POLIKARPOV I-16 RATA
- Thread starter rockyboy
- Start date
danskis
Master member
@Javiester - awsome build! It looks like you've mastered the MS build techniques. Did you use any filler on the seems?
@rockyboy - can't wait to see yours finished and flying!!
@rockyboy - can't wait to see yours finished and flying!!
Javiester
Elite member
yes, it has some putty, but little
it's a super light called feather
on the cover and the top of the wing decided to use FB 3 mm without the inner paper
helps a lot in finishing
however in the end the best tool is patience
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The props finally came in, along with a proper fitting collet, so I was able to put that in place finally.
And in order to get the right spinner stand off from the body, I had to move the motor mount a good bit (wasn't glued in yet) and completely redo the battery box approach. Now it's back in a position much closer to the plans, but will still be held in with foam and balsa blocking instead of velcro.
So let's check out that spinner! Nicely centered, even with the down and right thrust line.
A little gap between spinner and fuselage from the side angle, but necessary so the prop doesn't hit the nose on the bottom right edge.
So it's time to get ready for the final paint! First I used 400 grit sandpaper to go over all the doculam to rough up the surface, and then cleaned that with rubbing alcohol. Then it all gets a light spray coat of a plastic adhesion promoter - basically a clear and flexible primer for plastics. There are a couple of these products available, the one I'm using was designed for auto body repairs.
And in order to get the right spinner stand off from the body, I had to move the motor mount a good bit (wasn't glued in yet) and completely redo the battery box approach. Now it's back in a position much closer to the plans, but will still be held in with foam and balsa blocking instead of velcro.
So let's check out that spinner! Nicely centered, even with the down and right thrust line.
A little gap between spinner and fuselage from the side angle, but necessary so the prop doesn't hit the nose on the bottom right edge.
So it's time to get ready for the final paint! First I used 400 grit sandpaper to go over all the doculam to rough up the surface, and then cleaned that with rubbing alcohol. Then it all gets a light spray coat of a plastic adhesion promoter - basically a clear and flexible primer for plastics. There are a couple of these products available, the one I'm using was designed for auto body repairs.
PoorManRC
Master member
REALLY looks GREAT Rockyjon!!! 💯👌😜 The Spinner turned out to be perfect. Moving the Motor didn't upset the balance, did it??
And that "Adhesion Promoter", I'm sure I've used it on Bumpers and other Polyurethane Car Parts...
Is it that same stuff, that allows Paint to adhere to flexible surfaces??
Is it needed to paint over Aircraft Covering?
TooJung2Die
Master member
Good idea! That might be just the trick to get paint to stick tight to doculam. You'll know for sure if you plan to use masking tape.
After some delay, I finally sprayed a coat of white on everything last night.
Homemade paint booth did not work well at all - computer case fan provided nowhere near the suction power necessary to keep all the overspray going into the box and through the filter. Need to do something about that before I turn everything in the shop white (or red, or blue, etc.).
There were a couple spots where the paint didn't adhere smoothly, probably due to skin oils or some such causing the problem.
Plan to lightly sand those spots w/ 400 grit back to bare covering, alcohol wipe down, re-prime those areas, and then NOT wait almost a full month to get to the airbrush layers
Homemade paint booth did not work well at all - computer case fan provided nowhere near the suction power necessary to keep all the overspray going into the box and through the filter. Need to do something about that before I turn everything in the shop white (or red, or blue, etc.).
There were a couple spots where the paint didn't adhere smoothly, probably due to skin oils or some such causing the problem.
Plan to lightly sand those spots w/ 400 grit back to bare covering, alcohol wipe down, re-prime those areas, and then NOT wait almost a full month to get to the airbrush layers
More white applied, and then starting on the red wing tips! The Scotch removable tape worked great - no lifting of the white layer at all - I think we have a winner here . The tape came up a little when the ailerons flexed I think which caused the under spray near the hinge line, but that's workable now that I know to watch for it.
. The tape came up a little when the ailerons flexed I think which caused the under spray near the hinge line, but that's workable now that I know to watch for it.
TooJung2Die
Master member
That looks great. You can always do a touch up on the over-spray but I wouldn't have seen it if you didn't point it out. I haven't done a painted doculam airplane in a long time but it's good to know the Scotch 811 works without lifting the paint. 😎👍
Thanks guys! Working on the other wing tips went a little better, but I still had more spattering than I would have liked.
The little in line pressure regulator doesn't have much resolution in it's adjustment but it did seem to help a little to reduce pressure. Might try buying a better pressure regulator calibrated for the 20-40psi range.
It looks best if held at arms length, but that's ok for fun and flying!
The Scotch 811 did a great job leaving a crisp line on this side with no underrun.
Next up is getting a little light blue on the bottom of the horizontal stabilizer and wing.
The little in line pressure regulator doesn't have much resolution in it's adjustment but it did seem to help a little to reduce pressure. Might try buying a better pressure regulator calibrated for the 20-40psi range.
It looks best if held at arms length, but that's ok for fun and flying!
The Scotch 811 did a great job leaving a crisp line on this side with no underrun.
Next up is getting a little light blue on the bottom of the horizontal stabilizer and wing.
speedbirdted
Legendary member
I love the way paint goes onto doculam. It almost looks like fabric while being much lighter. Great work so far!
Next up - a little soft "lose it in the sky" blue for the bottom of the horizontal stabilizer and wings.
Next let's get some stencils made - I used the vinyl cutter to make the shapes, and then stuck and cut them out of some pieces of masking paper.
Just laying the stencil on the wing worked nicely for the bottom stars. They are a little small and I'll need to redo them larger eventually... but this will do for the maiden flight.
Then I found out that the rounded shape of the fuselage made the star keep pulling up and not sitting well, so I used the 811 tape to make a square patch and cut out the star from that.
That worked pretty good! Little bit of overspray on the side where the tape ended, but I'll fix that with a shot of white in a minute.
This side came out nicely!
So let's see it all together now
I think it could use a head rest... not sure I want to deal with the canopy before maiden flight though.
I seem to be missing a piece down there though...
Yep - I put away all the painting gear and forgot to paint the battery hatch!
Next let's get some stencils made - I used the vinyl cutter to make the shapes, and then stuck and cut them out of some pieces of masking paper.
Just laying the stencil on the wing worked nicely for the bottom stars. They are a little small and I'll need to redo them larger eventually... but this will do for the maiden flight.
Then I found out that the rounded shape of the fuselage made the star keep pulling up and not sitting well, so I used the 811 tape to make a square patch and cut out the star from that.
That worked pretty good! Little bit of overspray on the side where the tape ended, but I'll fix that with a shot of white in a minute.
This side came out nicely!
So let's see it all together now
I think it could use a head rest... not sure I want to deal with the canopy before maiden flight though.
I seem to be missing a piece down there though...
Yep - I put away all the painting gear and forgot to paint the battery hatch!
JustPlaneChris
Well-known member
Fantastic project! Can't argue with those results.
Beautiful day at the field (yesterday).
The maiden flight... that didn't go as well as I hoped!
There was a bit of a cross wind and she rolled on launch - not enough height or speed to recover.
After close inspection a couple things to work on... first the motor mount was broken free. So that got an epoxy repair to hold it solid. Also noticed the backing plate for the nose cone was pressing into the prop blades before the hub of the propeller made contact - that caused things to warp a little bit, and not tighten down properly - as noted with the prop flying off!
I also noticed the horizontal stabilizer wasn't as level with the wings as I would like. That can cause weird rolling, and might have contributed to the poor flight. So I used a little bit of foam wing seating tape to shim up one side and get things where they should be.
Nice and level now! Rudder is a bit angled, but that shouldn't impact level flight - it will probably make rolling one direction a little different than the other, but I hope it won't be as detrimental as having the horizontal surfaces all out of whack.
I've had this same out of square condition come up on my foam board planes before, and a perfectly vertical rudder wasn't that big of a deal - we'll see how this one works out next nice day at the field!
The maiden flight... that didn't go as well as I hoped!
There was a bit of a cross wind and she rolled on launch - not enough height or speed to recover.
After close inspection a couple things to work on... first the motor mount was broken free. So that got an epoxy repair to hold it solid. Also noticed the backing plate for the nose cone was pressing into the prop blades before the hub of the propeller made contact - that caused things to warp a little bit, and not tighten down properly - as noted with the prop flying off!
I also noticed the horizontal stabilizer wasn't as level with the wings as I would like. That can cause weird rolling, and might have contributed to the poor flight. So I used a little bit of foam wing seating tape to shim up one side and get things where they should be.
Nice and level now! Rudder is a bit angled, but that shouldn't impact level flight - it will probably make rolling one direction a little different than the other, but I hope it won't be as detrimental as having the horizontal surfaces all out of whack.
I've had this same out of square condition come up on my foam board planes before, and a perfectly vertical rudder wasn't that big of a deal - we'll see how this one works out next nice day at the field!
TooJung2Die
Master member
I'm glad you said it first ... seeing the prop spit off was pretty funny. Does it roll left when you glide test it or only when flying under power? If it glides good then the prop torque is causing the roll to left.
