Getting close.

I waited until the temp. got as high as it was going to get before going to the field. 29 degrees and a tad of wind. I figured there would be some other club members there but I was alone. I brought the Banshee for another test session as I had bent the landing gear forward and sealed the hinge gaps and twisted the inboard wing panel this time. I also brought a piece of carpet for the middle as the ground is damp and the dirt sticks into the tread of my shoes and then falls out on the carpet at home. It worked as my shoes were clean when I got home. The plane flew much better and I was able to do a vertical eight. I rolled things up and as I started out I figured I could roll the circle by driving on it. I did that years ago to the field behind Peerless windows now Bolmet. So I drove around several laps to flatten the landing area, about 10 feet of the outside of the circle. I'll do it next time out too. I twisted the outboard panel of the Banshee when I got home to be sure.

Some progress.

I made longer landing gear for the Banshee and added larger wheels. We went to the field today and I brought the Banshee and Red Molly. Also 8 feet of rubber mat to get the planes moving at release. First up was the Banshee, the wing de warping helped but didn't cure the problem. Next was Red Molly. This time the wing is warped opposite the Banshee so I tweaked the flaps and the wing was almost perfect. The wind was knocking the planes all over the place and it was cold so after two flights each we headed for home. I de warped the other wing panel on the Banshee and bent the landing gear forward. A handle adjustment on Red Molly and we are ready for the next session.

It flys.

A warped wing and too short landing gear gave me fits but the plane flys pretty good. I heated the warp out, I hope, and made longer gear for the next test session.
I brought the Eagle 63 and got in a flight in preparation for the new years thing. I may have to get a new transmitter battery. I'm charging it to see what happens.

Moving right along.

I didn't need the flap tool I built. A few gentle tweaks and it's good to go. I wasn't quite happy with the round plastic fuel tank so I removed the metal one from the plane the engine came from and installed it. The engine runs a lot better with the metal tank. That combo ran well in the other plane too.
I assembled the Banshee this morning and it's ready for a test flight.weight came out at 46.4 ounces with the stock muffler and no weight in the tail. The c/g is about a half inch forward of the plans. If it don't turn I can change things on the front to move the c/g back. We will be going to the field in a little while. I took the Eagle last time out and was going to get in a flight with no one looking. I forgot to bring rubber bands for the wing so I just taxied around for a bit checking the engine. I'm bringing it again today.
I emailed the local sign maker and got a reply then set up a time for a visit. I got three vinyl letter signs for the planes and three AMA numbers too. real good price $20.00 for everything. The sign maker is a crew chief on a Waterford modified car and knew Ma from Plainfield high. Ma had his wife as a student in Killingly. Might have helped with the price. He had made the new signs the club put up at the new field as the new club president and him are racing buddies.

Finally got it.

I made a pair of popsicle sticks to clamp in the flaps so I can see how much I've tweaked them. I went to the field and flew a ounce and a half flight and the wing was low on the right side. I gently tweaked them this time and flew again. Better so I gave it another slight tweak and put in 3 and a 1/2 ounces of fuel. The wings were much better and I flew a full pattern. The plane kept good tension through all the maneuvers and is steady in level flight plus good corners. Can't ask for much more.
I got the urge this morning and masked off the Banshee for the second color. I was going to use white and red but changed to white and green instead. Two coats of Rustoleum John Deere green and it's hanging up to dry for a few days.
Winter is sneaking around. The temp barely hit 40 today. I fear that on the 21'st we will get it. Just like summer, it's cool until June 21 then hot and humid over night.

Moving right along.

I went to Oneco this afternoon but it was too windy to test fly so I went back home.
The Banshee is coming along and is nearing paint. I got it assembled today, covered yesterday. After getting the pushrods sorted out and made I put it on the scale. 43.4 ounces minus paint. It should hit 45 ounces after paint before putting weight for balance. It may need 2 ounces in the tail plus an ounce in the right wing tip. I found the bellcrank to flap push rod broken. I was screwing it into the ball link and it buckled. Carbon tube got abused somehow. I made a new rod and got it installed.
I ran the generator yesterday. All is well there.
The furnace toasted the ignitor box on Sunday. The repairman took maybe 10 minutes to change it. $133.00/hour for week ends and $70.00 for the box.
Along with the generator I ran the hot rod for about a half hour, then drove the El Camino around to the coffee shop.
At the club meeting I got the OK to fly when the dump is open to the public. No r/c though.

First flight.

Around noon we went to the Oneco field and set up to fly the Parallax. I bench trimmed it as best I could but left off the tip weight. The needle was way off and the backfire loosened the prop which made me remove the spinner nose. I had 2 ounces of fuel in the tank and got the engine started. It proved to be a little slow but the plane was nice and steady in level flight and the outboard wing was high inverted. I put in .8 ounces of tip weight when we got home. The flaps may need tweaking also. All in all I'm happy with the way it flew on the first flight.