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Minus Thermic, Precision Products (TopModel)
- Thread starter Konrad
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- microrc minus thermic topmodel
I want to glue the wings with wood glue, will this work with the glass reinforcement? or better to glue these first with some ca? Thanks
Konrad
Very Strong User
Glass as in reinforcement across the the polyhedral cuts (like I did?)? If this is the area then no, you don't want to use wood glue as your adhesive. With wood glue the glass will actually act as a shear plane. You will want to use slow CA or better yet epoxy as you join the upper and lower wing pieces.
For glueing the ribs yes I would want yellow wood glue. It would be the prefered glue as it sands easier than CA or epoxy.
For glueing the ribs yes I would want yellow wood glue. It would be the prefered glue as it sands easier than CA or epoxy.
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BackWoodsFlyer
New User
Hey dude, thanks for this build thread!
I looked for years at the model in the aloft store and waited for it to sell out before I decided I “needed” it. to be honest the model that I’ve flown and enjoyed more than any other in my collection has been a discontinued hobby king “Ezio”, 800mm balsa folding prop; the cheapest. Small enough to fly in any park, but capable enough to handle Tick point a few times. At that size it can clip onto a backpack without any disassembly, it can go anywhere. And certainly the smallest folding prop on the market!
Anyways I’ve smashed mine and glued it so much it’s more a brick than a plane and it’s time to get a “real plane” to replace it.
I intend to try and use the powertrain systems I still have from those scrap models, I have three, on the thermic. Other options for extremely small folding propellers are for the FMS Fox 800 MM, and the hobby king super kinetic 800 MM, both have 4 x 3 folding props I believe. I ordered both style props and spent a few hours tracking down the last thermic on earth in Bruges, Belgium and will be experimenting with the help of your build thread. Thanks again!
I just love the idea of that little bit of power when the thermal runs out, or the wind dies down. Turns every day into a flying day, and prevents me losing such a rare plane getting blown off course (knock on balsawood!)
Skål
Favorite Plane https://hobbyking.com/en_us/hking-ezio-ep-glider-800-pnp.html
TINY FOLDING PROP https://hobbyking.com/en_us/super-kinetic-folding-propeller-set.html
Blade for tiny folding prop
US $5.99 | FMS 800mm 800mm FOX / V-tail Propeller 4x3 inch 2 blade FMSPROP045 RC Airplane Aircraft Model Hobby Plane Avion Spare Part
I looked for years at the model in the aloft store and waited for it to sell out before I decided I “needed” it. to be honest the model that I’ve flown and enjoyed more than any other in my collection has been a discontinued hobby king “Ezio”, 800mm balsa folding prop; the cheapest. Small enough to fly in any park, but capable enough to handle Tick point a few times. At that size it can clip onto a backpack without any disassembly, it can go anywhere. And certainly the smallest folding prop on the market!
Anyways I’ve smashed mine and glued it so much it’s more a brick than a plane and it’s time to get a “real plane” to replace it.
I intend to try and use the powertrain systems I still have from those scrap models, I have three, on the thermic. Other options for extremely small folding propellers are for the FMS Fox 800 MM, and the hobby king super kinetic 800 MM, both have 4 x 3 folding props I believe. I ordered both style props and spent a few hours tracking down the last thermic on earth in Bruges, Belgium and will be experimenting with the help of your build thread. Thanks again!
I just love the idea of that little bit of power when the thermal runs out, or the wind dies down. Turns every day into a flying day, and prevents me losing such a rare plane getting blown off course (knock on balsawood!)
Skål
Favorite Plane https://hobbyking.com/en_us/hking-ezio-ep-glider-800-pnp.html
TINY FOLDING PROP https://hobbyking.com/en_us/super-kinetic-folding-propeller-set.html
Blade for tiny folding prop
US $5.99 | FMS 800mm 800mm FOX / V-tail Propeller 4x3 inch 2 blade FMSPROP045 RC Airplane Aircraft Model Hobby Plane Avion Spare Part
Konrad
Very Strong User
Yikes!!!
Every 2 months or so I get a new PM asking If I've finished this model.
So looking at the build it looks like I'm ready to install the radio. I do this concurrent with the covering/ hinging. So before I start looking for my left over Solite or R.A. microFilm. What are you guys that have actually covered a "modern" micro build using for a film covering?
Every 2 months or so I get a new PM asking If I've finished this model.
So looking at the build it looks like I'm ready to install the radio. I do this concurrent with the covering/ hinging. So before I start looking for my left over Solite or R.A. microFilm. What are you guys that have actually covered a "modern" micro build using for a film covering?
Hawaii Sloper
Very Strong User
You weren't kidding about taking your time with these builds!
Konrad
Very Strong User
Nope...
The problem is that time and technologies keep marching on!!!
For a while I'll like to build wings, then maybe fuselages. I may be in the mood to carve blocks or laminate hoops. But the killer is I don't like finishing, covering and paint. I have old friends come by and they'll shame me by saying they where teenagers when I started build X. They are now on their second or third wife!
The problem is that time and technologies keep marching on!!!
For a while I'll like to build wings, then maybe fuselages. I may be in the mood to carve blocks or laminate hoops. But the killer is I don't like finishing, covering and paint. I have old friends come by and they'll shame me by saying they where teenagers when I started build X. They are now on their second or third wife!
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medelmaier
New User
Konrad,
I finished building my Minus Thermic per you modifications. I did add some 1/64" plywood doublers to the sides of the fuselage at the stabilizer mounting areas and from the nose to the end of the 1/32" plywood factory doublers. I also added some 1/8" triangular stock at the four corners of the fuselage to strengthen. I made the plane a 2 channel instead of a three, no room for the radio gear I have.
Mike
I finished building my Minus Thermic per you modifications. I did add some 1/64" plywood doublers to the sides of the fuselage at the stabilizer mounting areas and from the nose to the end of the 1/32" plywood factory doublers. I also added some 1/8" triangular stock at the four corners of the fuselage to strengthen. I made the plane a 2 channel instead of a three, no room for the radio gear I have.
Mike
Attachments
Konrad
Very Strong User
Alright! I hate to have you perform the flight testing of my ideas. But as you have finished way before me, that’s the way it is looking.
Can you open up the covers and show up how you did the radio installation. I think I’ll be keeping my servo arms inside the fuselage. But I’m concerned with the downward going aileron push rod going over center. You seem to have addressed this with longer servo arms and control horns.
Can you open up the covers and show up how you did the radio installation. I think I’ll be keeping my servo arms inside the fuselage. But I’m concerned with the downward going aileron push rod going over center. You seem to have addressed this with longer servo arms and control horns.
Hi Everybody,
Konrad reached out and asked that i help close out this thread. He finished his Minus Thermic and maidened it at Sunset. You can see his reply here and some final pictures. He said he wants to try the minus acro and hope it won't take 7 years to complete.
Hank
"I maidened this highly modified Minus Thermic at Sunset Beach. I only have 4 flight on her but I’ve met all the design goals! Like with so many other models/kits, following the plans result in poor system integration. Key to my success with this project was cutting down the aileron servo arms. I can use 100% of the servo resolution. I can also do much the same with the V-tail flappers. After the maiden I’ve been pushing the CofG aft. I started with the 600mAh single cell battery all the way forward and 2.5 grams of added weight. By the forth flight I had removed this weight and moved the battery aft as shown. She still flies a bit nose heavy. Roll rate is a bit slow but that might just be because I wasn’t flying as fast as I normally would. I’m thinking I might cut down the aileron control horns from 11mm to 10mm.
The last feature mods were to make the hatch large enough to gain access to all the servos. I also added a T key to act as an anti-crush spreader. After testing the structure through Aloft’s shelving units I added a doubler from the rear of the stock plywood doubler to under the rear top sheeting. This was just a design weak point.
I’m now starting the minus Acro. I hope to have it finished in a bit less than 7 years! "
All the best,
Konrad
If you have specific questions let me know. I can post on Konrad's behalf after relaying the questions.
regards,
Hank
Konrad reached out and asked that i help close out this thread. He finished his Minus Thermic and maidened it at Sunset. You can see his reply here and some final pictures. He said he wants to try the minus acro and hope it won't take 7 years to complete.
Hank
"I maidened this highly modified Minus Thermic at Sunset Beach. I only have 4 flight on her but I’ve met all the design goals! Like with so many other models/kits, following the plans result in poor system integration. Key to my success with this project was cutting down the aileron servo arms. I can use 100% of the servo resolution. I can also do much the same with the V-tail flappers. After the maiden I’ve been pushing the CofG aft. I started with the 600mAh single cell battery all the way forward and 2.5 grams of added weight. By the forth flight I had removed this weight and moved the battery aft as shown. She still flies a bit nose heavy. Roll rate is a bit slow but that might just be because I wasn’t flying as fast as I normally would. I’m thinking I might cut down the aileron control horns from 11mm to 10mm.
The last feature mods were to make the hatch large enough to gain access to all the servos. I also added a T key to act as an anti-crush spreader. After testing the structure through Aloft’s shelving units I added a doubler from the rear of the stock plywood doubler to under the rear top sheeting. This was just a design weak point.
I’m now starting the minus Acro. I hope to have it finished in a bit less than 7 years! "
All the best,
Konrad
If you have specific questions let me know. I can post on Konrad's behalf after relaying the questions.
regards,
Hank
Hawaii Sloper
Very Strong User
that was a really nice looking model. I got to see it at Sunset.
