Electric car chassis.

The "design team" drew up a nose that looked like the geodesic dome at Disney World and had as many parts. I simplified things with two parts and got the same look and a lot stronger.One kid really took to welding. Uprights, cross pieces and diagonals to go. Then it's on to the front and rear axles and sheet metal skin.

New wing jig.

I used the Brodak wing jig on the Gypsy kit wing. I followed the direction book and things didn't come out right. This jig builds the wing in two halves. Each half is glued together with a minimum of parts installed. I should have added as many parts as possible before taking it off the jig to start the other half. I'll watch for that next time I use it.
 The P-40 is coming along, I'm adding more turn back into it. The controls are neutralized at the handle and the down line is a tad shorter than the up line. Too windy to fly lately.

Getting cold.

I  added an aluminum prop nut under the plastic spinner and got in two flights today. That calmed it down a lot and it's flying like I think it should. I removed the aluminum piece and installed a one ounce spinner nut under the plastic spinner for the next time out. Maybe tomorrow.
 The parts for the Gypsy should be in tomorrow also. I should be painting it by now.

Trim flights.

I sprayed the clear Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning I took the P-40 to the field for it's first flights. All went well and I've gotten several trim flights in Sun. and Mon. I'm working on softening the corners. I slowed the elevator down about 30%. The flaps and elevator move almost the same amount of degrees now, that's what the plans show anyway. I haven't tried that change yet. I am pleased with the way it flys.  I called Brodak about the missing parts in the Gypsy kit but no one is around. I'll call back around 3 pm. I could have built it by now.
 I did some work on the schools milling machine this morning. It can be made to work using the key pad. I found a vise for it and I need to get some bolts to hold it to the ways. I also fixed the parting tool for the lathe so it will work. I plan to make a 1/8" copper tube bender with it. I have been using a wooden one I made at home. The copper tube fix I planned to use didn't work out so now I have 6 feet of 1/8" tube to play with.

Winter camo in winter.

We had a little snow last night and I figured it was a good time to test the winter camo in actual conditions. I also found some pictures of the house just before the roofers finished roofing. No more ugly chimney. While waiting for the white to cure so I can spray the clear I started on the Gypsy. I had ordered a wing jig from Brodak and while waiting for that to arrive I started to build the fuselage. I quickly found out that the two formers that form the engine/tank compartment were missing. Then I took inventory and found that more plywood parts for the wing are missing also. I called Brodak this morning and they said I would have to talk to manufacturing and they are off until Monday. The wing jig came in today. I did build the elevators, fin and rudder, stabilizer and flaps in the mean time.

Winter camo.

I took a few pictures of the P-40 while waiting for the white to cure. Today would have been a good day to test fly the plane but it will be another week before I'll be able to spray the clear. I'll have to wait for some snow to get the full effect.
  At the end of the last school year I was using one of my radios to fly the students planes. I had the receiver installed in one and forgot to bring it home. The student brought the plane home and I didn't have it at the start of the new year. I saw one of the two students that were flying at the end of the year and she left her plane at the school but the other one was gone. The teacher had the email address of the student and sent a message. We found out that this one returned to Pakistan for college but left the plane here with a relative. That person said they would return the plane. They did and today I got the receiver back.
 

Building season.

After deciding on a plaint scheme for the P-40B I ordered some covering from Tower and finished covering it yesterday. I had to install the elevator before I could install the fin/rudder. This morning I masked off the primer grey that will double as the underside color and put fillets around the fin. I warmed the plane in an empty room and the paint was warmed by the furnace exhaust pipes. I applied three coats of white to the fuselage within the one hour window the paint allows. I was going to hit it with clear before the hour but I have to apply some stars and decals and wanted to clear over them. I have to wait until the white is dry before putting the decals on and at least a week before spraying the clear. I'll wait at least two weeks as the paint must cure thoroughly or it will wrinkle.