I want to build

[anthonyh]

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the tips. This is my 1st build. I have been building and flying R/C for approx 20yrs and my planes have been getting bigger and bigger and I have finally lost it. Well that is at least what a few people I know think.

A buddy at work is a pilot and was planning on building an all wood low wing and after showing him the Hatz I think he may build a Hatz along with me. He is waiting to get a look at my drawings to make a decision. If so we will do a dual build and share the cost of shipping and order all the like materials for both planes at the same time. Would be nice to have someone to build with. Would save alot of time and effort as well.

I want to order all the plywood needed in one order as well as the cap strips, spars will be ordered as needed and I may have another local source for the 4130. My brother owns a machine shop and buys metal on a regular basis and he is going to price the 4130 thru his supplier as soon as I supply him with a list. Might save a few $$$ and I won't have to pay freight.

I am really looking forward to the whole process, this is going to be fun!!
Anthony

[anthonyh]

I am now the proud owner of plans s/n HC0137.
Sunday I will be heading to the store to pick up the materials to start building the rib jigs.
Let the fun begin
Anthony

[alvinsager]

Hi Anthony,
As a fellow RC'r and homebuilder (Hatz is my second), I can assure you that the skills you acquired (unless your RC experience was all ARF) will be pretty much what you need to build full scale. Learning new disciplines such as welding are not nearly as difficult as some think. When I built my Cygnet, even though the plans were great and every part was well documented and fit, there was no manual that helped with the order of the build, or the patterns and fixtures. Without my previous experience I could see that doing a cart in front of the horse can happen. What you will also notice is that working on larger parts is actually more forgiving and the tolerances far less critical than on smaller planes (I raced form 1 RC for years).
Enjoy,
Al

[anthonyh]

Thanks Al,
I have been building and flying R/C for approx 20yrs, my last 2 planes were 1/3 scale. I also built a 1/4 scale Waco from scratch. Both of my Waco's required over 900hrs to complete. ARF's are OK but not for me, I love building more than flying actually(R/C that is). If I could have the $$$$ and hrs back that I spent on R/C the last 10yrs the Hatz would be complete.
I spent alot of time over the last day pouring over the plans and I don't see anything that scares me. I can see where there will be alot of time building jigs for different items especially welding the gear legs. Some things don't make much sense to me yet but I am sure once I get into it and have the parts in front of me it will come together.
Merry Christmas Everyone!!
Anthony

[alvinsager]

Hi Anthony,
The ARF's are done very well, but my take also is that doing it yourself is key to the sense of accomplishment. My first RC was around 63'. Kits yes, ARF no!

[anthonyh]

Hi Guys,
I am going to try to make master templates for for the rib parts for my router. I was thinking about using 1/4" lexan or PVC for the part masters. I think it would hold up a better than ply, any opinions here? I have the material on hand. My templates and jigs may be used to build 2 planes so I want them to last and even pass them on down the road to another builder.

My rib jigs will have a 3/4" MDF base with the plans glued down with 1/8" lexan screwed down on top of the plans. The jig blocks will be made from 3/16" lexan screwed into position and I will have a vertical clamp at each gusset location.
Later!!
Anthony

[martin]

Hi Nick,

A good friend of mine is building a Hatz and has decided to power it with the Rotec R3600, based on my experience with the engine in my Spacewalker. There is a lot of similarity between the SW2 and the Hatz, other than the extra wing of course, and if you like the radial look and sound, as well as the performance, you won't do better. I can say that the engine performs better than I had imagined and is a joy to fly behind. Reliability isn't an issue, and I know that the guys at Rotec have answered each and every query I had immediately. They are passionate about their product. I only wish Jabiru felt the same way......
If I can assist any of you guys with engine installation or operating methods, feel free to contact me

Cheers

Martin

[R28R36]

John, how's that Rotec working out? There seems to be an element who believe Rotec engines are unreliable and that Rotec service is terrible. Can you comment? I'd love to have an R3600 on my Classic, but the rumors have me wondering. Would love to hear a real experience.

Two things for Nick to look at:

1. How does he explain the comments contained here: http://www.rotecengines.com/Testimonials.html note tha most of these people provide email addresses for readers to use if they wish to check further
2. The rumousrs were spread by these discredited people. Read about them here: http://www.rotecradial.com/

Jim

[hatzadmin]

Hello Jim,
I believe we here at the Hatz forum have provided Nick with some accurate, independent. positive feedback on your engines. As a Rotec customer and Hatz Webmaster I welcome your comments and contributions to our community.

Perhaps I'm reading it wrong, but your post seems to read as though it is from an "independent" individual. Since you are an owner of Rotec, I would ask that you identify yourself as such in your posts. I'm sure folks here on the forum would welcome the chance to ask questions of you if they knew you were participating in our forum.

Looking forward to hearing more from you,
Doug.

[R28R36]

Since you are an owner of Rotec...

Hi hatzadmin and all:

I'm not the owner.

However my sons are, and I do get involved from time to time to advise and help administer some of the functions...

Beyond seventy years of age my advice and help and workload is easing off, and at this stage I only concentrate on database functions and website work. At best I'm an unpaid employee and have been so from the time Rotec came into existence back in the year 2000.

I'm not sure how I should declare myself but it’s true to say I'm biased towards Rotec.

I find unsubstantiated accusations and rumours of the type that Nick posted annoying because the sole purpose of such posts is to denigrate the Company.

The annoyance is further exacerbated by the knowledge that my Sons provide the highest level of support possible, both in response time and in efficiency - all provided usually within a working day from receiving a query. Such is their passion and could it be that Nick seeks to puncture this passion?

As for the engine: the Rotec radial has survived 10 years of production and flight. Surely if there was something dramatically wrong with it Rotec would not have survived for this period of time in, what is after all, a niche market in an experimental category.

My Sons welcome constructive criticism; but, If there is to be criticism then at least let such be coupled to factual pointers for discussion.

(father of the owners)