Speedy Bee Completed!

[imsofaman]

OK guys.....I posted a few photos of my Speedy Bee uncovered. Well check out the finished project. I just finished up tonight and I will try to fly it sometime this weekend. It was a blast to build and from what I understand, it is also a blast to fly. Decorating the plane took some time. For my first kit model...I think it turned out nice. Covering a plane is not as easy as I thought but as went along it got quicker and quicker. There are things that I would have done different if I could but this is a learning experience for me so the next time I will know the short cuts. Enjoy the photos and give me some in put or advice please.

[imsofaman]

Another photo.....

[phuffstatler]

Very nice!

Is that a .15LA in there? Great color for that engine in this particular airplane.


Enjoy!

Phil in Austin

[imsofaman]

It is a LA 25. I have not flown it yet but I did tweek the motor yesterday and tooled around the driveway and yard. I used a fuel filler which is very convenient so I do not have to take off any hoses. To me that is a pain. I also installed a led battery monitor and used Hitec Micro servos all around. The ailerons are on a lever type system where the servo is in the middle of the plane and pushes the rods side to side activating the ailerons. What I wanted to do put individual servos so I could use my flaps for landing. But i was figuring that with the high lift wing and the front fuselage creating lift and drag that it should float like a butterfly when I land.

[imsofaman]

An update in my Speedy Bee.......It flew great! My thrust line was too high on the first day I got in the air. I went home and corrected that and went flying this morning (7-21-02). It takes some getting used to. The elevator is VERY responsive. Barrel rolls are a little slow with a need to apply a little down elevator as I turn her inverted. I had to go 125 percent on the aileron travel to compensate for that high lift, wide wing. It does a beautiful knife edge! Wing overs, prop hanging, loops and inverted were some of the other things I was playing with. When it was time to leave, I was feeling very confident with my plane and my skills. I like this plane very much....you should concider one.

[groundforce]

Nice looking cover job! Glad it flew great for you. That plane is too advanced for me right now, just soloed. Maybe down the road ill try one, but for now will stick to the trainer....
Again, great job!

[imsofaman]

Thanks

[imsofaman]

Thanks for the compliments. I had a lump in my throat while I was building the plane in the begining because this was my first kit. I had great support from a local hobby shop who gave me some great tips. Once you get going with a kit, it becomes very theraputic in the evening when the kids and the wife are asleep and you are creating your dream plane by yourself with tools everywhere and the smell of sawdust in the air! Life is good! The gas tank seemed to take the most time because of the fuel nvalve. I had to snake lines around the tank where there was not much room and realizing that if the tank is not set up correctly, it will never run smooth and this is embarrasing when everyone is waiting to see your new plane fly! Take your time and dont take any shortcuts! Also, there are some easy kits out there that you will be able to handle. Clancy Aviations, Yard Bee is a lot of fun. Easy to build and builds fast! I installed a LA 15 on mine. It ripps up the sky! An 049 to a .10 is what they suggest but I had to "do my thing" and go over board. Inclosed is a photos of both planes.:p