Beechcraft Musketeer

[akofly]

This has been an odd one for me. it's taken a few years to finish it because its was never going to be a great flyer. After coming across some pics on the net of the full size one of which this one depicts i knew i had to finish it. From the start this was going to fly. I reduced the number of wing ribs and replaced some of the heavy wood in the fuselage. I made my own balsa wheels and finished it in thinned enamels. The real one has tinted side windows which look really dark and i still might pull the side glazing off and attempt to darken them. This aircraft has a bit of a colourfull history in that it was invovled in a mid-air (non fatal) with another plane while on finals at Jandakot airport in Western Australia some years ago. Google the registration letters VH RWA and you should be able to read about it. Oh also, test glides look promising but i would be happy if it gets 20 seconds. Daryl

[Wildpig]

Snazzy paint job.
What size rubber motor are you using?
Do you know the weight of the model?

[sawingman]

A really nice looking airplane! Good job.

[Pauli72]

That's a really good looking model, & I especially like the paint job/design.
Nice work!

[akofly]

Wildpig, the model without rubber weighs 51grams or 1.7 oz. I dont have the original rubber for this plane anymore but i may use some rubber from one of my other unbuilt guillows kits. strip rubber isnt readily available over here but after a search on the net i noticed companys like sig are selling rolls of different width rubber in different lengths and widths. what do you guys use and recommend? Still havent had a chance to do any flying since last post. The weather hasnt been great down the east coast of Australia these last two weeks. Daryl

[Mitch]

Akofly,

Very Nice Work!

I have only got my models to really fly in these past 2 weeks. The Guillow's Rubber I was using I believe is "Worn out and Tired" It is visibily strech damaged and I do not want to use those motors again for fear that they will break. I bought SIG in 3/16 width, along with the SIG rubber lube. So if you are following my Bf 109 F build I will be using lubricated SIG rubber in that... We will learn together.



I also plan on using a thrust washer and propeller bearing, which I also have never used before...

Cheers, Mitch

[RAYD7024]

How did you manage to fit the plastic windows and windshield to the fuselage so seamlessly? Did you glue them before or after applying the tissue? Any and all advice will be appreciated.

[akofly]

just carefully cut the windscreen glazing to fit where it contacts the upper fuslage and a small overlap on the sides. A small overlap on the side windows also. No more than 1/16th. Also , the side windows are in one piece covering all 3 windows and the glazing was applied over the tissue after evrything was painted. I used canopy glue, Formula 560.
An update on the test flights. After regluing both wings back on ( she stalls easily ) and repeatidly bending the nose leg forward again, i am losing interest with this one. It looks great and gets plenty of comments so i will put 100 turns on her and send her skyward and see what happens. I will have my son ready with the camera to capture the moment! Watch this space.
Daryl