Albatros DV

[Blackhawk]

I am in the finishing stages of my Hobby Lobby Albatros and thought I would pass on some info. It is a neat kit, although I couldn't stand the dark blue and red color scheme (should have ordered the Tower Hobby version with other colors). I sanded down the fuselage joints, covered them with a strip of tissue with white glue. Painted the whole fuse with alcohol (ethanaol from the hardware store) thinned 30 min sandable epoxy. Glassed the first inch of the nose. Painted it with craft acrylic paints (liquid that comes in little pop top bottles--thin it with ethanol and a drop of detergent) using an airbrush. This stuff is cheap (99 cents per bottle) and it covers well. Painted wings and tail after adding balsa leading edges and covering balsa edges with *** tissue and a coat of thin expoxy on the edges to keep them from getting nicked up. Also added airlerons to top wing with servo burried in the radiator in top wing and small bowden cables to ailerons.
I epoxied the cables in several spots to bottom of wing. Using Hobby Lobby 2 3/4 inch wire wheels with light rubber sponge tubing. Using 280 geared with newer Hobby Lobby box and 8 550ma NIMH, three Hs 50 servos, GWS reciever, FMA SC-5 ESC.

I made landing gear and struts from spruce and used carbon reinforcement on gear and interplane struts. I made my own decals with ink jet printer. If I don't crack her up, I will post some photos soon.


Pat Daily

[Grizzly Greg]

Sounds like a nice one Pat,would love to see the photos.

Grizz.

[Blackhawk]

The Albatros got in its first 3 flights tonight. Perfect weather--flew till 8:55 PM till I couldn't see. She flies real nice with a 280 and ailerons. Will finish some more details and eventuallly post photos.

Pat Daily

[t-turley]

Your finishing techniques also sound very interesting. I'll have to try them on my next foamie.

Tony Turley