Sunset 2025 Builds

[Shoelace]

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.

Yeah, heavy lift sights = high performance ships so it makes sense. It's also cool to fly planes that don't need much lift, but for me it's not nearly as fun.

 

[Wayne]

I'm a bit odd as I think I prefer a moderate lift site over a heavy lift site.

Advantages of a moderate lift site:

1. Most beach sites are typically moderate or low lift.
2. Beach sites usually include bikinis on rollerskates.

There are other reasons, but really, didn't I already sway you to lower lift sites?

 

[Yotaman1985]

Got the first flap servo installed in my Forza. Should have plenty of flap travel. Its just under 90° with full LDS travel. Got my one mistake () out of the way too so should be smooth sailing from here on...

 

[Red]

Got the first flap servo installed in my Forza. Should have plenty of flap travel. Its just under 90° with full LDS travel. Got my one mistake () out of the way too so should be smooth sailing from here on...

View attachment 22314

Should be great!

 

[Shoelace]

I'm a bit odd as I think I prefer a moderate lift site over a heavy lift site.

Advantages of a moderate lift site:

1. Most beach sites are typically moderate or low lift.
2. Beach sites usually include bikinis on rollerskates.

There are other reasons, but really, didn't I already sway you to lower lift sites?

Speaking of beach sites, have you guys ever flown at Davenport? How's the LZ there? Looks like that might be a great spot.

 

[Red]

Speaking of beach sites, have you guys ever flown at Davenport? How's the LZ there? Looks like that might be a great spot.

Raced there a ton over the years beginning in the 80’s. Probably been 20 since I’ve been there but LZ is huge and used to be covered in ice plant.

 

[Wayne]

Got the first flap servo installed in my Forza. Should have plenty of flap travel. Its just under 90° with full LDS travel. Got my one mistake () out of the way too so should be smooth sailing from here on...

View attachment 22314

Do you have any uptravel? It does help with the roll rate and or a little reflex and inverted snap flap. Your wording has me a bit confused.

 

[Wayne]

Speaking of beach sites, have you guys ever flown at Davenport? How's the LZ there? Looks like that might be a great spot.

Yeah, good site. ISR (International Slope Race) was there every year until recently. Landing in the ice plant next to the runway on the ocean side is the normal spot for larger models. Just watch out for rotor over the landing area. Usually a pretty easy landing. I have seen people really mess up by going too far back to bleed off speed. (one was pushed out of site and ended up in the ocean) Don't do that. You do not need to go back all that far for the landing approach. When the white caps are on the water and a semi decent direction, the flying can be very good. Don't think I have ever seen a day there that I could not fly, but some were very marginal. Just check the wind direction before making the drive.

 

[Yotaman1985]

Do you have any uptravel? It does help with the roll rate and or a little reflex and inverted snap flap. Your wording has me a bit confused.

Hey Wayne, sorry about my wording, new to LDS stuff. I definitely have the ability to have the flap move up. The "full travel" I was talking about was from the nuetral servo position to full flap position. I havent ventured into the flap/aileron mixing yet but I will look into that.

 

[Wayne]

Take it easy as you do, you have a mechanical limit that you do not want to test.

 

[Shoelace]

Raced there a ton over the years beginning in the 80’s. Probably been 20 since I’ve been there but LZ is huge and used to be covered in ice plant.

Yeah, it's not too crazy of a drive from me, I'd get there quicker than Banos I think. I'll have to check it out.

 

[Doc J]

Yeah, good site. ISR (International Slope Race) was there every year until recently. Landing in the ice plant next to the runway on the ocean side is the normal spot for larger models. Just watch out for rotor over the landing area. Usually a pretty easy landing. I have seen people really mess up by going too far back to bleed off speed. (one was pushed out of site and ended up in the ocean) Don't do that. You do not need to go back all that far for the landing approach. When the white caps are on the water and a semi decent direction, the flying can be very good. Don't think I have ever seen a day there that I could not fly, but some were very marginal. Just check the wind direction before making the drive.

Davenport Memories...that gooey ice plant juice needs to be cleaned off your model after landing!

When we Blimey Brits returned to the UK after the ISR in 1986, after a few days, all our nice white planes—even Jim Hathaway's wood-finish model—had dark grey Ice plant goo marks. I had to use a car paint-cutting compound to get them off because nothing else would.

Also, beware the Poison Oak, which is pretty abundant there. It does not affect me for some reason, but a couple of us got it quite badly.

All the fun of the fair.

Doc.

 

[Wayne]

Yep - it has a fair amount of the itchy plants there. I seem to be immune to it also.

 

[Red]

I've got the Songbird wings sheeted and basically finished, less cutting the ailerons free. I need to have the wing mounted before I bond in the stabilizer so I can set the incidence, so now I can do that. I think I will glass the wing before I cut the ailerons loose. I like to do that to keep the ailerons from warping. Pretty straight forward build so far. I'm thinking I'll have it in primer in a week or two.

 

[Wayne]

Going to be a neat plane, can't wait to see the scheme you come up with.

 

[Red]

Going to be a neat plane, can't wait to see the scheme you come up with.

I'm still mulling that one around...really not sure yet. Probably not race livery inspired on this one though, leaning towards Dave Brown's Tiporare (the one with the checkers) scheme which was sort of a cream and root beer brown but not settled on that yet.

 

[Wayne]

Think that would be pretty sharp on this model. Don't know about the 70's colors though. That is always the hard part for me. Color!

 

[purview]

I'm still mulling that one around...really not sure yet. Probably not race livery inspired on this one though, leaning towards Dave Brown's Tiporare (the one with the checkers) scheme which was sort of a cream and root beer brown but not settled on that yet.

nice elevator, keep doin

 

[Red]

I finished all the glasswork and was able to get the stab mounted at the correct incidence. The ailerons are cut out and torque rods fitted. The belly pan is glued on and hole relieved for the wing bolt. It needs some body work where it meets the wing, then the whole wing needs its second coat of resin. The ailerons need to be faced and a second coat of resin applied as well. From there its final sanding and then get it in primer.

I have all the servos and radio gear, that should all be pretty straight forward. Going to be really close to get it done by Sunset but I’m trying.

Red

 

[Yotaman1985]

Dont have any pics as I was running late this morning but I glued in the rudder servo on the Forza last night and tested it quickly this morning. Working perfectly and one step closer to having it ready for Sunset. Planning to epoxy in the elevator servo tonight and then its on to wire management/cleanup and balancing. Thanks for all the help Red!