Back to winter.

I am trying an experiment on the new fuselage for the new plane. I filled the fuselage with white foam to stiffen it, absorb vibration and some sound. Very little weight gain as the fuse.,wing and stab. weigh 22 ounces. The wing and stab are covered on top of it. I put some clear dope on the wood and it's ready for tissue. I have to order some needle valves and landing gear one of these days.
Thursday was heavy snow and temps in the mid 30's from noon to 4 pm. Then it got cold and very windy and started to snow heavy for an hour or so. A slight warming trend is expected over the next few days but nothing special.

Good weather.

I took advantage of the weather as it's supposed to get cold again. I went to the dog track with the re built Primary Force w/flaps. I got in two test and tune flights and one for the full pattern. The plane needs more control so I opened up the line spacing on the handle when I got home. I tried to tweak the flaps but I used 1/8" wire for the joiner and it's tough. I may have to put a tab on one flap. The engine ran well. It is the one that's been giving me fits. I used the ball end mill to open the combustion chamber and that seems to have calmed it down. I put a venturi on it and that seems to have let it run 5 min.35 sec. on 3- 3/4 ounces of fuel.
I started the El Camino and let it run a while to charge the battery. I could have used the charger but I'd rather run it if I can.
Yesterdays trip with all kinds of driving conditions netted me 17 mpg on the truck.
I started making the new fuselage today. A couple of weeks should do it. I want to order some needle valve asm. to get rid of the remotes on the OS engines. I got 2 more venturis coming from Tower.
I was going to connect the well back to the kitchen faucet but there is some concern about dirt in the water. I think I'll try and get a filter for the line if there is one for CPVC pipe.

It was a dark and stormy day for a change.

High 50's with heavy wind and rain. 25 to 35 mph gusting to 60 most of the afternoon. The ground is covered under the tamaracks including the driveway. I used a snow shovel to push the twigs off the asphalt. The waited for January thaw removed all the snow except for the largest piles. The temps are going back to normal today.
I started drawing a new fuselage for the salvaged wing and tail. I have to get some 1/8" balsa before I can start.
We will be bringing the stove to Goshen, MA this morning. About 115 miles. I got the biggest part on a pallet which sits on two tires with 4 more tires packed on the sides and tied down with straps. I hope it makes the trip.

Thinning the herd.

Another pretty good day so I packed up the new plane and headed to the dog track. The first flight was plagued by a muffler loosening up. The back end almost fell off. I re tightened it and started a second flight. At the second inside loop of the square eight the plane came in a bit and I couldn't get any control and it was pointed at the ground. Total loss. The engine broke in half with the crank and lower part of the block still bolted to the mounts. The plane broke in several pieces but the wing and tail parts didn't hardly hit the ground and are still usable for another fuselage.
I believed that the OS .40 and .46 shared the same block so I took a .40 apart and tried to put the cylinder sleeve from the .46 in it. The blocks are not the same. I now have a good spare crank, that will fit the .40, head and muffler. Next!!

More seasonable weather.

We went to the dog track early this afternoon. The temp. was in the mid 30's with light and variable winds. Blowing right into the sun. I flew the Vector and got in two flights. I had to chase the wind on both flights as it changed direction often. The sun was generally in the maneuver zone though. I hope to get the stove on the truck tomorrow morning. I picked up two more tires at the track to cushion the stove during it's ride to the store.

Better weather for a change.

Sunshine and high 30's. I packed the Vector and the re built Primary Force in the truck and headed for the dog track. I had the heater going full hot to help warm the engines. I set up and last thing I got the Vector out and hooked it up. The engine started reasonably well and I got in a short flight to check how it flew. I widened the handle spacing to the max for the second flight and it helped. I tweaked the needle valve also. I did some maneuvers on the third flight and put it away. The tongue muffler was letting the oil get all over the plane making a big mess. I put a stock muffler on after I got home. The Primary Force needed a lot of line adjustment to get the handle in neutral. The engine run was OK but I made a change anyway. The second flight was better and I did the pattern on the third flight. The 4 ounce tanks I have, no matter the brand, don't hold 4 ounces. I just got the pattern in and the 2 laps after before the engine quit. I put in more elevator travel after getting home as I think it needed it. A flap tweak too. I may have to make another handle for the Vector to get more than 4 inches handle spacing. The new .46 engines are running well. I opened the combustion up some with the 5/8" ball end mill. I did the same to the .40 that was giving me fits and it ran very well. The combustion chambers are hemi shaped so it's easy to re work them. The glow plug is recessed in the chamber and I think by spot facing the seating surface is the best way to get the plug even with the chamber surface. I don't have an end mill to do the job so the heads are safe for now.

Flying in the snow.

The weather was bad yesterday but it got rid of a lot more snow. Today was supposed to be a lot better but it wasn't. Mid 30's and cloudy. A real chill when you go outside. I waited for UPS and they came early with the end mill I want to bore out engine heads. I had a head waiting for the end mill and I opened up the combustion chamber to 5/8" diameter. I installed it back on the engine and took a chance on the weather and went to the dog track. I got a short flight with the new plane to check the flap tweak and the wings are much more level than before. I put that one away and brought out the one with the re worked head. It started to snow pellets as I was getting the engine started and I flew a short flight in a blizzard. The engine ran fine and long enough for the snow to pass. There was a lot more snow at home as the ground was covered.