At-6 Texan

[FalconFixer]

Well, its been windy and rainy here in Alabama, so I found my first scratch building project. Its the Texan from Backyard Flyer Magazine. Not hard at all, just takes patience which i have little of..

Here it is on its legs, no wheels, wearing the canopy from the zero...
http://home.mchsi.com/~wynn44/texan2.jpg

[FalconFixer]

with the zero for size reference
http://home.mchsi.com/~wynn44/two_planes.jpg

[GHMBO]

Hello FalconFixer
Congratulations, you have found the more fun side of the hobby. You can scratch up what you want to fly and not just what some manufacture has available. Your first effort looks a lot better than my first effort. Keep the pictures comming, it encourages others.
Best Reguards
Jim

[flyinhigh]

HEY FF
That makes me so happy to see the AT-6:D I got the plans put all together and the wood inventoried Im just waiting for more wood, to get a 25 dollar order at Lonestar balsa.Good job:D I have already completed the ribs and plan on working cutting the sheeting out sometime but until I get all my sticks and hardwood its sitting Idle.
So did you run into any coplications,confusions,or guess work ?
Really excited about building this plane.any info would be great.
dont be shy post pics pics and more pics we love seing them here ,ooooooooohhhh Im all excited now:D
Im really diggin this plane
tears of joy fill my eyes lol :D
MIKE
oh yeah did you buy the conopy and cowl or did you make that yourself?????

[2NG]

Looks great:)

Here's mine. I am cloning and building another. Fun Zippy plane:D

[FalconFixer]

flyinhigh,
glad im not the only one building this one... i wouldnt say ive had any problems, just a lot more sanding than im used to, trying to get everything to fit just right.

as far as the canopy and cowl go, i intend to get the ones on the plan, the canopy in the picture came off my GWS zero, which is a bit larger, but the canopy seems to look about right (for mock-up)

ill post more pics when i make some progress, its just sitting there on the table for the weekend.....

jay

[mvillaneda]

Im still working on my texan but can't make my mind up if i should cover the wing yellow with red stripes or gray with red stipes!!!! anyways i'll keep you guys posted. i have some pics but don't know how to load them on the message. martin

[flyinhigh]

Hey Jay
Im also glad to see someone else building this plane now there is 3 people building it :D I read the article and didnt even think about building it.then I was on the BYF website and saw they were offering the plans to download free.I said ok thats my next project after the nipper,downloaded the plans about a month ago put them together and started on cutting ribs with the 1/16 balsa I had already had.The thing is the hobby shop situation around me..There is none...and the nearest one is almost 2hours away!Oh well:rolleyes: I was to get jellybean plans soon and was having trouble with the program to download it.well I got them now thanks to 2NG and am ready to order up the rest of the wood:D
Will be starting on this plane soon ,Fall has hit here with lots of rain and wind and my time indoors is starting to grow.
Im very excited about his plane It will be my introduction to pylon racers :eek: I will post carnage results along with the buildup and repairs lol
My planes often sit unfinished for a while so dont worry if your thinking your going to slow:D
MVILLANEDA
hit the browse button and go to were your pic is saved click it then hit open thats it;) just make sure the file size is below 61 KB if you need help with that Ill be more then happy to try and help you.Would be Happy to see your pics and info to:D
Colors are hard to choose arnt they?hmmmm I still havnt figured out what Im going to do my new plane in....But the yellow wing on the AT-6 always looks good I may do an orangeish yellow or just orange..
you guys have fun color coordinating !
take care
MIKE

[mvillaneda]

here's some of my pics!

[mvillaneda]

one more!

[FalconFixer]

lookin good mvilleneda:D !

did you paint the fuselage, or is that covering? i think ive decided to paint mine. except for the wing of course.... and i think ill go for the white fuse.. the marine corps one ..

did you get that cowl and canopy off the plan? if so, did it take a while, or was it relatively quick( mine looks naked without them and the wheels:D )

[flyinhigh]

Hey Guys!
hey mvillaneda your plane is looking good!Have you made up your mind on the wings yet?
How are you guys transfering the pattern?I used tracing paper and a tracing wheel for the ribs but Im interested in getting some Ideas from some more experienced scratchers;)
Cant waite to see more pics!!!:D keep it coming guys
Thanks Alot
MIKE

[GHMBO]

Hey FlyinHigh
The way that I cut ribs depends on the wing design. If the wing has constant wing rib size, I cut a templete out of 1/16 ply and "harden the edges" with CA and use a razor blade and slice them out. If the wing does not have constant rib sizes, I photo copy them, cut the paper to outline and gluestick to the balsa, then use the razor blade. For some reason, I seem to lable my templetes and save them. I do the glue stick routine with the fuse formers. I do a lot of complex cutting with a scroll saw. I am sure that others do it differently.
Reguards
Jim

[mvillaneda]

Hey gang!

Falconfixer the fuselage is covered with monokote in fact the whole plane. yes I got the cowl and canopy off the plan, it took about a week.

Flyinhigh Yes i made my mind up here's some pics! I copied two sets of plans and cut all patterns and trace them to the wood i used mostly the hobby knife, a lot of sanding. this is also my first scratch build bird.

I have a Promax speed 400 motor and a GWS speed control 15 amp but i'm not sure if the speed control will handle the motor? Anyways i still have to paint the cowl glue the blocks for cowl, install the motor and mount and paint it, plus all the electrics. I also need to get prop and prop adapter. I'll keep you guys posted. Martin

[mvillaneda]

one more!

[2NG]

I love it:)

[FalconFixer]

wow, villaneda, thats really turned out great:D I guess im a couple of days work behind!! i just painted the fuse(i hope its not too heavy!!), and need to cover the wing.. you know, i really hate to buy a whole roll of monokote just to cover this little wing:(
oh well, thats how it goes i guess. i also have to mount the motor and electronics.. promax 400 also, with a great planes c-20 esc.

I guess i should also go ahead and order the canopy and cowl too, although the longer i leave the canopy from the zero on it, the more i like it!!:p

Flyinhigh, as far as transferring the pattern, i photocopied and cut out all the parts from the plan, then glue sticked(or is that glue stuck?!:confused: ) them to card stock (manilla folder), cut those out, and traced that onto the balsa.. whew, sounds like a lot of work ... oh well, i may try something else next time.



http://home.mchsi.com/~wynn44/texan_paint.jpg

[FalconFixer]

http://home.mchsi.com/~wynn44/texan_paint2.jpg

[flyinhigh]

Hey Guys
Thanks for the ideas on transfering the patterns,I will do them all and see which ones work out the best for me.The transfer paper works good right now but you got to have real steady hands to get the tracing wheel to go straight,and the spars in the wing ribs are hard to get real precise,along with the leading edge groove...
You two built 2 really nice looking texans,I cant waite to see them in the air.FalconFixer dont worry you will use that roll up somewhere down the road.as trim or covering another plane.so dont worry ;)
all have a good night
MIKE

[FalconFixer]

i got bored after work last night. (at midnight) so i added some panel lines.. ill get that covering for the wing one of these days!!:p
http://home.mchsi.com/~wynn44/panel_lines.jpg

[flyinhigh]

Hey FalconFixer
What did you use for the panel lines?A panel line pen?Just wondering..You got the covering yet ?
MIKE

[FalconFixer]

Since the fuselage is painted, i just used a uni-ball type black pen. Im not sure if it will work on the monokote on the wing though, i guess ill find out, and if not ill figger somethin out!!!:)

[Micro Pilot]

Wow, those look great guys!

I love scratch built planes.

They just seem to mean more to me than manufactured stuff.

-Matt

[FalconFixer]

Well, i finally got the wing covered.... doesnt look too bad..from a distance anyway!!:D i also mounted the motor temporarily.

is it just me, or do the red stripes on the wins look just a bit too far outboard on the wing... lol, thats what i get for eyeballing it!!
i still have to mount the gear and all the electronics too.. but im in no hurry...lol,
mvillaneda....well, have you flown yours yet? i cant wait for a report....im just glad im not first!!!:D

http://home.mchsi.com/~wynn44/wing.jpg

[FalconFixer]

http://home.mchsi.com/~wynn44/wing2.jpg

[mvillaneda]

falconfixer looking pretty good what did you end up using for the wing covering Monokote? good job. I have'nt had much time to work on mine but i just got done doing a little work on it. I finished the motor mount and installed the speed control then i did a little painting mounted the cowl, also the tail wheel. i still have to buy the paint for the cowl and some smaller props. i'm stuck know i only have GWS micro Receivers and i don't trust them with this plane because there single coversion I want the Hitec 555 or the FM M-5 which are dual conversion. i'll keep you updated heres some more pics! Martin

[mvillaneda]

more

[mvillaneda]

last one

[2NG]

I love the color scheme;) .. I am building two right now, both at the same time, I'll be done by Sat. I did a major modifications to the accessibility of the battery w/out removing the wings, when changing packs.. My color scheme is sponsored by a local Police Department (They bought the covers for me)... Stay tuned :)

[mvillaneda]

2NG let me know your Mod for the battery I would like to see it:D your plane looks very good too when are you going to put it on the air? martin

[2NG]

****2NG let me know your Mod for the battery I would like to see it your plane looks very good too when are you going to put it on the air? martin***

I will post them as well, as building. I cut lighting holes to the Stabs and on the side of the plane, so the battery mod. can be realized. I will probably finish the mod. tomorrow night.

The maiden for my second AT-6 won't be anytime soon, cause I'm also building a Corsair for the Fire Department, covered for that department color scheme as well.

Two planes will be flown During the City's Arts & Wine feastival.. End of the month, but I'll post pic. like I said, of the mod.:)

here's a pic to give you a hint of my color scheme. (The one, on the end of the pic. White/black

[FalconFixer]

yep, its the hangar 9 stuff, ultracote...... turned out ok, i think

but its just sitting there now, because except for the extra 400 motor, i only have one "flight pack", esc, rec. servos.. and they are in the zero right now, that thing sure is fun!!:D

i have an older JR am radio that im tempted to put in it, but it has a full size receiver, so im afraid its way too heavy, so ill wait till im tired of the zero i guess.

the texan went together way faster than i thought it would, so i thought i would be ready to cannibalize from the zero when it was done, but oh well...


it sucks not being able to afford new radio stuff with an 11 month old, and on a military salary......:( anyone care to make a donation..... money or parts, im not picky!!!

mvillaneda, have you flown yours yet???? im patiently waiting for a report......

well, i got to get back to work


jay

[Marc]

Very nice!! I finished mine about a month ago but can't get it off the ground. I'm looking for any advice I can get. Once it starts taxing down the run way no matter what I do the tail won't leave the ground. I balanced it per the plans, and now I'm thinking of putting a little extra lead in the nose.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Has anyone tried hand launching the Texan? I know Nick said not do hand launch it but I'm approaching desperate.

[Dave Robelen]

Hi Marc,
Is the Texan still going in a straight line when it will not lift the tail? And you are sure the CG is pretty close, right? If all that is correct, please do not try to throw it. The model is either overweight, or underpowered, or a combination. Any of these conditions would lead to a stall, snap roll, and cunch! right in front of you. Models with a lower wing are a mess to hold and throw properly, your hand will not get under the CG where it needs to go. You could check that nothing is binding when it rolls. Just place it on the pavement, and push at the fin. It should roll freely. If it won't do that, something is dragging or binding in the gear, and if you fix that things will probably get better.
Have you weighed the bird? Compared this with Nick's published weight? Go slow in the trouble shooting, and you will track down the culprit.
Regards, Dave

[2NG]

***please do not try to throw it. The model is either overweight, or underpowered, or a combination. Any of these conditions would lead to a stall, snap roll, and cunch! right in front of you***

Marc,

Get the CG right, the AT- likes it straight, unlike the Piper Cub or Mustangs, that like it a little nose heavy.

***please do not try to throw it. The model is either overweight, or underpowered**

That happend to me, on my first Texan, not good. But with right combo, it few pretty good.:)

Check CG again, and please get back to us.. I think the CG is 44mm or 45mm To get the perfect balance:)

[Marc]

I swear I've double checked the CG but I'll do it again. I know nothing is draggin. If I power it up it scoots along the ground straight at a good clip. It acts like it wants to lift, and it actually did once but since then it has not. Also, where did Nick publish his overall weight. I can check that too.

Thanks very much for the advice.

[FalconFixer]

marc
according to the article in backyard flyer, the"ready to fly weight" is 18 ounces with an 8-cell 600 mah ni-cd.

BTW. i havent been working on mine in a few days... busy fixing the real planes at work, but let us know if you figure yours out, hopefully i can avoid the same problem...
good luck. jason