Topic: Tucano maiden flight pics and report

 Well.......she flew...and flew very well...as suspected...being a proven ARTF.

   Main thing, was the mods to install the retracts, and would she handle the extra weight etc?
  basically, yes, no problem, and in-flight, the model does look clean and sharp, like a Tucano should. I"m very pleased with the end result, and was worth the extra effort, it"s not always an easy choice, to cut into a brand new ARTF with a scalpel...but would definitely recommend this particular mod.
  here"s the pics from today, the photographer, Robert Wallace, was attending a soccer match for his local newspaper...and forgot to adjust the shutter speed...but, we came away with a few pics to let you see her in the air 
   
   Erm...me.. ..lifting her out of the pits
   ..fag in mouth..tattoos, must clean myself up!



  next...rotation.....no problem, she gave a little "bounce" to tell me she had enough speed...



  and her flying....really cleaned up with the wheels tucked away...52 Surpass...perfect 





   and a final shot...just as the light begins to dim.....I can"t wait to see how Colin M"s big Tucano turns out...will be a cracker..



   hope you enjoyed the thread on the modification....and thanks to all that inputed with advice...now to get my finger out with the Shturmovik!

 Cliff   

nice one cliff

looks great in the air......drop me an e-mail with your address and i'll send you those dwgs

cheers

dave

 Thanks Dave..
     .left you a PM

 Cliff

looks brilliant, well done. 

Great to know it flies well, looks great in the air, as you say, very clean and sharp. Looks better with the wheels up than my Chiltern Tucano with fixed gear did.

Looks great Cliff
I'm going to have to do it to my PC-9 now. I also have a Seagull Dual ace that I intend to add retracts to. The legs hanging down takes so much away from the model.

John.

  Thanks for your comments chaps,
          John,
                When you"re ready to do yours, remember, get the nose leg sorted first, it will determine the length of the rear, main legs and should be an easier installation.

    Cliff

Will do Cliff,
Your thread has has inspired me to give it a try. At least I know it won't mess up the models flting. I'll probably do it to the Dual Ace first because at some stage I want to strip the PC-9 do and make it a bit more scale, fix the fin and the elevator and fusalge shape and extend the front........... the list goes on and on. I'll probalbly cover it in Irish Air Corp colours seeing as the are using PC-9s at the minute.

John

Looks good but for one thing (whioch isn't your fault, Cliff!) - the dihederal!

Why, oh why, oh why do kit and ARTF manufacturers do this? The full size has a visually distinctive dihederal, but the dillock-brain of a kit manufacturer has wrecked the whole ambiance and character of the model by deciding to build it with much less. The ripmax Spitfire and (even more) Mustang are both utterly ruined by this.

As a model-owning community we should not stand for this sort of incompetence. I suggest we raise a posse and go around to the designers' houses with torches and tools of torture until they get the message. Hanging's too good for them - nowhere near painful enough...

£0.02 supplied, YMMV,

PDR

Great job..................looks a million with the gear up...........what a difference       

First class, looks the business. Well done Cliff you can be justifiably proud of that conversion. And re PDR's comment about the dihedral, the tincan's got loads of it. The Don Smith plans for the 86 inch one I'm building shows 4 13/16ths inches under each wing tip.

hi cliff, had no doubt at all about your ability to mod the tucano, well done. speak to you later

cheers Robert. 

I'm jealous, tried somthing similar and had lots of problems the nose gear retracting into the fuel tank bay.

Looks really good Cliff.

Nice one.

Charlie C

Nice one CLiff, just been inspired to get back into the workshop and get my HET leccy version in the air

Who makes this particular kit? Sure looks good.

Cliff, how'd you get the cowl on so nicely. I am hoping to fly mine this weekend, but the cowl is a so-and-so to fit. I have an Irvine 53 (the red one) up front and I am having the devils own job getting it to fit. It is fouling on the needle valve, and although I've cut a hole for it, every time I offer it up, I have to enlarge it! Soon there will be no cowl.... just hole!

Also, where's the CofG position for it?

And what about cooling? Have you opened up an exit hole for the air, or does it just escape around the edges?

Tiposx - its made by Phoenix

 Hi Winch,
       Sorry for the delay, been working nightshift the whole wekend...
       C of G ??...as per kit instructions....just right....you"ll not need the specified control throws but...slightly less will leave her less wicked.
     I can"t really say about the irvine 53 installation...but....I think you maybe overpowring her a little!
     My cowl was a good fit...and just had an addition portion removed for cooling behind the engine head on the underside....[inverted ASP 61 four stroke]
     Maybe by the time I"ve got round to posting this, you"ve flew her...have you?....and how did you get on?

 Cliff 

Well, test flew mine today. Had to do it with the cowl off as the remote glow clip broke. After all the engine problems, the 53 was on song and boy is she quick ! The only thing I found, was she was very twitchy. So I am gonna put in reduced throws and dual rates for the next flight, and also check the cofg again. Ended with a deadstick, which was very sporty with me overcontrolling all the way. ::cc But so far so good, although I did damage the underside of the fuselage putting her in the car  . I'll try her again tomorrow evening if these a/c waiting for Cosford bugger off early enough! (Typhoons and Hawks).

So, retract installation next.....

A couple of pics. Since these were taken I have painted the exhausts a more realistic colour, added a Dubro fuel valve and fitted an on-board glow.







Maybe get airtest 2 done tomorrow?

Looks nice

Flown it with that prop yet?  - Last time I tried one of those props, I thought it was pretty inneffective. Be interested to hear how it goes for you. (Be prepared for an apparent loss of thrust, even though the motor is singing)

Will look the dogs with wheels up!!

Stu k

I did the maiden with this prop. It was ok, but didn't set the world on fire. As for the retracts, I've still got to do these, other projects keep getting in the way.

Well, my Tucano is my new favorite flier. After a few trials and tribulations, the in cowl Irvine 53 and 3 bladed prop make this rip along. It flies beautifully, looking awesome in the air. It was out pacing and easily out manoeuvring a Hanger 9 Spitfire, showing it a clean pair of heels!

The only criticism I have is the belly pan is feeble and is already looking crushed and worn just from carrying etc. However, these are readily available from Tower Hobbies.

So, retracts next then!

Nice one Shaun - looks the dogs danglies.
Incidentally you mentioned about a glow clip breaking...anything I need to know about ?

No. It had a remote glow, but I have replaced it with a remarkable on board glow system! Works a treat especially during the start as the cowl totally encloses the engine.

After my Excelsior crash, I had the system I got from you sat waiting for a use. The breakage of the remote on the Tucano meant I had the perfect use for it. It's great, I will be having more in the future (if that's ok with you!).

Ah I see.... glad you are happy with it

 Hi Winch,
                   Glad it flys well for you...now get the retracts in..and watch how slippery she really can get!!

  Cliff

Got some waiting in the queue! And a new cowl and belly pan.