Keil Kraft Phantom Scratch build from start to flying.

Woody wrote:It has been reported that an elderly bloke entirely on his own and in the middle of a field was turning round rapidly in ever decreasing circles with a big smile on his face. He was taken away in a straight jacket for questioning.

Seriously doubt it, rather it would be like:

Yep...that just about sums me up...Build it yerself.
There is so much more pleasure to building things and it was always part of the hobby.
I have compulsive building disorder and the shed is filling up.

There's a CL flier on Stunt Hangar, John "Doc" Holliday, lives near Kansas City, Kansas, US. I have been flying buddies with him on occasion.

He occasionally has a grandchild come fly with him. A few years ago he had a 9 or 10 YO granddaughter solo on a Ringmaster with Fox .35.

Who knows, may be later on there might be a relative or neighbor nearby who has a grandchild want to learn from you, give him or something to do besides cellphone games. Learning a trade starts with model building.

GallopingGhostler wrote:There's a CL flier on Stunt Hangar, John "Doc" Holliday, lives near Kansas City, Kansas, US. I have been flying buddies with him on occasion.

He occasionally has a grandchild come fly with him. A few years ago he had a 9 or 10 YO granddaughter solo on a Ringmaster with Fox .35.

Who knows, may be later on there might be a relative or neighbor nearby who has a grandchild want to learn from you, give him or something to do besides cellphone games. Learning a trade starts with model building.

You are so right!!!
Thats why I am doing the Phantom build....to encite others to have a go....NOT to be a Guru.
I am nothing and have heaps to learn.
We all have.
I have also been dabbling with the idea of single Channel.
Because I could never afford it.
Fully proportional four channel was for the big boys.
If you had Skyleader or Kraft you were a God and to be looked upon.
Course its all changed now.
So Single Channel.
I am in!!!
But.....I am concerned about 27 mhz being subject to interference.
Maybe nowadays people do not use it so much so we could be okay?
I would love to have a pristine single channel set.
I had a Macgregor once with an Elmic Conquest escapement.
Cannot remember if I ever flew it.
It was all installed in a Bee Baby.
I was 15 then and 71 now so facts fade.
Re the Fox 35.
It seems a prominent engine and well loved.
I think I need one!!!
Anybody?
I built a Candy 2 decades ago with a 5cc and it flew so well. I was into diesels then but cannot remember what powered it.
A Fox 35 would send it beautifully.
Sorry...showing my age.
Just so nice to talk about all this.
Have a good good day.
Woody

Woody wrote:
I was into diesels then but cannot remember what powered it.

Surely it must have been a Taipan!!

Woody, regarding flying single channel on your legacy 27 MHz radio system, that would be best to test it out for reliability. May or may not be a problem in you area.

I purchased a second Ace RC Pulse Commander with Adam Stomper actuator and KRD quick blip sequential throttle servo on 27 MHz, for the same purposes as you.

Also, one can still fly single channel with modern radios and gear, not quite like escapements, but still single channel.

There's some chaps in UK who have adapted a Hobby King universal PCM frequency deck to the encoders of these old escapement and reed transmitters. Made adapting circuits to interface escapements to the modern 2.4 GHz receiver.

I used to communicate with them until Covid, but since lost touch. However, they shared their knowledge even offering circuit boards so one could roll their own.

Keil Kraft catalogue:

https://rcbookcase.com/data/media/22/keil_kraft_1973.pdf

The wing joint is reinforced with a strip of 25mm Linen and glued with pva then sanded .

Seems like I have to make the wheels as there aren't any available.
Its a lathe job so I have ordered in a metre of 50mm round bar black Delrin.'
I have thought for days about the process but getting nowhere.
Need a bit of help please?
I have extended the drawing to include a plan view of what I am after.
Can any machinists out there please advise?
If I can make a tool to cut both chamfers in one hit that will be great.
So if any one else wants wheels I can easily make them a set.
The diameter is set but I can alter the thickness of the wheels ad lib.
If I remember...they were quite thin and the old ones made of rubber with a brass axle boss.
Woody

The wings are now covered.
Starting to make the canopy plug.
Very therapootik so I hope it works.
I used bog standard pine.

Good work.

Wow! Nice woodwork! No wonder why you call yourself Woody!

Woody,
The man that built my Keil Kraft Radian made super skinny wheels by creating disks from CDRom plastic, andaminating the plastic with wood in either side. Then he chucked each lamination in a hand drill and sanded his wheel shape down to the profile you show on your plans. A few swipes of black dope competed the wheels. They turned out super light.

Keil Kraft Phantom wheels are streamlined:

Thanks all for your suggestions.
Cannot get to grips with this canopy forming.
Gone through several bottles.
Does not work for me.
Made a vacuum box which works but I cannot get the knack of this.
I used acetate sheet but they seem to use PETG.
I can get it but it is expensive for 12 sheets.
Knowing my luck I will need 12 as well.
No.
...Too much work and agro just for a canopy.
I have redesigned the fuse so as to make the canopy easy.

I seem to remember some kk kit wheels were black plastic and streamlined although I have a pair of alloy wheel rubber tyres ones...

Will check during the day.

Radian, demon....

GallopingGhostler wrote:Woody, regarding flying single channel on your legacy 27 MHz radio system, that would be best to test it out for reliability. May or may not be a problem in you area.

I purchased a second Ace RC Pulse Commander with Adam Stomper actuator and KRD quick blip sequential throttle servo on 27 MHz, for the same purposes as you.

Also, one can still fly single channel with modern radios and gear, not quite like escapements, but still single channel.

There's some chaps in UK who have adapted a Hobby King universal PCM frequency deck to the encoders of these old escapement and reed transmitters. Made adapting circuits to interface escapements to the modern 2.4 GHz receiver.

I used to communicate with them until Covid, but since lost touch. However, they shared their knowledge even offering circuit boards so one could roll their own.

If I was to ty single channel then I would just use my Zorro Tx which is a bit more than single channel!!! and use one miniature servo and lipo battery.
In essence yes it is one channel being used but proportional radio with 2.4Gig.
I do see the fun in having a button Tx and the challenge though! I dont trust those rubber driven escapements!
I might just get myself a nice set just for nostalgia.
I will wait until a nice fully working set appears on the auction!
Woddy.

Coxfledgling wrote:I seem to remember some kk kit wheels were black plastic and streamlined although I have a pair of alloy wheel rubber tyres ones...

Will check during the day.

Radian, demon....

Will be interested to see them when you get time.
Woody.

Hi woody, sorry for delay...

The kk radian and demon have the same "flying saucer" plastic wheel marked Kiel Kraft.

The rubber/alloy wheels are marked Kiel Kraft 1 1/2 inch.

Plastic are 1/4 inch wide

Rubber/alloy are 0.36 inch wide.

Profile is similar//same as on your plan picture.

Hope this helpss. Any other info needrf just ask.

arel=https://servimg.com/view/20304049/11][/url]

Coxfledgling wrote:Hi woody, sorry for delay...

The kk radian and demon have the same "flying saucer" plastic wheel marked Kiel Kraft.

The rubber/alloy wheels are marked Kiel Kraft 1 1/2 inch.

Plastic are 1/4 inch wide

Rubber/alloy are 0.36 inch wide.

Profile is similar//same as on your plan picture.

Hope this helpss. Any other info needrf just ask.

arel=https://servimg.com/view/20304049/11][/url]

Thank you for this.
I will bear the measurements in mind.
Keep hold of them as strangely enough they fetch high prices already.

Really sorry guys for the silence.
We had a Covid outbreak within our household and my daughter moved me out to another town within hours.
So here am I with my loving daughter in ( our other house) removed from covid from my son and his wife who are blessed with it.
I am so grateful to have my kids care for me like this . It is the most rewarding when they look after their Dad and Mum.
Sarah ( my daughter) said to me...." Dad..you are an oldie and I don't want you to die from covid..I have already lost mum to cancer".
Is'nt that so nice and loving?
I could not wish for better.
Sorry to be so off topic and emotional but we are all friends and therefore you will understand why I have gone quiet.
Back to modelling.
Yes..I found the canopy moulding a task in itself and I did not do too well.
I WILL suss it but in time.
In the meantime I have altered the fuse to enable a two piece canopy.
Pics to come when I get home.
I have not got the covid but suffer badly from not cutting the balsa and living the dream!!!
I am getting " building withdrawal" symptoms.
All the best dear friends and as Arnie says....
I'll be Beck!!!
Woody