Yesterday, I got a chance to fly my new Pegna with a new prop. In December, I had absurdly tried a 6″x9P prop and the rubber would just not turn the prop. I had to wait a month to try again – this time with a 5.5″x7P prop and it worked.
after the powered test flight. all tissue is printed on an HP color laser, except the bronze radiator
On my first test flight where I used 80% power, I got 57 seconds. This was such great news. I tweaked it just a little more, wound it up to full power and was rewarded with nice right-hand circles that climbed up about 4o feet and came down at 69 seconds as the rubber was running out. That time (good enough for first in Peanut) was 10 seconds better than any indoor flight I had ever had with the old version!
I have the Short Kit up on the site; it’s $10. It comes with the three sheets of laser-cut balsa shown below. That is one each of 1/16″, 1/20″ and 1/32″ sheet. I calculated today and it takes 20 minutes of cutting time for each kit (so you’re getting a bargain)! With all of those delicate stringers, it is not an easy construction, but it is plenty strong for flying.
In the mean time, here are build photos that might help anyone that wants to build from my kit.
kits sheets (1/16″, 1/20″, and 1/32″) and the start of the fuselage
the basic fuselage completed, showing the keels on the bottom of the hull
top rear turtle deck with sockets for the vertical fin
a chunk of very light balsa that will be carved and hollowed to create the front nose of the hull
laminations in progress. templates are provided.
top stringers installed and trimmed
cover the top of the fuselage in pieces. this shows the right half over the wing in place
the same installed piece, trimmed; view from the other side
the top covered. this was done in several right and left sections
how I made the exhaust ports. I used a coffee stirrer for the exhaust and file card for the shrouds (silvered with Sharpie)
ports in place with RC-56 equivalent
shroud built up. upper and lower are 1/32″ square balsa
cut out and glued on the side – one on each side
ready to fly without rubber. 11 grams – that includes a Gizmo Geezer nose button
Read my article on my justification for the color and markings in my Documentation article HERE.
Can use 2 kits added to the list.
I like the multi-colored interpretation. Maybe the solution is to build both a red one and a silver/wood colored one! This is a very intriguing design. Wonder why it flies so well; the wing shape alone seems to defy “conventional wisdom.”