Building Bubba Gump's new IMAC ride - OMP Extra 300

[Salmon]

	Quote: Originally Posted by BoneDoc
	Looking good Mike. Are those nylon/glass arms strong enough to handle the 3D load? I've stripped two MPI aluminum arms before.

Yes I believe so. I've used Hitec servos for years on all my planes and Hitec provides very nice glass filled nylon horns for their high end servos. I've used them on everything up to 40% planes and never stripped one on the servo shaft.

CA is brittle when kicker is used excessively. Also I would not use kicker in any high vibration area such as around the engine box area. For this application I have never had an issue. Keep in mind that many folks build complete wing panels with CA and never have an issue. The control horn joint is not a vibration environment any more than the rest of the wing. Plus the contact surface area of the horn into the wing is quite large if you think about it! Builders can certainly use epoxy though if they prefer that method.

Last night I stuck on the instrument panel decals provided in the ARF. One can of course buy and intall 3-dim fancier panels but these look just fine and satisfy IMAC! A common mistake folks will make when installing a large decal is to remove the entire backing paper and try to manipulate the sticky decal in place. It is hard to control and most likely you will stick it someplace it shouldn't go! LOL

A better way is to cut out the decal to the exact shape and then only remove a small portion of the backing. Then position the decal while holding up the end that has the backing removed. When satisfied with the position, press down the sticky part and then carefully remove the rest of the backing paper and press in place. Check it out!

[BoneDoc]

Looking good Mike. It's awesome that you guys are providing the decals to make intrument panels with.

[Salmon]

	Quote: Originally Posted by BoneDoc
	Looking good Mike. It's awesome that you guys are providing the decals to make intrument panels with.

They are a nice touch. Nothing fancy of course but in my mind it satisfies the IMAC rule and they actually look pretty good.

I got the engine and canisters all installed. Installation went pretty typical for a DA100 with no surprises or hassles. The firewall has the center lines laser etched and various mounting jigs are provided in the ARF for drilling the mounting holes. For proper cowling clearance I only needed to add about 1/4" spacer between the back of the motor and the firewall. Throttle servo is mounted in the bottom of the engine box with a direct pushrod shot to the carb. I make my own carbon fiber pushrod here by gluing a nylon clevis on the motor side and a 2-56 threaded coupler and clevis on the servo side. Since the DA throttle lever is aluminum, I use a nylon clevis here to avoid metal to metal vibrations. I went ahead and set the proper throws in the TX while I had clear access to the throttle and could see the butterfly plate in the carb.

Ignition box is mounted on top of the engine box and the spark wires secured in place to avoid vibration and rubbing on anything. Forrest had a set of MTW 75 cans and flex headers from last year and they fit perfect in the tunnel and engine setup. I made a lite-ply rectangular plate with the canister cutouts to fit in the tunnel. Put the canister isolators around the insert and test fit the cans in place. Was mush easier than I anticipated and once I was happy with the fit, I glues the canister support plate in place and permenently installed teh canisters and headers.

[Flatlandman]

Looking good

[Salmon]

Plane is complete ready to fly. Put some custom graphics on just for Gump in honor of his new calling. What do you think?

[Kitman]

Forrest, all I can say is what a dad!!!!!!!

[Salmon]

Thanks Greg. Actually in my "more mature" age I enjoy going to the field and watching Forrest and these other young guns fly the snot out of anything they throw in the air. Pretty soon I'll just be hanging out at the old man tent with you Greg! LOL

In hindsight I should have put my name as the crew chief on the right side of the plane. Could have put "Crew Chief: LtCol Mike "Salmon" Pilkenton". Wouldn't that be a switch from active duty tradition! The enlisted guy as the pilot and the officer as the crew chief......who woulda thought.

[Salmon]

Well good news! She flys...and she flys awesome. Balance was perfect and I'm not changing a thing. DA 100 ran flawless on the canisters, Hitec 7955 servos are rock solid and plenty of control authority. Got three flights last night in perfect weather. Went through several IMAC sequences with ease and even did some sick 3D flying. Hey son..............dad wants to keep this plane now! haha

[Edge 540]

Hahaha I had a feeling that might happen.

[Sukhoikid]

Looks nice!!! Cant wait to see it in person. I am def heading to NATs it looks like.
By the way Mike thanks for the Decal set for my Yak. It made it turn out great!!! Will send pics to ya later.

[BubbaGump]

Wow that looks awesome, thanks dad for all the hard work. It will be at NATS this year. Hey Kevin What class are you flying this year? Looks like I will get to fly it for the first time a week before NATS.

Forrest

[Salmon]

Here's an update on the Bubba Gump Extra! Mom and I drove down here to Biloxi MS Friday (all 830 miles worth) with Forrest's Extra in the back of the van. I had to bring my 67" Fusion along for fun as well! We hooked up with Forrest Friday evening and he got to see the new Extra first hand. We headed over to the local RC field Sat morning and got in about 4 flights on the Extra. He looked like he hadn't missed a beat even though he hasn't flown in 4 months. Temps down here are hovering around 100 degrees with humidity a close second! Went to lunch to cool off and then back to the field for more flying. Got 5 more flight in and everything was clicking perfectly. Went back out Sunday for about 9-10 more flights. I'd post a picture but Forrest stole the camera to download the pics to his laptop! So far the new Extra is performing flawlessly and flying extremely well! Can't wait to get back home to Ohio though!

[BoneDoc]

A Father's Love!!

Congrats, sounds like a winner.

[Salmon]

Yep, I don't think it has set in yet that my son is wearing the Air Force uniform yet. Seems like just yesterday I was wearing it. It's kinda cool hanging out here with 100s of young Air Force Airmen. Makes me wish I could do it again!.........well maybe not. LOL

[tsmeiman]

Hi Forrest,

Congrats with a nice looking and flying plane, I love it!
Get mine this week - and will use a 3W 106 upfront with mufflers - noise is not a problem yet in South Africa.
Where did the cg that u use came out?

Regards

Toby