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TOPIC: Building the Skyleada Cutlass for Jetex 50

Built-up Skyleada for Jetex 50 5 years 2 months ago #791

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Roger , excellent model - really does look the business. i especially love the printed tissue finish and would appreciate a few pointers on materials used and the basic process .. To my mind that is much more attractive than a spray finish and lighter. As my father used to say -- if it looks right it probably is -- are you going to use that original Jetex 50 , probably got some original fuel if you need some and motor spares also . Well done - look forward to seeing this at OW

Note added by Roger:

Thanks for the kind comments Tony. The basic technique (s) were covered in an article I wrote for SAM Yearbook 15. I can send you a PDF of this if you like.

The main difficulty is modifying templates originally produced for a profile model to fit the '3D' 'stick 'n tissue' structure. Apart from that, it's then just making sure the lines and insignia etc line up. Using dope as an adhesive rather than tissue paste means you can remove offending bits of tissue and put 'em back a few times until it's OK as Modelspan is quite strong.

Thanks for the offer of pellets etc., but I have quite a lot. I suspect the Cutlass, which in the flesh, according to Andy Blackwell, is 'bigger than he expected', and will need all the oomph of a Jetex 50C with hot Sebel pellets (thus the asbestos lined motor mount).

We will see!
:unsure:

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Last Edit: by rogersimmonds.

Built-up Skyleada for Jetex 50 4 years 10 months ago #812

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As promised, John made up his Vintage Model Company (VMC) Skyleada Cutlass kit in the same livery as mine. Unlike me, he made it according to the plan (you will remember I added extra stringers and a fair bit of sheeting here and there), discarding only the terrible canopy of the VMC kit.

It is quite a bit lighter than mine, and looks great:





Above: John is obviously a 'master builder'. I'm glad the canopy I moulded for him looks good. Note the 'as new' Jetex 50.

John brought his Cutlass (as well as other models) to Old Warden. Below is a picture of John and me at this very pleasant event:



As you can see it was a near-perfect day, so nothing to prevent the stout-hearted John from lighting up and giving it its maiden flight:





And fly it certainly did. It needed the power of a Jetex 50C to climb away effectively, and also flew well with a '120 mN Rapier L-2.

All this was very pleasing. The field was a bit too crowded for me to risk my precious built up Cutlass :S

However, the new profile Cutlass did fly, and fly well, with under both Rapier and Jetex 50C power.



Which was very pleasing. It also showed a happy facility to fly between trees. :cheer:

Both Cutlasses looked great in the air, and, with some provisos (dreadful canopy) the VMC kit can be bought with confidence!

Here's to our next flying sessions. It is John's hope we can get both Cutlasses in the air together!

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