Off Grid Gecko
Well-Known Member
Most of you guys have much better painting and finishing skills than I, but I figured this was different and might be interesting to some. So, I went to the hobby store today for 30 minute epoxy, and this thing followed me out.
I thought it was a neat looking little low power kit, and it's been a LONG time since I put a kit together. I usually get the urge and build something from scratch. Anyway, the fit and finish left a little to be desired. Not sure if all of these small kits are this way, but it isn't very conducive to aerodynamics without a lot of extra work. That aside, it's cool that it has a screw cap closure on the motor mount. I looked at the fins closer, and it looks as if the mold for one of them didn't fill up all the way with resin:
Not a huge deal. I sanded them all down so they are even, but the quick-mount system for them made the process a little annoying. I went ahead and sanded everything and decided I'd go with my own paint job and fill in the spirals on the tube. If nothing else it'll give me some practice. Haven't done a paint job in a while, and while I don't intend this to be anything special, extra elbow grease never hurt anyone.
The big annoying feature for me was this:
The guide "tube" is already mounted to the air frame. Even my Alpha III put together when I was about 10 had me mount the guide lug, iirc. I don't know why they did this, but I don't like it. Mainly because I have a 1/4" launch rod and I'd rather not have 2 lugs. It looks cool, but I decided it had to go. Bad choice. I failed to remove it with a hobby knife and cut a slit down the airframe.
Give up? Me? heh.
I trimmed off the destroyed part of the tube, and I'll be adding epoxy to the nose to move the CG forward enough so she'll fly. It has a long ogive nose so that shouldn't be too much weight, I hope. I'm figuring to keep it under 100g. I purchased 3 A8-3 motors to fly her on so I have some wiggle room there, but not much if I want to keep it near 8:1 thrust or better. I know the rule of thumb is 5:1 apparently, but I want them going fast off the short rod. Otherwise I have to buy a longer rod that's whippy.
I'm replacing the stock lug with a plastic straw from the orange juice I picked up on the way home. Couldn't wait to get started so I got some primer on everything and we're moving forward, though there's zero chance of launch until the weekend, most likely, and then only if the wind will cooperate. I'm thinking of doing a green body with white on the fin tips and nose cone. I normally do green and black, but no black paint and I've spent enough money today. ... Unless I use the chalkboard paint...hmmm.
Anyway, here's where she's at so far. Nothing too fancy, but noticeably shorter than the picture on the box.
Rather attractive little thing, I think. I'm currently between white primer coats, which will serve as the white and the underlayer for the neon green. Oh, I sanded down the tip a bit as well so it wouldn't have that weird flashing depression. The body isn't perfect, but for the moment I'll leave well enough alone. She'll never win any beauty contests but she should be fine for flying I should have picked up some spray silicone, but I forgot, so no clear coat on this one, at least for now.
I thought it was a neat looking little low power kit, and it's been a LONG time since I put a kit together. I usually get the urge and build something from scratch. Anyway, the fit and finish left a little to be desired. Not sure if all of these small kits are this way, but it isn't very conducive to aerodynamics without a lot of extra work. That aside, it's cool that it has a screw cap closure on the motor mount. I looked at the fins closer, and it looks as if the mold for one of them didn't fill up all the way with resin:
Not a huge deal. I sanded them all down so they are even, but the quick-mount system for them made the process a little annoying. I went ahead and sanded everything and decided I'd go with my own paint job and fill in the spirals on the tube. If nothing else it'll give me some practice. Haven't done a paint job in a while, and while I don't intend this to be anything special, extra elbow grease never hurt anyone.
The big annoying feature for me was this:
The guide "tube" is already mounted to the air frame. Even my Alpha III put together when I was about 10 had me mount the guide lug, iirc. I don't know why they did this, but I don't like it. Mainly because I have a 1/4" launch rod and I'd rather not have 2 lugs. It looks cool, but I decided it had to go. Bad choice. I failed to remove it with a hobby knife and cut a slit down the airframe.
Give up? Me? heh.
I trimmed off the destroyed part of the tube, and I'll be adding epoxy to the nose to move the CG forward enough so she'll fly. It has a long ogive nose so that shouldn't be too much weight, I hope. I'm figuring to keep it under 100g. I purchased 3 A8-3 motors to fly her on so I have some wiggle room there, but not much if I want to keep it near 8:1 thrust or better. I know the rule of thumb is 5:1 apparently, but I want them going fast off the short rod. Otherwise I have to buy a longer rod that's whippy.
I'm replacing the stock lug with a plastic straw from the orange juice I picked up on the way home. Couldn't wait to get started so I got some primer on everything and we're moving forward, though there's zero chance of launch until the weekend, most likely, and then only if the wind will cooperate. I'm thinking of doing a green body with white on the fin tips and nose cone. I normally do green and black, but no black paint and I've spent enough money today. ... Unless I use the chalkboard paint...hmmm.
Anyway, here's where she's at so far. Nothing too fancy, but noticeably shorter than the picture on the box.
Rather attractive little thing, I think. I'm currently between white primer coats, which will serve as the white and the underlayer for the neon green. Oh, I sanded down the tip a bit as well so it wouldn't have that weird flashing depression. The body isn't perfect, but for the moment I'll leave well enough alone. She'll never win any beauty contests but she should be fine for flying I should have picked up some spray silicone, but I forgot, so no clear coat on this one, at least for now.