Anything To Do With 500 Series Kits.

[simpleflyer]

The TBM covered and ready for some test flights.

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This is the aircraft that our TBM was modeled after. It was a modified TBM used for fighting forest fires.

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[simpleflyer]

A couple of flight pix shortly after the TBM was built.

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And one more pic from our last flying session. The TBM is still a good swing control flyer after three years.

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[WIDDOG]

Super cool stuff you posted! Thanks much for posting. Very nice looking model! I know I learn new stuff all the time in this hobby. Thanks again for posting.

[simpleflyer]

Glad that you liked it, Keith. These low-end Guillows models coupled with some almost forgotten low-tech processes can be made into some nice models that provide a lot of neat fun for the backyard

Al

[WIDDOG]

Sad day for me, my experimental Zero gave up the ghost. I was experimenting with a 1/8” inch motor at x 2 length. I think that the extra weight to the rubber caused this tragic crash. Well I have a Stuka 500 series kit ready to become my new experimental plane. “We Who Are About To Fly Salute You.”

[WIDDOG]

http://youtu.be/qLejrL72Kr4

I static balanced the Stuka and give it a test fly. Problem is the wing broke. I don’t know if I will repair or just make another Zero. I don’t really think I did anything wrong with the Stuka, it’s just that with those long wings I think it’s too fragile to really be a “Flyer”

[WIDDOG]

I have decided to build another Ruffe/Zero (Guillow’s kit 507). I’m going to put the Corsair (copyrighted 1954) on hold. I don’t like starting one kit and not finishing before I go on to another kit. However, I feel that the Corsair is kind of a “Hard Build” and I have no idea about its flying ability. Anyway as for the Zero I have the plans left over. I have ordered some Contest Balsa Wood and will be cutting out the parts from it. I will order a cowling, windshield and decals. I read a Thread from an Expert Modeler. He brought up that the plastic on these 500 Series kits adds up to some weight. The windshield alone weighs 2 grams. Well not only will I try to build this one lighter I will try to work on the model’s appearance.

[Steve Blanchard]

Widdog,

If you are prepared to make some weight saving changes then I would suggest you create a built up cowl from Contest grade balsa. It's not that hard to and it will save you a bit of plastic weight.

Steve

[WIDDOG]

The same expert modeler that wrote about plastic weight also mentioned that the 500 Series kits seem to always need ballast clay in the nose. I have to say that the “Problem” with my last Zero was needing too much nose clay. The good thing about all this need for nose weight, if there is any good at all about it, is that it allows for a very decent Noseblock. I just wanted to add that the Noseblock on my 500 Series Stuka seemed to work out ok. Even with the somewhat heavy Noseblock it still needed ballast clay on the nose. It was the wing that did my Stuka in, the Noseblock had nothing to do with the crash. Anyway I have decided to focus my attention on Mass Launching and I am going with the Zero.
@ Steve what please is your opinion on me moving the wings back a little bit to try
And change the balance point?

[kittyfritters]

Take a good look at your Stuka fuselage. Because of the way the stringers attach ening there is a convenient hole to put a dowel (thin wall aluminum tube is lighter) through in front of the former that is in front of the wing opening and behind the former at the back of the wing opening. This allows you to attach the wing with a rubber band. Works well, at least it did for me.

It's hard to see but if you do a View Image on the Stuka in this photo and bring it up to maximum magnification you can just make out the rubber band crossed under the center section of the wing.



Howard

[WIDDOG]

Thanks Howard,

In "Hind Sight" I totally agree with you. I doubt that I will ever take up the Stuka challenge again. IMHO (In My Humble Opinion) I agree that the wing needs some kind of mod. At the time I wanted to fly all the 500 Series kits. At the present I'm more interested in entering kit 507 into a Mass Launch contest. I have read that the Hellcat kit 503 is the best flyer and the Stuka the worst of the bunch. I remember, as a kid, the scene from Tora, Tora, Tora, with all those Zero's. Def my Fave The Zero.

[kittyfritters]

Thanks Howard,

In "Hind Sight" I totally agree with you. I doubt that I will ever take up the Stuka challenge again. IMHO (In My Humble Opinion) I agree that the wing needs some kind of mod. At the time I wanted to fly all the 500 Series kits. At the present I'm more interested in entering kit 507 into a Mass Launch contest. I have read that the Hellcat kit 503 is the best flyer and the Stuka the worst of the bunch. I remember, as a kid, the scene from Tora, Tora, Tora, with all those Zero's. Def my Fave The Zero.

in the 500 series the Hellcat and the Avenger are the best fliers. You are quite right about the 500 Series Rufe being simply a Zero on floats. It does not have the right tail outlines to be a Rufe. It flies well as a Zero, however if you are entering an FAC Midway mass launch you will probably do better with a carefully constructed 400 series Zero. There is simply a lot more wing area for the structural density, it can handle much more power and is easier to trim. If you hope to be competitive with the 500 series kit (over 95 second flights) you will have to keep the all up weight to 20 grams or less...not easy. More tips, enlarge the elevator by about 20% and use a better prop than the one in the kit.

Good luck and good building!

Howard

[WIDDOG]

Thanks Howard great tips.
I’m not motivated by competition. However, all the hard work would be worth it to me to see a bunch of Guillow’s 500 Series kits being Mass Launched. You mentioned 20 grams AUW (All Up Weight)? Wow that’s lite weight. My experimental Zero had a AUW of 33 grams.

[WIDDOG]

My order of Contest Balsa Wood came in the mail today. http://www.a2zcorp.us/store/ made everything easy very nicely packaged, arrived fast and was affordable. I will from now on build all my 500 Series kits out of Contest Balsa only.

[WIDDOG]

Well I was on a sabbatical from building there for awhile. Anyway back to building my kit 507 Rufe/Zero out of Contest Balsa wood. I would just like to say IMHO building with Contest Balsa is the way to go. I would like to add that I learned, about sharpening the blade to my hobby knife, from reading this Forum. Using a nice sharp blade it is much easer and faster to cut out the parts. As far as I know I'm still a "Good Customer" of Guillow's even though I use my own wood. I still purchase a lot of stuff from Guillow's. i.e. Decals, Windshields and other plastic parts. Even if the 500 Series kits where "Laser Cut" I still think I would cut my own parts from Contest Balsa.