Peter Garsden Posted March 9, 2022 Share Posted March 9, 2022 Panel Lines - mm...yes, not easy. A lot of measuring, and marking with a pencil then rubbing out the mark afterwards. There is a particular brand of Staedler Pen which dries very quickly and is 0.5mm wide methinks, which works best. I use a combination of a flexible plastic ruler which works best. Although you can spend hours lining up with measurements, your eyeball is the best. For round bits I used balsa templates, and for curves, I use the good old french curves. The main problem is marks with the permanent pen that enable you to line up the lines. For long lines down the wing I use a metal ruler. I think this is the link to the type of pen I use - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Staedtler-Lumocolor-Permanent-318-9-0-6mm/dp/B000SHQBA8?th=1 Quote Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Chantler Posted March 9, 2022 Author Share Posted March 9, 2022 Many thanks for the advice Andy and Peter - it's made me think and not simply pick up a pen! It's not something I've really done before, and I never gave it any thought until did the top coat! I did do a bit a google search but just came up with plastic kit modellers enhancing existing panel lines. Having got it to this stage I really don't want to mess it up ? I think I'll have a go following your suggestions but on something else first. I think I still have some unopened staedtlers from the days when we used to give lectures on acetate! so I'll have a careful experiment -- most unlike me lol. Frustratingly work and some repairs to a RES glider with a rudder that came apart in flight are keeping me occupied at the mo. but am really keen to get back to this ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Chantler Posted May 22, 2022 Author Share Posted May 22, 2022 Decided those 7mm servos looked too puny so hacked them out, and replaced them with these. Did some panel lines but then decided to see how it flies. Maidened today with cog too far forward, but flew fine after lots otrim ? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Chantler Posted May 23, 2022 Author Share Posted May 23, 2022 Video by friend to prove it flew ? It's a speck except for take off and landing as I was reluctant to fly close in on maiden. Fears about +ve tail incidence may have been well-founded as it needed a lot of up-trim. But CoG is 3/4inch too far forward, so will shift this back and program in both ailerons up on an extra trim switch as suspect RG15 TE is not helping any. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Chantler Posted May 23, 2022 Author Share Posted May 23, 2022 (edited) Decided to have a go at using a vinyl cutter for the decals. Alignment with transfer tape and star registration marks went surprisingly well so thought I'd post some photos here for anyone who was thinking of doing similar. 1. Create or find SVG shapes, and add some registration marks (stars here) 2. Load into design tool with each colour on separate layer. 3. Send to cutter and then peel unwanted stuff off Cover with transfer stuff: Edited May 23, 2022 by Mike Chantler 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Chantler Posted May 23, 2022 Author Share Posted May 23, 2022 (edited) Use the transfer stuff to assemble decal: Peel off on transfer stuff, apply, and remove transfer stuf ? Edited May 23, 2022 by Mike Chantler 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Chantler Posted May 23, 2022 Author Share Posted May 23, 2022 Suspect above is rather old hat to PSS folk, but I got quite excited lol 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 Looking good! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Chantler Posted May 27, 2022 Author Share Posted May 27, 2022 Added some more decoration. Moved CoG back by 25mm so should not need so much up trim but still suspicious of my tail incidence. Weighs circa 1kg, flew with 300g ballast added and weight fine for our hills. Will take max 550g ballast. Will take it up hill on Sunday weather permitting ? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Chantler Posted March 28, 2023 Author Share Posted March 28, 2023 Well, can't believe it's 10 months later. I did take the F86 up a couple of Sundays later when the weather was kind of ok, but when I was assembling it I noticed the the power to the RX kept on going on and off(!) Extensive fiddling on the hill revealed a intermittent connection somewhere, but could not localise it to connectors. I wasn't very happy with it as I was spooked by first flight, doggy RX power, and had difficulty not mangling it on our long walk in strong wind. 😞 However, last Sunday, I took it up with new battery pack the new 1" further back CoG and it flew a treat in about 8mph. It's 1050g with no ballast, and still flies smoothly and reasonably fast. Still needed quite a bit of up, so will move CoG back a bit further. Pretty certain tail incidence is not correct - should of gone for the all-flying tail! Think this will be a keeper 🙂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted April 3, 2023 Share Posted April 3, 2023 Well done on the maiden, and excellent weight to come out at! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted April 3, 2023 Share Posted April 3, 2023 Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Chantler Posted April 6, 2023 Author Share Posted April 6, 2023 Thanks for the encouragement guys. Last weekend there was no wind on our slopes in the Pentlands, but this Sunday looking better 🙂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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