The 2S 5000 mAh battery pack arrived ahead of schedule today. Put an EC3 and a Futaba connector on it, charged it a little and installed it for testing the electronics installation.
All up!
As before the CG is a bit tail heavy, by 2 cm. Based on my last experience I am not chasing it. It required a pound of weight to get it, and I flight it was nose heavy and I removed it, flew fine. So no adjustment this time.
The Pitts Model 12 and the Stick waiting for their maiden. The Waco telling how great a pilot I think I am.
Meanwhile, 14 days at the service enter and my Spektrum iX12 remains unassigned and on the shelf...
My second Ultra Stick 10cc arrived and the build began in earnest couple of days ago. Since its pretty much the same as the first one, I'm not posting step-by-step again.
And so it begins.
Started with the wing.
Tail feathers followed.
The Evolution 10cc installed. Changed the throttle control linkage a bit, using a rod and made a pretty straight path. Mine runs inside the mount, the plans have it running laterally.
I used the landing gear from Version 1, and here she is up un her feet.
Waiting for the 2S 5000 mAh battery pack to arrive, then I can finish and light the fire!
My iX12 Transmitter is still sitting on a shelf at Horizon Hobby Service Center, not yet assigned to a tech, going on 3 weeks now with no radio...
Sent almost 3 weeks ago, its been there nearly 2 weeks, and still hasn't been assigned to a tech for evaluation and repair. Its never taken this long before. They are super busy, I know they are doing the best they can, its just killing me, not flying...
My replacement Hangar 9 Ultrastick 10cc arrived on schedule!
In an interesting aside, my LHS called me yesterday to tell me it arrived at the shop. I told them that was odd, I had not ordered it from them, and I wasn't expecting it until today and it was coming to my house, not the LHS. They insisted it was there, with my name on it, and that I had called a couple of days ago and ordered it. So I went there and showed them my Tower Hobbies receipt and FedEx notification just to be sure. They got all pissy, asking "Well, how did we get your name and number?" I replied I had no idea. I called two weeks ago for a stock check, since it was on backorder and wondering it they had one laying around. They did not, and I did not give any personal info other than my "Hi, I'm Ken, calling for a stock check." A week later on 8/1 Tower sent me the "In Stock!" email I had requested, and the next day I ordered it from Tower, on this past Monday 8/2. I don't know how that LHS stuff all happened, but it wasn't me.
So they called me again a few hours later to let me know my model was at the shop...
Its all done. Dry weight is 10 lbs, CG a touch nose heavy, going to leave that alone and see how it trims out. All that is left is the maiden flight.
My cowl securing shenanigans continue. The cowl securing screws were designed to be tightened from inside the cowl, one at about 10 o'clock and one at 2. I don't have a hex driver long enough for that, so thought I would turn the screws around and put on a nut from inside the fuse, even bought thumb nuts, but I just could not get to the screws, the space was so tight. Plan C. There is about that much space between the cowl frame and the canopy. I made this platform...
... and fixed a screw onto a cross bar I placed inside the cowl, which interfaces with the platform. I secured the cowl leaving the two Plan B screws in place to help support and stabilize the cowl, and on this center one use a bonded washer and one of the thumb nuts. That nut passes through a space in the front of the canopy. Works perfectly.
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All up and ready to go!
The aluminum 3-blade 2.5inch spinner came in. Mounted the Master Airscrew 15x7x3 prop, with my custom painted tips. Balanced the prop yesterday.
Today I made a few adjustments to the tank plumbing, as I accidentally reversed the fuel fill and the vent lines. Realized that when I started to fill the tank and fuel,started running out the vent as quick as it went in. Took the plane out for her first start and run.
On opening the basement doors, ran into this little guy working on his nest. He stood there and wondered if he should run, or if I would leave. He took off. If I didn't come and go this would be a great nest spot.
Started right up! Took a few minutes to find her feet and as each minute passed she ran better and more smoothly. Tweaked the needles a bit, but a smidge only. Within a couple minutes of running it quit when the spark wire came off, melted and cut right thru the plastic wire tie. Came up with and actual wire system to hold it (below).
Got even more smooth than this.
I ran a stranded wire around the spark wire, and used a copper tube crimp to close the loop. As I noted earlier the cowl will also support it. I then threw another plastic wire tie around it again, using some shrink tube to protect it from heat and friction.
The finger nuts came in, so I can now secure the cowl. I am placing a rubber bonded washer to reduce the likelihood it will not work loose from the vibration.
I balanced the 15x7x3 Master Airscrew. I expect the 3 blad aluminum spinner in a week, but for now I do have a black DuBro spinner I can use to check CG shortly.
The sparky isn't securely, but is firmly sticking to the plug, and I am afraid to force it, so am using this zip tie to keep it from loosening off. This and the cowl will hold it in place. Its not tight, just holding it.
Finally on all her wheels!
Installed the lower wing without any drama.
Break in prop on!
Top wing on for fit testing!
Fuel vent installed. Tougher cote around it.
Fuel tank did arrive today and installed, plumbed and ready to go!
I made these wires for the cabanes and they look great. I am willing to install the til wires but its not as obvious to me where they go. Back to the web for ideas.
Next step will be firing up the engine! Hope my transmitter comes back soon.
