Gruman Ag-Cat
03-21-2009, 08:49 PM
#252
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RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
Hey guys,
I finally got to paint the fuse today and add some weathering detail to her. To get the effect that you are looking at all I did was after I had painted the fuse I took some paint thinner and slightly rubbed down to the primer. That's all there is to it. I still have to come back with the airbrush and put the final touches in. I've only seen this paint scheme in one picture and that's the only picture I've been able to find. I've attached the full scale shot of the one I'm doing along with another one that I thought was a really nice paint scheme also. What's cool about the agcat is that its been around so long and it seems like each owner put there own personal touches to them. So the way I see it there is no wrong way to paint one up............except PINK [:'(]...Imagine that; a pink agcat.......[&:] phew man......I can't even imagine what that would look like..........BLLLAAAHHHH.[X(]
I finally got to paint the fuse today and add some weathering detail to her. To get the effect that you are looking at all I did was after I had painted the fuse I took some paint thinner and slightly rubbed down to the primer. That's all there is to it. I still have to come back with the airbrush and put the final touches in. I've only seen this paint scheme in one picture and that's the only picture I've been able to find. I've attached the full scale shot of the one I'm doing along with another one that I thought was a really nice paint scheme also. What's cool about the agcat is that its been around so long and it seems like each owner put there own personal touches to them. So the way I see it there is no wrong way to paint one up............except PINK [:'(]...Imagine that; a pink agcat.......[&:] phew man......I can't even imagine what that would look like..........BLLLAAAHHHH.[X(]
03-26-2009, 03:39 PM
#255
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RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
Looking really good Brian. Best of luck on the maiden.
I had a set of those plans back in the late 80's. Loaned them to a friend....and the rest is history [&o]
BTW: You must be a Louisiana native. Familiar name.
I had a set of those plans back in the late 80's. Loaned them to a friend....and the rest is history [&o]
BTW: You must be a Louisiana native. Familiar name.
03-26-2009, 10:02 PM
#256
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RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
Thanks a lot for the cuddos......[sm=thumbs_up.gif]
I'm originally from Lake Charles, La, Ahhyyeee......sha.
Sometime when you loan friends things you never get them back. I think it happens to everybody now and then. 
I'm originally from Lake Charles, La, Ahhyyeee......sha.
Sometime when you loan friends things you never get them back. I think it happens to everybody now and then.
04-04-2009, 10:29 AM
#259
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RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
Not yet. The weather is either sunny and very windy or rainy. It seems it's always something lately. One other major set back for me and totally shattered my idea's of what I was attempting to achieve was to keep this bird as scale and true to the real one as I could as far as appearace went. So I went to a very well known machine shop locally that we all know very well that we use for our aluminum spinners. I won't mention the name of the company as I believe they do put out probably the best product out there in my book for what they are known for. I took my engine up there to see if they had or could fabricate me a prop shaft extension to extend past the scale radial so that I could leave the true engine hidden inside the cowling. Maybe I'm just dumb to the machining world, but I've been around industry all my live. Check it out.............they wanted to charge me $500.00 [X(] [sm=48_48.gif][sm=bananahead.gif][sm=cry_smile.gif][sm=lol.gif][sm=spinnyeyes.gif] for a 3" prop shaft extension adaptor....................needless to say I surely did not except his offer for sure .......I mean OMG really guys come on. So now I had to extend my motor box out another 3 1/2" to make up for not being able to put an adaptor extension onto the existing prop shaft. So needless to say I'm in redo mode.........uuuugggggggghhhhhhhhh [sm=angry_smile.gif] So hang in there guys. I did get a lot of the renovations done last night but I still need to move more things around and I will need to rebalance her. The good thing is, is I won't need to add as much weight. I'm not sure what that # will be until I put her back on the balancer. I'll let ya'll no how it all is going as soon as I can.
04-06-2009, 01:59 AM
#260
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RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
.................................. YEP, . . . . I Kinda saw the Potential for that problem in your earlier pics............... The Fitgerald Plans show the Engine mounted Out where you have the End of your Cowl . . . . .. . .I Like the way you KEPT it IN the Cowl , And it LOOKED like it might have CLEARED enough for the Radial ! ? ! ? ................................. Oh,WELL ! ! ! !........................... I know different Makers have Different length Engines , But the ZENOAH engines DO have Optional PROP. EXTENSIONS . ! ! ! .[X(] ............ , Not sure Exactly what they are right now . . But I DO have 2 different lengths that came with my G-62 . I believe they have 3 Different Lengths ................................................. AND THEY AREN'T $500.00 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! [sm=greedy.gif] ............. Hope This Helps .
04-12-2009, 09:19 PM
#262
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RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
Hello Guys Happy Easter,
My next scheduled date to fly her is either 04/18-19 weather permiting. She is all painted up. All I have left to do is build the instrument panel board, install the back windows and install the simulated radial. Here is how she looks now. "Z8" were the only identification #'s that I could identify off of the full scale considering I only had one picture of her. You can see the picture of the full scale in one of the above post. So to compensate I came up the with identification # Z8-BK (for Brian Keith)-1 (for prototype "1") I thought that it would be cool to number each model somewhere on the plane identifying which person has what model. It's just and Idea, but it does make each one unique in it's on right...anyway, I hope you enjoy the pictures.
My next scheduled date to fly her is either 04/18-19 weather permiting. She is all painted up. All I have left to do is build the instrument panel board, install the back windows and install the simulated radial. Here is how she looks now. "Z8" were the only identification #'s that I could identify off of the full scale considering I only had one picture of her. You can see the picture of the full scale in one of the above post. So to compensate I came up the with identification # Z8-BK (for Brian Keith)-1 (for prototype "1") I thought that it would be cool to number each model somewhere on the plane identifying which person has what model. It's just and Idea, but it does make each one unique in it's on right...anyway, I hope you enjoy the pictures.
04-15-2009, 07:02 AM
#265
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RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!That is unbelievable!Great job,everytime you post more pics it gets better.Can't wait to see some in flight pics.That thing is reallly gonna look real in the air.Keep us posted.
Joe
Joe
04-21-2009, 08:17 PM
#267
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RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
The weather is absolutely kicking my butt here in Texas. It's either raining [sm=drowning.gif] or the wind [sm=cry_smile.gif] is blowing way to hard. As you would guess it's almost ideal conditions during the week. It's almost like somebody is putting some bad JUJU [:@][sm=bananahead.gif]on me to keep me from flying this bird. It all surround the weekends. As you would guess they are calling for more bad weather this weekend. It almost sounds like I might have to get sick during the week to fly her, but don't tell my BOSS [sm=47_47.gif] okay. TEEHEE
[sm=bananahead.gif]on me to keep me from flying this bird. It all surround the weekends. As you would guess they are calling for more bad weather this weekend. It almost sounds like I might have to get sick during the week to fly her, but don't tell my BOSS [sm=47_47.gif] okay. TEEHEE
04-22-2009, 05:51 AM
#268
RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
Good morning Brian, nice looking Ag-Cat you got going there
being from Lake Charles, myself I can see where you got the
inspiration to build her from, the rice farms of course. As a
kid in school back in the 60's I worked on several rice farms
in the Welsh, Bell City & Homewood areas of SW Louisiana
and got to see a lot of crop dusting over the rice fields, also
it's the quickest way to plant, dropping seeds via crop dusting.
Hope all goes well on the maiden, looks like we might get a break
in this crappy weather we have been having, this weekend is looking
good, but don't know what the winds will be till those days get here.
You plan on going to the LARKS Big Bird event later in the year with
the Ag-Cat?
Bill Diedrich
Ventress, Louisiana
being from Lake Charles, myself I can see where you got the
inspiration to build her from, the rice farms of course. As a
kid in school back in the 60's I worked on several rice farms
in the Welsh, Bell City & Homewood areas of SW Louisiana
and got to see a lot of crop dusting over the rice fields, also
it's the quickest way to plant, dropping seeds via crop dusting.
Hope all goes well on the maiden, looks like we might get a break
in this crappy weather we have been having, this weekend is looking
good, but don't know what the winds will be till those days get here.
You plan on going to the LARKS Big Bird event later in the year with
the Ag-Cat?
Bill Diedrich
Ventress, Louisiana
04-22-2009, 07:58 AM
#269
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RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
Keith we're having the same thing up here.It either rains or we have high winds.Hang in there it will break soon,I hope!!You have way too much work to put her up in anything less than ideal conditions.We are all looking forward to that good day when you can get it in the air.
Joe
Joe
04-22-2009, 10:41 PM
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RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
Hey Bill,
Good to hear from a good ole' Lake Charlie boy. Thanks for the kudos on the Agcat. It sounds like you seen more of these planes than I have. I really grew up in Moss Bluff, so yes I've seen plenty of ag planes in my time. I used to have a lot of friends that lived in Gillis and my sister still does. So I get to see a lot of crop dusting when I get to visit her. Thanks for wishing me luck on the maiden, and yes I do plane to make the Starks big bird fly-in. Do you know the dates of when it will take place?
It was nice talking with you and I'm looking forward to further conversation with ya Sha ;-)
Good to hear from a good ole' Lake Charlie boy. Thanks for the kudos on the Agcat. It sounds like you seen more of these planes than I have. I really grew up in Moss Bluff, so yes I've seen plenty of ag planes in my time. I used to have a lot of friends that lived in Gillis and my sister still does. So I get to see a lot of crop dusting when I get to visit her. Thanks for wishing me luck on the maiden, and yes I do plane to make the Starks big bird fly-in. Do you know the dates of when it will take place?
It was nice talking with you and I'm looking forward to further conversation with ya Sha ;-)
04-22-2009, 10:46 PM
#271
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RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
Yea, I think the weather seems to be pretty bad everyware lately. Don't worry, I'm not even taking the slightest chance with her. The weather will really have to be right before I make the maiden. I want to make sure I have total control of her. After I know how she reacts then I will take more chances with her. I got her balanced the other day, but I've been meaning to talk to you about that. I've never owend a bi-plane before and even though I've balanced her according to the plans I still don't have the gut feeling that I'm right dead center on the "CG". Any recommendations for piece of mind?
04-23-2009, 12:51 PM
#272
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RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
As long as you know where the balance point is suppose to be,that is really all you need.The Bulldog was 53/4"from the leading edge of the top wing.Had to add quite a bit of weight to get it balanced and therefore it came out a lot heavier that I would like.Gonna try and put her on a diet and loose some weight.Right now landing is like bringing in a turbine!!!Good luck.
Joe
Joe
04-23-2009, 05:57 PM
#273
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RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
Thanks Joe,
My balance point is 7" from the leading edge of the top wing according to the plans. So far I've had to add 3.5 pounds to the nose and it seems to balance fine. That makes me feel a lot better. My wing loading is a lot lighter than yours considering is has two flat bottom airfoils so it should glide in pretty fine. Also, keep in mind that the only thing in front of the wing is basically the engine. I'm lucky I got away with only adding 3 lbs huh. I will put her on the balancer again just for piece of mind before I fly her. The wind is still blowing 25 to 30 miles an hour down here. Man.....I don't think I'm ever going to get this bird in the air.[:@]
Thanks for the tip
My balance point is 7" from the leading edge of the top wing according to the plans. So far I've had to add 3.5 pounds to the nose and it seems to balance fine. That makes me feel a lot better. My wing loading is a lot lighter than yours considering is has two flat bottom airfoils so it should glide in pretty fine. Also, keep in mind that the only thing in front of the wing is basically the engine. I'm lucky I got away with only adding 3 lbs huh. I will put her on the balancer again just for piece of mind before I fly her. The wind is still blowing 25 to 30 miles an hour down here. Man.....I don't think I'm ever going to get this bird in the air.
[:@]Thanks for the tip
04-24-2009, 11:32 AM
#274
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RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
Yea,the wind up here is getting to the point where "IT AIN'T FUNNY"!!!!!!!!!It's really put a damper on flying up here to.Hopefully it will start calming down soon.Have you got a dummy radial yet for it yet?That is really gonna set it off.
04-24-2009, 04:36 PM
#275
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RE: Gruman Ag-Cat
Yes I did buy the dummy radial for it but I believe I'm really going to have to modify it big time to make it all fit considering that I had to move the engine out 3.5 inches. I'm going to have to scratch my head on this one as I try to install it where it looks like I didn't have to section up it to make it all fit around the real engine parts. I hope it all comes out ok. My priority is first to get it flying and in time install the dummy radial. I hope I can make it work to where it still looks nice. Wish me luck! 