Angler-Hi

That was a friggin awesome video Dick!! I could only imagine how he felt when he saw that video of his landing for the first time, especially after all those years. Awesome!

Capt Easy

Yeh, I was very impressed with as well and especially liked the way they surprised him with it.

On the subject of scale flight -the winds are 20 or so here and probably same where you are. It's nasty.....doesn't look like any flying will be taking place any time soon. But let's keep in touch. I still have your Mustang and would like to help you get the Gee Bee and the Spitfire in the air when the wind calms down some.

Capt Easy

I've been trying to install a pull pull water rudder system on my float equipped US Navy "RESCUE" Super Cub. It's a semi scale set up and interesting getting the correct geometry but it's almost there.

Josh bought the floats for my birthday three years ago and I'm now just getting around to finishing the final install....

I'll post some detail photos of the cable system when it's done.

Capt Easy

The little Herr Engineering Ryan STA was maidened yesterday. It flew better than I expected due to weight issues and appears underpowered but it flies. That's about all I can say. I got id down ok but due to disabeling the ailerons it was difficult using the rudder alone.

Not satisfied with the first "landing" I had to try again. The second attempt sucked and it spun in. No damage but I need to find more power and get used to using the rudder or add the ailerons back, not to mention practicing spin recovery.

Angler-Hi

Well I broke the antenna on my DX7!! I was moving a box from off the top of my dresser and it knocked my Tx off. It landed on the antenna and split right down the middle! I'm so friggin pissed!!

Capt Easy

Sorry Mike..... I broke mine too a while back. I repaired it with fresh CA and it seems ok - just slightly more loosebut it's never had any signal issues and always range checks. If the wires are intact it's probably repairable yourself or send it to Horizon when you can if you have any doubts.

flew last eve and twice today -once in the early afternoon and then again this eve. The HK Spit is having e-tract issues now so but I flew it stiff legged. It's just not as much of a thrill. I messed with the gear before I left and it seemed consistant till I got out to the field and of course it acted up again. It's the first time it's given me much trouble at all. I think all the rough landings out there may have damaged something internally to the right gear. Till I figure out or replace it, I won't be flying it much.

The Maxford Yellow Gee Bee is giving me fits also with excessive airleron trim. I did a lateral balance and thought the right wing was heavy so added some weight to the left one and it seemed to balance. Took it out last night and it still rolled right the same as it did before....frustrating, since the old one flew so perfectly.
The Cub is my only airworthy plane now. That's not a bad thing - naturally I'd just would like to fly something else.

Let me know about our Tx....

Capt Easy

I back ordered it in March, which seems like a long time ago but it arrived today. I can honestly say it was definately worth the wait. The cover is flawless with very minor wrinkling if any and the trim is perfectly applied also. It's really drop dead gorgeous and I haven't found anything outstandingly negative so far. The landing gear is not scale at all so that will have to be changed but it looks stout. The build will be a while yet due to other projects but I plan on doing a build log when the time comes.

It was double boxed in the heaviest cardboard boxes I ever received any plane in yet. All the parts were indidvidually wrapped in light foam and bagged in sealed plastic bags. The bags were also stapled to the the inside box to prevent any shifting. Even UPS had a dificult time damaging this airplane, not that they didn't give it the usual try.

Anyway I'm very pleased with this purchase. I took pics but found Troybuilt Models has an excellent video that shows it off much better. Everything in my box was exactly the same as they show in the marketing video.....

Troybuilt Vid Intro:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L40bDN67tBo[/media]

EP Maiden vid:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCMMqTrH4bY[/media]

Build Log: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...1694245&page=2

Troybuilt website:
http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/items...ELA-58AAF.html

Angler-Hi

Sweet lookin plane Dick. Definitely like the Gee Bee persona to it. For under under $200 it looks pretty good. Hopefully I'll be able to see you maiden it before 2015, lol.

Capt Easy

It's a well designed plane from what I've looked over. I think you'll be impressed. The manual recommends a 4250-500Kv. FMS has a couple 4250's, a 540 and 580Kv. Either one is only $38.00 which isn't bad for a motor that size. I've got a Power 46 that probably would work too. I fly the big FMS Corsair with the stock 4250-540 and it's been a good motor with no problems at all.
(I just noticed a NIB 63" HL Gee Bee just sold on eBay for $143.00 shipped ......I was so tempted but I need to sell more of my own eBay stuff first.)

Golden Age Forever -

max2112

Sorry to read about tour transmitter antenna, Mike. Have you tested it out yet to see if it still works?

The Mystery Ship is a beauty, Dick. I am definitely looking forward to your transformation pictures as you get her closer to scale.

Hope you guys had a great 4th!

John

Capt Easy

Hey John -
Good to see you up. The Travel Air is really stunning nd the price is reasonable.

Fourth was uneventful, just the way I seem to like sometimes. I hoep you enjoyed a good on.

Stay tuned!

Capt Easy

There's a new build in the near future.
It's a "mystery" just how soon you'll get a look but stay tuned. You'll want one too.

EDIT:

For a complete build on this Travel Air please refer to my Blog on RCG's:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/member.php?u=208594

Capt Easy

The build is finished for the most part. Maybe a few more details just for added interest but it's ready to fly. There were some disappointing features with it but the experience was worth the effort.
Mods:
Hidden elevator contol horn
Scale instrument panel
Wright J-6 Whirlwind detailed from the stock dummy engine
Manetic cowl mount
Cockpit panel and floor enhancement
Blind nuts added to wheel pants to secure the struts
Additional Landing gear struts for more scale appearance
Silver pin stripe

Angler-Hi

Looks awesome Dick!

Capt Easy

Forecast 5-10 mph winds for the next week or more......!!

Looks like a possible maiden for the Travel Air Mystery Ship may be possible.

Capt Easy

Looks like the Angler and I are the last of the Mohicans on this thread . That's ok I talk to myself most of time anyway.

On the other hand if anyone else is out there - earlier this evening was just perfect. I flew the Maxford Gee Bee Y after having to straighten a warped left wing. It flew terribly right out of the box following the build, but it's back to what I remember now and absoulute a joy.
The Haikong Spit went a few sorties, along with my FMS Corsair and both also contributed to a great time.

Wind forecast contiues to look fantastic for the next several days.

Dick

Capt Easy

Went out this morning with the idea the wind forecast would invite some relaxing flying.....
The HK Spit flew for the first time since it was shot down by a Mesquite tree last week. Structural repairs were to made to the left wing tip and recovered. New Waterslide RAF roundels had to made top and bottom also. After the repairs I thought I'd try a PZN BF 109 3 blade prop I've had. The plane liked the prop and I'd recommnd it, even though the HL 11x10x3 blade (adjustable) prop survived and the plane flys exceptopnally well on it and the HL 9.5x10x4 blade.

The GEE BEE Y flew again and the FMS 1400mm Corsair. Up untill 1145 or so it wasn't too bad except for a 90 deg cross wind once in a while. After that it became increasingly obvious the "less than 5 mph" wind was increasingly gusty and it was not going to be "relaxing" at all.

The EcomRC Travel Air M/S is still waiting to be Maidened - I almost took it out this morning but glad I didn't go to the trouble now.

This is Capt Easy talking to himself again ~ saying keep yer RPM's up and watch out for Mequite trees........

Capt Easy

TRAVEL AIR MYSTER SHIP MAIDEN: SEPT 03, 2013

Initially the idea was to try a fast taxi a couple times before actually flying, but the tail lifted with partial power in a very short distance so the decision was made to continue. I held the tail down for a bit more and she took off very scale. I did three, slightly nervous very stable circuits and set up for an approach and touched perfectly. I did a visual control check, felt around for any possible electrical heat issues and did another nice, scale take off. This time I climbed to about 150' for some slow flight and stalls. With partial power, slowing it down with continued up elevator caused the right wing to fall off pretty sharply. Positive control was immediately regained by standard recovery procedure simply by relaxing and centering contols, leveling the wings and adding some power. I can't say for certain what the altitude loss was but it was fairly minimal. I'd like to practice a couple more power on and off next time.

Even though the second landing wasn't as sweet as the first it was wasn't bad but the right gear hit first bending the main the strut. The rear brace I'd made poked through the top wing. It's not serious but I wouldn't recommend this mod without better reinforcement or a better method of absorbing the shock. No damage was made to the wheel pants but the main strut must be pretty soft so landings will need to be made with some better attention.

Overall I couldn't be more pleased with the flight charactoristics of this Travel Air ......it's a joy to fly.......every bit as good as it looks and I'm definately looking forward to the next time. I hope I can add some video or photos if I can find a camera operator.

Dick

Capt Easy

Another addition to my Golden Age hanger just arrived. As if I have the room, right.
So let the building begin...

max2112

Sorry it's been a while since I've checked in, Dick.
B/n work schedule and the wild winds of OK, I have flown a lot less this summer than normal. I still enjoy watching you take a run of the mill ARF and making it a thing of beauty.

What's the assessment of the Electrifly Mr. Mulligan? How many scale tweaks do you have in mind?

Glad to hear the maiden flight of the Mystery Ship went (mostly) well. She's a beauty for sure.

Later Friend.

Capt Easy

Hey bud, good to know there's still some interest in this thread from someone else besides myself.

"Mister Mulligan" is another Golden Age beauty I had my eye for on for a while. I got it from Tower for a pretty good deal plus free shipping.

I started the build right after it arrived last week and discovered the hinges were all pre-installed except for the rudder. The hinges were all poorly insatlled and sloppy and I complained to Great Planes. They're suppose to be sending another wing set. Large gaps either side of the windscreen and wing leading edge are an eyesore as well. Other than that it's a good looking plane and I'm enjoying the build.

Photos to be upcoming soon....

Best,

Dick

Capt Easy

More pics and info are being added to my blog over on RCG's......come by and check it out.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/member.php?u=208594

Capt Easy

Mike - Call me if we can get together......

Also if anyone's interested there's a swap meet outside Austin in Manor, Tx this Saturday - consult AMA "MODEL AVIATION" non-flying events (Oct 2013)

Edit: The above was a waist of time and hardly worth the trouble. Maybe 20-25 tables set upand not much activity.....bummer

Capt Easy

The instrument panel was redone. The glare panel didn't come out as I hoped but maybe it can be improved upon later on. The panel's not as scale as I'd like but looks better compared to the one it came with and I liked building it. There's nor reference of the actual one available to my knowledge and this one's a combination of Jim Younkin's reproduction, Mr. Mulligan and an original DGA panel.

The instruction call for a Rimfire 32 - too much$$$ but TACON BIGFOOT 32 matches the stock motor mount and bolts right up perfectly. The stock cowl width is a little narrow to look correct though. That is, the prop has excessive clearance, for me anyway. The dummy motor's front case shouldn't protrude beyond the face of the cowl either but I'll live with it.

A simpler rudder horn replaced the included bolt; washer; nut and "nylon torque rod rudder horn". The stock rudder set up was awkward, unsightly, unnecessary, and.... ugly .

Capt Easy

Since I'm flying blind here I don't know what good it is to post anymore but for what it's worth, we have an official AMA local club here now. They're still getting organized but there's some good guys involved so I think it's got a chance. The official field is a short drive East of town but I still fly primarily at the Fair Grounds. There's some exciting possabilities coming up with use of an actual airstrip but that info is best to remain classfied for now. All I can say is it'll be a fantastic oportunity if all goes well.