Another kit rescue - Top Flite Cessna becomes T-41

[BluesDragon]

You surely do some fine work with the hobby! I get the feeling that mass surge is in good hands as well. Be safe... :c182:

[F22trainer]

Got a bit of time to check in and labor on the Mescalero.

[F22trainer]

Kind of slow - miss you guys. Work has been non-stop. But made a little progress. Got the Motion kit for lights.

There’s no doubt in my mind - General Aviation is having a surge, because folks don’t want to deal with mass transit called airlines.

[F22trainer]

Here’s the Ryan before primer:

[F22trainer]

F22trainer I must have missed the details of your method; are you applying polycrylic directly onto the balsa, instead of glassing with it?

I found by using 2 light Coates over the balsa and letting it dry to touch, I can then lay the glass down and apply another coat to adhere the glass into the soft Polycryllic - gives it a nice bite into the surface with no bubbles or runs. That I let dry overnight, then 2 more Coates with a foam brush about an hour apart. The next day I can sand with #200 wet/dry, one more coat and sand with #600, then another and final sand with #1200.
After that, primer (Warbird colors gray) 3 Coates with #1200 sand between coats, then pigment color (also from Warbird Colors) with same sand. Last coat is sprayed and sanded with #1200 2 times. Then it gets flown - assuming that goes well, decals and stripes etc., then 2 Coates of spray Polycryllic - no sanding necessary.

For this plane, the previous builder already glassed the wing and tail feathers, with a very light epoxy and glass so I will only need to glass the fuselage, I can sand and apply the polycryllic over the epoxy. It lays down really smooth with light coat.

[Alpha]

F22trainer I must have missed the details of your method; are you applying polycrylic directly onto the balsa, instead of glassing with it?

[Beetlemankurt]

Nice work! I’ve always admired this kit but never quite had the room for it. I look forward to watching your progress.

regards
Kurt

[F22trainer]

Progress with Flaps and ailerons. All nice fit and function.

[F22trainer]

She was collecting dust. In a garage in Phoenix, now the work begins. I got Futaba servos installed and tail surfaces operate nicely. Admiral RX with gyro going in, EFlite Power 60 with Hobbywing 120. I will do the same water based Warbird colors and Polycryllic that I used with the Ryan. I do like these big birds.
After the maiden and test flights, it will probably be a fundraiser raffle prize.