just curious but what are you looking to achieve with the carden that you didnt achieve with the comp arf? not trying to be a smart ass, just new to giant gas and thought you flew the sheet out of the extra in your vids.

Originally Posted by jmoesdad

just curious but what are you looking to achieve with the carden that you didnt achieve with the comp arf? not trying to be a smart ass, just new to giant gas and thought you flew the sheet out of the extra in your vids.

The Comp ARF Extra did fly great, I just really like how the Cardens look and fly. I flew a few different guys Cardens this year.. two Yaks and a 260.. and really liked how they felt. Besides that, I am a carpenter and this is just the kind of project I think I will enjoy. There is more precision building techniques here than the work I do for my profession, and I will enjoy that as well.

Tonight I worked for 5 hours on the table. The first thing I did was adjust my new level. While checking to see how true it is, I noticed that the little vile can move with a little pressure, possibly rendering the level inaccurate with a slight bump. I pushed on it and tweaked it until it read the same in both directions. Once it was perfect (same gap on each side of the bubble) I CAed it into the housing. I also checked if it was true by laying it on the table and drawing a line, flipping it over and drawing another next to it. The lines did not deviate.

Then I got the table DEAD level in all directions with the adjustable legs.

I decided the table needed more support in the center, the top pieces of MDF were bowing about 1\32" in a couple of the bays. I put 2x4 blocking in and with planeing and sanding, got the top to within .016". I think I can even get that out by sanding the end of the table a little.

Subscribed, go get 'em whaturi! Serous looking table.

Hi Vinnie,
Looking forward to the 260 build thread. I hope to have a go at an Extra 300 one day. I would like to know why you go to the effort to level the building table. I understand why you would want the table to be flat but I dont know why it has to be exactly level.

Best of luck with the build, I'm subscribed !!!

Yes, flat is much more important, as flat parts will come off a flat table. Level is more of a personal preference for me. I just wanted to see how level I could get it. It will also help make setting incedence easier, since the plane will need to be leveled both ways for that. Also, if on day I check it and see that it is not level, I will know right away that something has moved, and it may not be dead flat anymore.

Originally Posted by gareth.ky

Subscribed, go get 'em whaturi! Serous looking table.

Hey Garaeth, glad to have you here! How is your 260 going? Did you end up flying in any contests?

I'm going to the Regionals in 2 weeks, last contest of the season. The motor is back and the weather is clearing up this weekend.

I keep meaning to do an overall review of the 260 but I don't feel I have given it a fair shake because it still not setup right. I'm working with Dennis on it. For the construction part there are somethings I wish I had done different:

• I wish I had not cut the turtle deck up like I did. I used very light balsa and its already been hit once.
• I wish I had invested in better dust collection in the shop. I paid out enough in doctors bills to cover the dust collector.
• I wish I had bought a good band saw at the beginning of the project. I wish I had gotten the Grizzly bandsaw.
• I wish I had bought a big sheet of glass to cut the covering on from the start. Nothing else I tried worked half as well as glass.
• I wish I had gotten a friend to show me how to paint. I wish I had used the PPG or other paint system. I cant get the colors matched with Auto Air.
• I wish I had honey combed the flight surfaces. I didn't realize it was something people had been doing for years on pattern airplanes.

Most of all I wish I had started building in September or October. Mine took 6 months of serious effort to finish.

Other than that, no regrets at all.

I've heard of some stuff called Duplicolor. You may look into it instead of PPG. I've never used any paint so I don't know how it would compare, but it's something to look in to.

I have autobody experience, and a decent paint gun, so i'm not to worried about the painting part. i have never tried anything except normal autobody paint.

I am still considering honeycombing the wingtips and ailerons.

A nice piece of marble for you bench top would be nice and save time and any doubt of being flat and true.

Have you glued two sticks together yet?

Originally Posted by pcastine

Have you glued two sticks together yet?

Do two fingers count?

Originally Posted by pcastine

Have you glued two sticks together yet?

More progress on the table tonight. Stay tuned!

Actually, here's your sticks. Glue testing.

Verdict: some glue works; more works better.

Originally Posted by whaturi

Actually, here's your sticks. Glue testing.

Verdict: some glue works; more works better.

good to know.