FW 190 Return to flight!

[SOB8604]

As you all read before I got that lovely FMS FW190 tangled up with a pine tree and felt over my head with repairs. Fortunately work has  been good lately and after some OT I was able to get another PNP kit. Have plenty of extra parts to keep this one alive as long as something catastrophic doesn't happen.

Anyways I didn't want to steal CaptFlushGardens thunder by posting in his thread, but seeing how awesome his FW190 looked it reallly inspired me (Thank you!) to take a leap of faith and pick up my brand new airbrush for the first time ever, how hard could it be right? Few youtube tutorials and looking at other planes and off to the races I went, here are the results! Plane is ready to go (just gonna replace the spinner portion with all the fan blades with another one where I took them out and sanded them off, less **** to chew up if something goes south) Anyways I think going forward all my planes are going to get a repaint! Looks 10x better.

Went desert camo! Mild weathering underneath, layered a white base, followed by "Red Brown" to highlight panel lines, followed by a coat of "Desert Yellow" and then dusted with "Dark Yellow", then weathered heavily the exhaust streaks. For the first time airbrushing I'm hooked, though I need to get a respirator instead of those ****ty white paper masks because I've got one helluva headache!  :angel:

[Hippie 64]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

What a Helluva nice job !!!

Try using house paint , get mine made at Lowes in the small sample bottles . Only $3.00 that way and can usually make what I ask for . Or I use Faskolor water based rc paints . They work really well , get mine from Tower . They both clean up easy and no fumes . They if you coat yours put it on and your set .


Bryan

[SOB8604]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

Thanks Bryan,
I'll have to check out the Lowes paints, I'm pleased with the way the Tamiya colors worked, I had initially thinned with Testor air brush thinner, but after a little bit I switched to just using Alcohol and it seemed to work much better, I'd be inclined to stick with what is working, though in the future I definitely like I said gotta wear a respirator mask or rig up something with my box fan to evacuate the fumes better.


I like the flat look of the paint, which is what I was going for, are there any spray cans or something to use to airbrush on that will keep it flat but add some durability to the paint?

[Hippie 64]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

You can get the paint at Lowes in flat . I just add a small amount of water to thin it down . Then I do use my airbrush. 


Bryan 

[tchap]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

I would like to try my hand at air brushing. Any tips on what to look for in a air brush package? I was checking them out on amazon.

[Grossman56]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

My GOD!!
I'm really impressed with the sudden influx of people getting creative with their airbrushing!   Way to go guys!
As a suggestion, I'm hearing about some airbrush tutorials that you watched, could you set up some links, perhaps in a new thread dedicated to airbrushing tutorials?
I think you guys are really on to something here!

Grossman56
[hr]
Also, I think this is a prime example as to why we should be able to buy a kit without the decals installed

[Loneflier]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

Very impressive! That camo really looks good on the plane. Maybe MRC should start carrying airbrushes and paints too!  

[SOB8604]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

I would like to try my hand at air brushing. Any tips on what to look for in a air brush package? I was checking them out on amazon.

Honestly I'm not sure! It seems that like Ford vs. Chevy people have a wide opinion on airbrushes, mine was a cheapo from Harbor Freight tools that my girlfriend picked up for me an it works fantastic. I think if your kicking around on amazon the reviews are usually pretty helpful and honest, if my 20 dollar brush works fine I'm sure there is a good option on there.

[Capt. Crunch]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

Dang SOB, that looks great! You guys posting pics like that makes me want to buy an airbrush.


Jeff

[Lon]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

I would like to try my hand at air brushing. Any tips on what to look for in a air brush package? I was checking them out on amazon.

I was like you I believe.  Wanted to try air brushing.  I bought a compressor from Harbor Freight for $39, a air brush from Hobby King $19. So without spending a bunch of money, I have a setup to try and experiment with.  Like anything else, say a car, you can get a starter new for $14K, OR, $70K for that new Caddy.

[Hippie 64]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

TCHAP , I have a 150 gallon big 220 volt compressor I use in my garage . Any type will work . They all , or should , have a output regulator on them . Just turn it down to 40 psi or less depending on the brush specs  and have fun . I do have a water separator I snap on .
My air brush is the cheapest Paache that I have had for 20 yrs. You don't need to have a huge amount of money in one .

Bryan

[Rocketeer]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

Greetings Guys,

MAN!! I always get bummed out when I discover these great threads a bit late!!!
It's tough to give such well deserved accolades and avoid sounding redundant when you great guys have thrown them down already!!!
Well, what can I say........ but, MAN THAT IS ONE FREAKIN AWESOME PAINT JOB!!!!!

I agree that we have reached the point where a seperate "Airbrushing Tips/Tutorials/Tricks" thread would be welcomed.

This is exciting!!!

Bill L.
in Okla.

[SOB8604]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

Maiden Flight
Added audio as I feel its a little more pleasant than scratchy gopro audio. I had set the field of view on the gopro to narrow so that the plane would no be so tiny while flying by, however the narrow view and angle on my head put the plane out of view on all the landings! Oh well.

http://youtu.be/DSq4OH836tQ

Flight went well, take offs are a breeze and have those down, I have been using flaps for take off which seems to work quite well, I'm using a Dx6i so its full flaps on take off. Landings need more practice, didn't use the flaps today, I need to work on getting configured for landing on my base leg before I turn for final as I felt I was dropping the flaps on approach and the plane would climb and throw me off resulting in a go-around. I probably won't get back out until next weekend but I plan on using 3 batteries worth of flight time to just do touch and goes. The no flaps resulted in me coming in hot, I am flying under power all the way down, just need more practice at it, one landing caught a bounce which compressed the strut on one side, didn't notice until the next turn around when the wheel being out of position wouldn't allow the gear to fully close.

Anyways plane was great, handled well and just needed a smidge of trim to keep it strait and level. One thing I noticed however it appears there is a hum or vibration, it is most noticeable between 1/4 and 1/2 throttle and seems more prevalent when I am actively throttling up or down. Everything appears to be secure in the plane, motor mount, cowling, props, gear etc. Not sure if its being caused by something inside but I'm not sure what that would be. Any ideas?

Also I had ordered the Dave Brown 3" tires as I had read that people have good success with these, however they are .5" smaller than the stock wheels which I didn't realize until I compared them, flying off of grass I hesitated to put these on for fear of catching grass. Would a half inch really make that much of a difference?

[Rocketeer]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

Greetings SOB,

That was simply elegant!!!!

What a wonderful flight video to watch!

Keep up the great work and I totally can't wait until your next outting.

Thanks for sharing......

Bill L.
in Okla.

[SOB8604]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

Thanks Bill!

[SOB8604]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

Wen't flying again today, great day for it, but only went up once.... I had thought I had heard a weird sounding vibration during the maiden flight, but couldn't really find anything that was loose. Well today's flight if you watch the video you'll see the first pass sounded ok, but I decided to do some low and slower flying to practice approaches etc, listen closely to 00:45-:0047 on the video, that definitely did not sound right to me at all. I bumped my damn go-pro adjusting my sunglasses and the landing was out of frame, so the last portion of the video is barely on screen as it turns out, listen to the motor and look at the wobble in the nose cone..yikes! . Took the prop off and the whole motor board was loose just slightly, but enough for me that I'm going to do some real reinforcement before flying again. I think I'm going to so some surgery like I did before and remove the board and put in a reinforcing piece of wood.

Working 24hrs tomorrow then were potentially looking at some snow this weekend so it looks like it'll be a few days before I can fly again anyways, give me time to get this motor locked down!

Again watch at :45 and 1:06.

http://youtu.be/uSeUJ8VKyDE

[Grossman56]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

Geez, good thing you heard it, it would be heartbreaking to smuck up another one for that reason!
That's twice isn't it, or was the first time because of the accident?
Either way, it might be something that the guys who also own an FMS FW 190 might want to check.  I had that problem with my WACO, she wanted to go 3D!  Between that, an overabundance of elevator and rudder throw, she was a joy!!!

Grossman56

[Capt. Crunch]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

Glad you caught it in time SOB. That would have been horrible to lose another one.

Jeff

[SOB8604]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

First motor problem with the other plane was a noob mistake of me letting it eat my knee for lunch! But hey I got a cool scar from it...

I'm just glad my prop/motor didn't separate from the plane in flight. Phew! I'm actually glad this happened this way reading over on the RCgroups forum it seems that more than a few people go in and reinforce the motor mount/motor board from the get-go, so all in all it'll most likely be stronger when I'm done anyways.

[SOB8604]

RE: FW 190 Return to flight!

Got the motor mount squared away and plane is back together! Too bad I'm heading in for storm coverage at work and were getting 27-31" of snow where I'm at! Looks like I'll be flying from parking lots for the rest of the winter!