I'm on a roll finishing projects for Spring flying season, and here's another one I want to get done quickly. The electric to gas conversion on my Nothin' Extra is stalled for a couple days waiting for parts so I'll do the reasonable thing and start another project! 
This one is a little weird, but here goes. This past summer I went to meet a couple guys who were selling a bunch of planes. I ended up with a few planes following me home, including this Electro Telemaster. For those not familiar with the Telemaster, it's one of the best high-wing designs made, and has been kitted in a number of sizes. It is common to see them with gas or glow engines, but for a while Hobby Lobby also made this version for electric power. It's very similar in size to the Telemaster 40 (for .40 size glow) with a 73.5" wingspan. In fact, someone before me actually converted it to glow already! I have no interest in glow engines, and limited interest in electric, so I'm converting it from glow to gas! It'll need a little work to make it right, but I've fixed far worse.
My love of the Telemaster design goes back to Flite Fest #2, where my dad and I built the Mini Telemaster below during the event (47" wingspan). It was kind of funny seeing the reactions from people who've never seen a balsa kit being built. Also in my stash of projects is a Senior Telemaster (95" wingspan) that needs a rescue performed on it. Someday...
The nose needs some repair work, but nothing too extensive. It was cut up to make room for the glow engine, and for some reason the exposed balsa was painted yellow...? A slot was cut through the battery hatch for a throttle pushrod, and the side cheek was cut for the adjusting needles on the glow engine. After fixing it up a bit to fit the new engine I'll probably give it a coat of black to cover up the yellow.
Opening the battery hatch gives a good look at the battery tray, and how open the interior is. This should give me plenty of room to work.
The engine going in is an Evolution 8cc gasser. I think I traded a plane for it, but don't recall. I haven't run an Evo yet, but the learning curve shouldn't be too bad. It's set up very much like a glow engine, with the big muffler hanging off the side of the cylinder. I'll probably mount it like a typical glow install, with the cylinder pointing up. It doesn't look as good, but it keeps the carb up and away from the dust and chopped grass it'd otherwise be ingesting.
I've said it before, but swap meets are a goldmine for gas/glow supplies. These are the "small" gas tanks I've been collecting, and the average price is probably $2.00 or less. Having a nice selection saves me from having to order one at retail price. In this case, I've got an 8 ounce and a 12 ounce tank that both fit nicely in the battery tray with no modifications. I'm leaning towards using the 8 ounce as these little engines sip fuel. I'd probably get 15 minutes or more of flight with that tank, plenty for me.
Hopefully I can finish this build without having to buy anything. I've got tons of propellers, the three servos for the fuselage (the wing came with both aileron servos installed), batteries, fuel components, and probably a prop spinner. The transparent red film I used on the Mini Telemaster appears to be very close to the transparent red used by Hobby Lobby. Game on!
This one is a little weird, but here goes. This past summer I went to meet a couple guys who were selling a bunch of planes. I ended up with a few planes following me home, including this Electro Telemaster. For those not familiar with the Telemaster, it's one of the best high-wing designs made, and has been kitted in a number of sizes. It is common to see them with gas or glow engines, but for a while Hobby Lobby also made this version for electric power. It's very similar in size to the Telemaster 40 (for .40 size glow) with a 73.5" wingspan. In fact, someone before me actually converted it to glow already!
I have no interest in glow engines, and limited interest in electric, so I'm converting it from glow to gas! It'll need a little work to make it right, but I've fixed far worse.
My love of the Telemaster design goes back to Flite Fest #2, where my dad and I built the Mini Telemaster below during the event (47" wingspan). It was kind of funny seeing the reactions from people who've never seen a balsa kit being built. Also in my stash of projects is a Senior Telemaster (95" wingspan) that needs a rescue performed on it. Someday...
The nose needs some repair work, but nothing too extensive. It was cut up to make room for the glow engine, and for some reason the exposed balsa was painted yellow...? A slot was cut through the battery hatch for a throttle pushrod, and the side cheek was cut for the adjusting needles on the glow engine. After fixing it up a bit to fit the new engine I'll probably give it a coat of black to cover up the yellow.
Opening the battery hatch gives a good look at the battery tray, and how open the interior is. This should give me plenty of room to work.
The engine going in is an Evolution 8cc gasser. I think I traded a plane for it, but don't recall.
I haven't run an Evo yet, but the learning curve shouldn't be too bad. It's set up very much like a glow engine, with the big muffler hanging off the side of the cylinder. I'll probably mount it like a typical glow install, with the cylinder pointing up. It doesn't look as good, but it keeps the carb up and away from the dust and chopped grass it'd otherwise be ingesting.
I've said it before, but swap meets are a goldmine for gas/glow supplies. These are the "small" gas tanks I've been collecting, and the average price is probably $2.00 or less. Having a nice selection saves me from having to order one at retail price. In this case, I've got an 8 ounce and a 12 ounce tank that both fit nicely in the battery tray with no modifications. I'm leaning towards using the 8 ounce as these little engines sip fuel. I'd probably get 15 minutes or more of flight with that tank, plenty for me.
Hopefully I can finish this build without having to buy anything. I've got tons of propellers, the three servos for the fuselage (the wing came with both aileron servos installed), batteries, fuel components, and probably a prop spinner. The transparent red film I used on the Mini Telemaster appears to be very close to the transparent red used by Hobby Lobby. Game on!
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