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<DIV>David, with judicious use of good material one can hack an ARFie model
to less than 10lbs. I did it with my Temptress (Temptation very heavy composite
fuse and own feathers, own gear design, etc). The span isn't full 2 meters (76")
but it's close. The 530sqin wing panels are 15 ozs each all paint, which is too
heavy I feel. Lighter is doable with better technique. If I wanted to use
lightweight transparent film I could have saved maybe 1/2 oz each panel.</DIV>
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<DIV>Starting with a clean slate, I believe a craftsman can build a full blown
pattern model at around 9 lbs RTF, for fuel power. Possibly lower. That's
about what i shoot for for wet and 9.5 for present state electric power. I
am working on an idea to make 530sq in plug in wing panels RTF at about 10 ozs
all paint. Think its possible and stay together for the long haul. Trick is to
make these techniques user friendly enough that anyone with average building
skill can do it.</DIV>
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<DIV>There are many places to save weight in any model, one of the easiest being
the heavy ply reinforcing around the landing gear box. I don't believe a box and
block is necessary. Load distribution is the key and that's doable in other
ways.</DIV>
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<DIV>Another place is to toss that composite stab in the garbage and build one
at the right weight. Composite rudder also. That's often crap. Of course if one
doesn't know how to make these parts from scratch at the right weight, then
thats no bargain either. And if the ARFie is heavy elsewhere to compensate, well
that's really no bargain.</DIV>
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<DIV>I look at it this way. Our CL Stunt cousins build 60 sized models that
weigh in 50-55 ozs with about 700 sq in of wing, and it's all paint. These guys
are real masters at the craft. I am learning from them and I urge anyone who is
keen on building and finishing technique to take a much closer look. Ohh, I
forgot, they still have the builder of the model rule in place.</DIV>
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<DIV>regards,</DIV>
<DIV>Matt</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 3/3/2006 12:49:49 PM Eastern Standard Time,
dflynt@verizon.net writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>On a
separate topic, you can build a very light plane if you select
light<BR>components such as PBG wing and stab tubes, carbon fiber mufflers,
etc.<BR>Most guys overlook the weight of covering and paint. Opaque
monocote and<BR>ultracote are pretty heavy. I have not been able to
cover a set of wings<BR>with monocote using less than 4 ounces. If you
want to half that, then I<BR>recommend a lightweight transparent film I used
Ultracote lite. It is very<BR>light, sticks well, and is as easy or
easier than monocote to work with. I<BR>have no wrinkles on my covering
(yet anyway -- I'll have to wait until I go<BR>to Vegas and Phoenix to see if
that holds up), and it looks pretty. For<BR>paint, you can cover a big
2m plane with three ounces. Sometimes less.<BR>Craig Blodgett told me
that he used just one ounce on his Smaragd!! In my<BR>opinion and
experience, all of the 2m planes that we fly can be built less<BR>than 10
pounds with the glow engines we use, and they will hold up well
too.<BR><BR><BR>I would like to see somebody paint a set of wings using just 2
ounce of<BR>total material, then I will start painting wings. Anybody
(Matt?) have a<BR>formula for that?<BR><BR>David</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
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