Mike Shorts

THE CAP 232 IS GOING GOOD.  i HAVE FINISHED FILLETING THE WINGS TO THE FUSE AND ADDING THE INCEDENCE PINS ONTO THE WING HALVES. epoxied graphite tubes serve the purpouse well.  I have only to drill and tap the wing tube and add the wing screws to either side wing panel to hold it to the tube.  The filleting was a very meticulous learning experience that I dont wish to repeat but at least in the future, I will be able to construct a wing fillet.  The fillet was "built up" using spare balsa which had to be sanded built up, sanded, etc.. I was able to add microballoons type filler ( i just use the cheap hardware store light version rather than the expensive microballons from hobby shop).  I mixed the microballons with epoxy to construct the base fillet where the root connects with the fuse to seal that surface. I then used plain microballons around the wing as fillet.  I then applied a layer of white glue (weldbond) as a sealer which worked PERFECT after sanding the surface. Before covering, I will apply a layer of dope for fuel proofer.  SO, the wings are almost done as far as mechanical attachment, The plane donest have far to go before staring the covering process, but just a bunch of little things that take time.  I can't goto the field for a while since my only pattern plane took a dump today and the engine installed stripped the head of the glow plug today.  I have a possible replacement engine but that would require a lot of work and I'm not even sure if the engine will fit in the mount so it looks like i'm grounded in the meantime.  Got a LOT of projects to finish here.. argghhee

<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=1629278827#/photo.php?pid=82816&id=1629278827" title="Kitana X project, on Facebookr">   The kitana X project fuse well under way as you can see..

Yes ralph, I have installed a TME smoke pump and will install a homegrown checkvalve to limit smoke fluid flow, being i'm a cheapskate r/c'r.  I originally purchased this TME pump to be installed on a Ultimate ARF that I never completed and sold off years ago when I had the wild inclination I would abandon the hobby.  I had given up all my r/c planes at the time and sold off my airtronics stylus due to a job loss and I needed the cash.  Since its been many years and I'm back in the game I guess you could say.  Weird how life works, you never can predict what will happen next.   That said, Have you recieved the pump back yet?  This would be my first ever smoke system and I'm very exited to see if this will work.  I am sweating as I didnt do a pre-heat setup and just tapped the pitts muffler and hope and pray the oil will be hot enough.   I started on my brothers kitana-x and will post more pictures as that build gets underway.  ALso installed the fiberglass wing pipe on the cap 232 and will set incidence and afix the alignment dowels tommorow.  I will need to add a wing fillet on the fuse side on both sides as the wing doesnt sit flush as is,  I had modified the original One piece wing design called out on the plans to a 2 peice plug in wing since I measured my car and it wouldnt fit as one piece.  Well, thats it for today, will post more on this as it goes...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/17713738@N03/3124727568/" title="Top view of Ultimate .40 by mikeshorts, on Flickr"> </a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/17713738@N03/3124726794/" title="Split Elevator Linkage Setup on Cap. by mikeshorts, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/17713738@N03/3123900577/" title="Smoke system detail. by mikeshorts, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/17713738@N03/3124726444/" title="Scratch Plexiglass servo tray. by mikeshorts, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/17713738@N03/3123899703/" title="Powered by GMS 2000 with smoke system. by mikeshorts, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/17713738@N03/3123900155/" title="Overall view of 22% Cap 232 by mikeshorts, on Flickr"></a> OK, Thanks to the forum moderator, I have posted the pics of the scratch build projects. First off is the detail on the 22% cap 232 fuse.  I took some close up shots of the smoke system installation, and the home fashioned plexiglass servo tray. Also shown is the split elevator setup running two goldenrod type pushrods which are joined at the servo end using a couple 2.56 nuts and a broken servo arm (loctite to keep the join) and spread thru the fusealage going to either elevator surface. The setup is pretty secure, though I may change the elevator side to add a 4-5" 2.56 threaded rod inside the golden rod if I encounter any vibration during flight test.  It has been my experience if using golden rods, you might get surface flutter as sometimes the plastic rod used just isnt rigid enough to hold up to engine vibration.  The GMS 2000 is mounted on its side to accomodate a pitts style muffler equipped with extra tap to allow a smoke tank and will post more pictures on smoke system setup as it takes shape.  I have painted the surface around the tail and in front of the canopy with a wood filler sealant material which will have to be sanded down tommorow.  Next up will be pictures of the ULTIMATE and also wing detail pictures.

Hey ralph, Thanks first of all for reading. I began to wonder if it was worth posting,  I am trying to find a way to put pics on the forums if you know a way.. I'm html illiterite so I have no clue, but I have posted pics in my photos section.    Your luxury shop looks Great!  My shop is out of our 2nd bedroom which my wife has graciously provided in our 2 bedroom apt.    The hobby makes her sick but she knows if I dont do something with my time, i'll drive her bonkers anyway so she lets it go..  Like the ultimate in yur hanger.. Looks great!  I will post more pics of my cap 232 as it gets completed.

Well well.. Here we are again. The countless hours and I still have only the fuse and wings on the cap. 232 complete.  Scratch building is very tedious stuff, because you generally never know when you are actually going to finish things.  A brief interuption regarding my apartment bug bombing had me out of the house for a week or so, but i'm back at it for the winter of 2008.  Looks like I got the engine installed on the cap.  I have a few other items.  Mainly I am going to focus on finishing the cap, build my brothers kitana and also finish the P51 mustang project I have. .. I will report more on my xmas break.