the way it did cause we wanted something nice and scale. Vampires and Venom's are not speed demons by nature of the design, so you might as well get a good scale looking bird for your troubles. And I went to great lengths to thin the back section of the wing on the molds so that this one could be converted into a Venom later if we wanted. The wing thickness will be a tad out of scale, but with an open ended wing root should allow it to be pulled down to fit a thinner more swept wing core.
Barry
termite
01-07-2006, 05:39 AM
Steve, Barry
Keep it comming :p
Randy
Synwpn
01-07-2006, 09:01 AM
What Randy said Barry! Its looking great. That arrowjets one does look good but its just looks a bit off. i have build up plans for a vampire that i have saved away for a rainy day, but would probably do it in a smallish version to play with in the park. heh.
Steve - you design great stuff! I have the 1101 and if i can find a place to put it, i'm getting your HUCK!
Bill G
01-08-2006, 04:40 AM
I'm sure you probably know about this plane, as a Luft nut, Steve, but here it is. So many postwar designs were Luft based. Some almost exact copies of the original outlines.
http://www.inpayne.com/models/fw_flitzer.html
He guys thanks a bunch for the kind words. But on this one lets remember it's all Barry's good work. I just get to build one and fly one for a change. LOL!
Here's some pictures Barry sent me of the first test casts. Looks like he's on his way to me. Can't wait to get one in my grubby hands!
Steve
Netmechanic
01-08-2006, 09:04 PM
Now I know what you've been up to Steve!
You kinda dropped of the radar after my F-15, little did I know you and Barry were over here cranking out planes! I knew I felt a tremor in the Force:p
Ha! Glad you found me. Im not on...well...that other place anymore. And I have my own forum now for subs. www.subpirates.com
Steve
monkamarm2000
01-15-2006, 10:42 AM
check it out everyone its a cool site! And yes still here still working on the vamp. weather is just slowing things down a bunch
Netmechanic
01-15-2006, 05:56 PM
Arrrrrrrr Mate Have ye figured out how to bungee your subs yet or are ye still handlaunching them:p
No we use the bungee!
LOL!
Steve
termite
01-16-2006, 03:27 AM
I love that picture :p
Randy
roccobro
01-16-2006, 04:34 AM
That was some good pictures of Steve's sub!
Randy- Thanks for the Flightline Flyers stickers. I'll finally be able to identify my car in a parking lot regardless of the dents, faded paint and blistered tint material. :p :D
Justin
easytiger
01-16-2006, 04:35 AM
Dude. You so need retracts on that thing.
Bill G
01-16-2006, 05:11 AM
Never really thought about it, but I guess a sub qualifies as a pusher.
No Bill. We have EDF too! LOL!!
This is the rear end of my Seawolf.
Steve
easytiger
01-16-2006, 05:21 AM
Never really thought about it, but I guess a sub qualifies as a pusher.
That's why I say retracts. Hand launching a pusher is dangerous.
easytiger
01-16-2006, 05:22 AM
No Bill. We have EDF too! LOL!!
This is the rear end of my Seawolf.
Steve
I built one with a Dynamax fan and an OS91. Always dead-sticked a few seconds after hitting the water. Too lean, you think?
I built one with a Dynamax fan and an OS91. Always dead-sticked a few seconds after hitting the water. Too lean, you think?
Ha! this one is electric!
Steve
Curtis,
You really ought to visit my very own forum. Lt and RT seem to get along well there too. All brothers under the sail. Ho, ho.
www.subpirates.com (http://www.sub)
easytiger
01-16-2006, 05:30 AM
I had one of those Cox electric Sportavias back in 1986, it would barely climb out of it's own way. I sincerely doubt that electric power will power a 25 pound sub!
TGoodwin
01-16-2006, 07:31 AM
Hi Steve,
Was wondering where you ran off to. Vampire is looking good.
Ted
Hey Ted! Good to hear from you buddy. I'm here. I'm on MSN now and switched from yahoo to that. Just U812 to get me Ted.
Can't wait to get my grubby hands on the Vampire. Time to fly something new.
Steve
Kriptonic
02-04-2006, 08:12 AM
I remember that day we hooked up your sub to my Bungee..... what a blast.
(Post Edited for content)
Gene
roccobro
02-04-2006, 08:26 AM
Good to see you here Gene. And thanks for sharing those sub pixs after the maiden. :p
Justin
Kriptonic
02-04-2006, 08:47 AM
well after being a member of the "wattflyer" since mid last year, i figure i'd finaly post
monkamarm2000
02-06-2006, 09:43 AM
Still alove and dying! lol And still being confounded by cold weather, which isnt too bad cause I have had time to perfect the booms.
Barry
Synwpn
02-06-2006, 09:53 AM
booms still working ya over huh?
monkamarm2000
02-06-2006, 10:17 AM
well after they fell over and broke yeah! lol
St. Martin
02-11-2006, 10:50 PM
Well..there are certainly some familiar souls over here...
Nice work, Barry! Send it to this Steve when done!
Steve
monkamarm2000
02-11-2006, 11:00 PM
LOL good to see you here!
Barry
Mike Parsons
02-15-2006, 01:28 AM
I have split the three pages (http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4562)of off topic discussion from this thread. Please lets keep this thread within at least a few thousand yards of the original topic. Thanks for you help and consideration!
-Mike
easytiger
02-15-2006, 05:45 PM
Thank gawd you were there to save us, we almost had an interesting conversation and maybe brought in some new members. You got here in the nick of time.
Barry, make it SCALE. I had the Aeronaut one, it was so far out of scale as to be disturbing...do correct outlines, and panel lines and scoops and such, it will really stand out...
monkamarm2000
02-15-2006, 06:23 PM
Oh yeah making it as scale as I can. Its actually bigger than it needs to be just so I didnt have to cheat inlet area on somthing smaller, or jave to make them deficient just to make it look good. Which luckily doesnt have too mucch penalty on the Vamp due to its small fuse area in relaton to its size. I'm still dying to get it going but this cold stuff is getting old! Been working on other stuff just cause epoxy and RTV is not do-able right now.
Barry
Bill G
02-16-2006, 03:50 AM
Post some pictures of the other stuff for fill in. Everyting you guys build is interesting.
Easytiger, the split didn't include the second link, the best part.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=473510&pp=20
Kriptonic
02-16-2006, 05:04 AM
Thank gawd you were there to save us, we almost had an interesting conversation and maybe brought in some new members. You got here in the nick of time.
Barry, make it SCALE. I had the Aeronaut one, it was so far out of scale as to be disturbing...do correct outlines, and panel lines and scoops and such, it will really stand out...
I duno if splitting this topic was such a good thing since we are all buddy, buddies here, but then again it did get off track a bit from it's title. But it's great that were all here now on the WattFlyer (cheesy name IMO, but works out great) where we can chat and rant without all those comunist restrictions.... Down with Censorship.........
Gene
Kriptonic
02-16-2006, 05:04 AM
Post some pictures of the other stuff for fill in. Everyting you guys build is interesting.
Easytiger, the split didn't include the second link, the best part.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=473510&pp=20
Thanks for putting the link up. It's a real gag...
Gene
monkamarm2000
02-16-2006, 06:58 AM
I thought the hello's were working out nice to fill in th htread while I wait for warmer temps to get more done on it! lol
barry
Maybe I could post some more bungee lauched subs.:)
No really guys. The management is so nice here lets not press it. How about posting some nice reference and color schemes for the Vampire. Stories. Air show video. We can keep this on track until Barry's knees thaw out! LOL!!
Steve
monkamarm2000
02-16-2006, 07:17 AM
your right Steve, I dont htink its htem as much as I'm sure were just all a tad gun shy from the mod action in the other place. And yeah need to thaw out! thermo here reads 32 tonight, but hey were supposed to get snow!
Barry
easytiger
02-16-2006, 02:16 PM
I see everybody finally saw what I saw on the Oakdale thread.....
Barry, can you widen the booms just a little bit to accomodate a pair of Tesla Proton Lifters?
mode101
02-16-2006, 06:16 PM
I see everybody finally saw what I saw on the Oakdale thread.....
Barry, can you widen the booms just a little bit to accomodate a pair of Tesla Proton Lifters?
You missed Uriah's post about the Ion Drive Tether Car plans he has...he got mad and quoted Jack Nicholson "In A Few Good Men", thought maybe "The Shining" was better suited "All work and no play makes Jack a Dull Boy".
Have to admit though this thread isn't really that stellar either. Looks like the Vampire thing went off on a tangent. RCgroups, RCU and this place are all in the same, have to weed through tons of crap to find info.
Hi Steve! I'm on board.
Mike
Hey Mike!
And Mode101. It will be stellar. Ask anyone here. I never fail to please and have more scratch building under my belt than most people have built kits. So hang tight. Barry is doing a good job, works full time and as soon as I get one in my hands the fun will begin.
RC Groups is not the same. They have an immature warning system among other politically correct annoying behavior. But your right you sometimes have to weed throught the crap. A word you cannot use on RC Groups. ;) Plus no one here will warn you or report you for a personal attack when all you were doing is speaking my mind. Bravo. It's America.
Steve
Heiner
02-20-2006, 08:04 AM
Hi Steve!
:)
Heiner
Hi Heiner. Welcome here!
Steve
drksyd
02-21-2006, 02:58 AM
And Mode101. It will be stellar. Ask anyone here. I never fail to please and have more scratch building under my belt than most people have built kits. So hang tight. Barry is doing a good job, works full time and as soon as I get one in my hands the fun will begin.
Steve
Would some lucky indiviuals be able to have one in hand?
You'll have to ask Barry. He will be the one that has to lay them up. No more glass work for me or I'll get sick and die. Really. But I bet you can wing one out of him.;)
Steve
drksyd
02-21-2006, 03:54 AM
Sorry, asked the wrong person. I know you do great work but it sounded like a slight hint that there would be a few possibly available.
Bmiller
02-21-2006, 04:31 AM
Hey Steve! is your F-104 kit still available for sale somewhere?
(link please)
And as an attempt to get back on topic.... how about an update on where this project is at the moment? I think I read one of the booms fell over and broke a couple pages back.......
Thanks!
Bruce
Hey Bruce!
No. I have the molds and all but as far as I know I sent Dave at EAM the plugs for the fuse and he had a new mold made. He will eventually sell them and I will beta test. Just don't when.
Barry has been working his ass off. And freezing to death in his garage so work has been held up. I think the booms were fine but he did them over again reaching for perfection.
The fuse molds are all done and as soon as the booms are tweaked out it will be time to build. I have some EJF retracts. Jeti 77. 22-30-2T. Midi fan and a bunch of servos here all waiting for there new home.
I'm also thinking about making a F-106 for mini fan as a kit I will sell. All vacuum formed fuse in poly carb. Foam wings and yes it will take retracts easy. Finally a 480 sized bird with retracts. It's either that or a Rapier.
Steve
Bmiller
02-21-2006, 06:25 AM
Thanks for the info Steve!
I remember your original F-104 and would love to make one powered with todays liteweight technology ie(LiPolys) Got a microfan here begging for a home!
Love the whole RTV molding process..The detail looks amazing!
Bruce
ps, It's not that cold Barry!;)
Bruce your welcome. And it's close to 40 in my garage right now. Can't feel my fingers.
Steve
Bill G
02-21-2006, 10:39 PM
Your spoiled Steve, 40 degrees! C'mon. Realistically I'd like a bit of that LA weather myself. We're renovating a mansion this winter, and have the heat at 50, to save costs. I work comfortably in a t-shirt.
How 'bout some vidoes of sub bungee launching?
I tell you what. I'll trade you locations. Ya the weather is always warm. 700 ft paved runway 12 minutes from my home. Rent for a 3 bedroom. 2000-2500 in an area with gun fire at night. Sound good? Oh and it's a good area too. These same cracker boxes sell for 600.000-800.000.
If I lived where you do I bet I'd pay 800 a month for an even better house and no gun fire right? I'm getting out of LA soon as I can. Can't find work anymore and at the rate things are going I should be on the street soon. So out I go. Lower my cost of living and get by on models. That's the plan anyway. Hollywood is dead for American jobs and after 30 years of service they put me and all my firnds out to pasture.
Help!
Steve
tashley
02-21-2006, 10:57 PM
Move to the Houston area. Although it's a big city and some of the same crap you see in LA is here as well, the burbs are good and there's work of all types out the wazoo. Plus, you can buy a new 2500 foot house for about two-fifty and it's nice.
easytiger
02-21-2006, 11:45 PM
Three bedrooms? $2500 a month? That's INCREDIBLE! Here you MIGHT get a a studio with a kitchen alcove for that. IF you have connections.
Forty degrees? Oh, yeah, that's what my hangar was yesterday...IF you were standing right next to the heater....
Grass is always greener! Heh, heh!
tashley
02-22-2006, 12:12 AM
No, not three bedrooms at $2500 rented, actually three bedrooms at about $1400 a month. What I was refering to was s new 2500 sq ft for 250k purchase. We fly year round on the Texas Gulf Coast.Temp now is in the high sixties.
Tom,
Thanks. I do CGI. Not much chance at that kind of work for me anymore.
I was thinking Austin. I have friends there. I'll have to be a renter. Lost my house along with most worldly things as a result of the crash first in Silicone Valley and now Hollywood. It has crashed big time and it's only going to get worse. I can't run screaming from this state fast enough.
Steve
easytiger
02-22-2006, 12:33 AM
No, not three bedrooms at $2500 rented, actually three bedrooms at about $1400 a month. What I was refering to was s new 2500 sq ft for 250k purchase. We fly year round on the Texas Gulf Coast.Temp now is in the high sixties.
Hey, why not just pour lemon juice into my cuts? People pay (almost!) that much a month for a PARKING SPACE!
Oh, well! At least we have better pizza here in Midtown Manhattan!
HA!!!!!LOL!!! I can move to Edwards AFB area a nd it's only 800 a month for a darn nice house. Better than this one. I pay 1750.00 a month for a run down 3 bedroom house. Sure it's got a pool. But who cares. Pain in the rear anyway. Big cities are just a rip off. Rate of pay doesn't match the over head!
Steve
Ok guys lest get back on track here before the owners get pissed. I did it again.
Barry!!!!!! Get me a Vampire quick! Lets show em how it's done. I'll do a nice build thread right here and finish it off with a good video.
Steve
Bill G
02-22-2006, 01:27 AM
If I lived where you do I bet I'd pay 800 a month for an even better house and no gun fire right?
Help!
Steve
Less than 800. Can rent pretty good ones for 600/mo. Nice town. I live against a large public park. The other side of the park road/creek is out of town lines, so there is often gunfire, but it is hunters practicing on private farms, not gangs. The park has several fields larger than many flying fields. Its not just that nobody flies there but me, nobody is ever there but me. I hear of all these overcrowding and park flying issues that guys have and just can't relate. The police here stop to enjoy the flights, when I'm in the park opening field. I drive to the flying club for socializing. Have a nice field a block away. Its a nice town, if you don't mind moving across the country. A lot of Pittsburghers are moving around here to get out of the city, although its still not like LA.
I don't have a Vampire. Will a Meteor suffice for now? Hey, its still British and from the same time period.
easytiger
02-22-2006, 01:33 AM
That Meteor is very sweet!
I thought the Israelis only had them in camo nightfighters?
Me like it too. Very much! It will do. Great job!
Steve
Bill G
02-22-2006, 02:20 AM
Easytiger, the IAF had them in a number of different schemes, although mostly camo or solid silver. I figured they deserved the recognition, since they made them look better than they really were in combat. They actually shot down superior Egyptian Vampires in combat.
Speaking of Egypt Steve, once you get used to BFE you'll never go back to a big city.
Move to the Houston area. Although it's a big city and some of the same crap you see in LA is here as well, the burbs are good and there's work of all types out the wazoo. Plus, you can buy a new 2500 foot house for about two-fifty and it's nice.
I agree Steve, come on over. Austin is too expensive for me but it has some elevation to the terrain we do not have here.
Well to stay near the topic and since I am coming in late how is Vampire coming... :)
Eric B.
monkamarm2000
03-06-2006, 07:39 AM
I dont want to hear about housing prices! lol median home around here is 800k!
Anyway! its warming up a tad so epoxy work can resume soon, although we had snow yesterday its getting abck into the 50's again. Been getting antsy so I finished and prepped the bottom plug for RTV as soon as its warm enough. Matter of fact got so antsy I jumped the gun and glassed my 120mm Euro Fighter, bad mistake! First off I was going light so I thinned the epoxy a bit, apparently the monomer I used does not like foam, would have made it a bit soft but since it was so cold the epoxy didnt fire off for hours, so the solvent ate the EF.
Barry
monkamarm2000
03-06-2006, 07:53 AM
quik pic of what happens when i get impatient! lol So this is looking for a new home, just havnt figured out what im going to build yet, just cant face the EF for a while after that.
Barry
Bmiller
03-06-2006, 08:47 AM
Oh crap! Thats terrible! What a disaster. I feel your pain bro.
Bruce
monkamarm2000
03-06-2006, 10:09 AM
what are ya gonna do? you just deal and move on. on the brightside I think my BVM just got moved up the list though.
Barry
drksyd
03-06-2006, 11:35 AM
Yikes, that's bad news. We all had our share of mishaps, at least I've had some.
It can't be that bad finding a place to stay. I heard guys here saying something aout renting closets, at least they're walk in closets.
easytiger
03-06-2006, 03:25 PM
I dont want to hear about housing prices! lol median home around here is 800k!
Anyway! its warming up a tad so epoxy work can resume soon, although we had snow yesterday its getting abck into the 50's again. Been getting antsy so I finished and prepped the bottom plug for RTV as soon as its warm enough. Matter of fact got so antsy I jumped the gun and glassed my 120mm Euro Fighter, bad mistake! First off I was going light so I thinned the epoxy a bit, apparently the monomer I used does not like foam, would have made it a bit soft but since it was so cold the epoxy didnt fire off for hours, so the solvent ate the EF.
Barry
I don't know where you are, but YOU, at least, understand the cost of housing! When I hear people complain about the median cost of housing being $250k, I have to LAUGH. But people in $800k neighborhoods, they at least understand a bit about Manhattan where I am. Enough said!
Ouch on the EF. Put it in the garbage can, quickly. The less you see it, the less it will hurt!
What did you use to thin the epoxy?
That HURTS
Rents will come done here after last nights Academy *****s show. I didn't watch it never will. But I did hear about the rappers whinning an award.
Rap sucks. Hollywood has sunk to an all time low. They are dead.
Steve
easytiger
03-06-2006, 10:22 PM
Everyone thinks the Oscars suck...until they GET one. Then it becomes a true judgement of one's talent, etc. etc!
Not all rap sucks. Some is genius. 98% of it sucks. As does 98% of rock, country, and classical. But 2% is genius.
Unfortunately, the stuff that won last night...most DEFINITELY part of the 98% that sucks, and sucks HARD! And the dance routine that went with it for the Oscars, I mean, the whole thing was like a PARODY of rap, I thought it was MadTV or SNL. We were LAUGHING it was so bad...
If I ever got one and I almost did. Not only would I not attend that sorry event I would sell the damn thing on ebay. It's worth more there and is an insult to the industry as they are to me.
Did watcj it either. Just heard. I wouldn't give those work for us for free bastards the ratings.
Steve
roccobro
03-06-2006, 11:47 PM
the whole thing was like a PARODY of rap, I thought it was MadTV or SNL. We were LAUGHING it was so bad...
SO, I wasn't the only one that thought the closing credits sounded like the end of SNL???? :p
After they interviewed somebody who had won an award but didn't go. She was "busy" that day and took a flight somewhere. Back for the parties though. TOO FUNNY!!!!!
Still didn't like that it was on in the gym at work. Right where all the equipment is too. :rolleyes:
Justin
Bmiller
03-07-2006, 06:53 AM
Is that what that was!
I thought it was a reality show karaoke and dance rehearsal!
monkamarm2000
03-07-2006, 10:14 PM
your right I chucked in the trash right away, was so disgusted! I used a thinner the same brand as the goo. It still works fine but the cold weather is messing everything up, just sat too long and fired off funny. But on the bright side had a semi warm day today and got the first shot of RTV on the bottom fuse section and the nose
Barry
Synwpn
03-07-2006, 10:29 PM
nice Barry! I guess it is warming up there eh? heh. i'll remember to bring a jacket next time i come visit. thank god for heated car seats!
Cool. Barry that's GI 1000 RTV right? At proper temperature you have 1.5 hours of working time with the standard hardener. I just did all 6 sections of the hull parts of my sub last night.
I mixed up enough to do all of them at once. Now up to 1 hour it doesn't thicken much but once you pass the hour mark it will start to go over a 30 minute period. At this time you can brush it up over and over again or that 30 minutes and like plaster it will start to stay out and with a little alcohol on your fingers you can smooth it out an shape it. All done in one layer.
Sound good. Go to subpirates to see. Damn there's no paste feature here!!!! Watt the ****? Building threads. Blueback. Last page. I've done this for years and it always works and will save you some time.
Guys if you want to learn all kinds of scratch building tricks, and until I can get the F-106 building thread here. Be sure to check out subpirates.com
All of the tricks we use are the same for the airplane, tanks, boats or subs.
Steve
monkamarm2000
03-07-2006, 10:52 PM
This stuff is TAP brand, not cheap but can be had local, seems to work very well so far. This first batch is thinned out to pick up detail, next will be a thick batch to build up on under cuts and give it some form, after that I'll do an ultracal bed for it. And yeah lotta good stuff in Sub Pirtates and alot to be learned from some of the sharpest guys around.
Barry
monkamarm2000
03-16-2006, 10:19 AM
Ok lots going on! Warmed up a bit and I have a bit of augmentation from a heater. Got the nose and bottom mold all done and just need to preen the bottom a tad and then do some mock layup's to fine tune the contenet and cloth layouts. Will have Vamps before we know it. On the down side the booms are still under way, what pain they have been. I had to remake them several times but hope I have a good male for now, and will just have to keep making molds till I get one I'm happy with.
Barry
Synwpn
03-16-2006, 10:23 AM
that is looking incredible Barry!
Netmechanic
03-16-2006, 04:20 PM
GO Barry!
watt_the?!
03-16-2006, 08:53 PM
I tell you what. I'll trade you locations. Ya the weather is always warm. 700 ft paved runway 12 minutes from my home. Rent for a 3 bedroom. 2000-2500 in an area with gun fire at night. Sound good? ....
Steve
lord that is unreal...how do you guys live there?
we pay $300Au/wk (about $900US per month) for 4 bedrooms, twin bathrooms, double garage, climate controlled, 3 living area, outside pergola, mains fed bbq back and front yard house here in Adelaide, South Australia..
mind you it's gotta be twice that in Sydney.
Still we complain..
oh, and guns, knives, slingshots, mobile phones whilst driving are all banned.
monkamarm2000
03-16-2006, 10:22 PM
Just another quik shot. Here with primer in there you can see the detail a bit better. I really dont like gel coats in molds but I'm using this as a test for paint later. I dont like gel coats cause alot of guys out there use it to cover up bad glass work. Anyway its getting there.
Barry
Netmechanic
03-16-2006, 10:39 PM
Man at this rate you'll be ready to start sending out kits by Monday! Keep going Barry your on fire today!
Bill G
03-16-2006, 10:49 PM
So when can I come over there and learn this process from you? If you've seen any of my stuff, I live for sculpting foam cores. Took me a second to orientate myself to the last mold negative photo. Looks like it will be a real nice fuse, with the partial wing panels molded in.
monkamarm2000
03-16-2006, 11:11 PM
Ok but I will put you to work pulling molds as payment! lol And doing it up very scale was the whole end result with this one. We didnt want a characature of a Vampire like most others are, we wanted a nice size scale plane. It was going to be proper dimensions and such then detail added later but half way through I figured why not just do it right from the get go.
Barry
monkamarm2000
03-17-2006, 05:40 AM
quik pic of the first bottom being layed up. This wont be for use it will get cut up for formers and inlet templates. It has a bit extra cloth in it for that use, but its also a good illustation of how not to lay glass! lol see the shiney spots? thats too much resin, if this was a keeper I would actually blot up all the extra with paper towels. Resin like that is extra weight. Also I did flanges on this thing and that wasnt a smart move cause its hard to lay around them, hence all the extra strips you see. If you take cloth and turn it 45 degrees it lays and comforms much better. I also use S-Glass rahter than Eglass which just lays better in general. I will shave some of this extra lange area off and do the next one in just one part. in some cases where shapes are really sharp you can actually mix epoxy with a product called "cab-o-sil" and make a paste that you spread in the sharp areas so you have a smoother corner to lay the cloth. If you ever look at a glass fuse sometime and see some white paste like stuff in the nose or around wing roots, thats cab-o-sil.
Barry
monkamarm2000
03-17-2006, 01:04 PM
few more pics. Nose's under way for primer and first pull of the bottom. Turned out ok but its getting cut up for formers anyway. Only prob with RTv is that its like the priness and the pea, any little thing between the glass liner and the RTV makes a huge bulge in the glass. SO this run was also to find those high spots and file them down a bit.
Barry
Netmechanic
03-17-2006, 03:09 PM
Barry you gotta get some sleep sometime!
Synwpn
03-17-2006, 09:25 PM
Barry lives on coffee and cigarettes! he was awake when I went to bed and he was up before i got into work!
Erik van Schaik
03-17-2006, 09:53 PM
WOW!!:cool:
I should have ordered a detective to find you guys!
I found per accident a link to this forum at rc-groups where Steve has settled (for a while:p )
I love your project!:cool:
I know, I should have started my Huck and finished my Me-p1101 long time ago and I still intend to, but due to high costs last year I had to pospone these kits:o . Hope to catch up after I moved in to my girlfriend but first I'll finish my Jepe A10 (this kit is even older as the Huck) which I am converting to minifan.
Good luck on your project Barry and Steve! I hope you don't bother this subscription;)
grtz! Erik
monkamarm2000
03-18-2006, 01:54 AM
old men require less sleep! lol But I have just had some time lately and wanted to make the best of it since this thing has been dragging on.
Good to have you here Erik!
Kevin Cox
03-18-2006, 03:12 AM
Nice!
monkamarm2000
03-18-2006, 04:25 AM
thanks Kevin, you should mess with this RTV sometime its pretty handy.
Barry
monkamarm2000
03-19-2006, 06:11 AM
more pics for fun! these will get cut up but its still neat to get a glimpse.
Barry
Bill G
03-19-2006, 06:34 AM
12:11 AM. I see were both just getting warmed up for prime building time.
monkamarm2000
03-19-2006, 06:35 AM
yeah! lol
Kriptonic
03-20-2006, 03:19 AM
She's lookin sweet..........
Gene
Netmechanic
05-26-2006, 04:11 AM
Any Update on this project?
monkamarm2000
05-26-2006, 04:57 AM
sorta yeah! Been slammed at work but now the cold weather is gone so things are looking up. Been working on the inlet a bit this week. And after several failed boom molds I'm slowly starting to work on them again. Had a few failures due to cold.
Barry
Barry,
Get your butt down to CA jets man! We can fly together for the first time in all these years.
Ducts look good man.
steve
monkamarm2000
05-26-2006, 07:35 AM
man i wish i could! but I'm not even getting this four day weekend off! Gotta drive to Monterey everyday this week and weekend for a job im doing. But on the bright side when I get free time I will have a ton of cool stuff to fly.
Barry
What happened to this build?
Mike
CORVETTER89
07-26-2007, 05:00 PM
steve,barry, great work on the vamp! from the looks of what you have made so far..... its gonna be a kick-ass jet! you go boy!!! good luck.... vetter
monkamarm2000
08-01-2007, 10:28 PM
molds and all that were done and i got 5 fuses pulled, just need to finish off wings but work has been very busy for a while now.
Barry
Bill G
08-05-2007, 10:44 PM
molds and all that were done and i got 5 fuses pulled, just need to finish off wings but work has been very busy for a while now.
Barry
Like to see some built.
Barry, get Steve to post here some. This place isn't RCG you know.:Q
Can't be too bad to stop by now and then.
Bill
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