The wait begins.

I have the new Cardinal assembled and just about ready for paint. And there it sits. I'm having the usual problem trying to come up with a color scheme. So I just putter with it while I try to find something that apeales to me and is easy to copy. The Nobler in the previous post is waiting for the Cardinal's completion so I can spray the clear on both planes at the same time. I'll have two first flights at the same time.

Good flying weather.

It rained for several days and then stopped. The temps have been in the high 70's and light winds in the morning when I go fly. Ihaven't been bothered by the local farm animals either. I try to fly all my planes once in a while to keep the engine/fuel system loose and ready for a contest. I built a Pathfinder several years ago with a .51 size engine that didn't work out. I had shortened the nose 1/4 inch to compensate for the engine weight. I sold the engine and instlled the one on the plans. I hadn't flown it in several months so I took it out for loosening flights. I really like the way it flew. I don't know what happened as I don't remember it flying this well before the lay off. I have a new way to start planes with inverted engines. I used to fuel them and turn them upside down, attached to the stooge, and start them and turn them upright. I managed to run my hand through the prop doing this. Now before fueling and hooking to the stooge I turn the plane over and run at least 3 primes through the engine. The big boys call this burping the enigne. On the very expensive engines they use they all use after run oil when putting the plane away after a session. Burping flushes the oil out. I burp the engine to warm it up a bit. If it's below 50 degreesI pre warm the engine with hot water so it will run the prime out. This puts residual fuel in the system and it's like the engine just finished a flight. I upright the plane, hook it to the stooge and fuel it. A flip of choke and it fires right up safely without having to turn the running engine over and set the plane on the ground. It's just further proof of "Perry's Law" that "Pain is an excellent teacher". My fuel supply ws getting low so I mixed up another 5 gallon batch a week ago. After today I will start using the new batch which won't be any different than the old one. I had ordered 2 gallons from a guy but he wan't able to make the El Dorado contest due to weather so I had to got to the hobby shop and buy a gallon of the fuel I used to use in my batches. My castor oil suppplier raised his prices from 17/gallon to 27/gallon. Still a lot cheaper than getting it from Sig Mfg. Klotz synthetic oil didn't change from the last time I bought it but net time it may change. I haven't checked with my methanol supplier so I don'tknow agout that price. Flying the electric planes extend the fuel supply.

Using the Adjusto-Jig.

I've had this tool for over 20 years. I've probably built 100 wings on it.I finally figured out the best way to build a wing on it. I set up the template for drilling the jig rod holes so that I can put the top and bottom leading edge sheeting on, the top rib cap strips and the top center sheeting before removing the wing from the jig. This kit, the Brodak Cardinal, is set up with their own jig rod holes but that makes you build one half of the wing at a time and I'd rather build the whole wing in one shot. The Adjusto-Jig lets me do that but with smaller jig rod holes. In order to set the holes so that I can assemble most of the wing in the jig I have to tape most of the knock-outs in place and drill the rod holes in the knock outs. I install shear webs between the spars and between the trailing edge sheeting while in the jig. I also carve and sand the leading edge to shape in the jig using the "shoe shine" sanding method. Then I make a radius gage and check that the leading edge is as close to the same along the entire wing as possible. I always use a suspended bellcrank on my planes for max strength. The Cardinal has two center ribs close together. The jig is open in the center area so I used the provided thingy and glued it to a 3/8 balse piece and used that to align the center ribs. The jig rods passed over the balse and through the center ribs.

El Dorado contest is in the books.

Saturday was a bit cool with a light breeze. I flew in Old Time Stunt and Profile expert class stunt. I got first in Old Time and second in profile. On Sunday more experts showed up bringing the total to 10 in my class. I managed to place 5th which is good for me with that bunch of people. I have been trying toget the ElCamino to idle smoothly ever since I installed the new engine 12 years ago. I finally asked our son about it and he said it was the PCV valve. I plugged the hole in the carb. and the idle smoothed out instantly. I bought a new valve and installed it but it didn't idle as smooth as plugging the hole so I took the PCV out of the system. Now when I start it cold it will keep running without pulling the choke out.

Found one.

Mice had ruined the headliner in the El Camino several years ago. I tried a few times to find someone who could replace it here in Louisiana but failed. At the contest here I was talking to one of the club memberss and out of the blue he mentioned that his son did upholstery work. The son attended the contest on Saturday and I talked to him and set up something to replace the headliner if I could find one. I called several places and they are all out. I fnally found one at National Parts Group in Florida called and set up a date for the installation. He did a very good job and the cost was the same as the first one. Now I'm trying to find the reason for the rough idle. Vacuum leaks are high on the list. The El Dorado contest is this weekend and I've been beating on the Jamison in preparation. I added a half ounce of nose weight and widened the handle spacing one hole each line, changed the elevator drag strips to 1/8 inch high from 1/16. It does improve the flying charastics some and that's good.

A good contest.

The weather was just about perfect. It was warm and sunny with light wind. I flew in Profile Nostalgia 30 Old time stunt and precision aerobatics. I used the same pland, the Mo'Best, for all but old time stunt. Almost uneventful except that I installed the wrong battery for one of the flights and may have caused it harm. It charged up but I didn't get a chance to fly it. Probably tomorrow. I finished first in Nostalgit 30 and third in Old time. Forth in profile and about fifth in precision. I got a kit in the raffle, sold another kit for 50 bucks and sold a plane for 50 more. I put 5 planes in the raffle and that lowered my fleet to 19 planes. 20 after I build the new kit. I think the next contest in El Dorado, Ar will have the same events as this one so I don't need to use another plane. And just for kicks there will be a combat contest at the club field in mid november. Fun to watch.

Getting contest ready.

The local stunt contest is this weekend the 15 and 16. I'vebeen flying the Jamison and got the fuel load down to a bit less than 2 ounces for the old time pattern. I've made a few changes tothe handle to even out the control. The Mo'Best is flying well. I re installed the gap seals using a diferent technique. I also added about a half ounce of tail weight. I was shocked at the quickness of the corners now. It will take all week to get comfy with the new set up. I must have hit the perfect spot for the balance as the plane sits level in the glide when the power shuts off. I plan to use the Jamison for old time stunt and the Mo'Best for the profile, nostalgia 30 and P.A. on Sunday. I boxed up the plastic kits to bring to the contest. Almost free just leave a donation to the club. I also boxed up stuff I had laying around that I won't use and will give that away free for the taking. Then I have 5 models for the raffle. That will open up some space in the shop. The long range weather forecast is for great weather for the contest weekend. I should have an O.S. .65LA engine coming soon. I've heard about this engine but never seen one until I saw an ad for it. I looked at the specs.and it's on the heavy side but should be fun to play with. That is the main reason no one used it for control line planes. R/C doesn't matter.