400 series for rubber flight

[Mitch]

Hey Guys,

Just got off my ship and after 4 months have 8 new aircraft ready for flight testing. Built all 6 400 series plus 2 kit bashes. Built FW 190 into Ta-152 with a scale 36 inch ws. Germany only built about 80 of this high altitude interceptor. I also kit bashed the DR1 into a D8.

I built these models as light as I could... I know they could be lighter though...

I will start flight tests on clear day... Raining in Seattle... go figure.

Has anyone been able to fly the 400 series with rubber?

Mitch

[Wildpig]

Dude, I'd like to see photos of your kitbashed birds. That Ta-152 and the DVIII.
I suspect with the extra wingspan, the FW will fly fairly decent.
Never built, much less flew a 400 series. Wish I could help with some flying tips.

[Mitch]

Hope for photos very soon. The kitbashes were diecut kits I had on the shelf. Bought new laser cut kits and kitbashed the older kits. Covered all my models with colored lite tissue. My d8 looks nice with the tripe and the SE5a.
Plan to kitbash the another dr1 to a d6. I also have a Sterling model d7 I will build soon.

I have alot of chores to catch up with... I had a camera on my ship but it fell off my work desk and broke in a storm.

I will get a new camera today and take some pics of my ww1 birds. Still need to test and balance the ww2 stuff.

Mitch

[Wildpig]

Building those models sounds like a great way to pass the time while at sea. What's life like onboard ship?
Is it 12hrs on/12 off?
I've wanted to build a flying d7 model for a long time. Are you on VirtualAerodrome? Maybe you could post some build photos of the Sterling d7 you have, on that site.

[SteveM]

Not stowed for sea. *tisk* *tisk*

I've not sen much about the 400 series for rubber power so it'll be interesting to read about your results. I did convert one to R/C power, but that's a whole 'nother animal.

[Mitch]

I Know... I was really upset about the camera...I just decided to photo document my first kitbash and BHAM!... no camera. At least my model board was taped down and my work was pinned down.

My thoughts are the 400 series are too heavy for rubber power. At least I will make an experiment to see how they compare. I am sure there are ways I could have built them lighter, but I built them all the same as it will be a good comparison.

I hope to get these planes balanced and in the air very soon.

So while I am doing my flight tests I will start posts with my WW1 birds, so stay tuned... my next post should have pictures.

Mitch

[Wildpig]

I've got some suggestions about rubber power for the 400 series.
First, do you have Don Ross' book about flying rubber band model airplanes? There is some information in there that would be helpful.
Me personally, I would try 4 strands of 1/4 rubber, 1.5 times the hook to peg length, and stretch wind it to about 400 turns.
Seems like there is a Youtube video of a guy flying a rubber powered Guillow P-47, thats a fairly large model.
The video might explain what he is using.
You've really got me interested in what you are doing. Hope you get to flight testing, soon.

[Pauli72]

I would echo wildpig's interest in your flight test progress & photos. I had built a few 400 series planes but I put one together purposely for rubber free flight, the P-40 Warhawk.

After the initial balance and flight glide testing per Guillow's instructions, It flew awsome. I ended up switching out the gray spaghetti rubber supplied in the Guillow's kit for 1/4 in rubber from the hobby shop. I have used Armor All car spray to lube the rubber and it still looks and winds great after 10+ years.

Best of luck with the flight testing and flying. Look forward to some pics or video.

[Mitch]

Thanks for the info and advice. I am on my way to get a new camera, I plan to start a new thread with pics of my ww1 models starting with my guillows d8, 25in ws, kitbash from dr1. My daughter was showing me photobucket so I hope to have this new post up this w/e.

As for my ww2 collection I plan to compare the flight performance of each, so I am not concerned with maximum rubber for now. I did move the peg hole back on models that I was able to and tried to lighten the frame as best I could... we will see in future posts. I plan to have a post for each model. I am glad to hear that these can fly.

Mitch