[TailTwister]

The concept was to build a Sledge, slightly oversize, to match the Saito 91 more closely.

In execution, this is how it is coming along. The paper is cut from the plans to represent what a stock Sledge looks like.

The wing went up to 832 squares with a span of 52 inches. To expand the cord, I went a bit more than an inch over on the ailerons.

The rudder and elevator was increased likewise.

The fuselage was increased by half an inch above the thrust line and half an inch below. The area below is going to be a servo wire tunnel like the Extreme Flight Edge. I added an inch to the length aft of the elevator hinge line.

I hope to stay below 6 pounds. I have yet to cut out the ply doublers, and will have to order some gear. There is a local shop here that has quality aluminum in stock, and will cut and bend gear. I'll probably go that route.

 

[Quicker]

That's cool. His yellow Edge was my all-time favorite design. Now he has a boring Red Bull scheme.

 

[TailTwister]

Yeah, the Red Bull is kinda' lame, but you have to go with what the sponsors want to see.

For the tear aways, I'll make them with MS Paint, and print them on waterslide decal paper. I'll stick the paper to a chrome trim sheet and stick this to the plane. After that, a fine mist (or two) of clear Lustercoat is all it needs. I used a similar method for the Blue Angels crest I had for my Hot Hots. Ulf clued me in on the technique. I'll shoot for like 1/4 inch checkers and size the tear aways to fit the part of the plane where they go.

I also have 1/2 inch checker (red/white) trim sheets for under the tail.

The Pro Bro on bottom will probably end up being silver letters with black all around.

 

[3Dn'4Life]

This thing is gonna kick ass Frank!!!! :twisted:

 

[RSands]

Looks cool dude! Got a 91 with bent pushrod pipes from last year when a newb shot me down hard. Sounds like I need to get em striaghtened out. Looks like there's gonna be new kid in town, and his name is Twister Sledge.

 

[Gordo]

DUDE!!!!! I told you.......The Saito .91 fits the STOCK Sledge PERFECTLY!!!! You need a 1.20 now man!!! :lol: :wink:

Seriously, that's very cool. You'll be under the 6 pounds, I'm pretty sure. That Saito will be great and I bet it floats like a foamy!!!

 

[TailTwister]

The truth is that about half of me wants that sombitch to come out really tail heavy, so that I am forced to slap the YS 91 FZ in there. That's why there is room for two servos in the tail. :wink: Sadly, the YS is half a pound heavier, so it's a pretty big jump. But, the YS did hover my 8 pound Su-Do-60 at half throttle.

My only "problem" with the Sledge and a 91 is that it just looks too small for a 91. The EF Edge is a bit bigger, and seems to fit the 91 size engines. The Sledge is a true 46 to 72 size plane. That's not saying a 91 is a bad idea, it just doesn't look right to me.

I'm also gonna spend a few miuntes with the Dremel tool before covering. Right now, I'm at 1 pound 12 ounces, as pictured. I want a sub 2 pound bare airframe, so I'll have to cut an ounce or two out somewhere to account for the ply doublers and gear.

 

[steener]

Just let me know when your gonna do the maiden flight. Ill come down by you for that. I still owe you a true beer.

 

[High Planes Drifter]

Frank just wondering why you didn't make the elavators wider ? Is there a reason why you only made them longer? Really imterested how it turns out. I've got a TT91 that would probably work well on a plane this. It pulls a 7 lbs plane vertical no problem.

Drifter

 

[PaulSwany]

Looks killer Frank!! Nice work!

 

[Razorback58]

OK Frank, it's been a few days now. How about an update?

 

[3Dn'4Life]

Gee Frank that tail looks oddly familiar??? :roll: :lol:

 

[TailTwister]

Sorry for the little nap guys. My folks came up from GA, so I took a week off and we went to EAA. Then, I went camping, and went to a fly in, and then had to do a few repairs... :roll: Well, you guys get it... I'm awake now, and back on the job.

Since I woke up, I have the plane sanded and ready to cover, and the tail feathers are already done. I did the bottom of the horizontal parts with the 1/2 inch red and white checkers. I just covered the bottom with trim sheet material, which yeilded my first set back. Trim sheets aren't for covering, are they? The sheets are too stiff to go around any corner, and the adhesive wants to stick to smooth stuff, and not balsa. I ended up painting the perimeter with Balsarite to get it to stay on. Warning, wet Balsarite eats the adhesive on the back of trim sheets. Don't ask me how I know. I then covered the top with yellow Monokote. I'll add the black trim after final assembly.

For the bottom of the wing, I have some of the 2 inch red and white Ultracote. I'll cover the fuselage and wing, then epoxy like an ARF.

I'm in the final planning stages for the tear-aways. Gator sent me a few pics of his Spinsation to work from. I have two ideas on how to get good tear-aways. First is to start with another 1/2 inch red and white checker trim sheet. I'd cut a "V" shaped tear-away, and lay it on a grey trim sheet. Then cut the tear part out and stick on the plane. I'd probably lay a bead of CA around the edge, as trim sheets aren't known for their fuel proof-ness.

The second idea is if the 1/2 inch squares look too big, I'll draw them on the PC to a good size and print them off on waterslide decal paper. I'll put this on a chrome trim sheet then do the grey part. For the decal paper to work, it needs a shot of clear Lustercoat, so I can seal the edges at the same time that way. Anybody got input on these ideas?

Drifter-
As for the tail width, I guess I just didn't think of it. I have no reason, just didn't do it. I also can't think of any reason not to widen the horizontal surface. If anyone else tries this, maybe they can give it a go. Too much would start to look funny, so maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch each side?

After I get it in one piece, and covered, I'll post another pic.

So far, I'm very comfotrable with the <6 pounds goal. I'd hate to jinx myself, but 5.5 pounds is looking good now. For balance, i have two spots the rudder servo can go. First is the stock spot in the wing with pull-pull cables. The second is in the tail, near the elevator servo.

Shane-
I have no clue where you might have seen this tail before??? Actually, it's all but identical to the first Sledge I built. The only difference is that this one was stick built this size, and yours was an "after-mod". I can't let you have the only two per second waterfall plane, now can I?

 

[TailTwister]

Well, after 30 days of down time and distraction, I have made a bit of progress. I have the stab and wing epoxied in, and I'm shoping for landing gear.

Next up is to apply the fuselage covering, which was partially cut while I could lay the fuselage on it's side. I like a really tight fit around the wing, to avoid seeing any epoxy filled gaps. After that, put on the black trim and figure out the tear aways. I'm still working on that one.

Once the gear situation is remedied, then the radio and engine can go in. I hope to be below the 6 pound mark, but I really don't know by how much.

Last is a trip to the vinyl shop.

BTW, I asked Quicker to move the thread here, as I was getting ready to post again. I recently found my P.O.S. digital camera is dead, and not worth a fix. I found a cord online to hook my digital camcorder to the PC, but it's a bust too. It doesn't even fit my camera, and I have no idea why it is being advertised. So, if I can get my lazy and cheap rump moving on some camera shopping, I'll post a few pics soon.

 

[PaulSwany]

Great news on making some progress!! My digital just took a dump too.... I'm checking EBay for another one.... You can get a good cheap under 2 megapixel cameral for well under a hundred bucks... That's what I'm looking at... a HP 215 or better....

 

[TailTwister]

All that stuff is Greek to me. I'm just gonna go to the camera dude (Department Manager) at work and tell him what I have to spend. The technology changes so fast, that we always have some stuff clearanced out. I'll get last months "good" camera at this months "great" price. That way I still get the warranty and stuff.

I think my camera problem had something to do with some dings, scratches, and a guilty looking 7 year old. Oh well...

Maybe tonight I can get the fuselage all covered and start to trim tomorrow. It just kinda hit me that the Wisconsin summer is coming to a close, and this thing was still in pieces.

Now, after the Super Sledge, what would be a good next project???

 

[Ulf]

Now, after the Super Sledge, what would be a good next project???

MoJo Baybeeeeeee 8) :wink:

 

[TailTwister]

Well, I was thinking something smaller, and I'm not exactly in the mood for Mexican food...

 

[TailTwister]

I've gotta send out a big thanks to Pro Bro RSands for helping me out with a problem. I was trying to learn about aluminum to order a set of gear from a local shop here. There are tons of different kinds so, what is too stiff, what is too flimsey and what is too thin and would just break, you know.

I posted a question about it, and that prompted some good Bro information about what to ask for when I went to the shop, and one PM. RSands had a set of gear siting in the shop that he had ordered, and it was a bit too big for his intended use. It looked like what I was going to have made. He offered it to me for cost of shipping.

RSands could have sat on that gear for that "one day" plane that it would fit, but decided to give it to a Bro in need.

Thanks Rick, for being a Bro!

 

[steener]

Hows the Sledge comming? You covering yet? Did ya get a camera yet?