Nearing completion of the Morane Saulnier Type N

Quiet day today, had it off for an appointment. Spent some time in the garage this morning. My eyes were dilated so no hobby time after that 

As I noted the hole in the right main wheel was drilled by the maker off-center and slightly angled so it wobbles. Improved it by making the hole a smidge bigger closer to center and straight. this is before the repair.

Installed the wire bridle to secondarily secure the front of the wing. It's seen here between the front deck and the front of the wing. That ain't going anywhere. Will paint the dowel ends olive drab.

The mounting of the plastic top has been addressed. The front wedges nicely under the front deck requiring no changes. I have installed a hatch latch to secure the back. The piece is smooth rounded while the fuse is "chined"and the bottom of the plastic top wings out from it a bit. I may have to put very small tabs on the wing to cage the back edge to align it with the fuse.

Epoxied the latch. Three times, as it dried, it drifted too deep, but in the end it is perfectly positioned. No idea how that happened, it wasn't slippery as it set.

I fuel proofed the deck. I will probably end up getting an epoxy spray paint of clear matte, but wanted to protect the deck while I test the engine, as I won't get the paint for a bit.

The cowl will hang down below the fuse, so to support it I added a post. I will attach a hardpoint for the cowl mount when some M2 blind (T) nuts come in and I can make and install all the hard points for the cowl. I fuel proofed this today as well 

Using the cutting compass I got on Amazon, I did the three concentric circles for the rondels. It was easy, up until the side ones, not shown. The small 1" center red dot of the fuselage rondels was really hard to make cleanly. Took several attempts, as it's is hard to spina 1/2" radius with the compass. They look great!

This is a 7" blue rondel with the ratioed concentric circles (I let Gemini AI calculate the radii for me, for these. The small ones were a simple 3"-2"-1"). Holding them down as they are curling. Next time I work on the plane I will install them, blue, white, red. I am off Friday which looks stormy, so no flying or sailing, so likely then.

Next up: bind the transmitter, test run the engine, apply the rondels and my Pirate Guy. I also want to put some contrast V stripes on the underside of the wing. I planned on black background with a white strip, but I am worried the black Monokote will bubble as it doesn't like to be applied over cote, a known problem with it (the Goldberg Falcon is exhibit A. I put a large square over the center of the top of the wing and it looks horrible with bubbling). I may go with that dark blue I used in the rondels, it's Ultracote. I also have a dark matte blue tat would look nice. Spray the epoxy matte clear coat on the painted plastic parts. Install the cowl. Apply AMA/FAA stickers. Set up the wing wires, and finally, maiden flight!

Getting along fine with the Morane Saulnier Type N

I had planned going flying today. The weather is a bit warm, but otherwise perfect. I figured it would be crowded what with the 4th of July weekend, and we can't fly gassers/nitro until noon. I didn't feel like driving 40 min to wait my turn and get 4 flights in 2 hrs, then a 40 min drive back ...   I am off Wednesday morning before an appointment, so I can go then. Conditions will be great, and I have a 3 day weekend next weekend. Hope to get a lot of flying in.

I decided to spend a few hours in the garage, stop at 3p and rest before work tomorrow (I walk outside 10-12 miles a day). I worked on the Morane and made a lot of headway. I had finished the cote work yesterday. Not perfect, fair. But it'll do as it is at the edge of my skill set 

Engine plumbed and mounted. Close fit... The cowl is open here between the muffler and the cylinder head, so that's not a problem. Accessing the fuel line attachment to the carb requires removing the engine. 

Pic is not centered. All that weight is on the starboard side, and the torque in the other direction. Should balance out.

Nice switch. Charge port and green power-on light.

Everything is in place and connected. I installed the control rods and connected the throttle wire. Didn't have my transmitter to center things and trim the throttle cable. You can see the deck forward of the wing dowel that cups the front of the plastic top and holds the wings front pegts. I epoxied it in place. The silver cap is the fuel dot.

Wheels on. Opted to put a tail wheel on instead of a skeg; enough problems steering with "ailerons" (remember this is 3 channel). Curiously the pre drilled hole on the right main wheel was lopsided so it wobbles... VERY annoying.. They were $10 at my hobby shop. Someday I may cover the wire gear with wood.

I made a bridle to double secure the front of the wing, here being primed. It will run from one end of the wing dowel athwart the fuse in front of the wing, over the pegs on the front of the wing  In addition to the front deck, the wire will secure the front wing pegs. The loops are closed with copper and solder. I think this is pretty clever. I likely will not remove the wing for transport. We'll have to see. It would require first removing the wires, then the plastic top. Not a big deal, but I am not a patient man.

Dry fit the wing. Fits snug under the deck.

It was time to stop. Not shown is the plastic top. I finally installed the top wing wire tower on it. I'll explain that more when I do the wing wires. Next on the to-do list is to install a prop, test run and tune the engine. It has a new glow plug, it's in good shape, so I don't expect any issues. Need to trim the throttle wire and put a copper cap on the end. Set up the throttle, rudder and elevator trims on the transmitter. Install the cowl. Install the plastic top and pilot. Set up the wing wires. Make and apply the rondels and FAA-AMA stickers, etc. Then maiden. Good day!

The Cote Gods Have Smiled Upon Me!

 I was taking a break from the Morane Saulnier Type N because I was struggling to get the cote to work properly. I am no fan of Ultracote.... I was unable to get it to shrink properly without suddenly melting and the edges wrinkling and retracting. It was incredibly frustrating.

I got some new Ultracote since I had started with it. I also decided that the conditions in the environmentally uncontrolled garage (temps in 90s, high humidity) were not helping. I brought my cote stuff into the air conditioned house.

The first couple of attempts didn't go great, but were better. Then on the third try the Cote Gods decided I had taken enough abuse and cut me some slack. It just started working! I was done with all of it in an hour. It's not perfect but actually looks really good! You may notice only the forward dowel is present. I am thinking of screwing the wing in place, and securing the front under the front deck with the pegs I installed in the front of the wing, and crossing them with rubber ands across the fuse. John was worried the front wasn't secure enough, but the rubber bands should secure it with the pegs.

I am very happy with it! The only cote challenge left is making the tricolor rondels. I would like one on each side and two on the top and bottom of the wing. That's 4 large and 2 small. Callie Graphics has them, and if I can find out what the sizes are I may just buy them.

According to the British rules, scaled to a 12" chord, the rondels on the wings should be 10"-6"-2".  By math, my Morane is 1/6th scale (26'9"scale wing span, 26*12=312"+9=317"/56" model wingspan = 5.7, so 1/60 scale 

I'm going flying tomorrow, should be near perfect conditions. Taking the 26cc Hangar 9 Pulse XT60 and the 30cc MX-Bach. Set them up for the season today. I changed the Pulse's receiver pack from LiPO to a 2400 mAh LiFe battery as the IRs in the original LiPO were poor. The MX-Bach IRs were fine so I am keeping it 

Taking a break from the Morane

I have just not been able to do a decent job on the cote work on the Morane Saulnier Type N. The bottom is done this morning, and it's fair, not good. The wing was pretty darn good. Did the top this morning and it's marginal. In retrospect I should have done the middle next, but that's inexperience. I tried the middle and it was crap. I made paper templates and cut it, trimmed it, tacked the corners then the edges. Loose but pretty precise. 

The problem is that when I shrink it, the part I am working on shrinks, but the sections next to it wrinkle. I work my way down the fuselage and it's like a little gremlin follows and undoes it behind me. I have used pretty low heat, around 300F up to 350F, same problem. My edges look like crap and start to pull.

The bottom is acceptable for a novice. Not great 

I threw up a former on both sides to support doing the fuselage cote in quarters. It helped but my edges still wrinkle. 

So I shelved the Morane. I cried a little ... It's crying too, telling me not to give up.

I cleared the bench. Part of me is glad to not be building. I am not a builder. I can fix, but building is not my thing 

I did order more Ultracote Olive Drab. It will be here Sunday. 

For now, a little rest then I am going sailing.

Morane Update, Flying Itch Scratched!

Have gotten a few things done on the Morane, don't have pics of it all, will get some of those later. These are from a few days ago.

Installed the wing wire tower under the fuse. I put a bit of balsa sheet around it to make the cote work a bit easier. I did the cote. It works but it's not perfect. Pics to follow. The black shadow is strobing from the flood lights.

The plastic top is odd. It doesn't go all the way to join the firewall, and it's not even level with it. I built a cove that is arched to segue between the firewall and the plastic top. I painted it olive drab. Pics to follow. It came out pretty nice. I am going to have to get some 2K epoxy clear matte coating for it all 

I finally got to fly today is nearly perfect conditions! Curiously no one was there at noon, though a few fuel guys showed up so not a lot of waiting my turn 

Most exciting was getting back to the Goldberg Falcon 56 after John worked the twist out. On my first flight it was still rolling right. I brought it back to the bench and realized the rudder was off center, a bit right. I retrimmed it and when I took it back up, wow. John said it would be fun, and it was! Tossed it around with confidence and really enjoyed it. The only issue is the nose gear is still not aligned straight, compounding the challenge of ground handling (using aileron to steer, and an off center nose gear). The set screw that secures the nose gear is hard to get too and is way right. I may have to remove the entire nose gear firewall plate , pull it and realign it. Really had fun flying it!

I also flew several flights on the Evolution 10cc equipped Hangar 9 Ultrastick! I wanted to shorten the control rod for the elevator, but it's at the stops, so I just sub trimmed it a touch. Needed just a touch of in flight trim. I have always loved the Ultrastick!

Ended the day tossing the Hacker MX2 foamie around.

All in all a great day of flying, lots of air time!

That was.... easy....

When I got home from work today, I had the notion to hit the garage and check the motor clearance, suspicious I would need a muffler extension. I do, it's right up against the fuse. Went online and rediscovered RCExpress, a RC warehouse store over in the next town from me, Nashua NH. I had forgotten all about them. Ordered the Du Bro muffler extension for a 40-46 sized engine. In stock, good price with "free" shipping. A half an inch is perfect for safe clearance. I also tested the cowl: it has a large opening, and the cylinder head and muffler extension fit nicely on the gap with no cutting required! More later on that.

Then I couldn't help myself... I finished the cote on the top of the wing with Ultracote. is it perfect, John Hayes quality? Not even close. But it actually came out very well. And no drama. Will set it aside, and then put some stripes on the bottom with rondels I will have to make rondels (have a cutter compass, but not looking forward to doing circles). May see what they cost online.

I also did the gray underside the front of the fuselage. 

It was easy as it's on solid wood .

I am off tomorrow and winds are going to be brisk and gusty. Might go rc sailing, but I also plan to try the cote work on the fuse again ... Not optimistic. I just can't seem to get the panels on without melting the edges. I don't recall if I used the new temp controlled heat gun last time, but hoping that will make the difference. I want to try to get the bottom done in two halves, one to that second frame and the other from there to the end. One sheet from side to side  Maybe one long sheet the full length? We'll see. I am installing a smaller tower under the fuse for the bottom wing wires, and will likely create a sheet balsa around it to help secure the cote.

Here's another issue. For some reason the plastic top does not extend all the way to the firewall. I need to figure out how to create a solid stable curved roof there to complete the top as one solid piece. I plan to cut a cardboard mock up, and flatten it to make a cover out of sheet balsa. Problem is the edge where it runs up to the plastic will take constant insult from the plastic part when the wing goes on and off. Though, now that I think about it, I can rubber band the wing and just leave it, changing the rubber bands every now and then. Hmmm ... I will have to paint it as the red cote I have isn't matte.

Need to hit Michael's, the craft store, tomorrow to get some hard wood square dowel for attaching the cowl to the fuse, and the plastic top to the wing. Don't want the plastic top permanently glued to the wing in case I ever need to remove it. I may make the front cover hold the front and just use two hardpoints at the back of the wing area on the fuse to hold a M2 screw on each side to hold the back. It bears no stress other than wind trying to blow it off. And it will have the wing wire tower on top holding it down. Excited to get to that stage!

Cote Work Sucks

The weather was one of those dangerous days of beautiful skies, moderate temps, no winds, but variable 20 - 30 mph gusts that shook the trees like it hates them. So flying was a bust. I drove all the way out to the field, but my better judgment saved me from what surely would have been drama and tears. 

Decided to drop by Hobby Town in Londonderry, NH. It was half toy store, half Traxxas with some Eflite foamie crap (I hate foamies because aEflite stopped making amazing balsa planes that were affordable). No engines, all electric from what I could see. No nitro fuel for sale, no hobby wood, no cote. What a waste of time. The only other LHS, ABC Hobbies, which has been my go-to for over a decade, has bare shelves, but some quarts of 15% nitro/castor oil, and some wood, but it's gone feral a bit. They have maybe ten rolls of the least popular Ultracote colors (not their fault, apparently Horizon has difficulty getting it to other vendors, so no one has much). The owners are such good people, I hope they are not failing, as so many have.... This is probably one of the reasons the hobby is dying. Too expensive, and nothing for builders anymore.

So, I went home and I decided to try doing the cote work.

I started with the gray Monocote I have, on the bottom, just 1/4 panel on the fuse. But no matter what I did, how big or small the panel was, it just would not shrink, until it melted, even at low temps. After several attempts, I decided to stop, buy gray Ultracote, but found a brand new still wrapped in its plastic tube, in my cote bin! Still have no idea where that errant CA bottle went, but I found new cote. 

Now it shrank, but never evenly, and when when I got one part nice, the adjacent one loosened. I tried several times, tacking down the edges as best as I could, using my new heat gun at lower temps. It shrank, but never well, always some spot would re-wrinkle, and then the edges would melt. Frustrating. Shouldn't be this hard. People online do it exactly the same way and it's quick and easy. John does it it like he's turning pages in a book. I suck at this.  

Though, I did get the tail cote done, and that went well, but it's all solid, not cote over frame.

This is the only thing between me and flying the Morane, so it's starting to piss me off. I have stopped for now. I may try the wing, not a complex surface, so it may go better. We'll see. What I really want to do is go fly. That's annoying me too, matching days off with good flying conditions.

What a bummer day.

UPDATE: I went out to take pics of the tail and I just had to try the larger surface of the underside of the wing. And this happened....

The underside is done, and actually looks pretty damn good. Took half an hour and was rather painless. Now I am in a better mood. I don't know what to do about coting the fuel... I will try again, but I may end up getting John to help.