roger.alli

A photo build thread of my latest effort.

A year ago I lost my Balsa Bandit, so this is what I have replaced it with. Fortunately most of the hardware and electrics in the Bandit were salvageable, which has kept the cost of this project right down and allowed me to recycle. I really like the BVM Balsa kits, so when I saw this “NIB standard Bobcat kit” in the classifieds, I just had to have it. BVM haven’t produced this kit for well over 10 years now (I guess most people just aren't into this kind of therapy any more), but they are still great aeroplanes. Bobcat owners rave about them.

. How modelling used to be done, not so long ago.

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roger.alli

I started the build in August last year, so it has taken me exactly 12 months to get from box to almost flight ready. I have photos of most stages of construction, and will post these over the next few days, (as time on the internet allows).

Building the wings is really easy and only took a couple of weeks, evenings, to get done..

roger.alli

As always, the real hard work in a model like this is the finishing. Resin, cloth, filler, primer, all need to be applied and rubbed back multiple times.

roger.alli

I modified the kit just a wee bit. A nose gear door was required. Simple to do if you have built a Bandit or 2. I also elected to permanently glue the Fuse to the wing centre section. I could not for the life of me understand why BVM designed these to be removable. Much easier to make the fuse one piece.

roger.alli

Booms and rudders are straight forward. Once again, the hardest and most time consuming is prepping for the finish. I like to remove all traces of the mold seam. This is not an ARF.

roger.alli

And I have to say, I know there is a few problems, but this new software RCU has migrated to, handles photo up loads a LOT better then the old..

Painting. Probably my favorite part of a build. I chose to go with a known Bobcat scheme, although I have added a few personal touches. Most will likely think that this is a Composite Bobcat!!

I put on a total of 4 primer coats. Most of the paint is sanded off again though.

roger.alli

The finish is automotive Basecoat Clearcoat which I have used on my last 2 builds. I am getting better at it, but it takes some practice, and at times crouage, to use..

Some of the masks were done with fine line tape. Some I cut free hand from "transfer paper", and some are vinyl plot cuts. The entire model was painted white prior to colour coats.

roger.alli

And a cat needs to be on the wing. This is actually a very simple airbrush project, but impresses.

roger.alli

And finally the clear coat. This is where you need courage.

roger.alli

I've just about completed the equipment install. Tomorrow I will be able to assemble it, and see it all finished, standing on its wheels for the first time. Pic to follow.

LGM Graphix

My Feedback: (22)

Very cool Roger. I'm in the process of refinishing my Bobcat XL after an F'd up landing on the weekend that removed the nose gear bulkhead for me. Interesting about the generations of Bobcats, according to the length of my booms and fuse, my Bobcat is an XL, but it doesn't have a rotating nose gear like yours, nor does it have flaps. I'm just doing a quick refinish on mine as I bought it at a very low price just to use as a grass field beater jet. What engine is in yours? I have a P70 on mine and even with a P70 it went through radar a few weekends back out of a slight dive at 232mph. What a difference a few years makes in the so called evolution of a "trainer jet". I think these jets were far better all around than the boomerangs and such are, at least they fly lik e a jet!

LGM Graphix

My Feedback: (22)

Here's a link to some pictures of my refinish for you http://dwjets.com/forum/viewtopic.ph...118&p=181#p181

Gene Margiotti

My Feedback: (4)

BVM should reconsider not making "kits" available to the consumer. There are definitely more folks who would like to "build" and would like a winter project.

Gene

Great job on the Bobcat - brought back some fun memories.

Doug Cronkhite

My Feedback: (34)

To be fair, BVM is a business first, and it's likely there isn't enough demand for kits to warrant keeping them in production. Yes, it sucks in that some of us like to build, but he can't produce products that only a handful of people will buy. I REALLY wish he'd bring back the F-16 for EDF power, but it isn't cost effective for him to do so I don't think. Oh well..

tisdall_80

Looks great Roger.. I'm currently refurbishing my BVM Balsa Bandit.. Look forward to seeing the Bobcat all finished!!

tobba

Nice one Roger

sideshow

My Feedback: (11)

LOVE clicking on a pic and getting a new page for it!

roger.alli

HI Jeremy,

From what I understand, the Balsa Bobcats came in 2 varietys. Standard and XL. Mines a standard. The XL was introduced to cater for the 'larger" P80 engine. There were 2 chief differences. The XL had longer booms, and a longer slightly deeper fuselage to accommodate a fuse mounted fuel tank. The wings and stab were identical.

The flaps on mine are a modification I made, on the recommendation of some other Bob cat owners here. This took a bit of time and head scratching to design. The Composite Bob cat and King Cat have flaps, so I am pretty confident this is a good mod.. I will let you know. The rotating nose wheel was salvaged from my old Balsa Bandit.

The engine on mine will be a VT80. Pics to follow.

roger.alli

Good points Doug, and it is a shame that these kits are no longer available. HOWEVER, I think Bob still tries to looks after kit builders. He still offers the Electra kit which has a Balsa wing. The Super Bandit, F4 Phantom and F- 100 variants are all big projects requiring a lot of modeling skills. And if you really want a challenge, get an 80" F-86 with a built up wing, including flowler flaps.

All these kits are still available right now. I also suspect that BVM does not make a lot of profit on them, they are all made in Florida and cannot be sold in big numbers.

BVM really does defy gravity by offering and selling these kits!!..

Roger

roger.alli

Here it is finally finished, on its wheels and ready for flight. .

I had to add 180 grams (6 oz) of nose weight to get the CG balance on the BVM recommended spot. Hopefully this will be removed after test flight. In my experience the BVM recommended CGs tend to be a little nose forward conservative. If anyone can advise if the BVM CG is good for a Balsa Bob Cat, that would be appreciated.

This little VT 80 is a gem. Kero starts, smooth as silk with no visible flame at all. So simple to fit. Everything,including valves and ECU, is under the hood apart from the battery and pump. The only connections are 1 fuel line, 1 Jr cable (Rx) and one Multiplex plug/cable for the Batt/pump. Same size and weight as a P 60 with 18 lbs of push. Got to love these modern engines.

tisdall_80

Looks great Roger.. Those vt80's are awesome!! I know of a balsa bobcat Forsale .. I'm thinking about buying it after seeing yours.. What type of paint did you use?? 2pac??

roger.alli

The paint system is 2K automotive, base cote / clear coat. The brand is Metalex, available from specialist auto paint shops. It is relatively easy to use, although like all things some, experience is required. It is easy to get it wrong. I have painted about 10 models in the last 20 years, and learn something every time. Preparation is everything.

Is the Bobcat for sale built, unfinished or NIB?

tisdall_80

The bobcat is built . Has several flights on it.. But I think it's been sitting in his garage for some years..

Crumpet46

I realise this is an old thread but how did you get on Roger? I have had my Balsa Bobcat for 3 years with a P80se and love it to bits.

It's not as refined especially on landing as I didn't add flaps and the gear doors get it rocking on landing but its part of the character I think.

THE most beautiful jet and I cant bring myself to sell mine.

Very similar colours to yours too

roger.alli

Nice pic Crumpet….. Four Falcons in formation with a Bobcat. Love the paint work. Did you do it yourself???

My Bobcat has had a few outings now, and flies as true as any BVM model.

In hindsight, I don’t know that it was worth doing the flap mod. There is quite a sever pitch change when flaps are deployed which requires a big amount of up elevator to trim.. The model really does not need flaps for take-off so I have given up using them for that part of the flight. They do add a bit of drag in the landing pattern at full deployment (45 deg,) which is useful, and of course they look cool.



Roger