Out in the Shop...Snow Day

happydad wrote:

Kim wrote:

Trying to gently dewarp a slight twist in Winder's wing.

Kim: what do you find works the best to de-twist the wing? Heat, opposite twist, time or a combination of all 3??

hd

 

Hey HD,

I'm trying all three...not sure of the outcome yet.  Winder is built like a tank, so I'm trying to be gentle for fear of the thing just cracking in two.  There's a radiator-style space heater under the desk that heats up the whole thing.  I've got a bunch of sheet-steel plates I got from the diaper factory trash years ago (STILL a shameless dumpster-diver!), and am using them and some old power-panel batteries to gradually add more counter-twist to that outboard panel.

I leave the whole thing cooking while I work in the shop, but shut down the heat when I leave.

LOOKS like it helped, but won't know for sure 'till I launch the thing again.

Kim, I love the enjoyment of doing the same thing. I take a few planes and work a little on each one followed by a nice cup of coffee. I take a break , stare around a bit, do a little tidying up and do a little more progress. I take my good old time. I framed up a Big Otto a week ago. I cut out all the parts and did a little substituting here and there. I put Big Otto on a bit of a diet. I strengthened the forward nacelle with 1/64" ply on both sides and I completely sheeted the two center ribs top and bottom under the nacelle area. The already cut up wing tips were further cut up with lightening holes. I was able to to remove 6 grams of weight just in lightening holes and rib center area removal.I plan on using a Tee Dee for power. I'm utilizing the tank compartment which is requiring a total rework of a 1 oz. tank I have planned for it. I cut the leading edge on my router table but I feel I should've routed out the back of it to lighten it further. It was a pretty stout piece.



I'm patiently waiting for some warmer weather to punch some holes in the sky. Ken

EXCELLENT work! (makes me glad my Big Otto's innards are nicely hidden under it's monokote !)  I guess the Golden Hawk has become the flagship of the Scientific Line (seems like it's the one that shows up the most), but Big Otto is all-time my favorite.

I planted mine after having the thing just out-fly my reflexes with one of Bernie's X-Treme .049's in its nose.  It shall now receive a well-run and probably-anemic-by-other's-standards Black Widow, which has been a friendly runner across several planes.

I'd like to start another one, and put a little more finesse in it's frame, but think the new rebuild will be more than satisfying for my level.  I'm also rebuilding a 10%+ Big Otto that I flew with a Tee Dee 51 for years...THAT thing is fast enough to scare me, so I admire your bravery in hanging a similar powerplant on the original-size version!  



Yeah, I bounce from project to project according to whatever whim hits me, but I AM inching several of them forward, so there should be a jump in the airworthy population this Spring!

Be glad to see photos/video of yours once it's finished!