Sunset 2025 Builds

[Red]

Yep...it's that time again.

Well, the new job has settled down quite a bit, and I find myself with some free time again, so it's time to get back to doing what I love most: building and flying! With the Camp n Fly right around the corner, I have a few new planes I want to tackle besides all the Aeroic molded stuff I'll be bringing. My son Ryan is bringing his friend Taylor for the first time who is new to R/C. He has been to the slope with us once and loved it, so Ryan sent him home with the RealFlight simulator to practice on and I'm going to build him a combat wing. There's not much to document there, so there are no pics until it's done; he needs to pick out a color scheme. Our Ahi's are pretty beaten up, so it's time to retire Evel Knievel and Red Bull and put two more of those together; they can't be beaten for all-around foamy fun.

The first real build is a Songbird by JM Glasscraft. I lusted over this one as a kid in the '70s, so when the kit popped up I jumped on it. I'm a sucker for those low-wing birds! It can be built as either a 2M or 100" span and two different airfoils, I have not decided which to use yet. It has foam cores and Balsa sheeting from Sig that is the lightest I have seen in a long time, let alone supplied in a kit. Easily contest-grade wood for those who know what that is. The fuselage is nicely molded with included wood hard points and rudder post already bonded in. The overall shape reminds me of Hanno Prettner's Curare pattern plane of the same era, so I'm considering adding anhedral to the tail to mimic the look of what was en vogue of that era.

I started by framing up the stabilizer, but quickly realized that my glue was stale. So, an order to Aloft will have me fixed up and back going in a couple of days. In the meantime, I need to order some .75 oz. glass cloth, I think this one is destined for paint.

Is anyone else building for Sunset?

Red

 

[Chris]

I Do have a few things that I want to get done for Sunset.... But that means that I need to start them...
Very soon I will get to work!
Red, that is a beautiful bird!

 

[Wayne]

Think we have some light weight glass kicking around here. Chris will chop some off the roll and put it in your shipment. Looks like a cool bird for sure! Not seen this one before.

 

[Yotaman1985]

Thats awesome Red, looks like a super fun plane. I am hoping to finish my Z1 this week and then Im finally going to start on my Forza with the intent of maidening it at Sunset, if the winds cooperate.

 

[Wayne]

We had 2 rolls of light weight glass. Guessing about 3/4 and maybe 1.5 oz. We pulled a yard or two of each and slipped them into your order.

I have a roll of Kevlar if anyone is interested. I doubt I'll use it.

 

[Red]

We had 2 rolls of light weight glass. Guessing about 3/4 and maybe 1.5 oz. We pulled a yard or two of each and slipped them into your order.

I have a roll of Kevlar if anyone is interested. I doubt I'll use it.

Thanks Wayne, much appreciated! What weight is the Kevlar?

 

[Wayne]

Rough guess 1.5 or 2oz? I'd need to take a closer look. But got a fair amount on a roll. I also have either a 6 or 8.5oz S glass as I recall and some matt in thing and thicker. All on rolls, stored in boxes, in doors. But the current storage can get humid during the rains.

 

[Red]

Rough guess 1.5 or 2oz? I'd need to take a closer look. But got a fair amount on a roll. I also have either a 6 or 8.5oz S glass as I recall and some matt in thing and thicker. All on rolls, stored in boxes, in doors. But the current storage can get humid during the rains.

If the Kevlar is on the lighter side I may be interested. Let me know when you get a chance to take a look, no rush.

 

[Wayne]

Need to start my Ridge Runt build today!

 

[Yotaman1985]

It has begun!

 

[purview]

It has begun!

nice purchase, happy flights. springtime is here... or lethargy?

 

[Red]

It has begun!

Nice! Sunset maiden. Let me know if you need anything.

 

[Red]

nice purchase, happy flights. springtime is here... or lethargy?

Actually, we've had some really crappy weather here in SoCal lately. Rain, hail, and snow all this week. It was the windiest I've ever seen here yesterday in the 14 years I've been here. That's saying something, considering all the DS records are set in about a 50-mile radius. Anyway, I was genuinely scared. We have some rather large pine trees on our property, and I always fear one will come down on the house. It sounded insane, like the roof was going to rip off, or a solar panel; I went outside at one point because I was sure it was a tornado. The Air Force base where I used to work recorded a 96 mph gust. Holy cow. Must have been insane up in the hills.

I'm out in the shop today with the heater on. A little composite work, a little modeling, and a little getting rid of stuff I'll never use. Good combo.

 

[Tahoed]

What species of Pine Tree? If their Jeffery's you should be OK. If it's a Tamarack, Red Fir, or White Pine it might be a concern. You should see the ones around my house. Absolutely terrifying when the wind blows.

 

[Tahoed]

Here's what I do with them. I have system for reducing the problem. The little one next to the house is next on the list.(It should have been removed when the house was constructed) The way it's leans it won't ake out the house, but it's an issue for the cars.. I love the adventure of living in the woods.

 

[Yotaman1985]

Nice! Sunset maiden. Let me know if you need anything.

Thanks Red, Ill definitely be in touch if I have any questions

 

[Shoelace]

Yep...it's that time again.

Well, the new job has settled down quite a bit, and I find myself with some free time again, so it's time to get back to doing what I love most: building and flying! With the Camp n Fly right around the corner,

Looks like that Songbird is going to be aerobatic as hell.

 

[Red]

What species of Pine Tree? If their Jeffery's you should be OK. If it's a Tamarack, Red Fir, or White Pine it might be a concern. You should see the ones around my house. Absolutely terrifying when the wind blows. View attachment 22192

No idea, they are this kind lol.

 

[Red]

Thanks to Wayne and the Aloft boys, my candy order came with some glue and fiberglass cloth. So I was able to finish building the tail. The skeleton is all 1/16" balsa, and then the whole affair gets sheeted with 1/32" balsa except the rudder, which gets 1/16". After everything was finally sanded to shape, I beveled the hinge lines and put the first layer of light fiberglass cloth on. (thanks Wayne!) BTW, Jeremy, this would be an easy and light way for you to build balsa Zupair fins. Those eagle eyed will probably spot that I did cut some anhedral in the stab.

The plane is sort of interesting as the manual mentions a tow hook and thermal flying which seems a bit odd to me, but I guess that is where the 100" span option comes in. I have decided to go 2M span, one-piece wing, and probably just ailerons and use spoilers for glide path control. The elevator and rudder are supposed to be pull-pull cable actuated which I will switch out for mini servos and carbon pushrods. No idea on colors yet.

 

[Wayne]

Interesting.

I think a lot of "gliders" tried to be both slope and thermal in the day to get a larger customer base? With this said, we used to fly at a lot of low lift slopes too. These days we all seem to focus on the heavy lift sites.