Liberator

[miketoner]

These are some pics of Sev's new SPAD.

Best use of an election sign I've seen since before the election! :D

[Sev Fontaine]

Thanks Mike!
Great pictures.

[miketoner]

I just got back from the flying field today. Too bad you weren't there, it was kinda windy, but the flying was good. :D I was practising my slow rolls and stuff. Still pretty rough, need a lot more practise.

Anyway, if you feel like jazzing up the paint scheme on your Liberator, this is what I used on the CoroToro with very good results: 1- flame the area to get the solvents out. 2-sand with 400 paper so the paint can get a grip. 3- clean with acetone. 4- clean with windex. 5- spray paint with Beauti-Tone Acrylic Enamel interior/exterior for wood metal or fibreglass from Home Hardware. Let dry overnight. 6- spray over that with Excel gloss Urethane (polyurethane) for furniture doors wood (fast dry, does not yellow, super hard finish). Let it dry for 2 days (yup, 2 days). I've had maybe 30 flights on CoroToro with the wing painted like that and it seems totally fuel proof. Enjoy!

This technique will probably also work on top of decals and other artwork. I'll have to try that.

[miketoner]

oops - I meant to tell you that the polyurethane spray was purchased from Zellers.

[Sev Fontaine]

Thanks for the painting tips.
After a very good maiden flight and 2 failed hand launch attempts of the Liberator; I discovered a few flaws. It's hard to avoid when the complete build only took 2 1/2 hours.
First the fuel tank was mounted too high. The clunk inside the tank was approximately 1/2 in above the needle.
Secondly the pressure supply line from the muffler to the tank had a hole in it.
Finally the motor mount broke after the second failed attempt to hand launch.

Frustrated at breaking 2 props from flame outs during hand launches......I decided to spend another 2 hours to figure out, fix the problems and rebuild the engine mount. In the process I also installed landing gear and skis.
The engine is now mounted upside down with the fuel tank at the right level relative to the needle valve.