Which Balsa USA?
05-12-2002, 02:49 PM
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Which Balsa USA?
I Just purchased a Sato 170 R and would like to put it in one of the Balsa USA WW1 fighter planes, Sopwith Pup, Nieuport 17 or Nieuport 28 C1. The 2 Nieuport, have the same wing span, the Pup is shorter, which of the three would be the better kit. I am flying a GP Space walker W Sato 120 and not as much a Hanger ( with Sato 180. Thanks Buffaloman 
05-13-2002, 11:28 AM
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Which Balsa USA?
Buffaloman,
I just finished the BUSA Nieuport 28. It builds into a beautiful model, but it's a lot of work, what with the round fuse with all the stringers and the eliptical wingtips. The Nieuport 17 or Pup would probably be easier to build. So it depends on how much you like to build.
I'm thinking of doing the 17 and am anxious to see the Fokker D8 and D7 they're coming out with. These planes build pretty light, so your 170 should work well in any of them.
Here's a pic of the 28. I'm using a 23cc gasser in it. I'm waiting for some decent weather here to fly it.
I just finished the BUSA Nieuport 28. It builds into a beautiful model, but it's a lot of work, what with the round fuse with all the stringers and the eliptical wingtips. The Nieuport 17 or Pup would probably be easier to build. So it depends on how much you like to build.
I'm thinking of doing the 17 and am anxious to see the Fokker D8 and D7 they're coming out with. These planes build pretty light, so your 170 should work well in any of them.
Here's a pic of the 28. I'm using a 23cc gasser in it. I'm waiting for some decent weather here to fly it.
05-14-2002, 12:59 PM
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Which Balsa USA?
Ragz,
Thanks for the compliment. It's finished all with latex paints over "linen" colored solartex. House paint for the colors and a water-based clear satin for the final finish, all from the hardware store. Believe it or not, even the silver is latex! (something I discovered recently). The only thing that's not latex is the oil-based varnish on the wing struts.
The engine's running nicely and I'm eager to fly it, but we're having a "monsoon" here lately.
Jim
Thanks for the compliment. It's finished all with latex paints over "linen" colored solartex. House paint for the colors and a water-based clear satin for the final finish, all from the hardware store. Believe it or not, even the silver is latex! (something I discovered recently). The only thing that's not latex is the oil-based varnish on the wing struts.
The engine's running nicely and I'm eager to fly it, but we're having a "monsoon" here lately.
Jim
05-14-2002, 01:33 PM
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bigbri,
Thanks. You can build like that. It takes lots of time and patience, and working through mistakes. I accidentally ruined the finish on the cowling and had to paint it over again. Lots of swearing on that one! Then I had a couple of the camo colors wrong after finding some new references and had to fix that too.
Jim
Thanks. You can build like that. It takes lots of time and patience, and working through mistakes. I accidentally ruined the finish on the cowling and had to paint it over again. Lots of swearing on that one! Then I had a couple of the camo colors wrong after finding some new references and had to fix that too.
Jim
05-28-2002, 11:39 AM
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BUSA Nieuport 28 Update
I finally flew the Balsa USA Nieuport 28 and I love it! I balanced it according to the plans and it seems just right. Nice takeoffs and climbout, landings are easy. Cruises around at half throttle with the 23cc gas engine. No bad habits whatsoever. I even did a touch and go on the first flight. Got into a dogfight on the second flight with a buddy who was there with his BUSA triplane (also with the 23cc). Low,slow flybys were a joy.
05-28-2002, 11:54 AM
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Here's one of the first landings. I modified the landing gear from the plans, narrower track for scale appearance and independent bungee suspension. I made the tailskid so it swivels about 20 degrees. Ground handling is surprisingly good with just rudder and prop blast, holding up elevator. Of course, wind was very calm that day.
09-03-2002, 10:17 PM
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Tmoth4 very nice
Buffaloman, I hope you got an answer to your question.That pic of the 2 of em flying by just looks cool, I'm building a proctor antic bipe in hopes of the same type of fun.
09-04-2002, 11:59 AM
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Which Balsa USA?
Hey Tmoth.........did you have to add any ballast to get the CG in the plans position?I have seen a couple of the BUSA WW1 designs and Im impressed with the looks and flight ability,even in stiff wind.One local premier builder had over 2# of lead in the nose to locate the CG,but little by little took it all out and the model just flew better........makes you wonder if the CG position was the designers best guess at the time?
09-04-2002, 03:36 PM
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Which Balsa USA?
Kevin,
I didn't have to add any weight to the nose of the 28. I have an old Kioritz 23cc in it which is kind of a heavy engine but runs really nice. I also made a homemade exhaust which incorporates a lawnmower muffler, so this adds some weight too. I expect that using a Zenoah 23 would require a little ballast since it's a lighter engine than the Kioritz. The balance is right where the plans show and it flies just right. I have to put in some down trim when above half throttle. I probably should have put some down thrust in.
Carl,
The silver latex is Behr brand from Home Depot. It's weird stuff. It's really thick in the jar and needed quite a bit of thinning to spray, but with a few light coats it came out surprisingly well and dried to a pretty tough finish. After I put the red trim on I sprayed the whole thing with Minwax oil-based semigloss to seal it all from gas.
Jim
I didn't have to add any weight to the nose of the 28. I have an old Kioritz 23cc in it which is kind of a heavy engine but runs really nice. I also made a homemade exhaust which incorporates a lawnmower muffler, so this adds some weight too. I expect that using a Zenoah 23 would require a little ballast since it's a lighter engine than the Kioritz. The balance is right where the plans show and it flies just right. I have to put in some down trim when above half throttle. I probably should have put some down thrust in.
Carl,
The silver latex is Behr brand from Home Depot. It's weird stuff. It's really thick in the jar and needed quite a bit of thinning to spray, but with a few light coats it came out surprisingly well and dried to a pretty tough finish. After I put the red trim on I sprayed the whole thing with Minwax oil-based semigloss to seal it all from gas.
Jim
09-04-2002, 04:07 PM
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Which Balsa USA?
TMoth - how was the kit itself? Good instructions, Plans, wood, etc. Is the rigging on the plans? How about setup at the field? Beautiful aircraft BTW
09-04-2002, 10:37 PM
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Which Balsa USA?
ASAT,
The kit was very nice and went together fast. The wood was very good and light. Die cutting was excellent. The parts almost fell out of the sheets. There were a few minor glitches, but that's not unusual for a kit. There was no rigging. I had to make my own hard points for attaching wires. I used cable from BUSA and clevises on the ends.
I also made new interplane struts from spruce. The ones supplied were too narrow and far apart for scale. Field setup isn't too bad, but normal for a biplane.
Jim
The kit was very nice and went together fast. The wood was very good and light. Die cutting was excellent. The parts almost fell out of the sheets. There were a few minor glitches, but that's not unusual for a kit. There was no rigging. I had to make my own hard points for attaching wires. I used cable from BUSA and clevises on the ends.
I also made new interplane struts from spruce. The ones supplied were too narrow and far apart for scale. Field setup isn't too bad, but normal for a biplane.
Jim
09-05-2002, 01:47 PM
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Highflyer,
I'm using an 18-6 Master Airscrew classic. Zinger wood props are good too. The engine likes a 16-8 better, but I use the 18-6 cuz the plane looks better with a longer prop.
Jim
I'm using an 18-6 Master Airscrew classic. Zinger wood props are good too. The engine likes a 16-8 better, but I use the 18-6 cuz the plane looks better with a longer prop.
Jim
09-05-2002, 01:52 PM
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Jim,
That's the combination that I'm using on my BUSA 28 also.
Just wanted to get a second opinion from someone flying the same plane. It certainly flys scale with this prop and looks good in the air also.
John
That's the combination that I'm using on my BUSA 28 also.
Just wanted to get a second opinion from someone flying the same plane. It certainly flys scale with this prop and looks good in the air also.
John
09-05-2002, 01:59 PM
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I see they came out with the DVIII now. I heard rumors that they're coming out with a D7 and an SE5a sometime soon. BUSA has a winner with this series of kits. The 1/4 size is good and the G23 is just right for them. They deviate from true scale some, but you can modify them if you want and they fly great.
We have the 1/4 scale Pup, Fokker Triplane, and Nieuport 28 in our club so far and we have a blast chasing each other around. They are powered by the Zenoah 23, Kioritz 23, and a 25cc Homelite conversion. They all perform well with these engines.
Jim
We have the 1/4 scale Pup, Fokker Triplane, and Nieuport 28 in our club so far and we have a blast chasing each other around. They are powered by the Zenoah 23, Kioritz 23, and a 25cc Homelite conversion. They all perform well with these engines.
Jim
09-06-2002, 01:20 PM
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The DVIII is out. I talked with the BUSA folks at Toledo, and they said that a DVII was not in the works. It has many, many different sizes of wing ribs, and that involves many different dies, so it would be very expensive to produce. "Maybe some day" was the conclusion.
Rich Uravitch has plans and plastic for a 73" DVII.
Do you know of any one who cuts the Gary Allen designed 88" DVII from MAN?
Rich Uravitch has plans and plastic for a 73" DVII.
Do you know of any one who cuts the Gary Allen designed 88" DVII from MAN?