Fritz finally flies

Stevens Aero Buzz 400

Buzz 400 from Thomas Ryan on Vimeo.


Buzz 400 gliding from Thomas Ryan on Vimeo.


Too much torque!

Bob Hartwig Memorial

Unfortunately, the weather wasn't too cooperative this year.

Buzz 4OO covered

The Buzz 400 is covered!

Buzz 400

Hi Tom,

Here's the Buzz 400 progress so far.
I cannot glue the top and lower hatches to the fuselage until I can connect
the wires to the Speed Controller for the proper rotation of the prop. In
order to do that I need a male Deans plug, which has to be soldered to the
speed controller, and also a 7.4 volt 1300 mah lipo battery. Both items are
on order.

Things to do: Sand wing, stab,& rudder. Install servos and pushrods, check
for proper movement. Sand fuselage.

Wait for delivery of items. Also wait for the covering material you are
going to send.

I may start building the Bob Aberle Minnie Mambo.

Bucky

 

Steven Aero FREDe 2x (part 14)

Dangerous 15x8E APC prop removed.

Plane tried to escape from basement while adjusting throws.

CAUTION:  Electrics can bite.  This one ate the chair.

Trees have grown since the Remuera days.

Stevens Aero FREDe 2x (part 13)

Hi Tom, I ran out of things to do. Still waiting on the decals. I will clean a spot on the work bench for the next project.

I made a quick check of the CG. It is in the ball park. Tonight, Tim Manuella is going to take a few photos of me with Fritz.

Champion plug and High Tension Lead

Manuella photo

Waiting on decals

Stevens Aero FREDe 2X (part 12)

Hi Tom,

 I thought parklite yellow would be better than white for the front of the fuselage. We need to put crosses on the fin and the cross bones and skull on the fuselage.  I may put some red lighting bolts on the yellow. Should have it completed by Monday.

 A backorder on the fuselage covering had slowed this project, but it was finally delivered Wednesday.  Horizon Hobby said they got a lot of complaints about their new covering  and I know why.  They advertised one meter of covering and they showed the pattern. It arrived in a box that was 10X10X10. Inside, were two very short tubes with no instructions. When I opened the tubes up, I found that it was cut into short lengths of varying shapes. They were getting the complaints because people were buying what they thought was the only available iron on plastic covering in the lozenge camouflage and then finding that this was made for a specific ARF. Apparently ARFers can't cut their own pieces out of a roll. Anyhow, we made the best of this. In my "research" I have found that it was common to use this camo in sections and then use some other bold colors for the remainder. 

 A little ostentatious, but when asked about it by German high command Richthofen said: "We are German warriors, not drab English sparrows." (nor parakeets?) We think Fritz would agree.  In any event, they said it adheres at 200° and shrinks at 300°


 

Clutton's Full Size FRED in one of its early schemes