Scratch Built "Turbo Bushmaster" Build

[Stambo]

Pity you didn't make it for the Monster Mash Derek but on the other hand, rushing things is never a good idea either.
Looking good though, will be good to see it's maiden.

[Vipertech13]

Little by little she's coming along nicely!

[Derek]

Thanks guys! Yeah, it's coming along. I'm working tonight and tomorrow night. I'll try to work on it more during my week off work.

[Derek]

I got up this morning, rather early...just couldn't sleep anymore. So I slipping out to the garage to work on the plane a bit more. I got a few tidbits done (nothing really worth mentioning) but then I decided that I would go ahead and add the bullet connectors to the motor and esc. I got the bullets on the motor...no problem. I began to tin the connectors for the esc and I pulled out the last 3 inches of solder from my solder holder. Bummer! Progress just got halted because someone (me) ran out of solder.....rather embarrassing, lol. Thankfully a nearby store, that carries solder, opens in about an hour and I'm off work until next Wednesday. Gotta make a run for more solder, lol.

[Stambo]

I hate running out of stuff, which reminds me, I am getting low on solder too.
The better, lead based solder is getting so much harder to get over here too.

[Derek]

My daughter, Makayla, isn't usually very far when I'm working in the garage. This time she decided to help by putting a screwdriver in the wing spar tube. There must have been a screw in there that I hadn't tightened yet, lol.

daddys lil helper.jpg (1.73 MiB) Viewed 5870 times

[Vipertech13]

[quote="Derek"]My daughter, Makayla, isn't usually very far when I'm working in the garage. This time she decided to help by putting a screwdriver in the wing spar tube. There must have been a screw in there that I hadn't tightened yet, lol.

LOL! Enjoy these moments! All too soon they grow up and you don't remember when it happened!

[Stambo]

So cute, I can't believe how quickly she has grown, how old is she now Derek.

LOL! Enjoy these moments! All too soon they grow up and you don't remember when it happened!

I have kept Jacob interested for a while, he loves to "help" building and flying things, but you are right, all too soon friends, girls, cars, life etc, will take over.
I am making the most of it while I can, and lovin it.
When I was young my dad was always working, and when he wasn't he was too tired.
I won't make that mistake.

[Derek]

Makayla will be 3 in December. She's 37lbs and is 38 1/4" tall. She's such a big girl and she knows it. She really enjoys helping me doing things around the house, except vacuuming....she runs from the vacuum, lol.

[DOG]

She's growing like a weed Derek . Like Vipertech13 said, enjoy the moments.

[Derek]

I've had a bit of time tonight to work on the plane. I decided to start working on the wing struts. I've seen flight video of the "kit" Turbo Bushmaster being flown with and without wing struts. Considering that my plane is made of foam, wing struts had to be a "MUST", lol. I have about 25 fiberglass rods that are 3/8" thick and nearly 4 feet long. These were a part of an old hunting ground blind that wasn't worth keeping anymore but I couldn't see the sense in just tossing these fabulous rods, lol. I'm not going to go into details as to how I determined the length of the rods because it was a bit of a hassle and I'm sure it would be a LONG story, so....let's just move on. I cannibalized some 450 class tail booms to be secured at the fuselage belly and on the underside of the wing. These bits hold the fiberglass rods in place, held in with hitch pins.

I'll just let the following pics do the talking, lol

19 Hitch Pins To Secure Struts At Wing.jpg (63.65 KiB) Viewed 5855 times

20 Hitch Pins To Secure Struts At Fuselage.jpg (83.92 KiB) Viewed 5855 times

21 Struts Holding Up Wings.jpg (77.85 KiB) Viewed 5855 times

22 Struts Holding Up Wings 2.jpg (85.51 KiB) Viewed 5855 times

[DOG]

It's looking good Derek . I think you're going to need a bigger work space my friend

[Derek]

Thanks buddy! In all seriousness....I think we outgrew this house 3 years ago, lol.

[Vipertech13]

Can you feel it?............I can feel it! The anticipation of that maiden flight very near.........LOL
Looking great!

[Derek]

Yeah....the maiden should be near. I'm super stoked about this one. With the wing struts installed, the wing feels very solid.

[Graham Lawrie]

Looking good Derek:) looking forward to the video:)

[Derek]

The plane isn't finished yet but it's close. I couldn't resist sharing a "walk around" video of the plane in the yard.

https://youtu.be/6YEz5fnhM5w

[Stambo]

Looking good Derek, I bet you can't wait to get it in the air.

[Graham Lawrie]

Very nice Derek:)

[Derek]

Thanks guys! I installed the Flaps and Aileron servos. I bound an AR8000 + sat and set the subtrims for the tail. Not really much more to go, I think.

.....install the balsa ailerons and flaps
.....install push rods for ailerons and flaps
.....run a servo extension for the esc to the rx
.....secure a Velcro strap to hold the 6S battery in place
.....calibrate end points in esc
.....purchase a few 15" props
.....add a bit more black and silver to the color scheme

I think that's about it.

I'd like to order larger "tundra/bush" style tires because I'm just feeling that these 3.5" wheels that I have are just too small. They are probably as "functional" as any other tire....it just doesn't look as good, cosmetically.

But....this plane is really nearing completion.