Hi Everyone!
Well I'm not sure if the world needs another Carden build tread but I'm going to do one anyway. I really enjoy looking over other build threads on here and I'm pretty sure others feel the same way so I guess there is always room for one more!
I've been building models since I was 10 years old, I'm 51 now so I've got a fair bit of experience and hopefully some ideas that may be new and fresh. I was really into pattern a few years back, (decades actualy) and built many many pattern planes over the years. However this is only my second Carden kit, the first was also a 126" Extra 300 that I built over the winter of 2009. Of corse there are always things you would like to do a little differently or change something here and there. Well that's what I'm going to do with this build. I enjoy building quite a bit and I'm really looking forward to how it will all come together.

Here are some quick spec's on how I will have the airplane set up:
Lightened DA 200 with Mag case and Pro-flow cannisters
Futaba BLS 157 HV servos
Dennis offers a thinner wing for the 126" now and this plane will incorporate that.
I will also shorten the ailerons and use only one servo per wing.
Durant Direct drive for the rudder
No counter balance on the rudder
Honeycombed wing, stab and fin/rudder
Smaller elevators
I'm building it solely for IMAC precision flying.
The idea is to make the plane as light as possible without sacrficing strength and durability and to make it as much a "pattern plane" as possible.
So here we go!....

I like to start every new build with fresh sand paper on all my sanding blocks...

So I guess we'll start with the motor box.
I drilled some lightening holes in the fire wall, this saved almost 2 oz, not bad! And with the smooth running 200 it will be plenty strong enough. I also drilled a few small holes in the bass wood cross peice, not much wieght savings there but it looks cool. Other than that it's pretty much stock construction, untill we get to the landing gear mount....

There can never be too many Carden build threads. What you have in mind sounds interesting. How do you plan on incorporating the honeycomb into your panels? laminated over the foam? Thanks for sharing.

Nice work. what are you using to cut your lightening holes? They look very clean.

Originally Posted by planecajun

There can never be too many Carden build threads. What you have in mind sounds interesting. How do you plan on incorporating the honeycomb into your panels? laminated over the foam? Thanks for sharing.

Possibly lightening holes..................

Originally Posted by planecajun

There can never be too many Carden build threads. What you have in mind sounds interesting. How do you plan on incorporating the honeycomb into your panels? laminated over the foam? Thanks for sharing.

Well what I mean by "Honeycombing" is actually coring out the foam wing, stab and fin/rudder. I did this on the last one and removed 24 oz of foam total. I really go to town on the honeycombing!

Originally Posted by planecajun

Nice work. what are you using to cut your lightening holes? They look very clean.

I used Forstner drill bits, they cut super clean holes in just about any wood.

Originally Posted by Bunky F. Knuckle

Possibly lightening holes..................

DUH.......i thought he meant he was going to use honeycomb composite in the wing somehow.
I get it now.

ive been using my router to cut lightening holes, and its hard to get them really clean like that. I'll have to try those bits. thanks.

Looking good. Subscribed.

Really looking forward to seeing this plane come together, Henry.

Awesome Henry always enjoy your build technique. what glue did you use on the front of the engine box? Looks like Hysol. Subscribed.

Originally Posted by planecajun

DUH.......i thought he meant he was going to use honeycomb composite in the wing somehow.
I get it now.

Too long of a time on the oil rig????

nah, ive only been here a couple of days now. just had a brain fart.

Looking forward to seeing your cored out Wings , Stabs ect. . Do you have any pictures of your last cored Wings ? Did you use C.F. in them ?