Tim Mackey Posted May 16, 2012 Author Share Posted May 16, 2012 Gradually trying to distract myself from things by getting the BUFF back on the bench, but its only going to be slow and small progress. Stiull, as they say, do a little bit every day, and one day its finished I changed ny mind a little on the radio install, and purchased one of the new AR9020 Xplus recivers, with 2 satellite receivers, together with a telemetry module and sensors. As the elevators are split with their own servos, and its a 4 servo wing, togehter with obviously rudder, and then tow release etc, I was struggling to get the contrils I wanted with the AR7000. I want to have fullspan (mixed ) flap to aileron, as well as camber/reflex, and crow on throttle stick, and fancy the altimeter feature of the telemetry. The TM1000 also features antenna performance monitoring for all three receivers. I have fitted aluminium tubing to the nose section, and made up 2 x 2p A123 sticks which are slid way inside up front to assist with COG.. A balance plug is fitted to the radio tray, and will also be the charge point. I fitted a main on/off switch at the rear of the wing seat area, easily accessed by simply removing the wing cover hatch. I then tackled the joining of the two fus halves, and due to some discrepancies in the CNC cutting data, they didnt match very well, so a lot of sanding, filling and more sanding etc has got them looking good. Radio all wired up and working on the 4 servos fitted so far ( el rud and tow rel ), but servo wiring yet to be tidied and fitted correctly. Next its onto building up the full nose section profile from 12mm balsa sheet, and then glassing the whole fus ready for painting, before tackling the wings. Edited By Tim Mackey on 16/05/2012 22:58:57 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Houghton 1 Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Looking good Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted May 16, 2012 Author Share Posted May 16, 2012 Thanks Steve. Still a fair bit to do of course - and the covering and finishing is the bit I hate most, cos I'm rubbish at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Ball Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Tim, you help me -lay my patio and I'll help with the covering. deal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted May 16, 2012 Author Share Posted May 16, 2012 Hah. I thought you were already "booked" to help with the finishing Mr Ball - painting at least. I may now opt to splash the cash and use olive drab solartex on the lot, painting the camo scheme on top should then be a doddle right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Ball Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Solar tex on solar tex works well ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly P Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Tim - I've just got myself an Airbrush (my sister used to be good when we were young 'uns). If you let me know when you want to do some test painting I'll probably have some practice by then, and will try to persuade SWMBO to let me come across to my birthland and do some painting. Olly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Ball Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Posted by Marty Ball on 17/05/2012 03:33:02: Solar tex on solar tex works well ..... Tom, Only half joking mate, I'll do some tests when I get home on my U2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Great to see this making progress again Timbo... the PSSA chaps are really looking forward to seeing this new BUFF at the slope to compliment the well used airframe of Mr Cocker - ever present at our events... Keep going Tim you are nearly there!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foamie Dave Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Lookin good fella !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted May 17, 2012 Author Share Posted May 17, 2012 Thanks chaps - encouragement is much appreciated at the moment I had originally planned ( and was well on schedule to achieve ) a maiden flight at the first PSSA meet of the year, but the slippage will mean now that its more likely to be the last ( October ). Although Ive already glassed/poly-c covered the rear section, and its had around 8 coats, Im still not convinced about its overall durability for slope use. Im now seriously considering splashing the cash and covering the lot with solartex, ready for a camo paint scheme - yes - I have changed my mind again - with some appropriate mumblings from Simon Cocker himself dissaproving of my earlier matt black scheme. Also of course, solartex will not only add strength and scuff resistance, but is an almost instant finish compared to all that glassing and coating, sanding, and spraying. Im thinking maybe green, and then black / tan sprayed camo. Edited By Tim Mackey on 17/05/2012 23:44:21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foamie Dave Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 I'm with you matey , keep it simple and go with the tri-coloured camo...looks well tasty ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted May 18, 2012 Author Share Posted May 18, 2012 Or, I also like this one ( B52 D s/n 550680 ) but with this iron fist SAC logo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted May 18, 2012 Author Share Posted May 18, 2012 As these schemes have a lot of black, maybe I should use black tex? - but anyone have any idea how well the green and brown will cover if sprayed on the black I always assume that the base covering should be the lightest of the colours, with darker shades added. Like I say, this stage is my least fav, give me a nice complex radio install anyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 I think you will cover the black OK - but it will tend to tone down the overpaint - so you may have to aim for a shade or two lighter paint than the finish you want - if you see what I mean! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Ball Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Light to dark Tim! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted May 18, 2012 Author Share Posted May 18, 2012 Then I guess the best would be to cover with the sand/tan but then very little of that would remain unpainted, and that adds more weight I think a fair compromise will be to use the lighter of the two green shades, and then paint on the tan, darker green, and finally the black. As the entire rear section and tail feathers are already glassed and coated, I think I may just paint these, leaving the covering to taper off as it reaches the L/edges of the feathers IYSWIM. This will help to keep weight off the back end -especially as the rear is predominantly blackso would need to be overpainted as well, its also going to be less fiddly than trying to get the covering right around all those edges and curves. Theres a rear gun/radar assembly to be made and attached yet too, and that would be almost impossible to cover with tex. I think Im right in saying that matching paints are avaialble for the solartex range of colours? Next off....who has the best prices on solartex - or is there an alternative tex covering? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Ball Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 If you want to paint tan over green we will probably have to base coat with white first Tim, A lot is going to depend on the covering power of the paint. Edited By Marty Ball on 18/05/2012 10:35:24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Jones Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Dare I add that a lighter and smoother finish will be achieved with Solafilm, a wipe of Prymol and then paint? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myron Beaumont Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Timbo I painted some green Solartex parts on the topsides of my Puppeteer with matt beige Humbrol to sort of go with the natural linen colour Solartex on the undersides (together with struts / U/c fairings etc etc)Turned out OK with just one coat ! Useless bit of imformation I suppose 'cos I doubt you'll be using Humbrol the price it is and the area you have to cover Welcome back Edited By Myron Beaumont on 18/05/2012 10:57:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Ball Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Posted by Matt Jones on 18/05/2012 10:41:15: Dare I add that a lighter and smoother finish will be achieved with Solafilm, a wipe of Prymol and then paint? Dunno Matt, TBH I've never painted over solar - anything before so I'm on a voyage of discovery. Tim will probally change his mind again so I'll wait before I devote time on research Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly P Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 As I say Tim, we can try some airbrushing if you want. I've got some off-cut black solar film and while I don't have camo I have some transparent colours I can try out - I need to practice a little before I spray mine anyway. If the weather is good this weekend (well sat pm) I will have a look at a trial and let you know how I get on. Olly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Ball Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Olly, I for one will be interested in you findings. What paint are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly P Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 I've got some Createx Airbrush paints, black and white opaque (none see through) which apparently don't blend with other colours - they are dominant if on top and dominated if underneath. I also have transparent Red, Blue, Yellow and Green, all bright versions, and these will blend to give intermediate colours. I will need the paractice anyway, so will try some offcuts of black Solar film to see what effect I get. I will also be spraying on PolyC and Glass Cloth covered wings, base coat of white, followed by red or blue depending on which wing. I also have camo coloured Tamiya Acrylics, which I might have a go with last, to see how they flow and look on the black solarfilm. As I say tomorrow PM at best, I'll let you all know and get some photos up hopefully afterwards.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted May 18, 2012 Author Share Posted May 18, 2012 Thanks Olly - do let us know how you get on. Right, some digging around in my stock of coverings has revealed two unopened rolls of guess what - satin solartex in olive drab !! Despite most retailers claiming the roll is 26" wide, its actually 27.5" and few calcs on a fag packet show that I can cover the whole model with 6 rolls. At £7 a roll, It seems logical to me to utilize this new found stock, and I then need to buy just £30 worth to do the lot, plus paint of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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