BEAVER DH C2 no 2 30 IN RUBBER DUMAS KIT 306 Nov 25 2025 to PRESENT
This is the new thread of pics from Nov 26 2025 to the present
"I am finding out what a daunting task it is to re-post my entire old original Beaver thread, from it's start June 13 2025 to the HPA crash of Nov 26 2025 - especially changing from six pics per post max, down to four pics per post max, and losing the comments that made the thread interesting.
In talking with George about this, he recommended to post some of the current latest progress and pics (Nov 26 2025 onwards to the present), and post some of the lost old thread, at the same time, as I go, and try not get mixed up.
Well, .... I have to split them up - the current re-post (this one I am typing) of the old lost Beaver thread will some take time, and will go from its inception June 13 2025, up to and eventually stopping at Nov 26 2025.
In the meantime, I have a lot of posts and pics and text ready, from Nov 26 to the present day, of the continuing final stages of the build, that I have not posted yet. I will start these posts on a separate 2nd
no 2 Beaver thread, so I don't get anything mixed up."
I will use the following Subject title as number 2:
"BEAVER DH C2 no 2 30 INCH RUBBER DUMAS KIT 306 Nov 25 2025 to Present"
The no 1 is the original re-post topic I am in right now:
"BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306"
That is the plan .... here goes ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
I'm just posting this to see if it works. Nest post starts with the pics.
BEAVER DH C2 no 2 30 INCH RUBBER DUMAS KIT 306 Nov 25 2025 to Present
Today is Thur Jan 1 2026
Post Reply #1 start from Tues Nov 25 2025
More progress
We planned to work on a broken stringer from too much handling, better balsa supports for the LG wire exiting the fuse, glue in six more infill planks, paint up some black marker on balsa with tan color.
Pic #1 0405 Painting tan acrylic over black marker letters, so they won't show through.
Pic #2 0406 View down the fuse center rubber motor tunnel - under the pilots' sitting plank, and under the white printer paper backside, of the photocopied Instrument Panel. Lots of room for the rubber.
Pic #3 0408 It needs a new 1/16" sq stringer where it broke off from too much handling (very light stringers), and new larger balsa supports for the LG wire at the fuse, made from some 1/8" x 1" x long balsa stock.
Pic #4 0412 The new stringer goes on the left by the Landing Gear leg.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
This thread is now posting right to the end of the build, and will include the flight reports after that.
BEAVER DH C2 no 2 30 INCH RUBBER DUMAS KIT 306 Nov 25 2025 to Present
Today is Thur Jan 1 2026
More progress
Pic #1 0414 The stringer strip and two balsa reinforcements for the LG are ready.
Pic #2 0415 Bloodroot fits the LG reinforcement.
PLANKING THE FUSE
Well, that was a lot of careful, fine filing, and fine sanding. It is so much easier when using masking tape.
Even though I have a slight raised ridge edge, left over from the sanding, very close to the same thickness as the masking tape - I folded a piece over on itself and hit it with the calipers divide by two equals 0.0040" thick tape. It is a nice finish and looks good so I will leave it that way, instead of messing it up trying to sand that last little bit off.
Pic #3 0418 Bloodroot uses the Jeweller's file, on the new balsa encasing the LG wire exit on the fuse.
Pic #4 0420 He files it from all sides. The LG fairings butt up here.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 no 2 30 INCH RUBBER DUMAS KIT 306 Nov 25 2025 to Present
Today is Thur Jan 1 2026
More progress on the fuse infill planking
Reply #3
Pic #1 0422 Two planks on the right are glued in, and the third is glued in on the left. The fourth plank on the left is ready.
Pic #2 0424 Four planks are now glued in, ready for final sanding.
Pic #3 0426 I used masking tape on the top and sides of the fuse, in order to sand the edges of the planks down close, without sanding away the rest of the model.
Pic #4 0428 This is as close as I can sand it.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 no 2 30 INCH RUBBER DUMAS KIT 306 Nov 25 2025 to Present
Today is Thur Jan 1 2026
More progress on the fuse infill planking
Reply #4
Pic #1 0431 Two planks on the right and two planks on the left, are blended in with the other fuse side planking.
Pic #2 0442 We are infill planking these two rows right up to the front.
Pic #3 0445 Mandrake gets the blocks fitted.
Pic #4 0448 The tape is rearranged, and the plank on the right is ready to glue.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 no 2 30 INCH RUBBER DUMAS KIT 306 Nov 25 2025 to Present
Today is Thur Jan 1 2026
More progress on the fuse infill planking
Reply #5
Pic #1 0454 All sanded up. Four long pointed planks are left to fit.
Pic #2 0456 These two beveled edge long slim pointed planks are fitted and ready to glue.
Pic #3 0461 They are glued in now, and not sanded yet. Two more to go.
Pic #4 0462 We decided to plank two rows each side, right up to the front. These are the two triangular holes to be filled.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Hi Richard,
great to see both topics up and running.
Regarding the reduced number of attachments from 6 to 4, I have a suggestion that might help.
Post the first 4 images with the text and then another reply with the remaining 2 images, with a simple test like "..."
They appear one after the other, the images are displayed full width anyway. Only the new post title interferes.
Then on to the next full post etc.
I cannot offer a solution about the images size, as we are going with 256kB.
Great build documentation and build, so please continue.
George
BEAVER NOV 26 TO PRESENT
Reply #7
Me to George Jan 1 2026
Hi George - thanks for the boost and the tip - you have done this before haven't you ...
If my new post title interferes with the sizes of the pics, please feel free to reduce the words if needed.
I am getting the swing hang of it now, going from 6 to 4 pics, so I am well on my way. I may just stick a subtitle in there. Yes, it is very tricky ::) to not get mixed up .... with all this posting side by side.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER NOV 26 TO PRESENT
Reply #8 Thur Jan 1 2026
More infill planking on the nose.
Pic #1 0464 The two long pointy planks standing in the front, have deep bevels sanded into the edges, and are ready to glue.
Pic #2 0470 And here they are glued in but not sanded yet.
Pic #3 0472 Right side view. All sanded up now.
Pic #4 0474 Left side view. All sanded up now.
But, we might just plank the whole nose bottom now ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER NOV 26 2025 TO PRESENT
Reply #9 Thur Jan 1 2026
More progress: Planking the Fuse Front Bottom
Pic #1 0478 Four planks.
Pic #2 0484 One plank is fitted.
Pic #3 0487 Four planks are fitted.
Pic #4 0488 All sanded up after gluing. I really did use all of these tools. Some stringers were too low to sand even with, so we just used some 1/8" round file above these stringers, and just left it as the 'corrugated' look.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER NOV 26 2025 TO PRESENT
Reply #10 Thur Jan 1 2026
Pic #1 0491 Here is the look with the Cowl on, in gracious lighting.
Pic #2 0493 View from the side.
Pic #3 0495 The belly is infill planked.
Wing Center Section Top Balsa Sheeting
Pic #4 0498 Trying to figure out the sheeting of the Wing Center Section (CS).
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER NOV 2025 TO PRESENT
Fri Jan 2 2026
Reply #11
Wing Center Section
Pic #1 0502 We will fill in those five little holes later. Those five little D7 flareing parts at the leading edge do not fit.
Pic #2 0504 Rear view check for squareness.
Pic #3 0507 Straight on view from the back.
Balsa Sheeting the Wing Center Section Top
Pic #4 0514 Here is the 60 mm x 90 mm sheet of 1/32" balsa, for sheeting the Wing upper CS.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER NOV 2025 TO PRESENT
Fri Jan 2 2026
Reply #12
Balsa Sheeting the Wing Center Section Top
Pic #1 0517 We are tracing out the rib and spar lines, and Leading Edge and Trailing Edge balsa contact points, on the CS sheet bottom. These lines will get glue on the wing CS also.
Pic #2 0520 I just brushed on some water onto the front of the underside of the CS sheet. It curled up on the front in the right direction.
The wing goes down onto those two waxed paper strips, then the CS sheet is glued on top of the wing as it site in its cradle. You can see the thinness of the 1/32" sheet, where the light shines through.
Pic #3 0521 And now it is all blocked up after gluing, to dry over night.
Pic #4 0525 View from the front.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER NOV 2025 TO PRESENT
Fri Jan 2 2026
Reply #13
Balsa Sheeting the Wing Center Section Top
We finished up the CS sheeting using 1/32" balsa.
Pic #1 0528 The CS has been sheeted. The sheet butted up nicely at the trailing edge stop. We also have a good fit at the angled LE, where the sheet angles solidly into the head rest angled roof. And .... the angled LE main gluing area, sits flush and flat to the angle on the cabin roof head rest. So we have good gluing contact at the LE and TE. We will see how it handles the landings.
Pic #2 0529 Top view of the fit. Those five little square 1/16" holes in the angled roof have been filled in. I am not using the little D7 wing leading edge fairings, that were supposed to go into these little holes.
Pic #3 0532 Front View.
Pic #4 0533 The edges are square and are too hard to sand on the CS balsa sheeting. It is all glued solid, so I will leave it like that. It will just be a utility fun plane to bash around the park anyways ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER NOV 2025 TO PRESENT
Fri Jan 2 2026
Reply #14
Balsa Sheeting the Wing Center Section Top
Pic #1 0537 Well, I did sand in a little bit of a bevel on the trailing edge. The wing is not glued down yet.
Covering the Fuse With Silkspan
Slow Progress
Pic #2 0538 I only want to cover that little long triangle, while only overlapping the 3/32" frame.
Pic #3 0542 I cut out the photocopy a little larger than the Silkspan cutout, so that I could tape it up with clear tape.
Pic #4 0546 These two are now taped up and ready to cut out.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER NOV 2025 TO PRESENT
Fri Jan 2 2026
Reply #15
Covering the Fuse Tail
Pic #1 0551 Now one Silkspan triangle, and the printer paper triangle that goes with it, are cut out.
Pic #2 0554 Now we have two exact Silkspan triangles to glue on.
Covering the Fuse With Silkspan
Pic #3 0559 Here is the two triangles.
Pic #4 0561 Plus we need a little piece around the tail wheel axle wire exit at the fuse.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER NOV 2025 TO PRESENT
Fri Jan 2 2026
Reply #16
Covering the Fuse With Silkspan
Pic #1 0563 Both small pieces are now glued on the left side of the fuse tail.
Covering the Fuse Nose Left Side
Pic #2 0566 Three small strips of Silkspan are added.
Pic #3 0571 We are not filling in the whole side of the fuse. Here are two small exact Silkspan cutouts to glue in.
Pic #4 0574 Here they are glued onto the very tail end of the right side of the fuse. This is a long process.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER NOV 2025 TO PRESENT
Fri Jan 2 2026
Reply #17
Covering the Rear Fuse
Pic #1 0577 Three small strips of Silkspan are ready to glue onto the rounded fuse edge.
Pic #2 0579 Those three strips are "placed", suing various tweezers, onto the glued framework. Hopefully the Silkspan will shrink a bit from spray misted water.
Pic #3 0581 Here we are tracing and cutting out the big triangle of Silkspan.
Pic #4 0583 Here is the fit. I have two of them ready.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER NOV 2025 TO PRESENT
Fri Jan 2 2026
Reply #18
Covering right side of the fuse
Pic #1 0587 Now glued in ... a bit wavy ... hoping for the shrink to work.
Pic #2 0589 Other side view.
Pic #3 0593 These are photocopies of the kit supplied doors and windows made with stiff paper pattern 0.0085" thick. I will be leaving these off, and going with the open cabin look.
Pic #4 0597 I am adding these two 3/32" sq strips (and two Silkspan pieces) to extend the window sill backwards.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER NOV 2025 TO PRESENT
Fri Jan 2 2026
Reply #19
Striped Strip on the Fuse Side
Pic #1 0599 Here is the check of the fuse side striped strip fit and look, on the fuse with the Cowl on.
Side Silkspan Panels
Pic #2 0603 And here are the four (two on each side) small Silkspan panels to finish off the fuse sides.
Pic #3 0607 I think I am going for this 'soft' look with no white color spray painting, and I am keeping the matching 'soft' striped strips design. And leaving all of the balsa bare.
The painting experiment showed that I cannot get a solid white using this porous Silkspan, no matter how many coats I spray.
Elastic Tie Downs for the Wing
I made small round head pin holes 0.024" for a 4" length of 1/32" wire 0.031". I was going to band down the wing while I fitted the wing struts (without gluing the wing on yet).
Pic #4 0613 The four round head pins are in the four holes.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER NOV 2025 TO PRESENT
Fri Jan 2 2026
Reply #20
Elastic Tie Downs for the Wing
Pic #1 0617 Rubber tie downs now hold the wing Center Section in place.
Pic #2 0619 Top view. I may use these rubber tie downs in addition to gluing the wing in place.
Pic #3 0622 Side view. Here you can see where I put the tiny holes.
Pic #4 0626 Long view of the work table. I can always put in the two 4 inch long 1/32" wires instead of the round head pins that are getting 'wobbly'.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Hello Fellow Modelers
In order for me to model, I must have calming orchestral modern neoclassical music in the background.
Here are a couple of songs I listen to, to take my mind off of all the chicanery.
This is my latest, "while modelling" video - one of the best song videos - a Flamenco style with a Flute and Guitar and Accordion theme, that can really compliment each other - all AI generated with all the right maestro instrumental solos on each instrument and broken chords and chord progressions and minor keys - these compositions, although artificial, really do sound excellent. And the scenic background, with the AI images of the beautiful women having fun playing these instruments, even though they are not actually playing anything near, to any of the notes, they sure do look and sound good, and convincing enough ... to make one overlook the fake AI.
Elegant Flamenco Guitar, Accordion & Flute Relaxation Fusion - Astonishing Flamenco Harmony 1:14:38
by Aria del Sol Nov 29 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFpqGrcZlFc&list=RDSFpqGrcZlFc&start_radio=1
OR
If you like the sound of the Hurdy Gurdy or the Nyckelharpa, here is a great rendition of "Last of the Mohicans" or "The Gael" or "Promontory" , one of the most moving of all songs ....
The Last Of The Mohicans - Annie Hurdy Gurdy feat. Alexander Willms (Nyckelharpa) 3:04 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iieaUv3kfBQ&list=RDiieaUv3kfBQ&start_radio=1
Back to re-posting for me ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER NOV 2025 TO PRESENT
Sat Jan 3 2026
Reply #22
Pic #1 0627 Other view with the wing and rubber tie downs on.
Fuse Silkspan Covering
Pic #2 0630 Bloodroot blocks up and tapes up the fuse. There are two strips of 3/32" sq and two small Slikspan pieces sitting on the sandpaper, ready to finish off the fuse right side.
Pic #3 0633 Mandrake checks the 'overlap' fit of the two small panels.
Pic #4 0635 Right side of fuse is finished with the covering. We are going for the 'open' look.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER NOV 2025 TO PRESENT
Fri Jan 9 2026
Reply #23
Beaver Logo #1
Sorry for the delay in posting. I got extremely "burned out" pretty quick, trying to re-post that huge detailed Beaver thread, and really, not even making a significant bit of progress. I takes way too long to do, and my 69 yr old brain cannot do it. It is way more than I bargained for. I will do what I can, if I can. Way too much stress, when I would rather be building and/or flying. In the meantime, I needed to do some building instead of just re-posting an old long thread.
I have had to jump ahead of where I left off in posting, as the model is now almost ready for assembly, and I have to decide on a Beaver Logo and Maple Leaf Roundels or not, right now.
So .... I soon worked on the Beaver Logos from where I had left off, for a whole day of artwork therapy and brain recovery, painting and experimenting and making new Logo designs and painting up the revisions. But that is the fun therapy of art work. As the famous TV Artist Bob Ross would say, "There are no mistakes - only happy accidents".
I was endeavoring to make a realistic looking Beaver Logo, with scenery, and ended up with two finalists.
I had the choices narrowed down to two - a sitting Beaver with a stick pencil outline, and the other an artist's painting pic from a coin, showing a swimming Beaver with a branch. Both pics had been "re-sized" to fit the fin/rudder, and templates made to locate the Logo in the correct spot.
Pic #1 0852 Here is where I left off.
Pic #2 0857 Finalizing the Logo fit.
Pic #3 0860 The first painted rendition.
Pic #4 0861 This one has the white border outline.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Fri Jan 9 2026
Reply #24
Beaver Logo #2
I had to try painting up one of the Beaver Logo outlines, and see if I could make it look real and presentable, and most importantly, match the color scheme. So I photocopied a bunch of pencil outlines, and got out the big bag of marker pens for the job, that I had already picked out (but forgot about)!
I made a few practice logos, and I just played around with colors all day. These are my latest renditions - I even tried putting a white border around one of the logos. The templates were indispensable for checking the fit, and the centering, and the look, of the two different logos.
So here are a some pics of the progress. Not done yet, but at least I can glue the wing and glue on the Stab and Fin/Rudder, and still add these Logos on afterwards.
I also photocopied the peel n stick decals provided in the kit, and cut out a few "soft red" color maple leafs, and a couple of wing roundels. I am not sure they match the color scheme.
I am leaning toward the colored Beaver outline Logo.
Pic #1 0864 Swimming Beaver.
Pic #2 0867 Sitting Beaver with no white border outline.
Pic #3 0873 Swimming Beaver.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Fri Jan 9 2026
Reply #25
Beaver Logo #3
The pictures tell the story. I am still not done yet, as I have a list of corrections to make on the next illustration revision. First I thickened up the outlines with a black 0.5 mm Studio Gel pen. The brown strokes of the marker used for the fur, really depend on direction of the actual fur.
I have the sky, the mountains, the forests, and the Beaver and his stick figured out. Just a couple more experiments coloring up the water and the grass should finish it off.
Here is my to do list for the next iterations:
Throat/arm black ink missed
Back foot is missing
Add brown to the ears
Blend brown from the forearms to the hands
Too much fur is extending from forearms to the hands by the log
Need more water under the tail - two colors blue
Darken the whiskers - no pencil
The lighter sky blue is the Staedtler blue marker
Fur direction at the bottom of the big foot
Tail center tailbone hump and checker board pattern
Pic #1 0876 Decal photocopies added for partial roundels on the wings (the blue outline was thinned), and smaller dull red maple leafs on the tail.
Pic #2 0881 Another view of above.
Pic #3 0883 The progress so far. Maybe it is too cluttered now. The two sitting Beaver Logos will be repainted again with those final improvements.
It is 58 deg F (14 deg C) here and very windy - no snow left - it was a green Xmas. I better get the Beaver assembled and those Landing Gear Fairings fitted .... we might have a "warm up" .....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Looks lovely Richard.
Thanks George! I am set up to re-paint the sitting Beavers Logos for final use. Oh yes, and fitting the Landing Gear Fairings, and fitting the struts, to do yet.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Sun Jan 11 2026
Reply #26
This is the continuing build onwards from the Nov 26 2025 Crash.
Back to more progress, after/from, Reply #22
Pic #1 0637 I drilled extra holes for the rubber motor peg that I won/t need, so I sanded up a couple of plugs out of soft balsa.
Pic #2 0639 The left hole is plugged.
Pic #3 0641 The fuse is now covered except for the bottom. Straight on look.
Pic #4 0649 Straight on with the cowl and prop.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Sun Jan 11 2026
Reply #27
More Fuse Covering
Pic #1 0652 This is bottom is what is left to cover with Silkspan.
Pic #2 0654 Five panels are glued on and two are ready to go.
Pic #3 0656 The big triangle of Silkspan is ready to glue.
Pic #4 0658 And three more panels ...
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Sun Jan 11 2026
Reply #28
Pic #1 0660 The fuse is now covered in lite "Silkspan" - not shrunk yet. There are high hopes for the shrinking.
Pic #2 0661 Lighting up the inside of the fuse experiment.
Pic #3 0664 View from the rear.
Pic #4 0667 The Silkspan was just spray misted with water.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Sun Jan 11 2026
Reply #30
Replacement of Small Silkspan panel on the
Wing
Pic #1 0673 The old torn and wrinkled panel was cut out. A new Silkspan panel is cut out with an 'extension' of silkspan, for pinning down.
Pic #2 0676 This is why I cut out the silkspan extension. The panel is lined up and pinned down. It turns out I left a little too much silkspan at the sides' overlap on the ribs. I could have made it more exact, but now I know better, besides, there will be a lot more repairs once I start flying it.
Pic #3 0680 Here the panel on the wing is now glued up.
Since we got the fuse covered, all that is left to cover is the underside of the wing. Before doing that, it is time to fit the wing struts to the fuse and wing. Then before I glue the struts, I have to glue on the fuse side those blue striped strips, using the two fuse side templates. I also have to finalize the striped strip placements on the wing and stab and fin/rudder. So I need lots of mock up/fit pics.
Here is the progress so far.
Pic #4 0684 The fuse is now finished covering with Lite Silkspan. Right side view. Those are two serious looking airmen.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Sun Jan 11 2026
Reply #31
Pic #1 0687 Parts so far - forgot the tail bush wheel.
Pic #2 0693 The motor is loaded, and held up front by a hard cross piece of balsa. Note the white string attached to the rubber motor.
Pic #3 0695 The striped strip fits nicely underneath the 1/8" hardwood dowel. There is the tail bush wheel, and the two struts for the wing to fuse.
I made a nice elevated stand for the plane.
Pic #4 0698 The wing struts have already been fitted to the fuse, but not to the wing pockets yet.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Sun Jan 11 2026
Reply #32
More progress.
Pic #1 0702 Front view. They are about an inch too long at the wing pocket, which is a good thing ....
Pic #2 0705 The prop and cowl are on, and here is the fit of the beefed-up landing gear fairings, and wing and stab and fin/rudder.
Pic #3 0708 Here is the striping design. There are 16 strips.
Pic #4 0712 This is the rear view of the striping design.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Sun Jan 11 2026
Reply #33
More progress.
Pic #1 0714 And my better pic from the front. (straight stripes but I forgot the spinner)
Pic #2 0718 This view has the silver morning spinner.
I actually pulled out the coffee pin jars and tried a rough check on the Center of Gravity . It was amazingly close with the weight of that plastic nose spinner. More to come .... It all fell apart just like a house of cards, because of the "weakened" tape I used to hold it all together - I could not get a pic in time. That is OK. It is a comfort to know that it may not need much clay ballast weight if at all ....
Fuse Side Blue Striped Strips
Pic #3 0726 I have two templates already made, and plenty of striped strips already made.
Pic #4 0729 Here the template has been cut up and positioned on the left side fuse.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
I also have one of those same kits built and finished as a Canadian Forces Search and Rescue bird. I love those Dumas kits. Your bird looks like it will be a real flier.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Mon Jan 12 2026
Reply #35
Hi Gravitywell (Glen? I think). Thanks for the complement. Nice to hear from you in the new HPA. Feel free to post in a pic of your Beaver here if you like.
Fuse Side Striped Strips
Pic #1 0732 The left side stripe is glued on with Studio Glue Stick. I smear on the glue from the top of the glue tube, liberally enough, to then quickly smear it out all evenly with my finger tip. Lay it down quick, and trust the glue, even if you think it might not be enough - it will be. On the other hand, you can lift this side strip of glued up printer paper striped strips, quite easily, and re-glue it again and then re-apply it again to the fuse (if it is out of position).
Pic #2 0739 The template is off. I made sure I had just a touch of "overlap", of the striped strip, wrap around the front edge of the nose. Little things.
The right side Fuse strip is almost ready. I just have to cut up this template like the other template.
Pic #3 0741 The right template is cut up to fit around the fuse.
Pic #4 0744 The right template is now held in its correct spot, a couple of more test placements, and then glue the side strip in the exact same way.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Mon Jan 12 2026
Reply #36
Striped Strips on Fuse Sides
Pic #1 0746 All glued in now.
Pic #2 0748 That stiff printer paper striped strip does not glue around the bends of the tail tip. I tried to paint it up with acrylic paint to match the colored stripe strips.
Covering the Wing Bottom
I am covering the wing bottoms, before fitting the wing struts.
Pic #3 0750 We are using Silkspan panels to cover four bays at a time, not the whole wing panel at a time.
Pic #4 0752 Left wing bottom is covered now, and sheets of Silkspan are readied for the right wing.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Mon Jan 12 2026
Reply #37
Here are some better pics of the paint job on the tail end, to match the colored striped strips. Little things ....
Pic #1 0906
Pic #2 0917
Pic #3 0918
Pic #4 0919
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Mon Jan 12 2026
Reply #38
Pic #1 0756 The wing is now covered, and the whole model is now covered with Silkspan.
Start of striped strips on the Fin/Rudder
The object was to just cover the tissue, and not to cover the balsa outline.
Pic #2 0759 Striped strips for the Fin/Rudder
Pic #3 0766 Mandrake lays in a striped strip to mark it in order to cut it to size.
Pic #4 0768 The Fin/Rudder gets firmed up. Now the cut marks will be made with pencil.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Mon Jan 12 2026
Reply #39
More progress ....
Pic #1 0775 This is an early mock up with the striped strips. The fin/rudder has its stripes glued on now. Notice how the strips do not extend into the balsa of the Leading Edge and Trailing Edges of the wing and stab. I like that look, and .... it saves me a lot of grief trying to wrap those strips around to the other side, and lining them up.
Stab Strips
Pic #2 0778 All glued up in this position on the stab.
Wing Strips
Pic #3 0780 From the wingtip going in, Bays 3 and 5 get the striping eventually glued in this position.
Pic #4 0784 This pic has the placement in bays 2 and 5 for comparison. I chose the 3 and 5 placement - which would actually leave enough room at the wingtip for a red Canadian Maple Leaf decal.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Mon Jan 12 2026
Reply #40
Moving right along ....
Pic #1 0788 Another view of the bay 2 and bay 5 strip positioning (that I did not use - I used 3 and 5).
Pic #2 0790 The wing top strips are glued in place at 3 and 5. This studio glue stick draws in that printer paper used for the strips, just right.
Pic #3 0792 Stab strips are glued.
Pic #4 0795 Fin/Rudder fit to the stab for white gluing - first we need a lot of round head pin holes where the gluing surfaces meet.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Mon Jan 12 2026
Reply #41
More ....
Pic #1 0799 Here are the assemblies so far. White light.
Pic #2 0801 And the view from the other side. White light.
Pic #3 0803 Straight on view with warm yellow light.
Pic #4 0806 And yellow light again.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #42
Tue Jan 13 2026 Update
Well I have completed posting, what I have continued building, since the crash of Nov 26 2025 at which time, I had most of the Beaver done, and I am now caught up on this thread (Beaver Nov 26 2025 to Present).
I have started re-posting the long, detailed, original Beaver build which was lost in the crash, but I am sort of hoping that the "Archive", complete "with pictures", becomes available, from which to copy and paste, into the current, new, HPA site run by George Kandylakis. I fully agree, George, with your selections of categories on your website hpa.aeromodeling.gr .
So here is a pic of where I left off.
Pic #1 0810 A little bit of see through lighting.
I photocopied the decal sheet again, so I can cut out better Logo roundels and maple leafs.
Plus I got everything ready for the final painting of two symmetrical Beaver Logos.
1 Glue the wing
2 Fit and glue the wing struts
3 Glue the Landing Gear Fairings
4 Glue the stab/fin rudder assy
5 Look at the rubber wing tie-downs again.
6 Make a new winding stooge, or just add larger/higher, vertical wall "ears", to hold the fuse rear peg tube.
7 Bench test some motor runs
Assemble and balance the Beaver. Test glide on the bed.
Take pics of ....
1 Fuse side views with loaded prop shaft and various shims I made, and measure the downthrust angle. There is already down thrust that I built in. I just have not measured the built in downthrust, and neither have I measured the downthrust angle made by the different shims.
2 Hook everything up and take pics without the decals, and take pics with the decals (not glued). I plan on flying it first before adding the decals.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #43
Wed Jan 14 2026
New Beaver Logos and Roundels and Maple Leafs
I tried making a better set, by using a circle template and a glass tube pepper shaker and its cap and lid, by tracing the outlines of the circles with a thin shiny gray pencil line. I needed these lines to get an accurate circle cutout using small curved cuticle scissors. Tiny little final thin snips, with these scissors, would visually bring the circle's final shape into form, close enough to the actual radius line.
Pic #1 0925 Mandrake traces just the white outline.
Pic #2 0931 The circle template holes were too small. The salt shaker bottle, and the cap and the lid, had the right size.
Pic #3 0934 The maple leafs are cut out nicer for the stab and fin/rudder.
Pic #4 0936 And the four roundels for the wing are now cut out. They are all done now ready to glue much later.
Next the final two painted Beaver Logos will finish the scheme.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #44
Thur Jan 15 2026
Final rendition of the Beaver Logos
Well, .... I had to work on the land in the foreground, and work on the water colors.
Here is my setup for artwork. This was a long time coming. I used extra outline copies and different color combinations for these small Beaver Logos. I got the middle Beaver, of the three Beavers in a column on the right, completed and finished and done, and all I have to do now, is cut it out. I still have to color the left side of fuse, Beaver Logo, on the left column middle.
The first thing I did was use 0.5 mm Studio gel marker and thickened and darkened the outlines (grayscale of 6 ), into solid black (grayscale of 1). White is grayscale 10.
Pic #1 0940 I will color the two outlines that have their latest colored rendition right beside the outline.
Pic #2 0943 My work table set up. The two outline sheets are scotch taped in place, ready to paint.
Pic #3 0946 Close up. Getting the colors ready.
Pic #4 0949 This is a quick check of the Logo look with just the outline and the maple leaf.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #45
Thur Jan 15 2026
Final rendition of the Beaver Logos
Pic #1 0952 The two good outlines now have their lines thickened up now.
Pic #2 0955 And here is the finished result of the right facing Beaver Logo, incorporating all of the little corrections which were made.
Pic #3 0962 Closeup of the finished Beaver Logo, in white light.
Pic #4 0965 And a closeup of the finished Beaver Logo in yellow light.
The left facing Beaver is next. It should go smoothly, now that the coloring is all figured out.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
artwork :)
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #47
Thur Jan 15 2026
I got the two Beaver Logos colored up.
Pic #1 0970 This is the left side Beaver Logo in the middle, partially colored in. Yellow lighting.
Pic #2 0974 Same as above, but using white light.
Pic #3 0976 And the left side Beaver Logo is now done. But I did add little corrections, after staring at it .... with the other logos beside it ....
Pic #4 0979 Closeup of the final left side Beaver Logo.
It worked out OK. I made photocopies, which came out not as bright as the original - I may just use the "dull" photocopies, as they are a much better match for the dull color scheme, of the Beaver overall.
I just have to cut them out using the templates for the fin/rudder.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #48
Fri Jan 16 2026
Cutting Out the Beaver Logos and Finalizing Their Positions
There was a lot involved with the Logo shapes and positioning. I cut out two photocopies of the enlarged oversized Logos, pulled out the Fin/Rudder Templates and two small maple leaf Logos, and test fit it all together, while trying to get even spacing.
Useful markers include the horizontal white sand beach in the distance, which was marked onto the templates. Also, the vertical direction of the maple leafs were key also, with the outer white circle and the tip of the maple leaf being marked on the templates. And we have the front/rear location just to the rear of the hill in the distance.
They look really good, and I am tempted to glue them on right now, but I am forcing myself to wait 'til later ....
Pic #1 0986 yellow light Here you can see the dull photocopies compared to the originals.
Pic #2 0988 white light And these two cutouts of the dull photocopy will be selected and fitted to shape.
Pic #3 0990 Here we have the Beaver Logo nicely cut out and angled to fit into it's spot.
Pic #4 0993 And here is the final template notes for the locations. These two Beaver Logos are now ready to glue on later ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #49
Sat Jan 17 2026
Winding Stooge and Bench Motor Runs
I thought I needed a new winding stooge for the Beaver, since I raised the rear dowel higher and closer to the front of the plane.
The stooge 'ears' were too low. Luckily, the base floor of the stooge was a double plate of 1/2" ply hardwood flooring. I was able to unscrew and remove that top plate, which made the stooge fit the fuse.
Pic #1 1001 The new Beaver fuse is in the old Winding Stooge. The hole in the winding stooge is in the upper right - you can see the 1/16" hole with white light shining through, that takes the 3/64" length of music wire going through the ears and the 1/8" rear peg aluminum tube.
Pic #2 1003 To make the Stooge "fit" the fuse, the top wooden plate, with the black foam, was removed from the stooge, and a felt insole was nailed on top of the remaining floor bottom plate of the stooge.
Pic #3 1005 The peg is now raised about one quarter inch or so, and the fuse fits now.
Pic #4 1017 Here, the new aluminum 1/8" diam tube is installed. It all fits nicely together.
Stooge ear wall internal separation = 85 mm
1/8" alum tube length = 80mm
Outside fuse diameter at rear peg = 60 mm
Next up, some rubber motor test runs ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #50
Sat Jan 17 2026
Winding Stooge
Here are some old Winding Stooge pics from the good ol' days on the Cricket Field, with my good flying pal "Trapper", who came along on every flight session.
Pic #1 4901 Winding up the 22" Sig Cabinaire. I got 62 sec with this plane.
Pic #2 4911 The 'old' winding stooge.
Pic #3 4912 Different view.
Pic #4 4913 Bottom side. Heavy duty.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #51
Sat Jan 17 2026
Winding Stooge
And four more pics.
Pic #1 4915 This one has the wire in it, between the ears for the rear peg tube of the fuse.
Pic #2 4917 You can see the wire in this one too.
Pic #3 Flying List just a basic list.
Pic #4 Sept 11 2017 The Cricket Field in full thick grass.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #52
Sun Jan 18 2026
Rubber Motor Testing - Stretch winding 'til they break
Pic #1 1020 Previously, four rubber motors were tied up and kite string added. Two seven inch strands of a 3/16" ribber motor are in the Beaver.
Pic #2 1023 Whrrrrrrrrrr ... . seven seconds.
Pic #3 1028 New rear peg aluminum tube, seven inches back. You can see the built in down thrust here too.
Pic #4 1032 Time to make up some rubber motors - and stretch wind these test motors to snake-coil failure using 10:1 and/or 15:1 winders from Volare Products - also the rubber.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #53
Mon Jan 19 2026
Rubber Motors
Now that the Beaver fuse fits in the Winding Stooge properly, I turned my attention to the test runs of the rubber motors.
I stretched the motors to break them in, but I am not lubing the motors because that is too much oil splatter slop inside of the fuselage. Besides, we're not going for records, just some short flights and small park bashing around, hoping to get a full circle when eventually trimmed out.
Pic #1 1035 Rubber stretcher, home made.
Pic #2 1037 There are directions on the stretcher.
Pic #3 1039 Rubber Turns chart.
Pic #4 1041 Two Winders from Volare Products.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #54
Mon Jan 19 2026
Finger Winding the Motor Run
Two strands (one 'loop' in English) 3/16" Wide 7" long
- just two of rows of knots by finger - it really needs stretch winding ...
80 finger winds = 3 sec spinning prop
100 finger winds = 5 sec spinning prop
Brake Turns
Stretch Winding the Rubber motor to Breaking Failure using a 10:1 crank handle Winder
Two strands (one 'loop' in Britland English) 3/16" Wide 7" long
Results
1 560 winds 56 hand crank circles
2 600 winds 60 hand crank circles
3 630 winds 63 hand crank circles
The "Book Value", from my Don Ross Book, for the number of "brake" turns, is 84 turns per inch TPI of the motor - the motor is 7 inches long , so 84 x 7 = 588 total winds, that will break the rubber, in theory. The book value is plus or minus 10%, by the way, so there is that ....
For calculating the number of 'safe turns', I will go with my "lowest" break turns of 560, and just wind in a safe 80% (not 90%), of those 560 turns = 448 turns or 450 turns, same thing.
Pic #1 1042 Two strands 3/16" wide rubber motor, seven inches long.
Pic #2 1046 Two strand and four strand motors.
Pic #3 1048 Motors getting stretched.
Pic #4 1052 Torque turn chart.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #55
Mon Jan 19 2026
Rubber Motors
So, I can now safely wind up the Beaver, in the Stooge, up to 45 cranks (450 winds) on the 10:1 Winder handle, without fear of the rubber motor exploding inside the fuselage.
I also tried to stretch wind a motor made of four strands 3/16" Wide 7" long. I was only able to crank in 200 Winder winds all my might - I stopped before breaking the handle - it was impossible to turn the handle any more !! This is way too powerful of a motor. So, I just took it apart.
I should try, as my next step, testing to failure, a four strand 1/8" seven inch long, rubber motor Book value 58 x 7 = 406 turns to breaking
Pic #1 1055 Three motors to use for trimming plus some calculations.
Pic #2 1057 Bob Ross' "Rubber Turns and Torque" chart.
Pic #3 1015 Crumbled up bread crumbs for my speedy sparrows.
Pic #4 1051 We had a 5" snow dump five days ago, and we are in the 'deep freeze' now.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #56
Thur Jan 22 2026
Hub Caps for the Wheels
I made up a bunch of hubcaps for the 3/64" 0.047" Landing Gear Wire. They were really hard to punch out those 0.0085" thick clear plastic plates with that punch.
I had to use the yellow pliers to close the jaws of that paper punch, because it was too hard by hand. Two types of scissors were needed to cut off the extra flash deformities on the plate edges. It is impossible to find these little clear plates when they go flying off ...
They are press fit onto the wire, and are really snug at first. I fear they may fly off on landings, and I may be forced to use some Cyano Acrylate Super glue on them.
Pic #1 1061 Time to clean the building board.
Pic #2 1071 The order of assembly.
Pic #3 1074 Four good new hubcaps are done and pinned down.
Pic #4 1078 Nine are done now - plus a few bad ones.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #57
Thur Jan 22 2026
Hub Caps for the Wheels
We got about six junk hubcaps and 25 good ones. I had to use the needlenose pliers to dig out some of those bad plates, from inside the punch. Now I can fully assemble the model.
There is a covex and a concave side to each hubcap. The inside side of the hubcap, on the axle, is the convex side.
Pic #1 1084 Mandrake eyeballs the round head pin point, presses down on the hubcap, and shoves the pin through.
Pic #2 1090 Bloodroot chases the round head pin hole, larger, with a 1/32" 0.031" drill bit.
Pic #3 1087 Bloodroot presses down on the hubcap so it won't spin, while Mandrake spins in the #59 drill bit for final enlargement.
Pic #4 1093 25 hubcaps are done, 6 are scrap. I still have a small piece of clear plastic to cut more hubcaps out of.
Next up : Start assembling the model, and make a table stooge for the fuse, and do some real timed motor runs.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Tremendous amount of really good info. Thanks so much. I think a lot of it will translate to my next Beaver (I have already built one Dumas Beaver but its static).
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #58
Fri Jan 23 2026
Hi Glen Gravitywell and thanks for the nice reply. :) Good luck with your next "flying" Beaver. Please feel free to post a pic of your current, 'static' Beaver, right here if you want. I currently have pics of a Beaver from two current HPA members, Joe H, and Pete Fardell - see Pic #1.
I get some good ideas and tips from pics of previous models - especially Pete's built-up half-motor (?) for his Radial Beaver ....
Pic #1 1128 Joe H Beaver blue and white
Pete Fardell Beaver orange red and white
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #60
Fri Jan 23 2026
Testing the Shims
There are four small quarter moon tapered shims. #1 is thinnest to #4 thickest. Each shim is thicker at the top and thinner at the bottom, on the same shim.
There are also three large full size shims to test also.
I should be able to measure the down thrust angle results from the pics.
Pic #1 1107 The fours small shims, and three full size shims, are ready for bench testing ....
Pic #2 1098 There is some downthrust already built-in , with no shims present.
Pic #3 1101 Small shim #1 is installed, increasing the down thrust angle of the prop shaft.
Pic #4 1102 A second small #2 shim is added to the first. You can see the top thickness of the shim is increasing, as the shim # gets higher.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #61
Sat Jan 24 2026
Testing the Shims
Pic #1 1104 And here are three shims stuffed in there - this is the max space allowed, as this is all starting to pull the tenon nose block out of the fuse nose mortise - good thing that I had extended that nose block in the first place, to get this much stacking of the shims.
Pic #2 1110 I plan on covering the bottom corners with tan esaki where the wood is thin.
Pic #3 1113 My setup.
Pic #4 1116 I used Studio Glue Stick, but I don't think it worked too well. I might try white glue on the other side.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #62
Sat Jan 24 2026
Testing the Shims
Pic #1 1117 The plan is to glue these tan tissue strips over the weak bottom corners of the full size shim.
Pic #2 1122 This is the result. I just have to snip off the excess tissue.
Pic #3 1123 I decided to add more strips of esaki tissue to the other side also. This time we are using white glue, which worked better than the Studio Glue Stick.
Pic #4 1128 Pic of two beavers pinned onto my building board plan.
On the left is Joe H's (anyone know where Joe H is ?) blue Beaver flown without wheels, and on the right is Pete Fardell's award winning Beaver in red yellow and white.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #63
Sat Jan 24 2026
Testing the Shims
Pic #1 1130 We are gluing on reinforcing tissue strips on the other side also now, with a different set up. The "master" file folder cardboard ( 0.011" thick), full size shim, is sitting partly in, and around, the tenon of the noseblock.
Pic #2 1132 Here you can see the tan colored strips that were glued on, and trimmed up, and slightly sanded at the tight spots. Now all three full size shims fit smoothly onto the nose block.
Pic #3 1134 Here full size #1 is carefully slipped all the way onto the noseblock tenon.
Pic #4 1135 And here is the test fit of #1 full size shim.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #64
Sat Jan 24 2026
Testing the Full Size Shims
Pic #1 1141 Full size #1 plus #2 shims together.
Pic #2 1145 Full size #1 and #2 and #3 shims together.
Pic #3 1147 Aerial side view of the downthrust from three maxed out shims.
And that is it for the shims.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #65
Sun Jan 25 2026
Wing Mount
Well, here is a setback at a very difficult spot to fix up, now that the fuse is all done. In all of the handling and changing of motors, I heard a crack, and I found it. Part B5. The slanted roof headboard -slash- Leading Edge Wing Stop/Rest, now had a shear break at the left side corner. This is actually a big deal, and deserves a similar response ....
Pic #1 1150 Here is the crack on B5, just to the right of the near pilot's head.
Pic #2 1151 Another view of the crack. I moved it out of its resting perfect fit for the pic. I white glued it back in the exact place, perfectly I think (the surface must be flush for the doubler).
Pic #3 1155 I made some photocopies of part B5. I cut out a 'rough' file folder doubler, from the cardboard, and it is sitting in its spot just above the pilots' heads. The bottom of the very outside legs, will be extended down a bit further.
Pic #4 1158 Here is a side view of that eleven thou thick cardboard doubler. The final one will have that missing extension on the bottom right.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #66
Sun Jan 25 2026
Wing Mount
More progress.
Good thing that I found this out now, as I was always worried about that B5 part, and how it would hold up in a hard landing. I worked all day on this critical wing mount. I photocopied a bunch of B5 photocopies from the original laser cut balsa sheets photocopies. Through several iterations, I finally got some exact fitting templates.
Part B5 needed further strengthening, after re-gluing the shear break. The plan was to white-glue onto the front of B5, a "doubler" of 0.011" thick file folder cardboard, the same size as the B5 part. It is a tight fit, almost touching the back of the pilots heads. In order to glue the cardboard doubler, in its place and flat, I went to the trouble to make two extra 1/16" thick balsa clamping plates, to sandwich the B5 and the carboard doubler together, while it dried. Small clamps should hold it together. I may put another doubler on the other side of B5 (the LE side), after we see how the wing will accommodate the second doubler, that will cause the narrowing of 0.011" from LE to TE chord.
Pic #1 1161 Cutting out more doublers and taping them onto the file folder cardboard. The revision is penciled in for the extended legs. I cut it out wrong, so I then highlighted the part outline yellow, and cut it out on the correct lines ....
Pic #2 1163 Test fit of these small clamps, on the doubler and B5 only. Now we have to work on the balsa outside clamping plates (same shape as the doubler).
Pic #3 1167 This is the first rushed failed attempt at a 1/16" balsa doubler clamping plate. It broke in the same spot.
Pic #4 1169 Sitting on the big balsa block on the left, are two finished 1/16" balsa clamping plates, cut out and sanded to size, and fitted on both sides (different) of the B5 part.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #67
Sun Jan 25 2026
Wing Mount
More progress. Ready to glue.
Pic #1 1171 Here is the final cardboard doubler. It has the 1/16" sq center notch on top. This notch is for a 1/16" sq balsa brace for the windshield, extending down to the cowl from this notch.
Pic #2 1177 Completed parts. Two 1/16" balsa doubler clamping plates, and one 11 thou cardboard doubler (has the side legs extended down) for the front of B5 .
Pic #3 1178 Big snowstorm blowing across eastern North America. Bitter cold and blowing snow out here in the southern Great lakes region. We are getting another 5 inches of snow on top of the last 5" dump that never melted. My modelling buddies show up for food like clockwork - there is about 40 or 50 of them.
Pic #4 1179 One slice of bread per day for these House Sparrows. Who knows what they eat during the snow like this .... 14 deg F feels like minus 9 deg F, winds 15 mph gusting to 22 mph or
minus 10 deg C feels like minus 23 deg C , winds 24 km/hr gusting to 36 km/hr
Good day for modelling .... :)
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #68
Wed Jan 28 2026
Wing Mount
I am at a a real critical stage with the wing mount to the fuselage in my 30" Beaver. The fuse sides' top rail 'saddle', is not flush with the wing bottom - there is a long sliver of light shining through the same on both sides - it needs a long thin strip of balsa 1/32" x 3/32", tapered from the middle to a fine point on both end tips. These will be glued directly on top of the two 3/32" sq side rails of the fuse saddle, before adding the wing, to fill the gap. I also have to reinforce the slanted roof/headrest/wing leading edge stop B5, that sits right above the pilots' heads. I broke this B5 piece in a complete shear at the weak right corner bend (which I was able to glue back into its finger inter-locking place - I hope).
So and so forth, I have been working on a "doubler" to glue on to the front face of B5, to strengthen it up for the hard landings. Well , I think I changed my mind about the cardboard doubler. With the Beaver fully secured and not moving, we tried a lot of test fitting of parts to reinforce the wing mount front LE stop, and to get the wing to sit flat, on the fuse top side rails.
I think I will actually use the front 1/16" thick hard balsa clamping plate, that is already the same shape as B5, and use that plate as the "doubler" , since it fits so well, barely, above the pilot's heads.
Pic #1 1182 After securely blocking up the Landing Gear wire axles, Mandrake and Bloodroot give the fuse the wiggle test.
Pic #2 1186 Here we are making 0.011" thick cardboard doublers, in the shape of part B5. Also two balsa 1/16" clamping plates are also made.
Pic #3 1189 Here are some final good pieces to check. Two cardboard doublers for the rear of B5, and one cardboard doubler for the front of B5.
Pic #4 1192 Here we are just using the front and back 1/16" balsa clamping plates, alone, to see the fit.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Those nose shim ideas are really cool. Will have to try that on the next radial build.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #70
Wed Jan 28 2026
Thanks Glen.
Wing Mount
More progress.
Pic #1 1197 The wing now sits too high, when adding the rear 1/16" clamping plate. This would be a good way of increasing the angle of attack.
Pic #2 1209 Two thin strips for the tops of the fuse side wing saddle, are sitting on the sheeted center section. One side is flat, and it gets glued down onto the 3/32" sq of the fuse side wall top rail. A taper from the middle to the edge points, has been sanded in. Hopefully, this will glue more contact surface with the wing bottom, instead of just the Leading Edge and Trailing edge being glued.
Pic #3 1212 Here we are testing the gluing setup for those two balsa strips on the left. I'm trying to insure that it is glued all the way.
Pic #4 1218 I just stuck some weight onto some balsa cross pieces. All glued up now and weighted down with just the right amount of coin weights.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #71
Sun Feb 1 2026
Wing Mount
More progress.
Well, those thin balsa strips glued up well. I did a lot of test fitting to see if the wing sits flat on all four sides' gluing surfaces. I did do a touch of sanding, and now it seems to contact all four sides.
I have decided on gluing the front 1/16" balsa clamping plate to the front of B5, and I will also glue on a 0.011" file folder cardboard 'doubler' to the back of B5.
They now seem to fit just right. See Pic #4 1126
Pic #1 1221 This pic shows the thin (barely visible) eleven thou cardboard doubler, between B5 and the Center Section Leading Edge.
Pic #2 1220 snip Here is the close up of the tight fit.
Pic #3 1224 And here is the rear view.
Pic #4 1226 Overview of fit with wing.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #72
Sun Feb 1 2026
Wing Mount
More progress.
Pic #1 1227 The side wing saddle strips on top, give a tighter fit to the wing bottom.
Pic #2 1229 You can still see a little bit of light, but it is a lot less than it was.
Pic #3 1232 A little bit of coins' weight, actually holds down the test fit flush all around.
Pic #4 1235 The front 1/16" B5 doubler is sanded and fitted into place.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Looks like you got the downthrust built in. Nice!
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #74
Sun Feb 1 2026
Wing Mount
More progress.
Thanks Ekram! Those three full size shims are not glued in place - they are just stacked together to show the maximum downthrust available. I also have four little quarter moon replaceable partial shims of different sizes to experiment with, before finalizing with a full size shim, but none of them need to be glued in place, as I have the rubber motor under constant tension at rest, holding the nose plug in tight, at all times.
I will start trimming tosses with no shims, as I already have a slight built-in down thrust into the nose cowl, and I think I have a slight increase of angle of incidence in the wing mount. The original horizontal thrust line Datum of this model is straight down the fuse from the prop shaft, with no built-in downthrust at all.
Pic #1 1236 Test fit with the rear 1/16" Clamping plate. Checking the clothes pins' positioning.
Holes For The Wing Tie Downs
Pic #2 1239 I chased out four holes for the 1/16" aluminum tubes that hold the tie-down elastics.
Pic #3 1241 The two alum tubes are in place on the fuse.
Pic #4 1242 I think I found the limits, of my ancient digital camera closeups.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #75
Mon Feb 2 2026
Elastic Tie Downs
More progress.
Pic #1 1244 Right side rear view of the elastic tie downs.
Pic #2 1246 Front right view of the elastics.
Wing Mount
Pic #3 1252 The thin 0.011" cardboard doubler get glued in place with a clamping plate holding it tight to
B5 where the glue is. And the 1/16" doubler for the front of B5 is also glued in place.
Pic #4 1253 Here is the result. Nice and flat and really increasing the strength of B5.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #76
Mon Feb 2 2026
Wing Mount
More progress.
Pic #1 1257 The left pilot got knocked off in all of this, because the Studio Glue Stick did not work. I sanded up the white pilot's base and the flat of the balsa pedestal, and used five minute epoxy to glue it back on.
Pic #2 1258 The pilot is glued in, and the angled Windshield Center Frame Post is now glued in place.
Pic #3 1263 And here is the final fit of the wing left side view.
Pic #4 1267 Right side view of the final wing fit.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #77
Mon Feb 2 2026
I think I have almost all of the major hurdles done. I took everything apart and cleaned the building board.
Today I worked on the prop hook and nose cone spinner. The bend of the prop wire had to be snipped shorter a couple of times, to stop it from interfering with the inside wall of that plastic spinner.
There was a suspect vibration in the prop spinning trials. I have the rubber hook of the prop wire, squeezed into an oval, whose bend epicenter, was not in line with the straight wire prop shaft. I also widened the prop wire hook opening a bit, while I bent that oval center in line with the prop shaft. It slides in and out of the Cowl hole for the thrust button bearing, for ease of prop and motor assembly and dis-assembly.
Pic #1 1268 Partial Assembly.
Pic #2 1273 Rear rubber tie down.
Pic #3 1274 This pic shows the modern day, nose down vintage "jet thrust vectoring" , of the three full size shims.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #78
Mon Feb 2 2026
So now I want to make a table top bench stooge to test these motors and the spinner. I have been trying to sand the tight spinner blade slots, so that I can squeeze the prop hub base blades, fully into the spinner, and stay stuck there, but to no avail - as the hub will still want to slip out a little further, where it won't stay stuck at all while spinning.
Now that I have the fuse disassembled:
Check some flimsy thin clear plastic for a windscreen?
Build a table stooge and test some motor runs, with and without shims.
Take some assembly pics without the decals.
Glue on all of the decals and logos.
Glue the wing down - it's ready to glue.
Fit and glue the wing struts.
Glue the landing gear fairings - recheck that final fit.
Glue on the tail assembly.
Assemble the bush wheels.
Load a rubber motor and check the Center Of Gravity. Balance, without the spinner, and with the spinner.
Test glides with 15 - 20 turns on the prop.
Pic #1 1279 Man in the Moon, Full Moonrise at 64 degrees over the building board 5:37 PM Sun Feb 1 2026.
Pic #2 1286 Work on the prop shaft and spinner. I had a spare prop to work with also ....
Pic #3 1289 The hook bend is now opened and in line with the prop shaft.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #79
Thur Feb 5 2026
Table Top Bench Winding Stooge
I definitely want to try some stretch winded rubber motors on my new table stooge.
Pic #1 1291 Here I am trying to figure out the best positioning of the walls (ears), and the wood 2 x 4 , with the yellow styrofoam pad as the center fuse support.
Pic #2 1295 Here the holes are drilled in the stooge ear walls for the 3/64" wire.
Pic #3 1297 View down the fuse.
Pic #4 1299 Here is the final shape using two pads - the yellow pad, and a black soft foam pad cut from a hand/wrist cushion for a computer mouse.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #80
Thur Feb 5 2026
Table Top Bench Winding Stooge
Pic #1 1302 Here the nose cowl and the wing is added. The cowl must hang past the table edge for the spinning prop.
Pic #2 1306 The pads are sitting at just the right supporting height. The raised "hump" of that mouse pad, supports the curved uprising rear fuse bottom, just right.
Pic #3 1309 Here is the good final setup. The 2 x 4 wood support for the fuse is nailed in place.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #81
Thur Feb 5 2026
Table Top Bench Winding Stooge
Pic #1 1311 Top view.
Pic #2 1312 Rear view.
Pic #3 1318 Spinning prop blowing two tissue strips backwards, weakly, with the propwash wind.
80 finger winds = two rows of knots on the 7" two strand 3/16" rubber motor = about seven seconds prop run.
Next is stretch winding some motors ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Did you enlarge the stab?
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #83
Fri Feb 6 2026
Testing Rubber Motors Runs by Stretch Winding with the Table Stooge
Trial #1
I tried some stretch winds first using a two strand, 3/16" 0.0188", seven inches long motor. Rubber cross section is 0.375" ( two times 0.0188 ). It was a lot of good practice switching out motors, handling the rubber and stretch winding, while in the stooge, better than in the field ....
Stretch winds and run times
150 = 9 sec cross section 0.375"
200 = 12 sec
250 = 15 sec
300 = 20 sec
320 = 23 sec
These two strands of 3/16" rubber, 0.375" cross section, really felt way too weak, and hardly blew the tissue streamers.
------------------------
Trial #2
So in order to get more 'oooomph' , I tried a motor with the two strands of 3/16" like before, but with a two strand 1/8" rubber, cross section 0.250" motor also added. Total cross section now is 0.625"
140 = 7 sec cross section 0.065"
200 = 9 sec
This four strand motor, proved to be too much power. Really hard to wind in that thick motor ....
------------------------
Trial #3
So, I then went with two strands of 3/16" , but now with two strands of 3/32" rubber added. Total cross-section is now 0.563".
200 = 8 sec cross section 0.563"
And that is all I got done so far. But, the Trial #3 motor of four strands - 2 of 3/16" and two of 3/32" - sure seems to be the motor of choice.
So, I should make up a few of those in 8 1/2" lengths and with 10" lengths, but then, the prop block will pop out on landing (rubber motor is not under tension any more), .... or will it?
These results are approximate, as I lose rubber turns when I take the rubber off of the wire hook, and try to "thread" the prop wire hook into the rubber motor end. I am not using a Crocket hook (diam is 0.42"), plus ... - it then will not fit through the cowl hole of 0.3" ( thrust bearing diameter).
Pic #1 1320 Three rubber motors to start.
Pic #2 1325 I cannot use these medium size Crocket Hooks. They are too large for the Cowl hole.
Pic #3 1329 The thrust button is 0.30" diameter and the Thrust Button is 0.42" wide.
Pic #4 1335 I started tying up some fresh motors from the fridge. Here are four finished motors, each with four strands (two loops in English), of rubber. Different lengths, but all are two strands 3/16" and two strands 3/32".
two 7" ers
one 8 1/2 " er
one 10" er
The knots are in good position, and the anchor end of the motor is tied together with a short piece of kite string. The long kite string at the front gets completely cut off.
End of Reply #83
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #84
Sat Feb 7 2026
Testing Rubber Motors Runs by Stretch Winding with the Table Stooge
I tied up a 12" motor of 2 strands 3/16" and two strands 3/32".
Today we experimented with long motors. I got three good runs with the 10" motor with 13 or 14 second runs on 300 stretch winds. More testing to come ....
Pic #1 1336 The fuzzy string stretch goes from the hand to the string knot around the front rubber loops of the motor, then the rubber motor going back to the 1/8" aluminum tube rear peg motor holder.
Pic #2 1340 I tied up a 10" motor, but the string stretch slipped, and the motor went into the back of the fuse. I had to use my deep hook motor retriever.
Pic #3 1344 The 10" motor is installed. There is a fine "rattling" sound when the prop spins. It is from the 3/16" wire for the rear alum peg tube, rattling away finely within that alum tube, with that alum tube wiggling around it, and hence the drift sideways of the fuse.
Pic #4 1343 10:1 Winder and the 10" motor.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #85
Sat Feb 7 2026
Testing Rubber Motors Runs by Stretch Winding with the Table Stooge
Pic #1 1345 Closeup of the 10:1 Winder.
Pic #2 1346 Now the prop is spinning with enough authority to blow the tissue strips straight back. The pull is now good for flying, I think.
Pic #3 1347 Spinning again - prop is a shadow - tissue strip is blowing straight back.
Pic #4 1349 I had to tie a small piece of string around the front rubber loops, because the 3/32" loop of rubber came off of the prop hook at some point twice in a row.
More to come ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #86
Sun Feb 8 2026
I made some more motors and did some more testing.
I got 13 and 14 seconds on 300 stretch winds on a 10" motor.
The best cross section of rubber so far is 0.563' cross section using two strands of 3/16" and two strands of 3/32".
Then I tried four strands of 1/8" 0.500' cross section and 250 stretch winds. The rubber seemed to run off well, and I got 12, 14, and 13 seconds.
I need more testing with the four strand 1/8" motor.
Pic #1 1351 The screws in the 10:1 Winder were coming loose! So I tightened them. I will try to see if the spinner stays on during flight also.
Pic #2 1357 Motors and results so far.
Pic #3 1361 Nose cone stays on. Good breeze from the four strand 1/8" motor, blowing the tissue strips straight back.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Richard -
I commend you for your methodical building, testing, and posting methods.
If you have any desire to achieve flights longer that 20-30 seconds with your Dumas 30-inch wing span Beaver, then I suggest you consider the following.
Depending on the weight of the finished model, the cross-section of the rubber motor will probably need to be at least 0.75-inches (6 x 1/8-inches), and more likely 1.0-inches (8 x 1/8-inches).
Assuming your Beaver weighs 60 grams, I would start with a 20-gram rubber motor. Because of the relatively short hook-to-peg distance of your Beaver, the motor must be braided to avoid motor bunching and CG shifting. Use a wobbly motor peg.
This larger rubber motor will not fit through the tiny thrust bearing hole in your engine cowling. So the nose of the fuselage of your Beaver would have to be modified to a accommodate the insertion of a nose block, preferably with a 9 1/2-inch Gizmo-Geezer prop assembly. This prop assembly will facilitate easy and precise thrust line adjustments. Use of a Gizmo-Geezer prop assembly may also eliminate the need to braid the rubber motor since it has a built-in spring tensioning mechanism. Maxfliart recently posted a YouTube video showing how he built a balsa frame for receving a nose block inside the plastic cowling of his Guillows Hellcat.
Finally, the small KP winder you have been using is primarily for winding rubber motors on small indoor models. It is too small to comfortably wind a rubber motor with a cross-section of more than around 0.250-inches. You will feel significant torque resistance and the gears of this small KP winder will probably strip sooner, rather than later. Consider purchasing the very exellent 10:1 winder from Volare Products that is pictured below. I have used this winder and find it to be an excellent winder for intermediate size rubber powered free flight models, both scale and sport models.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #88
Sun Feb 8 2026
Rubber Motors
I made another motor and did some more testing.
I made a second four-strand 1/8" motor 7" long, which gave me 13 sec and 12 sec on 250 winds. This confirms the first four-strand 1/8" motor which had 12 14 and 13 seconds. This 0.500" x section motor, seemed to be too weak for flight near the end of the rubber run.
I changed out the 1/8" motor for one of the three 7 inch motors with two strands 3/16" and two strands 3/32" rubber, of 0.563" x section , and 250 winds gave me 13 sec and 12 sec. This motor was better because it gave good power throughout the motor run, and a little bit more power than the 1/8" motor. Plus, I think the prop wash 'blow' on the tissue streamers was stronger, also. Need to check another one ...
Tomorrow test a second 7 inch motor with two strands 3/16" and two strands 3/32" rubber of 0.563" x section motor, to confirm the first one, and then test the 8 1/2" long motors - both a new 1/8 four strand, and the already made, two strands 3/16" and two strands 3/32" , 8 1/2" motors.
Pic #1 1373 Sunrise out the window over the bench. It has been an unusual deep freeze for a month.
Pic #2 1377 Loaded up holding the prop, ready to let go.
Pic #3 1380 Tissue strips blowing back.
Pic #4 1381 More prop-wash.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #89
Mon Feb 9 2026
Motors
Today, I tried the last of the 7" motors 2 strand
3/16 2 strand 3/32 on 250 winds = 11, 10 sec
Then I tested the 8 1/2" motor 2 strand
3/16 2 strand 3/32, on 250 winds, and on 300 winds. 13 sec, 11 sec and 14 sec, 15 sec respectively.
Then I made a four strand 1/8" motor 8 1/2" long, tested on 250 winds for 14 sec 11 sec. Then I upped the winds to 300 and got 15 sec and 15 sec.
Pic #1 1382 The 8 1/2" motor at rest, goes right up to the cowl opening.
Pic #2 1386 While winding, I position the cowl just ahead of the front of the nose, where it can spin and "freewheel".
Pic #3 1387 Row of knots.
Pic #4 1389 The wound up cowl is eased back in.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #90
Sun Feb 8 2026
Rubber Motors
All in all, the four strand 1/8" 0.500" x section, motor, was weaker than the stronger two strand 3/16 two strand 3/32 0.563" x section motor . I could really tell by the blowing tissue strips which was stronger.
So, I did not bother to make a four strand 1/8" motor, in ten and twelve inch lengths to test at all, since I have two already made in 0.563" cross section - a 10" and a 12" are ready, just in case all goes really well with the small motors ....
Pic #1 1390 Barely translucent spinning prop is really blowing the tissue strips.
The Motor Board
Pic #2 1399 Status and Results of all the motors, and things to do first thing in the morning.
Pic #3 1403 Rubber Board with fuse and cowl and prop.
Pic #4 1404 And new black foam side pads for the Table Stooge, attached with double sided tape.
And that is all for the rubber motors, and the new table stooge turned out nice and solid. I just have to print a pic of the Rubber motor results, for the file folder, and we are ready to go.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #91
Tue Feb 10 2026
Pic #1 1409 Pic of bare table stooge.
Fuselage Damage
I accidentally sat on my fuse. Good thing not fully hard, but I heard the dreaded "crack". Although I was somewhat relieved at the small damage, I am still sort of in shock, from what could have been a hobby breaking accident. That can 'sober up' a person real quick. That Lite Silkspan from Brodak is pretty strong ....
Pic #2 1412 There is the damage.
Pic #3 1413 Tissue is removed.
Pic #4 1417 Here I am sanding in beveled edges where I can for gluing. I still have to 'butt' glue a couple of stringer ends.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #92
Tue Feb 10 2026
Fuse Repair
For the start of test gliding, I will balance the Beaver without the spinner. I made a clay ballast ball of 5.29 grams, to use instead.
Pic #1 1420 Here is some 1/16" sq balsa strip for the repairs.
Pic #2 1422 Two stringer strips are sanded and fitted and glued in place.
Pic #3 1426 The plastic spinner weighs 5.30 grams, so I made up a blob of gray clay 5.29 grams.
Pic #4 1429 The clay will stick in the bottom front of the cowl.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #93
Wed Feb 11 2026
Fuse Repair
Pic #1 1431 I cut out the three shapes from printer paper, and cut out the tissue shape from the paper cutouts.
Pic #2 1433 And the repair is done. That was a close one ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #94
Wed Feb 11 2026
Fuse Repair
Since the fuse was all blocked up, I replaced one more small tissue panel on top of the nose in front of the right pilot - too much pressure from finger tips.
Pic #1 1436 A small panel needs replacing.
Pic #2 1438 Glued in.
Pic #3 1440 Next up is gluing on the logos and decals.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #95
Wed Feb 11 2026
Gluing on the Logos and the Decals
This went really well. I used Studio Glue Stick.
Pic #1 1446 Left side Fin/Rudder. Lining up the horizontal white sand beach in the background, with the template lines.
Pic #2 1449 The Beaver and the red Maple leaf are glued on.
Pic #3 1450 Right side Fin/Rudder. Gotta get that red maple leaf just right ....
Pic #4 1453 Stab top gets two maple leafs.
There are four more roundels for the wing, then glue the Fin/Rudder to the Stab.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #96
Thur Feb 12 2026
Gluing on the Logos and the Decals and Roundels
They went on OK with Studio glue stick.
Pic #1 1456 Stab bottom maple leafs.
Pic #2 1459 Wing top roundels.
Pic #3 1462 Wing bottom roundel Maple leafs
Pic #4 Red Maple 2
And that is all for the decals and roundels and logos.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #97
Fri Feb 13 2026
I'm very close to finishing the Beaver. The decals use modified logos, so I should say something about the Maple Leaf Logo. The maple leaf is on our Flag of Canada, and a lot of different artistic variations of the maple leaf are used for different venues.
Here are a few pics of the Maple Leaf. Also, here is the flag link on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Canada
Pic #1 Canadian Flag 1
Pic #2 RED MAPLE ONE
Pic #3 NORWAY MAPLE SUGAR MAPLE AND ARTIST VERSIONS
Pic #4 PRETTY MAPLES TO ADD TO YOUR YARD
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #98
Fri Feb 13 2026
And here are the last 4 pics of Maple leafs.
Pic #1 RED MAPLE SUGAR MAPLE FRUIT KEYS
Pic #2 RED MAPLE 3
Pic #3 FREEMANS MAPLES CROSS CULTIVARS
Pic #4 CANADIAN FLAG 2
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #99
Fri Feb 13 2026
Final Assembly
First, we will try to glue the Fin/Rudder to the Stab, at the right angle, so that it can all be glued to the fuse, with no gaps.
Pic #1 1469 Cleared the building board, and added fresh waxed paper, for the final assembly.
Pic #2 1465 All the parts.
Stabilizer
Pic #3 1470 Checking the stab fit.
Pic #4 1474 The stab is glued in place. Left side view.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #100
Fri Feb 13 2026
Final Assembly
Pic #1 1477 Right side view of stab.
Wing
The wing glued up fine.
Pic #2 1481 Right Wing side view.
Pic #3 1482 Left wing side view.
Pic #4 1487 Good tight fit into the right wing saddle.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #101
Sat Feb 14 2026
Final Assembly
I also glued on the Fin/Rudder.
Pic #1 1490 One last test fit to confirm it is ready to glue.
Pic #2 1492 Now it is glued on. The front tip of the fin/rudder is held down, by the weight of a whet stone.
Pic #3 1495 The fin/rudder is dry, and it turned out straight.
Pic #4 1496 Top view of the fin/rudder dried straight. It is all good so far. The fin/rudder was starting to 'drift' over to one side, as I watched it all dry. So I got a long thin strip of green masking tape, stuck one end on the fin rudder top tip, and attached the other end to the table, just enough to gently hold the top of the fin/rudder straight, against the drift, while it dried.
Next is the fitting and gluing of the wing struts.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #102
Sun Feb 15 2026
Final Assembly
Pic #1 1498 Right side view of wing and tail plane are glued on.
I took the unfinished Beaver outside for some first time sunlit pics.
Pic #2 1502 Outside pic.
Pic #3 1503 Outside pic.
Pic #4 1504 Outside pic.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #103
Sun Feb 15 2026
Final Assembly
Pic #1 1505 Outside pic.
Wing Struts
Pic #2 1506 Underside of the Beaver, ready for the wing struts and the beefed up Landing Gear Fairings.
Pic #3 1509 Bloodroot and Mandrake work on the sturdy blocking setup.
Pic #4 1511 M and B work on final sanding and fitting of the wing struts. The struts were already sanded and fitted into the fuse from before, so it made the rest of the work easier.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #104
Sun Feb 15 2026
Final Assembly
Beefed Up Landing Gear Fairings
I had a "Heck" of a time, trying to press in those closing 1/16" sq balsa strips, that are boxing in the landing gear wire, into that long square slot in the Landing gear fairings. Those long sq. balsa strips hold in the landing gear wire. So, I put in a whole lot of white glue into that trough, and poked out the air bubbles with a pin.
On the top middle of the Landing gear fairings, I sanded in a small rectangular trough, the same width as the strut, where the fuse strut attach point sits. Hopefully this will direct all of the energy from a hard landing, directly into this rectangular trough 'cut', in the upper middle of the LG fairing, and then direct the energy right into the strut.
Pic #1 1513 Final check of the previously sanded and fitted LG fairings. The Landing Gear wire gets "boxed in" by a slot, and sealed off with a length of 1/16" sq balsa.
Pic #2 1517 The landing gear wire is only glued into the "trough" in the Landing gear fairings.
Pic #3 1518 There is a small notch in the landing gear fairing, where the strut attaches. Hopefully this keeps it all in place on landings.
Pic #4 1520 There was a small crack where the right wing strut attached to the wing strut pocket. I glued in a sliver of balsa to fill it up.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #105
Mon Feb 16 2026
Final Assembly
Beefed Up Landing Gear Fairings
Pic #1 1522 Right side Landing gear fairing is glued up and boxed in.
Pic #2 1526 Here you can see the little rectangular slot in the fairing that the strut fits into. This should 'guide' the impact pressure from landing.
Pic #3 1527 There was a gap that needed a sliver of balsa.
Pic #4 1529 Both fairings are glued up now, to the LG wire only.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #106
Mon Feb 16 2026
Final Assembly
Pic #1 1532 Another good view of the fairing and strut connection.
Pic #2 1536 The Alaskan bush wheels are now added.
Pic #3 1539 The clear hubcaps are squeezed on.
Pic #4 1541 Side view closeup fresh out of the blocks.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #107
Mon Feb 16 2026
Final Assembly
Pic #1 1543 Another right side view.
Pic #2 1546 Left side view.
Ready to fly - prop cowl rubber motor - all in ! 83.3 grams
Pic #3 1547 Nice pic of left side.
Pic #4 1552 Nice pic of right side. :)
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #108
Tue Feb 17 2026
Final Assembly
Pic #1 1553 Dead on front view. Everything looks pretty even.
Pic #2 1556 Side view of left front.
Pic #3 1558 Light shining through opaque wing.
Pic #4 1562 30 inch wingspan Beaver sits on the building board.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #109
Tue Feb 17 2026
Final Assembly and Balancing
Pic #1 1563 Beaver in front of big board of plans.
Pic #2 1567 Beaver lit from underneath.
I had to make a new rubber motor less than seven inches long. The current seven inch motor held the prop in, but not strongly enough, as the nose block would rattle out at the end of the rubber run.
I tried to make a six inch motor, but it ended up less than that. It does give a good short motor burst now, and the cowl stays on.
The snow has mostly evaporated in the last two days. Plus it is going to rain tomorrow Wodensday, and rain Thorsday. The grass in Jackson park dries out first, right under the medium large knoll, where the replica Spitfire and Hurricane sit on pedestals. That knoll is sheltered all around, by many small growing young trees, so it is the best place, for starting the slight downhill, gliding tosses. The trees cut off the wind, and you can do the little glides between the trees.
The humidity right now (heavy fog in the morning) is 100%, so there will be heavy tissue sag, if I try to do hand tosses today. I do have one of those little newfangled portable fans, with which to dry the sloppy wet tissue covering, after landing in heavy dew.
Balancing the Beaver
I knew from before that I needed a hunk of clay weight of 5.3 grams, and the weight of the 5.3 gram Spinner, together, just by lifting the wing with two middle fingers. I measured the Balance Point on the plan, as being the front edge of the main wing spar, 1 3/16" from the leading edge 30.5mm.
I got the plane on the balance pins, while the spinner and the clay weight were both on, and it balanced!!!
I got out the weighing coffee jars, with their round head pins, and their ice cream tub bases.
In the end, I need 10.6 grams of ballast weight up front.
Bare plane no prop = 63.3 g
Total will be 73.9 grams
Total wing area I generously included the center section 30" x 3 3/8" = 30 x 3.375 = 101.25sq inches
Golden Rule for flight is ; max weight 0.5 grams per square inch, in order to fly well. the plane should then weigh 50.6 grams max. My Beaver weighs 73.9 grams.
73.9 grams divided by 101.25 sq inches = 0.73 g/sq in (I hope these are correct)
Pic #3 1597 Finished Beaver in front of the vertical plan board.
Pic #4 1598 Beaver folder title.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #110
Tue Feb 17 2026
Balancing the Beaver
Pic #1 1601 Foggy morning. The snow has almost all evaporated. High temps are in mid 40s deg F.
Pic #2 1604 Beaver is balanced on round head pins, using a 5.3 g hunk of clay, along with a 5.3 g Spinner.
Pic #3 1605 Another view of the balancing act.
Pic #4 1608 The Beaver is off of the balance jars. You can see the round head pin.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #111
Tue Feb 17 2026
Smaller motor is needed for test glides with adequate small number of turns on the motor.
Pic #1 1609 Clay plus Spinner = 10.6 grams.
Tying up a smaller motor, for test glides, with a little power.
Pic #2 1611 I was going for six inches or less.
Pic #3 1616 Rubber is cut to length (four strands total).
Pic #4 1618 The motor tied up a little short, but that was OK. It had a nice smooth power burst, however short, right to a solid stop, with no shaking.
Now, we are ready for some test glides !
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Hi Richard
I know that you're not seeking the ultimate duration with the Beaver, but I do wonder if the amount of rubber that you are looking at putting in her will be near enough for satisfactory flight.
I would be looking at braiding (sometimes also called pre-tensioning) the motor. Here is a video that explains why and how to do it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPP-6e_gTkI&t=30s
Getting another 30-40% of rubber in and keeping it tight between nose and rear peg, seems like the best of both worlds to me.
Please feel free to ignore this, but it might be an idea to look at braiding if the current motor setup disappoints.
Cheers
Jeremy
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Tue Feb 17 2026
Reply #113
Hi Jeremy! Thanks for your nice reply and courteous salutations. I will definitely be trying a braided motor. Thanks so much for the convenient braided motor link. And before I forget, thanks for all your work and time loading up the file plans and archives.
Way back, I did try a braided motor when I was beating my 30 inch Dumas Rearwin Speedster, to death in the Cricket Field, with many flight reports and repairs. I was warned by Pete Fardell that it would come out "hot". It sure did. It spun around instantly, and right over my head, and into the thick, side canopy foliage of a full grown, model eating deciduous tree, one of many that line the perimeter. It did not just fly into a tree, but "bored in" at full power, a long way, through a heck of a lot of small fully leafed branches and leafy twigs, like one of those tunnel boring machines. There was a lot of damage as it grinded itself in there, and finally stopped quite deep into the foliage, and was very difficult to cut out. Yes, I had to climb ....
So yes, I will start slowly with the trimming, but eventually move up to longer motors, and if it flies well, I will try a braided motor. I think I have the correct pulling strength with the 4 strand motor, of 2 strands 3/16" and 2 strands of 3/32" rubber.
So thanks for the Reply Jeremy. Please feel free to post into my threads any time. 8)
And four more pics from the restaurant.
Pic #1 1575 Left side front view.
Pic #2 1579 Tail on balsa block.
Pic #3 1584 View from rear.
Pic #4 1588 Spinner off.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Wed Feb 18 2026
Reply #114
Cowl Anti-glare Cover
It was raining today, and I was going to make a braided motor and bench test it, but I got distracted in a good way, by adding a little more detail to the scale look.
I did not think I would use the black anti-glare cover, as in the kit box cover art, with the yellow scheme, on the top cowl, because it would not go along with my white and blue pin stripe color scheme.
Then, on second thought, I still had not finalized a place for the 5.3 g hunk of gray clay ballast weight, that I needed to balance the model.
So we flattened out that clay and used it as a the anti-glare cover, gray scale of 3 ( 1 is pure black, 10 is pure white).
Pic #1 1621 Balance point at right wingtip.
Pic #2 1623 A big lump of 5.3 g of gray clay is roughly spread out on top of the cowl.
Pic #3 1625 It still needs more flattening.
Pic #4 1628 M and B get out the 5/8" hardwood dowel, and use it as a pie dough pin roller, to flatten out the clay even thinner.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Wed Feb 18 2026
Reply #115
Cowl Anti-glare Cover
Pic #1 1634 Here is the cover all nicely trimmed up, and it sticks on its spot, from pressing it in on the edges.
Pic #2 1639 Left front view of the "squared up", anti-glare cover, of thin gray clay.
Pic #3 1640 Closeup.
Pic #4 1644 This shows the raised hump of 5.3 g of ballast clay.
This 5.3 g of thin gray clay, can be carefully removed and peeled off quite easily, and stuck on again.
So, at least the Beaver should look good, while test gliding ....
The forecast is rain the next three days and colder temps, so no glides just yet .... Time for a braided motor test run on my new table stooge ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Sat Feb 21 2026
Reply #116
Prop Runs and Braided Motor
Hi Jeremy. I watched that Braiding video again (I do vaguely remember watching it before - thanks for the refresher).
I have to have the Beaver's motor always under tension, and not flapping around inside the fuse on run-out, and possibly knocking the pilots off of their bench plank seat. When Maxfiart's braided props run out, they are then not under tension.
Pic #1 1652 Small elastics. 1/8" Aluminum tube. I have no larger tubing for a slip peg, to loosely ride over this 1/8" tube.
Pic #2 1655 6" motor test run
Pic #3 1657 3/32" and 3/16" rubber, two strands of each.
Pic #4 1658 tied up
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Sat Feb 21 2026
Reply #117
Braided Motor
I cannot use a Crocket Hook at the prop wire hook - it is too large to pull through the thrust button hole in the Cowl. Also the braided motor will not fit through that hole. The prop hook is now buried deeper into the nose bock, after I extended the tenon, making it that much more inaccessible.
As for a "slip peg" tube, to slide over the rear 1/8" aluminum peg, I don't have any of those, and no way to forge the "flange" on the ends. He didn't state the size of the slip peg tube or the wall thickness.
Pic #1 1660 all strings with knots are added.
Braided Motor
Pic #2 1662 Start with a 12" loop, which when folded, will give a 6" braided motor.
Pic #3 1665 Ball of twisted string.
Pic #4 1666 Braided motor at rest. I really struggled to even get that motor off of the 3/64" wire of the stooge, and onto that 1/8" dowel in the pic. You really need those "slip pegs" , of which I have none. And that rubber is so tight that I cannot get it off the dowel or the winder hook. So, I give up on the braided motor for this model. If I get it flying, I may put in a further rear peg and begin testing longer, regular motors ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Sat Feb 21 2026
Reply #118
That was sure a lot of good practice with changing motors.
Pic #1 1668 Really a 5" braided motor.
Pic #2 1671 Spinning prop with spinner.
Pic #3 1672 Spinning prop no spinner.
Pic #4 1673 Spinning prop very light clear shadow.
The new 6" four strand motor gave 5 sec, and second 5 sec spin, on 85 finger winds.
Using the same 6" motor, but stretch wound in the stooge, 260 stretch winds, gave me 11 seconds.
So anyways, I found the Braided "wound" rubber, to be so tight, as to make it almost impossible to handle with finger tips, when taking it off of prop wire hooks, and winder hooks. But I got the new stooge back on the table, and did a bunch of more motor test runs, so it is all good.
The weather is still cold rainy and windy, but the snow is finally gone. I will be ready for the first chance of test glides ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
QuoteSo anyways, I found the Braided "wound" rubber, to be so tight, as to make it almost impossible to handle with finger tips, when taking it off of prop wire hooks, and winder hooks.
Not that I have had a lot of experience with braided motors Richard - but this seems a little strange. I use a braided motor in my small Elf of around 4" approx prop to rear hanger length. The braided length of the equivalent 2 strands of 1/8" - resting, is around 5". After winding - it shrinks to slightly more than the prop to rear hanger length, and is not tight.
That motor is braided with approx 120 forward turns - as per Tom Hallman - - MAXFLIART on Utube.
John
Try building a motor like I did in Pic #1 Reply # 118, and then get back to me.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Sun Feb 22 2026
Reply #121
Well, there are no test glides now. It snowed overnight and got cold again. It is still winter and the forecast is not good.
I did make it to our local Canadian Aviation Museum yesterday, and I brought in the 30" Beaver to show the boys.
The beaver is now ready to test glide without the spinner. I now have two rolled out, 5.3 and 5.1 gram slabs, of clay ballast weight on top of the nose. I can always remove the top slab and stick it inside the front cowl bottom, once I get it trimmed, and leave the bottom slab on top of the cowl for the sun glare.
Pic #1 WEATHER FORECAST 830 AM SUNDAY FEB 22 2026 TO THUR FEB 26 2026
Pic #2 1677 Jackson Park after the snow.
Pic #3 1675 There is another hunk of clay on the cowl, to replace the weight of the spinner for the test glides.
Last woodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Tue Feb 24 2026 post 1 of 3
Reply #122
New Six Inch Four Strand 1/8" Motor
Well, I have been sulking around with this return to the cold temps and cabin fever ( minus 9 deg C or 16 deg F this AM ). I keep thinking about the rubber motors, since I still have the table stooge blocked up and ready to load up the Beaver for more motor testing. Not braided motors any more, thanks anyways.
Back to trimming thoughts. I need a tight motor for the entire motor run. The prop hook to rear peg is seven inches. The rubber motor has to be substantially smaller, more like six inches, in order to hold that rubber motor tight enough, throughout the entire motor run ie - no loose noseblock rattling around at the end of the prop run. To this effect, I never really did try one of these "tighter" motors using four strands of 1/8" rubber (total width cross section of four strands = 0.500" total ). My notes say that the 1/8" motor was not a very strong of a pull. Let's try a new one anyways to be sure.
Six Inch Four Strand 1/8" Motor
Pic #1 1709 Two lengths of rubber are now cut for the new motor, leaving about one inch extra for tying off the knot. I always use a 'reef knot', plus one extra third knot.
Pic #2 1716 Having the same " length" after tying up the knot is critical.
Pic #3 1719 The extra rubber is cut off, and three strings are ready.
Well, it was necessary to take exacting care when trying to make a four strand rubber motor to an exact six inch length. We need the longest motor possible, using the perfect amount of cross section of rubber, and pull tension, in order to go ahead with the trimming/test glides.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Tue Feb 24 2026 post 2 of 3
Reply #123
New Six Inch Four Strand 1/8" Motor
Pic #1 1722 The rear knot at zero, goes around the rear peg, and the prop wire hook goes by the six inch knot. I try to space these knots out, so they don't bunch up.
Pic #2 1725 The extra string is cut off, leaving the long string to lower the motor into the fuse.
Pic #3 1728 Here is the tension on the newly completed motor. We still have 3/4" of pull left, so it should still work.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Tue Feb 24 2026 post 3 of 3
Reply #124
New Six Inch Four Strand 1/8" Motor
Pic #1 1729 This is a comparison of the length of the new motor going in, compared to the old motor coming out. It looks like the same stretch, so it should be a tight motor.
Pic #2 1734 And the spinning motor blows the tissue strips back (just under the spool of string). The 1/8" motor fits well and tight, but does not have as much power as the 4 strand two strand 3/16" two strand 3/32" , motor.
Pic #3 1739 The updated big board of motors.
I think I will leave the weaker (but not by much) 1/8" motor in the Beaver for the test glides to start .... maybe Sunday - the weather forecast in the meantime looks bleak, and see if it has enough power in the first place to hold level flight ....
The end of the new 6" motor.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
QuoteTry building a motor like I did in Pic #1 Reply # 118, and then get back to me.
Hi Richard. I don't have any 3/16 rubber but here is a pic. of the Elf motor - 4 strands of 0.055" rubber around 20" long unbraided, and around 6" braided.
It does need a bobbin or sliding tube at the hanger end and a wire ring or equivalent at the prop end.
I use a plastic straw reinforced with masking tape for a bobbin and a small ring made from a section of a paper clip and heat shrink, at the prop end.
It shrinks to the prop - hanger length in the model after the first wind.
The ring and the bobbin are the secret to making it work.
Richard -
What is the weight of your Beaver in its form shown in picture #3 of Rely 121?
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Tue Feb 24 2026
Reply #127
John, that is not the same braided motor, that I am talking about. Why are you posting a pic of a completely different rubber motor?
So, I am not talking about braided motors any more. I don't have rings or bobbins or slip sliding flanged tubes, etc, and none were supplied in the kit, and I am surely not driving all over town, or ordering parts in the mail, to get these parts. It has all been a big waste of time. ::)
It is too difficult to handle the tightness - especially the 3/32" rubber - of the the stretched braided rubber motor, with out all of those things, was MY point. :o I am just going to have fun with regular motors.
I'll reiterate once more .... this is only a short flight small park scale looking flyer, that I can have fun trimming out, and not a long distance duration model. I will be happy if I can trim it out, with 10 second circle flights, and just flying it for fun over and over, in the Cricket Field, 130 yards by 110 yards slight oval. I am just hoping for good in-flight pictures of a pretty, bush wheeled Beaver, with the green scenery of full grown model eating park trees encircling the pitch. ;D
The All Up Weight AUW, including prop and motor (not including the 5.3g spinner), and including the two thin slabs of grey clay ballast weight on the cowl, each weighing 5.3 g and 5.1 g respectively. AUW is about 93.8 grams including the 10.4 g of ballast clay.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Richard -
Thanks for posting the weight of your Beaver and for explaining your limited flight duration objective due to the relative smallness of your outdoor flying site. It will be great if you are able to obtain the in-flight pictures of your model that you are hoping for.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Thur Feb 26 2026
Reply #129
I only estimated the AUW at 93.8g just by standing the model up on the scale trying to hold it straight, so I took off the table stooge and weighed the plane properly, and did a final balance check.
Total AUW is 92.79 grams.
Pic #1 1743 I got out the scale to weigh it properly, ie pull the cowl off ....
Pic #2 1740 Fuse 68.55g
Pic #3 1741 Cowl plus prop assy 24.24g
Total 92.78g
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Thur Feb 26 2026
Reply #130
Pic #1 1745 Prop assy (no cowl) 6.17g
Pic #2 1746 Rubber Motor 4 strand 1/8" 2.34g
Pic #3 1748 Final balance check. Good to go!
Pic #4 WEATHER FORECAST SIX DAYS STARTING THUR FEB 26 2026
It looks like tomorrow, Friday Feb 26, is the only good day for test glides, and then it really cools off again.
I must walk out to the Cricket Field later today, and see how hard the ground is for my winding stooge.
Just learned this on my accordion! 'KATIUSHA' Great magnificent orchestral, and choir accompaniment, music! , to listen to and model by ... plus lyrics in English and 'transliteration' lyrics - another war time song about a girl longing for her true love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNIlyUmSlDs
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Thur Feb 26 2026
Reply #131
Flight Report #1
I went out to the Cricket Field to see how the grass and ground was. And I was just only going to practice staking out the winding stooge. At the last second before leaving I brought everything including the Beaver.
11:16 AM a frigid finger freezing temp in full sunlight and low wind in Jackson Park Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The temp was 27 deg F 48% humidity, and 6 mph wind from the WSW gusting to 9 mph.
These are pics walking through the park and past the Spitfire and Hurricane replica war planes, to the Cricket Field. The grass is barely unfrozen, and has not been warm enough yet to bring on some growth. I had to search for the best spots that had the most grass to inspect. But it is going up to 50 deg F tomorrow ....
There was a couple of places where I tried five glide tosses in total. I did not take any real chances, and I didn't really get it going fast or far enough, to tell anything yet. On the fifth glide - they all seemed to go sort of ok - I lost the right hubcap and the right bushwheel also fell off (can't lose the color of that bushheel), and I have lots of clear hubcap discs to epoxy glue all of them on now.
Pic #1 1749 This is the start of our walk through Jackson park to the Cricket Field. There are no swollen buds on the trees yet.
Pic #2 1750 The backpack is full of everything for flying, except the actual 10:1 Winder.
Pic #3 1751 Blue skies and bare limbs.
Pic #4 1752 The squirrels are about. I had peanuts ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Thur Feb 26 2026
Reply #132
Flight Report #1
Pic #1 1753 Head on pic of the Beaver
Pic #2 1754 Three more squirrels
Pic #3 1755 Wind on the flag at the Spitfire and Hurricane
Pic #4 1756 Another pic at the flag
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Thur Feb 26 2026
Reply #133
Flight Report #1
Pic #1 1757 Another pic of the wind on the flag.
Pic #2 1758 In the distance is the Cricket Field.
Pic #3 1759 The Beaver is on the ground of the Cricket Field.
Pic #4 1760 There are big Spruce tree model eaters in the background.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Thur Feb 26 2026
Reply #134
Flight Report #1
Here are some views of my whole flying field. We will see if it greens up tomorrow with the high temp of 50 deg F ( 10 deg C ), expected.
Pic #1 1761 Looking towards the North towards the Spit and Hurri.
Pic #2 1762 Looking Northwest.
Pic #3 1763 Looking West.
Pic #4 1764 Looking North Northeast.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Fri Feb 27 2026
Reply #135
Flight Report #1 Thur Feb 26 2026 cont
Pic #1 1765 Best pic.
Pic #2 1766 Second best pic. Good beaver logo.
Pic #3 1767 This is the best grass to try test glides on.
Pic #4 1769 Dropping in there for a perfect 3-point drop-in landing, sort of like a helicopter ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Fri Feb 27 2026
Reply #136
Flight Report #1 Thur Feb 26 2026 cont
Pic #1 1768 Yellow willow tree in the background. Good pic of the beaver logo.
Pic #2 1770 A big bush wheel came off on the right side. It sticks out with that blue color.
Pic #3 1771 Here the Beaver is limping out of Jackson Park, with a detached right Alaskan Bush Wheel. We will epoxy all of the hubcaps now.
We got home 12:56 PM temp 30 deg F winds 7 mph WSW 240 degrees gusting to 12 mph humidity 41%.
Pic #4 WEATHER FORECAST FRI FEB 27 2026 TEMPERATURES
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Fri Feb 27 2026 9:00 AM
Reply #137
Flight Report #1 Thur Feb 26 2026 cont
A few repairs
We worked on the Winding Stooge by adding another brownish yellow felt pad on the fuse floor and on the inside of the upright ears. It is slightly snug.
We also used 5 min Epoxy to glue the clear plastic disc hubcaps, to the landing gear wire.
Pic #1 1772 The outdoor winding stooge got an extra brown colored felt pad, for a nice cozy fit. Notice the right wheel is off.
Pic #2 1774 We just glued 5 min Epoxy on the outside of the flat clear plastic small hubcaps. You can see the small glob of glue right at the axle.
Pic #3 1777 All of the three hubcaps are now glued.
Pic #4 WEATHER WIND FORECAST FRI FEB 27 2026 Forecast for today .... I hope it does not get too windy ....
End of Flight Report #1
Ready to fly.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Fri March 6 2026
Reply #138 post 1 of 5
Flight Report #2 of Fri Feb 27 2026
Sorry for the delay. I needed to suffer in self exile. :-\ :(
Fri morning at 10:25 AM the weather was sunny, temp 41 deg F (feels like 43 deg F) humidity 67% winds from the southwest at 11 mph gusting to 18 mph.
I knew I should have gone back home, but I tried a little test glide with about 25 soft winds, any way, among the small deciduous leafless trees. I was shocked as it went left hard instantly, and did what I thought was a "soft" cartwheel, where it was seemingly standing straight up, on its wing tippy toe, for a long sort of moment, balanced by the wind.
Now, I had never even given the beaver a soft toss over the bed, which may have shown that left turn tendency.
Well, it was not much of a flight report, as I crashed it on the fist toss (6 th test glide). So, I have been suffering in self exile til now.
I have been doing a lot of thinking on how to fix it in the meantime, though.
I don't even know if I am launching it level or not, but like I said, it did not even look like a "hard" cartwheel - maybe I should have reinforced the wing root where it broke. I had wiggled the wing and fuse and stab etc., and everything was solid, before test gliding ....
There are not a lot of flying pics in Flight Report #2. It started out as a nice walk in the park ....
Pic #1 1779 Sitting on the stone wall in the Flower Garden of Jackson Park.
Pic #2 1780 Another view at the stone wall.
Pic #3 1781 The Beaver Logo.
Pic #4 1782 By the Spitfire and Hurricane.
cont.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Fri March 6 2026
Reply #139 post 2 of 5
Flight Report #2 of Fri Feb 27 2026
Pic #1 1783 The Cricket Field is in the lower left of the pic.
Then I tried the first glide toss with about 25 soft winds ....
Pic #2 1784 Broken left wing at the shoulder.
Pic #3 1785 The Spitfire and Hurricane say goodbye to the near fatally injured Beaver. The cowl was knocked right out of place, but still under tension, after the crash.
1786 to 1817 1815 to 1817 apt pics
Pic #4 1786 Back at the apartment after the walk of shame. The left wing shoulder is only held on by the ripped silkspan covering.
cont.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Fri March 6 2026
Reply #140 post 3 of 5
Flight Report #2 of Fri Feb 27 2026
Pic #1 1790 We started dissection surgery, and this is how it looked.
Pic #2 1793 Another view different light.
Pic #3 1796 After brushing on a lot of lukewarm water ( I should have used freshly boiled water to dissolve the white glue quicker ), I finally got the four mating surfaces of the wing center section/fuse saddle, unglued.
Pic #4 1801 I was trying to think of how to fix it, starting with a full 1/16" balsa sheet for the bottom of the bay.
cont.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Fri March 6 2026 pics in 73
Reply #141 post 4 of 5
Flight Report #2 of Fri Feb 27 2026
Pic #1 1802 The cutout fits, but there are a lot more unanswered questions.
Pic #2 1804 I was thinking of extending the main center spar of the right and left wing panels into the center section more.
Pic #3 1808 I should replace those two gussets at the center section attachment to the wing panel(s), with something much stronger.
Pic #4 1811 Amazingly, and the fuse and wing saddle were undamaged, and I cleaned all that up. Now I am thinking that I just need to build a new wing.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Fri March 6 2026 pics in 73
Reply #142 post 5 of 5
Flight Report #2 of Fri Feb 27 2026
I let a lot of water drip all over the striped strips, whose colored markers were not water proof. Good thing I made a lot of extra striped strips. I glued these strips over all of the wing and fuse water damaged strips. It works well, so I will do that with the new wing and make some new roundels too.
Pic #1 1814 Strip is glued over the water damaged stripes. At least the wreckage looks better now. Yellow light pic.
I have started thinking about building a completely new wing ....
I don't like sanding, so I decided against scratch building, and just try to buy another kit, and build that wonderful laser cut wing without filling up my apartment with balsa sanding dust. Plus, I will have spare parts for the fuse and tail assy, etc, in case I need them.
I did not want to order a kit all the way from the southwestern USA, with the high exchange rate, plus shipping, so I looked for someone selling a Beaver Kit on the Interdweeb, I mean, Internut.
Pic #2 BEAVER EBAY CANADA 74 DOLLARS
$74
Pic #3 AMAZON BEAVER KIT DUMAS KIT NUMBER 306
$97.91
Pic #4 EBAY BEAVER KIT DUMAS KIT NUMBER 306
$49
My buddy who has Paypal will try and order one for me. He says EBay usually comes the very next day.
So, sorry for the delay, there is still hope to fly the Beaver this Spring ....
The end. Now waiting for the new kit to arrive ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #143
Mon March 9 2026 post 1 of 3
Re-Assembling the Broken Wing
In the meantime while I wait for the new kit, with the new laser cut parts to get here, I will try to re-assemble this wing and CS using a couple of reinforcement experiments, . But there are a lot of missing and broken 1/16" sq upper wing spars .....
One area of improvement is with the Center Section CS Main Spar. I want to extend this spar on both sides, a full bay further into the wing panel, by adding angled dihedral spar "legs" (spar doubler), on both sides coming off of the CS main spar. I drew one up to try ....
Pic #1 1824 Here is the broken wing against the Big Board.
Pic #2 1828 I traced a pencil copy on the back of a photocopy, to get both sides of the front view.
Pic #3 1831 I will use the bottom diagram for drafting the correct angles, and shaping the CS spar and legs.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #144
Mon March 9 2026 post 2 of 3
Re-Assembling the Broken Wing
Pic #1 1834 The right wing panel and CS are intact. I am going to dissolve the whole CS now.
Pic #2 1836 I had to stick the whole CS into a big deep pot of boiling water. The white glue dissolved fast. The water logged parts are drying out.
Pic #3 1840 Sunshine on the Big Board. We set a temp record today way hotter than usual - almost 70 deg F.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #145
Mon March 9 2026 post 3 of 3
Re-Assembling the Broken Wing
Pic #1 1841 The first bay of tissue is removed from the right wing now also.
Pic #2 1844 Top diagram. I should be able to extend the CS 1/16" sq upper spars also, as a doubler along side the, first bay wing panel, upper spars.
Pic #3 1855 The Center Section Main Spar is yellow. The angled dihedral Spar extensions are orange. These extensions act as "doublers" for maximum strength.
Plus, I might add a 1/16" balsa plate at the bottom of both wing root bays, since I cannot extend the Leading Edge CS, the same way as the Main Spar.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #146
Tues March 10 2026
Re-Assembling the Broken Wing for practice, before building the new wing in the new kit - no word yet ...
New Center Section Spars With Extensions
There is a big main spar underneath, and two smaller spars on top. These three spars will get remade out of hard balsa, and these spars will have spar extensions added on going through the first bay of the wing panels.
Pic #1 1857 Here we are making a new main spar 1/4" x 1/8" out of harder balsa than the one already done. I have also cut out two balsa sheets of 1/16" for the bottom of both first bays of the wing, for extra strength.
Pic #2 1861 The top finished new main spar is soft and light, but I want to make a new hard balsa spar for the new CS. The new outline is glue-stuck onto some hard balsa.
Pic #3 1865 I got some 1/16" hard balsa sheet to make two upper 1/16" sq balsa spars with extensions. The bottom outline, glued onto a new sheet of hard balsa, shows two 1/16" sq spars to cut out. The orange in the pic, are the new extensions, from the yellow original spar . The orange extensions will act as doublers, side-glued to the wing spars.
Now the hard part. I will try to cut these new spars out by hand.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #147 post 1 of 2
Wed March 11 2026
Re-Assembling the Broken Wing, for practice, to see what works.
More Progress
Pic #1 1867 Cutting out the new main spar from hard balsa.
Pic #2 1869 Exacto-knifing through 1/8" hard balsa, required a lot of hard pressure to hold it all down in place.
Pic #3 1871 After much arduous and exacting work, using the steel rule and the exacto blade, we now have two 1/16" sq upper wing spars for the CS. We also left a little extra length on the extension, for sanding/fitting later.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #148 post 2 of 2
Wed March 11 2026
Re-Assembling the Broken Wing for practice to see what works.
More progress
Pic #1 1873 These three new spars turned out Ok - that just need a little sanding.
Pic #2 1875 Since I used Studio glue stick, the printer paper outline does not peel off of the spars well. So I brushed on some boiling water, and my sharpened butter knife easily scraped it all off. They are all drying on a paper towel.
Pic #3 1881 The middle rectangle of 1/32" balsa, 60 x 91 mm, is the top cover for the wing CS. The other two rectangles of 1/16" balsa, 84 x 44 mm (cut extra long), are for covering the underside bottom, of bays #1, of the wing panels. These will effectively get rid of those two small gussets at the LE wing root. The first try at the new main spar is at the top labelled "weak light balsa" on the green masking tape.
It is time now, to glue up the old CS with the new spars, and see how the "preserved" right wing panel fits.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #149
Thur March 12 2026
Rebuilding the Wing CS with New Spars
I have been taking my time, because I want to get the CS as exact as I can. And a good setup that takes a long time, is an integral part of the hobby, and deserves its own pic.
The big main center spar has to be correctly centered and seated, on its flat center section. After a lot of pins and shuffling things around, the two inner ribs (of the six ribs), now just slide tight, into their respective spots.
The two ribs just got glued in.
Bloodroot checks the "seating" of the rib - a gentle press, and nothing moves or goes anywhere, so we are goo to go.
I will let this dry completely before doing anything more - 7 hours to dry with "white glue".
Pic #1 1883 Here are two plan sheet photocopies of the wing center section area. The new hard main spar gets positioned and secured first. Everything is built around this.
Pic #2 1886 Same as above, but also includes: One CS top cover sheet of balsa 60 x 91 mm and 1/32" thick, and two 1/16" thick 84 x 44 mm balsa sheets, for the underside of each first root bay, of the wing panels, cut extra long for fitting of course ...
Pic #3 1894 Starting to position the parts and get them pinned up properly. The rib with the broken off tail, is now glued back together at the left. Also at the left, is the old (shirt) CS Main Spar, which is now replaced with the new long Main spar currently in the set up.
The two inner ribs have just been glued in place.
Pic #4 1897 We braced things up more. Here the two inner ribs slid right in between the pins, and got glued in place, after a couple of practice placement tries, and after sanding a very slight bit off of the rib ends.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #150
Freya March 13 2026
Hi John! Thanks for the 'like'. We are ardently working right along ... 8) My buddy did order my new Beaver kit on Wed March 11 2026, through Ebay, so we will see how long it takes - he said a couple of days .... So I hope to eventually have two wings for this plane - the old broken wing fixed up, and a brand new wing from the new kit.
Rebuilding the broken old Wing CS with New Spars
Pic #1 1900 Bloodroot checks the ribs.
Pic #2 1905 The two outer ribs are now glued in. That is four out of six ribs. It is weighted down with a thick balsa plank, topped with clay, and lead pellet-packed, cylinders.
Pic #3 1906 Another view. Out in front are the five small balsa spacers, along side the original Center Section LE, that the spacers, and the ribs, all glue up against.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #151
Freya March 13 2026
Rebuilding the broken old Wing CS with New Spars
The final two ribs are added, and test fit of the two new 1/16" sq spars.
Pic #1 1910 The final two outer ribs of the CS are pinned up for an easy slide-in for gluing.
Pic #2 1911 It is all glued up now, and a final blocking plate is added to the front of the ribs.
Pic #3 1920 The two smaller 1/16" sq elongated spars are added for a test fit.
Pic #4 1922 You can see the upward bend of the elongated spar arms. This bend follows the dihedral angle.
The right wing panel is intact, except that I removed the Silkspan covering from the first bay at the wing root. I will slide in the right wing and see if the three spar extensions fit as side by side doublers ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #151
Sat March 14 2026
Rebuilding the broken old Wing CS with New Spars
Pic #1 1923 The foremost upper 1/16" sq new spar, gets test fitted and marked for the spar extension lengths cut offs.
Pic #2 1931 Both 1/16" sq top spars are check fitted, and the double slots that hold two side by side doublers of 1/16" sq, are checked also - one had to be "widened" out a little with a 1/16" sq sanding notcher.
Pic #3 1934 Here the two top spars are cut to length, to fit just inside the far rib of bays #1.
Pic #4 1933 And here is a closeup.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #153
Mon March 16 2026
Rebuilding the broken old Wing CS with New Spars
Pic #1 1936 This shows the fit of the 1/8" x 1/4" Main Spar "doublers". The main spar extensions have not been cut to the shorter length, as they were long enough to go through the hollowed out first bay outer rib - pretty tight squeeze though - I hope it does not throw off the wing alignment ....
Pic #2 1937 I raised the wing panel LE leading edges by taping on two thin acute angles of thin balsa to the plan, to line up better with the CS center section leading edge. There is also a 1/16" plank of balsa, raising the main spars of the wing panels only (to the top of that double notch), so I can fit that full 1/16" balsa sheet for covering the bottom of each first bay. That's the plan.
I think I am going to leave the Main Spar as it is, that is, extending one and one half bays from the wing root, instead of extending only one full bay.
The top 1/16" sq spars are now glued in. LE of the CS is still not glued.
Pic #3 1945 Three new spars.
Pic #4 1942 Closeup pic.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #154
Mon March 16 2026
Rebuilding the broken old Wing with New Spars
Pic #1 1948 Setting up for the final assembly.
Pic #2 1951 The old Leading Edge is now glued to the front of the ribs.
Pic #3 1954 The top spars are cut to length, to fit inside the rib. You can see, on the left CS outer rib, that only the main spar of the wing, is raised by a 1/16" plank, to seat up into the higher notch hole, of the double notch, for the main spars.
Pic #4 1956 The wing panels have now been slid into the Center Section. It looks pretty straight.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #155
Tues March 17 2026
Rebuilding the broken old Wing with New Spars
Pic #1 1964 Long view of the clamped up wing.
Pic #2 1960 Closeup of the glued up spar doublers.
Pic #3 1966 View from the right wing.
Pic #4 1967 View from the left wing.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #156
Tues March 16 2026
Rebuilding the broken old Wing with New Spars
Pic #1 1968 All glued up and blocked up. The small balsa strips 1/16" sq have been glued to the rear tops of the six Center Section ribs, and the holes in the backplate A4 .
Pic # 2 1971 The result.
Pic #3 1974 Test fit of the wing on the fuse saddle.
Pic #4 1972 Closeup.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
The repair has gone well Richard. Being able to dissolve the glue and disassemble the joints makes a clean repair possible.
You may have this flying before the new kit arrives.
John
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #157
Thur March 19 2026 post 1 of 2
Rebuilding the broken old Wing with New Spars
Overall, things did not glue up as I expected, upon further closer inspection, so a lot more thinking needs to be done. But, my new kit came in the mail ;D , and the pressure is off, as my new kit wing can then be made, if the old rebuilt wing fails.
Pic #1 1977 Close-up of the break at the Leading Edge.
Pic #2 1978 Two 0.010" file folder cardboard pieces of part B5 (forward stop of wing at CS) are glued together, for the wing fit to fuse.
Pic #3 1980 Here are three balsa plates that I intend to glue on: two 1/16" balsa plates for the bottom of the first bays at the wing root, and one 1/32" balsa plate for the top of the wing CS.
Well, this song has been playing on 'loop', non-stop, for a few modelling days now. If you like womens' choir voices in the neoclassical mix, this is it ...
CLANN - Arise (Instrumental)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtPn5NLjdKo
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #158 post 2 of 2
Rebuilding the broken old Wing with New Spars
Thur March 19 2026
Pic #1 1982 The left wing panel first rib didn't glue up right. The 1/16" sq strip, that makes the rib bottom, slipped off its mating surface -- the Center Section Main Spar is to blame.
Pic #2 1981 Here is a close up pic.
Pic #3 1985 The left wing panel was not seated all of the way down.
Pic #4 1988 Here we are adding an extra 10 thou file folder cardboard rectangle, to the 2 ply cardboard B5 doubler.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #160 post 1 of 3
Sat March 21 2026
Rebuilding the broken old Wing with New Spars
I just made a lot of progress. I made a few more little structural changes, which involved removing one more piece of tissue - the right wing second bay upper tissue. The right wing rear double spar 1/16" sq., got squeezed and mangled because the clamp was too tight, but the wood fibers are still there, and it all feels super solid, though with all of that dried white glue in there.
Pic #1 1993 Here we are chiseling down the Main Spar doubler, that was sticking out on the bottom surface left wing, back down to even with the surface.
Pic #2 1995 Here we have the two new 1/16" balsa plates to be glued into a 1/16" recessed rectangle cutout, in the bottom of each first bay from the root.
Pic #3 1998 Closeup. You can also see the five small balsa blocks glued directly behind the leading edge and the balsa ribs.
Pic #4 2002 To the left of the wing in the middle is the 1/32" balsa sheet, for gluing onto the top of the Center Section. To the right of the wing are two infill balsa blocks 1/8" x 43mm x 7mm. These 2 infill planks will go on the top of the wing, from the leading edge to the first 1/16" sq doubler of the first bay, and from the CS rib, to Rib 3 of the wing panel.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #161 post 2 of 3
Sat March 21 2026
Rebuilding the broken old Wing with New Spars
Pic #1 2005 Here is what I have ready. Ignore that crooked piece - none of those corners were 90 degrees like I thought.
Pic #2 2006 Closeup. Here you can see the bottom 1/16" strip at the bottom of the first rib on the left wing panel, that forced out of shape by the main spar doubler (spar doubler is now chiseled down). That bottom rib strip will now be glued back in place.
Pic #3 2009 Two infill planks, right behind the LE, are glued in place, sitting "proud" for sanding later.
Pic #4 2012 At the bottom, and on the orange colored spars, sit four small balsa rectangles, in the exact position on the plan copy, where they will be glued on the real frame, 1/16" sq spar doublers.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #162 post 3 of 3
Sat March 21 2026
Rebuilding the broken old Wing with New Spars
Pic #1 2015 The four small rectangle blocks have been glued in place.
Pic #2 2016 The two base plates for the first bay bottom of each wing, are getting fitted to exact size. These will act as the TE trailing edge, and will receive another balsa reinforcement strip also after wards.
Pic #3 2021 The 1/16" recessed rectangle "holes" have been cleaned up, and the main spars are now almost perfectly finished at 1/16" deep. The two plates are final fit, and ready for gluing.
Pic #4 2024 Mandrake flat files the spars to 1/16" depth, to accept the 1/16" balsa plate.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #163 Sun March 22 2026 post 1 of 3
Rebuilding the broken old Wing with New Spars
Things are moving quickly. I almost have the wing rebuild finished. I am starting to look at the weather ....
Pic #1 2028 Bloodroot prepares an exact cut sheet of silkspan covering for the bottom of bay two on the left wing.
Pic #2 2029 The silkspan cover on bay two is glued on. The two base plates are now also glued in place after a lot of sanding and fitting.
Pic #3 Wind Forecast - I should have this plane ready to fly in a couple of days ...
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #164 Sun March 22 2026 post 2 of 3
Rebuilding the broken old Wing with New Spars
Pic #1 2035 View of bottom wing.
Pic #2 2034 Closeup of bottom wing.
Pic #3 2039 View of top wing.
Pic #4 2038 Closeup of top wing.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #165 Sun March 22 2026 post 3 of 3
Rebuilding the broken old Wing with New Spars
Pic #1 2044 Small infill balsa wood slivers are added to the rib tails at the wing root. I will sand the extra off later.
Pic #2 2045 There was not much with which to glue the covering around those two corners.
Balancing the wing laterally.
The right wing was heavier than the left wing.
Pic #3 2048 Look how far over I had to move the wing to balance it.
Pic #4 2051 Here it is balanced. I would end up having to put a small blob of clay weight, of 0.70 g, on the left wing tip ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #166 Mon March 23 2026
Rebuilding the broken old Wing with New Spars
Pic #1 2055 The wing is balanced now 0.70 g blob of clay on the left wing (right wing is heavier).
Pic #2 2052 Weight on the scale 0.70g
Reinforcements plates for the Trailing Edge
Pic #3 2060 These are 1/16" thick and tapered to match the rib tail, but not stick above the rib tails.
Pic #4 2061 You can see the taper on the plate at the right.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #167 Mon March 23 2026
Rebuilding the broken old Wing with New Spars
Reinforcements plates for the Trailing Edge
Pic #1 2062 Here is the long view down the table - you can barely see the bevel on the plates, but it is there.
Pic #2 2063 Here they are glued in place. They did not want to sit down completely flat - good thing I checked before the glue dried.
Pic #3 2066 The two plates were not even sealing at the front and rear ends.
Pic #4 2067 I basically watched the plates dry as I moved the clothes pins around.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #168 Tue March 24 2026
Rebuilding the broken old Wing with New Spars
Reinforcements plates for the Trailing Edge and more balsa supports.
Pic #1 2068 Moving the clothes pins around.
Pic #2 2069 I finally got the reinforcement plates for the trailing edge, glued up properly.
Pic #3 2070 Here is the fit of the Leading Edge of the wing to the angled stop B5. It looks pretty tight.
Pic #4 2073 Here are four balsa pieces for the wing CS ribs to glue on to. They must sit flat or slightly recessed (these are not infill planks), so as to not interfere with the flat bottom mating surface of the CS.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #169 Tue March 24 2026
Rebuilding the broken old Wing with New Spars
Dihedral Check
The wing does not look too bad right now ....
Pic #1 2076 Left wing is higher (the left wing is the one that broke off).
Pic #2 2079 And the dihedral in different light.
Fitting the Wing to the Fuse
Pic #3 2081 Ready to start fitting the wing to the fuse saddle, before covering the wing CS.
Pic #4 2082 I made up a cardboard backing (sitting on the cowl) for the B5 Leading Edge stop, out of ten thou file folder cardboard. Three laminations or 30 thou thick.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #170 Wed March 25 2026 post 1 of 4
Fitting the Wing to the Fuse
Cardboard backing for the B5 Leading Edge stop
Pic #1 2087 Test fit of the clamps. I don't want to squeeze anything off too tight.
Pic #2 2091 Glued in place. We ended up going with these light clamps.
Dried over night.
Check of the fit now
Pic #3 2094 First check of the rebuilt wing fit.
Pic #4 2097 View from the left side.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #171 Wed March 25 2026 post 2 of 4
Fitting the Wing to the Fuse
Cardboard backing for the B5 Leading Edge stop
Pic #1 2098 Closeup of the fit of the CS LE and TE. No more spaces.
Pic #2 2100 The left wing is a little bit higher than the right wing.
Pic #3 2101 I did make up two alum tubes for holding the wing down with elastics.
Pic #4 2102 Closeup of the elastic tiedowns. The wing sits snugly in place now.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #172 Wed March 25 2026 post 3 of 4
Balancing the 30 inch Beaver
Pic #1 2105 I needed two blobs of gray clay, each weighing about five grams, to balance the model before all of these repairs.
Pic #2 2106 The 1/16" plate firewall that holds the tenon, has come loose from the plastic cowl. I knew this would happen .... I now have an opaque "ring seal" of cloudy dried white glue around the inside edge of the tenon firewall plate. This ring of white glue slides right inside the plastic cowl, for easy placement.
I will try 5 min epoxy, since I don't have any med CA glue. At least I should be able to position the part using five min epoxy - ie, slide it right into place
Pic #3 2110 You can see the faded opaque white glue ring around the balsa plate. We decided to try and glue it back on with the dried white glue as is.
Pic #4 2114 Bloodroot pushes tiny round head pin holes into the perimeter edge, of the round plate firewall, of the tenon. Hopefully the five min epoxy hardens into these holes.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #173 Wed March 25 2026 post 4 of 4
Balancing the 30 inch Beaver
Pic #1 2117 Here the round tenon plate is glued back into the inside of the rear cowl ring. The clay weight at the bottom, gets pressed into the lower cowl where it sticks naturally in place. The five gram clay ballast on top, will get roller pinned back nice and flat, and will sit right there on top of the cowl. Now I can add more ballast to the top of the cowl, as needed.
Pic #2 2119 The plane still balances with all of the original clay ballast weight.
Pic #3 2121 Straight on view of the balance.
There is not much left to do .... time to start watching the weather also ....
Pic #4 WIND FORECAST FOR WEEK STARTING WED MARCH 25 2026
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #174 Thur March 26 2026
Sorry, I forgot Pic #4 2114 in Reply #172 (senior's moment)
This is probably the most important part, trying to keep the round plate 1/16" balsa firewall, glued to the white plastic of the cowl. I have had this come apart upon crashing other models ....
Pic #4 2114 Bloodroot pushes tiny round head pin holes into the perimeter edge, of the round plate firewall, of the tenon. Hopefully the five min epoxy hardens into these holes, and glues to the white plastic cowl ring also, at the same time.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #175 Fri March 27 2026
The Center section is fitted to the wing, and we now have to Silkspan cover the top of the CS, and cover the 'transition' area at the wing panel root, and we have to cover the top of the first bay in each wing panel.
We cut some thin strips of Lite Silkspan to glue into the transition area.
Pic #1 2127 Thin strips of lite silkspan are cut out.
Pic #2 2129 Closeup.
I was wondering how to hold the Landing Gear Fairings in place, in order to properly distribute the impact force of landing, into the strut and fuse side - ie the strut has to stay in position in that strut cutout "notch" in the LG fairing. We will try this elastic for the first glide tosses ....
Pic #3 2123 This temporary elastic goes all the way around the fuse.
Pic #4 2125 And here is the elastic and a small paper clip to hold it all together. This is also my emergency 'dethermalizer' - when the rubber band breaks, the LG fairings are free to flop away in the wind, decreasing lift ...
I will improve my glide tosses, by running with the toss - hand finger launch propelling this plane, means I never know if it will go straight or not ... I want it to gently move off of my hand, like George's batboat rising from its dolly ...
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #176 Sun March 29 2026 post 1 of 5
We are covering up the cracks and curves with a bunch of thin strips of tissue.
Pic #1 2131 First strip of lite Silkspan.
Pic #2 2133 Second strip of lite Silkspan.
Pic #3 2137 The third pair of large strips will cover everything so far.
Pic #4 2139 And we will need the final two tissue panels, for the first bay upper surface of each wing.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #177 Sun March 29 2026 post 2 of 5
Pic #1 2143 Both large strips are now glued.
Pic #2 2147 The two final covering panels are cut extra long.
Pic #3 2149 Ready for the glue, then unroll the panels (held at one end by green tape) over the top of the wing, right into their spots.
Pic #4 2150 The two panels are glued in and trimmed up. Also the Center Section, 1/32" sheet top plate, is now glued into place.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #178 Sun March 29 2026 post 3 of 5
The Landing Gear Fairings are not glued to the fuse, just the LG wire. So, for the test glides, I held the LG fairings in place with a temporary rubber band - the strut has to stay in position in that strut cutout "notch" in the LG fairing.
Pic #1 2152 The elastic crosses high enough above the rubber motor. The notch for the wing strut is partially covered in the pic.
Pic #2 2125 And this is the underside with a small paper clip holding the elastic ends.
Pic #3 2154 There is a thin gap in the fit of the wing on the left side root. There is a long thin sliver of balsa, to fill this gap, sitting on the big block of balsa in front.
Pic #4 2159 That sliver is now glued in place on top of the left fuse side. Now the fit of the wing is good to glue.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #179 Sun March 29 2026 post 4 of 5
Pic #1 2161 The building board woke up to a big dusting of snow and cold over night, but it should all melt away.
Pic #2 2164 View of the finished underside of the rebuilt wing.
Pic #3 2165 Closeup of above.
Pic #4 2167 Morning light. The new wing is fitted with four coin rolls (not full) added for weight while drying.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #180 Sun March 29 2026 post 5 of 5
Pic #1 2170 Now the wing is glued.
Pic #2 2171 And here is the dihedral of the high left wing.
Pic #3 2175 The wing tie down rubber bands and their aluminum tubes are added. Wing struts are still good for fitting (I marked them up well from where they came off).
Pic #4 2177 Now the struts are glued up. I didn't have to change anything.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #181 Mon March 30 2026
Pic #1 2179 Another view of the struts and how well they glued up.
Pic #2 2182 The wheels are on now and the hubcaps are glued to the axles with a dab of five min epoxy. The model is done. Ready to fly.
Pic #3 2183 Finished Beaver is ready to fly.
Pic #4 2185 Finished Beaver is ready to fly.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #182 Mon March 30 2026
Here is the last two of the finished pics.
Pic #1 2187
Pic #2 2189
I checked out the Cricket Field in Jackson Park early yesterday Sunday March 29 2026, and the Cricket guys are now playing on the pitch. There are three low lying areas of grass, in the rest of the park, now green and growing, but not growing fast enough yet. That little bit of rain we just had, left no standing water anywhere. So we need a big deluge of rain, and a very hot sunny day, and the grass should take off, anytime, any day now.
Now it is Mon morning March 30 2026
I have been watching the borderline weather since 7 AM. The wind has to be max 8 mph, and max gusts of 12 mph , for me to test glide. And the leafless trees are not blocking any wind.
It was already too windy by 9:00 Am (sunrise is 7:18 AM and sunset is 7:54 PM)
Pic #3 ACTUAL WIND 914 AM 10 MPH FROM SW GUSTING TO 17 MPH
So, I will wait - better to wait .... I did some test glides on the bed, which did not tell me anything other that it is nose heavy - I want long deep, spring grass, outside .... maybe later on today I will check it out - it is supposed to get up to 70 degrees F today.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #183 Wed April 1 2026 post 1 of 3
Well Mon evening on March 30 2026, I did wander back out to the Cricket Field in Jackson park, before dark ( without the 'temptation' of carrying the Beaver ), and only 38% humidity - not 78%, and the wind was calm. After that little bit of rain, there was no change in the grass, as in the grass growing solid green everywhere just yet, but any day now. The leaf flush has started, the tulips are up, the first frogs are croaking by the rauil road tracks, and the songbirds are migrating north ...
Three pics of my downslope test glide area, on the side of the large knoll, where the replica Spitfire and Hurricane reside on their pedestals.
Pic #1 2199 I will be run-tossing the Beaver straight out from the backpack, between the new trees.
Pic #2 2198 The Spitfire and Hurri are behind me out of sight in the pics.
Pic #3 2200 The grass looks all green in this angle, but it is mostly green tufts of grass, but it is ready to explode.
Pic #4 2197 Pic of the balanced Beaver after the wing rebuild. View from right rear.
So, this gives me a lot of time to look at the model and think. I think it was really going left, so I took the balance clay weight off of the left wing, and put it on the right wing ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #184 Wed April 1 2026 post 2 of 3
After looking at the Beaver a lot, I can see that it has a little "left" rudder off set built in. I need to confirm that it is going left to be sure. I have not tossed it on grass yet, after repairing the broken wing.
If it is going left, then instead of dissolving and re-gluing the fin/rudder, maybe I can counter the left turn by adding one of those one quarter moon balsa shims to the side of the nose block. All these models seem to need right thrust anyway, so then maybe two shims together, would be the correct amount of right thrust, to counter the "left" fin/rudder. I'm just thinking out loud ...
Four Home Pics of the repaired and balanced Beaver
Pic #1 2191 View from right front.
Pic #2 2193 View from rear.
Pic #3 2195 Shows the offset fin/rudder.
Pic #4 2196 Straight on view from rear showing the offset rudder/fin.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #185 Wed April 1 2026 post 3 of 3
The next day, today Tues March 30 2026, I found myself out in the park first thing in the morning, with the Beaver at ~ 8:30 AM. It was calm enough for me to test glide, but I waited for more grass. A big one half inch of rain was forecast for later in the day, and it was pleasantly warm, so I walked the further eight blocks East with the Beaver to my favorite restaurant, where the Breakfast rush had just finished. The the owner was sitting there, so I got to show him the newest plane, and get a good plate of fries and gravy. Plus I got a few more posterity pics, before offering up, as a live flying sacrifice, to the most merciful Gods of Free Fight, my rebuilt 30 inch Beaver.
Posterity Pics of the repaired Beaver - these turned out better - the restaurant was empty right after the morning rush ...
Pic #1 2201
Pic #2 2202
Pic #3 2203
Pic #4 2204
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #186 Wed April 1 2026
Last four posterity pics
These pics have the wing tie-down elastics with their aluminum tubes, and the landing gear fairings tie-down elastics with their aluminum tubes, and no spinner on the prop, the same as the last four pics in the last reply. Plus I have that big glob of clay on the right wing tip.
Pic #1 2205
Pic #2 2206
Pic #3 2207
Pic #4 2209
That's all for the posterity pics.
Now at 9:30 AM , it was a good wind forecast for flying today at 4 PM to 8 PM , after the drizzling rain stopped and the sun was supposed to come out at 4 PM, but now the rain is forecast to not stop? The wind for those four hours is still only 7 mph gusting to 12 mph, so I'll keep watching the weather. We do need the rain though.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #187 Thur April 2 2026 post 2 of 2
Watching the weather.
2:40 PM The wind has died down, and the rain has stopped. But it says 100% humidity. I desperately wanted to go test gliding, as the ground is soft from the light rain we had. So I took the Beaver out onto the balcony porch, and in less that a minute it seemed, it started wrinkling and sagging up, big time, from the moisture.
Pic #1 2216 Wrinkled tissue from 100% humidity.
Pic #2 WIND FORECAST THUR APRIL 2 2026
So, I will wait for another day, if this humidity does not decrease before sunset at 8:00 PM. The wind is blowing at 7 mph gusting to 11 mph from now 3 PM until sunset 8:00 PM, maybe I will take a quick walk out there and see how the wind looks on the flags, without the Beaver ... I can always come back home and grab the Beaver and head back out.
P.S. In my previous post, I incorrectly called the landing gear fairings as using "tie-down elastics with their aluminum tubes", when I should have said "single wrap around elastic with connecting white paper clip under the fuse", was used for holding the landing gear fairings down.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Bad luck - the weather is not being too helpful!
John
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Sat Apr 4 2026 Reply #189 post 1 of 4
Flight Report #3 evening of Fri Apr 3 2026
Previously:
Flight Report #1 Feb 26 2026 Five test glides, bush wheel flies off.
Flight Report #2 Feb 27 2026 One test glide, going left and then cartwheeled and the left wing breaks off.
It took me one month to rebuild the wing, and just in time for spring flying.
Flight Report #3
Well John, I finally got in some good practice, with running-test glides , right before dark Fri Apr 3 2026. The wind had died down and it was then 7:19 PM 64 deg F (feels like 57), when I left the apartment ...
7 PM winds blowing at 9 mph from NW gust 14 mph
8 PM winds blowing at 8 mph from WNW gust 13 mph
and the humidity was only 56 % , sunset at 8:00 PM.
So I hurried out there with the Beaver. I had already scouted out, earlier today, the four best areas of growing grass in Jackson Park.
The Beaver already has downthrust built into the nose. Before I went out, I put the 0.7 g of clay on the right wing, to counter the left turn, and I put in two of those quarter moon-shaped balsa shims, into the nose block - one on top for downthrust, and one on the left side for right thrust, for starters, and then out we went ... The balsa shims are held in place by the tight prop motor under constant tension.
Pic #1 2229 I have a little balsa wedge holding the nose block open (taught rubber motor holds the nose block in tight).
Pic #2 2231 Close up. You can see the position of the two shims on the cutting mat, the same as the nose block. I also have lots of spare hubcaps.
Pic #3 2233 The shims do over lap a bit, but do not affect anything.
Pic #4 2235 This top view shows the right thrust on the nose block.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Sat Apr 4 2026 Reply #190 post 2 of 4
Flight Report #3 evening of Fri Apr 3 2026
Spring walk out through Jackson park to do some test glides before dark.
Pic #1 2217 Sunset light on the Jackson Park entrance and two Dawn Redwood trees colored nicely.
Pic #2 2218 Another entrance view.
Pic #3 2219 And the wind on the slightly limping flag at the entrance.
Pic #4 2220 We are walking up the trail now towards the flower garden. The grass is greening up.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Sat Apr 4 2026 Reply #191 post 3 of 4
Flight Report #3 evening of Fri Apr 3 2026
I started the glides just west of the Flower Garden on one of two rectangles of long deep grass beside the four Magnolia trees - the deepest grass since the rain yesterday, which did fill up some standing water in the ditches on the side of the railway tracks lining Jackson Park, and frogs were croaking. See two mallards pic #
After the three good glides beside the flower garden, we walked out further, past the Spit and Hurri replicas and that glide toss area, and out to the Cricket Field but they were playing Cricket pic # , so I could not use that big deep patch of grass on the West side of the Cricket Pitch sitting right beside the wind sheltering trees - but I had one other good spot to choose from.
Pic #1 2221 This is the two thickest patches of grass. You can see two of the Magnolia trees getting ready to bloom. I will be casting starting at the back pack and running towards where the plane is now, and letting go with 10 of 15 winds or so.
Pic #2 2222 This is the deepest grass, yet most of the park still has yellow tan dormant grass.
Pic #3 2223 Wind on the flag as we pass the Spitfire and Hurricane, on our way to the Cricket Field.
Pic #4 2224 And there is the Cricket Field. My good flying grass is where the player is standing on the right, but I have one more spot for short hand glides. In the distance is the outdoor and indoor tennis courts.
first 3 test glides:
#1 12 finger winds goes left landed OK
#2 20 winds tried different launch angle more to the right flight went slightly right with a perfect landing in the deep grass
#3 25 winds went straight good flight
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Sat Apr 4 2026 Reply #192 post 4 of 4
Flight Report #3 evening of Fri Apr 3 2026
That last green grass spot is at the far end of the park, right along the tennis building west wall, but the wind was blowing there like a river current, along the building, so back we went to the Cricket field where they had just stopped, and I did the last four test glides, the last one with 40 finger winds on the prop. That is only seven test glides, but there was a lot of walking time through the park also, with such a late start.
Right after the sun went down the wind was really building up, and I forced myself to quit. It was a good feeling though, walking out of the park with an undamaged model that lives to see another flying day.
It is raining all day today Sat April 4 2026, Sunday is too windy, but Monday is a good forecast flying day from 6:00 AM to 10 AM. sunrise is 7:06 AM
This is now Sat April 4 2026, and it is going to rain all day. The leaf flush is ongoing but the temp really cooled off from the 70 deg F yesterday. We are going slow with the trimming tosses, but the results so far were quite promising, once I got the hang of the run-toss, straight into the wind.
Pic #1 2225 Standing water left by the rain has a pair of Mallard ducks in it.
Pic #2 2226 Here we are back at the Cricket Field for the last 4 tosses, as the players are done and nightfall settles in.
Last Four of Seven short Test Glides back at the Cricket Field
#4 20 winds good flight stops in mid air a little high.
#5 30 winds went way left bad angle to wind launch?
#6 30 winds different launch angle perfect flight going a little to the right.
#7 40 winds slight turn right held the flight well
Pic #3 2227 It is getting dark. But the 30" Beaver lives to see another day.
Next flying day is in two days on Mon April 6 2026
600 AM wind at 6 mph from SSW gusting to 7 mph
700AM wind at 6 mph from S gusting to 7 mph
800 AM wind at 6 mph from SSE gusting to 6 mph
900 AM wind at 7 mph from SSW gusting to 11 mph
1000AM wind at 9 mph from SSW gusting to 16 mph
after 1000 AM, it is too windy to fly.
Pic #4 WIND FORECAST MON APRIL 6 2020 6 AM TO 10 AM
End of Flight Report #3
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Mon Apr 6 2026 Reply #193
5:00 AM
Flying day for Flight #4 Test Glides
The weather is really cooling down, even below freezing, so this AM April 6 2026, is the last good chance to fly for several days.
At 7:00 AM the temp is 38 deg F and no rain is now forecast. By 10:00 AM the temp rises to 42 deg F.
But the humidity is 80%. I will bring my portable fan.
Wind is good.
winds blowing humidity %
7 AM 3 mph from SSE gusting to 6 mph 82%
8 AM 3 S 6 79%
9 AM 4 SSW 7 79%
10 AM 5 WSW 9 73%
11 AM 5 W 12 65%
NOON 8 WNW 14 58%
Pic #1 WIND FORECAST MON APR 6 2026 MORNING
Lastwoodsman
Richard
START OF FLIGHT REPORT #4
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Mon Apr 6 2026 Reply #194 post 1 of 5
Flight Report #4 Monday morning April 6 2026
I got up early in the dark and saw that it had just rained and stopped, before 6:30 AM (sunrise 7:06 AM), and there was no wind. See Pic #1 2245
I went back for a little power nap - I knew I had till 10 AM for good wind, and maybe the grass would dry out a bit, in the meantime.
8:59 AM 39 def F (feels like 50 deg F) winds 3 mph from SSE gusting to 7 mph. You don't want to miss these low wind days. I got home at 10:40 AM now 44 deg F (58), wind 5 mph from WSW, gusting to 10 mph now.
I ended up heading out the door to the park at about 9:15 AM. I can get to the Cricket field in 15 minutes. It was a spectacularly sunny morning. These are powered flights from now on .... these were 9, albeit short, good flights from 30 finger winds, to 90 finger winds. I got 23 pics, but no actual flying pics yet, with a combination of a little spring tour of Jackson park, mixed in. I had to go back and grab the little 'personal fan' that I forgot, to see if it will dry the damp sagging tissue. The fan worked but it did not dry the wing Silkspan tissue at all.
Nevertheless, the Beaver seemed to fly just fine, even with the sagging wrinkles from the high humidity. I must write an Ode to the Gods of Free Flight, in reverance ...
I launched these flights while not actually running, but taking a few short steps of a fast walking shuffle, which takes away a lot of difficulty with the finger tip direction and speed toss, because you already have built up speed.
1 30 finger winds perfect landing got pic
2 45 winds perfect slight right soft forward flip on landing
3 60 winds launched too high of angle it climbed but no damage landing on thick grass
4 60 winds good launch perfect flight
5 75 winds longest flight slight right
The wind was sort of increasing and changing direction it seemed -- I forgot my flagging tape streamer -- so I threw up a lot of grass.
6 80 tried a down wind flight 3 seconds perfect angle of attack into the ground as the rubber ran out.
7 80 another perfect downwind slight right flight.
I lost the balsa right thrust shim a couple of flights ago I think ..... I had two spares, so I put one back on. On a couple of landing, the nose block was dislocated, but still pulled into the nose.
8 90 now it went straight ? must be from an angle change into the wind at launch.
9 90 launched in the opposite direction the wind was shifting around , veering and increasing, and I got another perfect 3 second flight. Also another perfect landing, of a soft forward one half somersault half flip, harmlessly onto its back.
Pic #1 WIND FORECAST MON APRIL 6 2026 6 AM TO 10 AM
Pic #2 2245 Dreary sky - it had just rained just before 7 AM.
Pic #3 2247 The Dawn Redwood trees are full of cones - the ground also. No wind.
Pic #4 2248 Here we are beside the sunken flower garden, beside one of the four Magnolia trees. I did not fly here where I did some test glides - the ground was low and extremely wet and full of deep wet grass.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Mon Apr 6 2026 Reply #195 post 2 of 5
Flight Report #4 Monday morning April 6 2026
Pic #1 2250 Still no wind. We are on the way now to the Cricket Field of dreams.
Pic #2 2251 Now on the Cricket Field's West side which is full of thick wet grass, and no Cricket players.
Pic #3 2252 rotate This is looking towards the West.
Start of the 9 powered flights.
Pic #4 2253 first flight 30 finger winds perfect landing.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Mon Apr 6 2026 Reply #196 post 3 of 5
Flight Report #4 Monday morning of April 6 2026
Pic #1 2254 second flight, 45 winds, soft forward flip on soft landing, perfect flight slightly right.
Pic #2 2255 This pic shows the right thrust shim, and the down thrust shim on top.
Pic #3 2256 60 winds launched at too high of an angle, and it climbed out and made a soft flip landing. I think I lost the right thrust balsa shim on this landing ...
Pic #4 2257 Time to quit as the wind was increasing and veering and spending more time near the max gust mph. The long new growth, willow hanging branch twigs, are yellow, and the long slender buds were half yellow yesterday, the buds now turning into leaves and aments or catkins.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Mon Apr 6 2026 Reply #197 post 4 of 5
Flight Report #4 Monday morning of April 6 2026
Pics Around the Vintage Warplane Replicas
Pic #1 2258 Last pics through the bare trees.
Pic #2 2259 More pics.
Pic #3 2260 Tulips are up.
Pic #4 2261 Side view of the Spit and Hurri.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Mon Apr 6 2026 Reply #198 post 5 of 5
Flight Report #4 Monday morning of April 6 2026
Pic #1 2263 We have about three big colonies of squirrels here.
Exiting Jackson Park from where we came in.
Pic #2 2264 On the way out. The wind has increased on the flag.
Pic #3 2266 A ton of cones have already fallen out of these two Dawn Redwoods, almost carpeting the ground and main paved trail.
I need to practice stretch winding using the field winding stooge. Maybe another bench test motor run or two for practice, and make a few more shims, and definitely bring spare elastics for the Landing Gear Fairings tie-downs (in case they break). Then I will try longer flights, stretch wound in the stooge. I am going for ten second, hopefully circular, flights, but flying anywhere with-in the Cricket Field is good.
It is a good thing I got these flights in early in the morning, as it rained off and on all day.
Time to do a real maiden flight - using stretch wound rubber motors from a winding stooge .
Lastwoodsman
Richard
End of Flight Report #4 of Mon Apr 6 2026
Hi Richard
Great progress.
If the slackening of the tissue bugs you (it would get to me) - Doping the tissue with old fashioned cellulose dope or with banana oil will make the tissue more resistant to damp and reduce the amount of slackening when the air or the ground is wet.
You can get non-shrinking dope, or use banana oil (also called Isoamyl acetate), if you are worried about over-shrinking the tissue. If you're allergic to dope fumes or dislike the banana smell of banana oil, you could try Eze-dope, which is water-based, but try it on a test frame covered with Silkspan before trying it on the model.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #200 Wed April 8 2026
Hi Jeremy. Thanks for the input. Yeah, this Beaver is not going to be a pristine "Hangar Queen" - it is relegated to a life of active, remote mining exploration flying, on gravel runways, until it can't be repaired anymore. There are a lot of mistakes - wrinkles etc, I already broke the wing off ... , but that is OK, as I am using the Beaver as a 'park beater'.
I just want to have some fun learning and experimenting with flying, crashing, fixing up, and flying again .... The object is to get trimmed out circular flights, within the Cricket field, of ten seconds, with stretch wound rubber motors ..... and to try to get some good, in-flight pics ...
I just got in the first four flights yesterday, using the Winding Stooge, for stretch wound rubber (170 stretch winds) motors in the Beaver. Details coming up.
Pic #1 2275 Beaver in the Winding Stooge.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Wed Apr 8 2026 Reply #201 post 1 of 5
Flight Report #5 early afternoon of Tues April 7 2026
On Tues Apr 7 2026 Just before noon,
I suddenly looked outside and there was no wind ...
I had been working on getting new fresh elastics for the wing tie downs, and the landing gear fairings elastic and paper clip tie down, and found some good spares for each. I will replenish the elastics with fresh 'assorted elastics' from dollarama.
I also made up some more balsa shims - they keep flying out of the nose on landing, because they are not glued in yet. I also sanded those two shims in the nose, for a good match, giving right thrust and down thrust on the nose.
So, seeing there was not a lot of wind, and Jackson Park is right across the road ... I then packed up and left at 12:30 PM with the pack and the winding stooge et al, and went to Jackson Park for Flight Report #5 Tue Apr 7 2026. The weather was 33 deg F (feels like 40 deg F), only 45 % humidity, winds blowing 8 mph SW,
I had just finished Flight Report #4 the day before on Mon Apr 6 2026, using up to 90 finger winds and a max flight of 3 seconds. Today Tues was the first time using the winding stooge and I got in 4 flights - the best two were each 170 stretch winds for 6 seconds and 4 seconds. Then the wind was too high and we quit, with no damage to the Beaver.
Flight Report #5 Tue April 7 2026 post 1 of 5
Flight #1 150 stretch winds launched too much of an angle down ward, went straight.
Flight #2 170 winds six seconds !! goes up high into the wind very slow then settles down almost straight down, into a perfect soft three point chopper landing.
Never saw that before.
Flight #3 170 winds four seconds the same exact flight as the six second flight above.
Flight #4 170 winds but the wind caught it for its first light half cartwheel landing - no damage.
Pic #1 WIND FORECAST TUE APRIL 7 2026 NOON
Pic #2 2271 I was working on new spare balsa shims, and new spare rubber bands and paper clips, and two spare 7" motors four strands = two strands 3/16" & two strands 3/32"
Pic #3 2272 We now have spare rubber bands picked out, but I will buy new Dollarama "Assorted Rubber Bands".
Pic #4 2275 The Beaver is in the winding stooge.
Lastwoodsman
Riochard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Wed Apr 8 2026 Reply #202 post 2 of 5
Flight Report #5 early afternoon of Tues April 7 2026
Got home at 2:30 PM but went back out at 4:00 PM
I went home and started making more shims, as the shims were flying out on landing, and I could not find them. And I started replacing all the rubber elastics and pulled out two new 7" motors.
I know that I can get 10 to 13 seconds on 250 stretch winds with the seven inch motor . I just got 6 seconds on 170 stretch winds ....
Worked on the model. Then it looked like no wind at 4:30 pm. 38 deg F ( feels like 49 deg F), winds were good still, blowing 6 mph from NE gust 9, and the humidity only 40%.
Back into the park we went, at 4:30 PM, with the Beaver and a full pack loaded for bear, but the wind seemed to stay mostly at the high end of the gust speed, blowing 8mph from SSE gusting to 13 mph. I did not fly it, so I took more pics in the park. So, I only got those four stretch wound flights in the early afternoon, Tues April 7 2026 Flight #5.
Pic #1 2276 Perfect three point landing after rising high on launch, going slow into the wind, and floating almost straight back down, but going a little forward, to its perfect landing. It did this for the 6 second flight and the 4 second flight.
Pic #2 2277 Both shims are knocked out on landing. The second shim is barely visible by the prop blade.
Pic #3 2278 Another view - you can see the other shim under the nose.
Pic #4 2279 This patch of grass on the West side of the Cricket field is the best in the Park.
And we finished off with some nice coming alive nature pics, with the return of the Sun and the Spring Equinox in Jackson Park.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
You are making progress Richard - it won't be long before you achieve your circular flight paths.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Wed Apr 8 2026 Reply #203 post 3 of 5
Flight Report #5 early afternoon of Tues April 7 2026
Pic #1 2280 The Willow tree leaves are coming through.
Pic #2 2281 The Magnolia flowers are popping out.
Pic #3 2282 The lone migrating raptor in the sky is a Turkey Vulture, with the distinctive "V" shaped wing dihedral.
Pic #4 2283 The wind on the flag by the Spitfire and Hurricane replicas - it really is too windy.
Lastwoodsman
Riochard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Wed Apr 8 2026 Reply #205 post 4 of 5
Flight Report #5 early afternoon of Tues April 7 2026
Thanks John.
Pic #1 2284 The Beaver stopped in to say hello to his Fox snake, Barn Owl, two Black squirrels, and bat friends.
Pic #2 2285 This is a nice Sycamore tree budding out in the background.
Pic #3 2286 The big carved flying eagle at the top, and the red headed woodpecker underneath.
Pic #4 2287 I think these are the 'snowball trees' or fragrant Vibernum sp.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Wed Apr 8 2026 Reply #206 post 5 of 5
Flight Report #5 early afternoon of Tues April 7 2026
Pic #1 2288 The shadows are getting longer and the wind is still too strong. We need 8 mph wind or less. I think it was gusting to 13 mph.
Pic #2 2289 Last pic. Too windy.
Well I am glad to get some stretch wound flights in with good results so far, and glad to get home undamaged. The park has a long way to go before all of the grass turns green and grows thicker.
Today Wed April 8 2026 the temp really dropped over night this morning from Tues evening, to 21 deg F or minus 6 deg C, first thing in the morning. And the gusts were way too high, so no flying today Wed.
It is time to glue the balsa down-thrust shim, and the right-thrust shim, onto the balsa fuse nose, 1/16" thick, flat round former firewall plate 1A , before the next flying session. With that offset of the tenon, comes less tenon depth, to hold that noseblock tenon in place, in the fuse hole mortice. Hence all of the balsa shims and noseblocks popping out, upon landing.
The end of Flight Report #5 of Tuesday April 7 2026
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #207 Fri Apr 10 2026
It is a Flying Day tomorrow ALL DAY! Sat 11 April 2026
I have been working on the shims the last few days. Hopefully the Cricket guys have not yet fully started their League play ....
Pic #1 WIND FORECAST SAT APRIL 11 2026 FLYING DAY ALL DAY
Sunny all day Low winds Humidity 7AM 86% 1 PM 58% 7 PM 49%
Sunrise 6:58 AM Sunset 8:09 PM
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #208 Mon April 13 2026 post 1 of 5
Making the Big Shims Fri Apr 10 2026
Before Flight Report #6 on Sat Apr 11 2026
I need downthrust and right thrust on the noseblock together, which produces and double angled plane. I tried to glue small shims onto the big shim, to get the desired effect.
Pic #1 2301 The big shims have downthrust only built in. There are lots of quarter moon shims to work with.
Pic #2 2302 Closeup of the above.
Pic #3 2307 Here we are sizing up two small shims on the big shim at the top. I broke the no. 2 big shim in the thin corner.
Pic #4 2315 This shows the slight overlap of the two small shims.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #209 Mon April 13 2026 post 2 of 5
Making The Big Shims cont.
Pic #1 2317 Over view of the shim parts. Three large shims, and a bunch of quarter moon shims.
Pic #2 2319 Closeup - we are trying to get a double angled face.
Pic #3 2323 Here is how it looks with big shim #2.
Pic #4 2327 Other side view.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #210 Mon April 13 2026 post 3 of 5
Making The Big Shims cont.
Pic #1 2329 Oh no! All those 3/32" quarter shims are too small!
Pic #2 2333 Closeup of too small ...
Pic #3 2342 We made four quarter moon, larger shims this time.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #211 Mon April 13 2026 post 4 of 5
Making The Big Shims cont.
Pic #1 2348 The high edge has to be thicker balsa, and the low edge has to be thinner balsa = down thrust and side thrust in the resulted compound angle, sanded plane.
Pic #2 2356 The two shims are now glued onto the big shim, after a wee bit of pre-sanding to their required angles.
Pic #3 2362 Plus I added another thin support shim at the bottom (held in place by three small planks).
Pic #4 2367 And here is the top view of the resulting large shim(and small shims), sitting around the nose block tenon.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #212 Mon April 13 2026 post 5 of 5
Making The Big Shims cont.
Pic #1 2368 And here is the other side view that goes with the previous Pic #4 2367.
Pic #2 2370 Here is the nose cowl block, and shim fit, on the fuse. I'm just guessing that this is good enough sidethrust.
Pic #3 2371 Top view of shim with nose cowl on fuse.
Pic #4 2376 Downthrust
Ready to fly!
Next up - posting the Flight Report #6 of Sat Apr 11 2026
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #213 Mon April 13 2026
Start of FLIGHT REPORT #6 of Sat April 11 2026 post 1 of 3
The big revamped shim is in the Beaver.
Pic #1 2377 Right thrust
Pic #2 2378 Side view of down thrust.
We started walking out through Jackson Park to the Cricket Field ...
At 9:06 AM the weather was a cold 41 deg F (feels like 50) Humidity 79% The lite Silkspan was wrinkled up with the humidity, sunny, winds 4 mph from ENE gusting to 6 mph.
Pic #3 2382 Wind on the flag at the entrance to Jackson Park, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Pic #4 2383 Wind on the flag at the Spitfire and Hurricane replicas on pedestals.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #214 Mon April 13 2026 post 2 of 3
FLIGHT REPORT #6 of Sat April 11 2026 (cont)
We got to the Cricket Field at 9:30 AM No players ...
Pic #1 2384 My set up in the Cricket Field.
Pic #2 2385 Flight #1 first landing soft nose plant and popped back up on its legs.
Pic #3 2386 Noseblock came loose.
Pic #4 2387 Looking straight West.
Four Flights only today, all stretch wound on a stooge.
1 150 winds, 4 sec, slight left turn, perfect landing
2 210 winds (I can go 270 winds safely) Big left turn, three seconds, cartwheel, the winds are increasing and veering in the open Cricket Field, too windy and gusty.
3 210 winds, tried a new launch angle to the South downwind and quartering away from me, three 3 seconds, flew straight at a perfect glide launch angle downwards, and flew into the deep grass with it still having turns left on the rubber.
4 240 winds, the winds were now coming directly from the East ( I did not forget my banner streamer of orange flagging tape six feet long ).
I launched down wind and slightly left. It went into a left turn, (I will put more clay on the right wingtip), into a perfect stand up balancing act of a landing.
I was winding for the fifth flight and the wind had shifted and now came from the East. I knew it was too windy after three flights, but now I was glad I stayed - because it showed me what I needed to fix. The (loose not glued in yet) big shim suddenly broke apart into four pieces, in my hands, like a house of cards. Maybe it was from all that spinning and dancing on a stretched out wound rubber motor, and bouncing around on a still winding up, rubber motor, that caused it's demise.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #215 Mon April 14 2026 post 3 of 3
FLIGHT REPORT #6 of Sat April 11 2026 (cont)
Pic #1 2388 Flight #2 soft nose plant.
Pic #2 2389 My stooge set up showing the four broken pieces of the Big Shim.
Pic #3 2390 Close up of broken shim pieces.
Well, so much for low winds all day. I was actually ready to call it quits after flight #3 ....
So, .... I was lucky the Cricket players were not on the pitch yet -- they surely will be, on this nice sunny day later on. Now I will make a better shim, and get ready for the next flight.
We then packed up and went for a nice walk and took some final early 'leaf flush out' pics, of spring coming to life in Jackson Park, to finish off the post.
Got home at 11:15 AM temp 46 deg F (62), 60% humidity, winds 4 mph from ENE gust 7 mph.
We did again head back into the park a few hours later, loaded for bear and intending to fly, at 3 PM 52 deg F (61) 35% winds 7 mph ENE gust 9, but it was too windy, once we got there, for any more flights.
Park Spring Tour Pics in the next four posts
Pics of the Spitfire and Hurricane
Pic #4 2391
Lastwoodsman
Richard
End of Flight Report #6 of April 11 2026
Hi Richard
Good progress.
What about using low-tack double sided tape to hold the shims in place and to protect them a bit from landing damage?
Cheers
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #217 Wed April 15 2026 post 1 of 3
Hi Jeremy. Thanks for the reply. I just have to get these last Park Tour pics replies, posted, and then I will post several detailed build replies, with pics and text already completed, on how I have already finished the shim repairs and fix.
I went with this, for starters : "Closeup of the big shim break. It will all be glued in place on the nose block tenon." But lots more was needed.
The final overnight drying result, right now, is a tight fitting cowl with no wobbling, and .... ready to fly .... !
Park Tour Pics
Pic #1 2392 Wind on the flag at the Spit and Hurri replicas.
Pic #2 2393 Walk around pics of the sunny side of the replica Spitfire and Hurricane.
Pic #3 2394 Note the wind on the flag. Too strong ie more than 8 mph .
Pic #4 2395 Spit and Hurri.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #218 Wed April 15 2026 post 2 of 3
Park Tour Pics cont
Pic #1 2396 Second last Spit and Hurri pic.
Pic #2 2397 Last of the Spit and Hurri pics.
Pic #3 2398 Eagle carving.
Pic #4 2399 Closer up pic of eagle carving.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #219 Wed April 15 2026 post 3 of 3
Park Tour Pics
Pic #1 2404 Outside the Flower Garden
Pic #2 2405 Flag on the way out.
Pic #3 2406 Flag on the way out.
Pic #4 2407 Flag on the way out.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #220 Wed April 15 2026
Pic #1 2408 Flag on the way out.
Back in my apartment
Shim Repair and Fix
Pic #2 2410 Back on the flight line table.
Pic #3 2411 Closeup of the big shim break. It will all be glued in place on the nose block tenon.
Pic #4 2412 Things are taken apart. The motor sits on the cowl.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #221 Wed April 15 2026
Shim Repair and Fix
Pic #1 2413 The Beaver is all disassembled. The six feet of orange flagging tape is for bringing to the launch spot along with the Beaver. I will never forget it again.
Shim Repair
Pic #2 2414 Bloodroot pins up some balsa blocks, to hold the Cowl in place, for gluing the broken shims directly onto their place on the noseblock.
Pic #3 2415 Closeup.
Pic #4 2420 Left glues onto the left, and right glues onto the right.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #222 Wed April 15 2026
Shim Repair and Fix
Pic #1 2423 Labeling is everything.
Pic #2 2425 High edge. Low edge. All glued up.
Loose Cowl Fit
Pic #3 2430 We will try gluing an extra plank on the top tenon.
Pic #4 2432 Bloodroot and Mandrake simultaneously tighten the clamps, which were nicely supported at rest, by the balsa blocks. Little things ...
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #223 Wed April 15 2026
Loose Nose Block
The test fit showed that the tenon was loose up and down, and loose left to right. Two balsa plates were eventually needed, to get close ...
Pic #1 2434 Another view of Bloodroot and Mandrake clamping in that top plate on the tenon.
Pic #2 2437 More good camera angle work.
Pic #3 2440 There is now also a glued in extra plank on the left side of the nose block, after the last test fit needed it.
Pic #4 2443 Close up pic.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #224 Wed April 15 2026
Loose Nose Block Repair
Pic #1 2446 Top view of right thrust.
Pic #2 2451 Side view of down thrust - maybe I need more down thrust - I will bring a very thin quarter shim for this next time out.
Pic #3 2457 The top and side planks are still not exactly tight. They get a final cutout, of "thin plank", 0.010" file folder cardboard, glued on.
Pic #4 2467 Glued on now. It is now a tight fit!
Ready to fly!
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #225 Thur April 16 2026
Here are four outside pics of the repaired Beaver, ready to fly. I will still check the balance, and .... put the Beaver in the table stooge, and check some rubber motor and prop runs, just to be sure ....
Pic #1 2477 Downthrust is good.
Pic #2 2478 Side thrust is good.
Pic #3 2479 Wrinkles from high humidity, from a lot of rain.
Pic #4 2481 Underside view.
Possible forecast flying days are: Fri April 17 2026 all day, Mon April 20 all day, Thur April 23 all day, and Fri April 24 first thing in the morning.
The park is in full leaf flush, and we had a lot of rain, and the grass is growing, and has not been cut yet !! These are the best days 8) for small park flying, if the humidity >:( cooperates ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #226 Thur April 16 2026
In the Table Stooge
I did three motor test runs using a fresh seven inch four strand motor - two strands 3/32" and two strands of 3/16" rubber.
1 200 stretch winds = 8 sec
2 200 stretch winds = 8 sec
3 250 stretch winds = 12 sec
I can safely stretch wind in 270 turns with this motor. This should work as I am only trying for ten second circular flights in the 110 yard by 130 yard Cricket Field in Jackson Park, Windsor, Ontario.
Pic #1 2475 Undertail lighting.
Pic #2 2485 Side thrust
Pic #3 2487 Down thrust
Pic #4 2494 Prop Spinning
Here is my theory of flight, 'guess', as to why the plane goes left. The left wing sits higher than the right wing (at ninety degrees to the relative wind), causing the left wing to have less lift than the flatter right wing. Therefor, the higher lift right wing flies higher in the air, than the left wing, causing the plane to go left. Yes, no ?
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #227 Thur April 16 2026
In the Table Stooge Test Run of Rubber Motors
Pic #1 2482 Beaver is in the Stooge for some test runs of the rubber motors.
Pic #2 2490 My 10:1 Stretch Winder
Pic #3 2492 There are 250 stretch winds on this motor. Max safe winds is 270.
Pic #4 2494 Wind forecast for Fri April 17 2026
The best times are 8 AM sunrise to 2 PM.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #228 Thur April 16 2026
Balancing the 30" Beaver between the balance jars.
Pic #1 2499 The Beaver balances with an extra ball of clay weight on the nose, of about one gram or so.
Pic #2 2501 Closeup of the clay weight.
Pic #3 2503 Straight on view of the wings and tail plane.
Pic #4 2508 The Beaver stops in for a visit to the balsa wood lumber supplies board, and the rubber motor board. She looks over the rubber selection. She is getting pumped up for those big, long rubber motors, and the delirium of flight.
Ready to fly! It really does want to fly!
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #229 Tuesday April 21 2026 post 1 of 6
Start of Flight Report #7 of Friday April 17 2026
Well, that was quite the flying day yesterday for Flight Report #7 of Friday April 17 2026. It was pretty scary first thing in the morning with fog - see earlier pic without the Beaver = Pic # showing really thick fog. I would actually get out to the park three times yesterday - the first for the seven flights around 10:30 AM , then I came back around 3:00 PM for three finger flights - the wind was just too strong the way it gusted into the third flight, and the last and third time out (loaded for bear again), the Cricket guys were on the field, so no more flights.
It has been raining a lot, and I have really figured out the weather channel to be able to get to the main flying factors quickly - namely wind speed and direction, precipitation and accumulations, and percent humidity.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #229 Tuesday April 21 2026 post 1 of 6
Flight Report #7 of Friday April 17 2026
Pic #1 2524 Early fog
Pic #2 2525 Fog lessening.
Pic #3 2526 Just under the flag at the Jackson Park entrance.
Pic #4 2527 Here is the flag on top of the entrance pole.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #230 Tuesday April 21 2026 post 2 of 6
Flight Report #7 of Friday April 17 2026
It is raining now Sat after that perfect sunny day yesterday Fri April 17 2026. The grass was out of control yesterday, even having grown in large clumps, higher than the rest of the high grass. On that third trip out, I saw that they had started the first mowing of grass in Jackson Park, but didn't get a lot done, and now it is raining again today Sat.
So, it was great to land the Beaver in high wet grass. The water smears and water drops had to be brushed off, not wiped off (wiping off just presses the water into the Silkspan covering). I had brought paper towels with me, and my portable personal fan. Brushing off the drops of water, was done by holding the surface to be brushed, vertically, and I would lightly brush from top, down to the bottom only, in the direction of gravity. The paper towel would grab on to those water drops, better than the adhesion of the water drops to the Silkspan, and the drops would get dragged down and brushed right off with the downward strokes. For the smeared-in water on the covering, I just gently dabbed it dry with a paper towel. I did use the fan, but it was hard to tell if it helped at all - the fan does not remove water droplets.
The water soluble, blue marker, painted pin striping, was taking a beating with all of this. It is now way to late for a drama queen - it has the park beater "experimental" title now ...
As far as the flights went, they all landed with a lot of turns left on the rubber. Ten seconds prop run on the table stooge, does not correspond to a ten second flight in real life ... Maybe it is because the wings were wrinkled from the humidity, causing less lift. The model did seem to climb, on power burst flying out. More testing is needed.
Pic #1 2528 The trees are leafing out Jackson Park.
Pic #2 2529 The old Magnolia trees are past their prime.
Pic #3 2530 The Sunken Flower Gardens are in full bloom.
Pic #4 2531 Deep wet grass by the Spitfire and Hurricane replicas.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #231 Tuesday April 21 2026 post 3 of 6
Flight Report #7 of Friday April 17 2026
Seven Flights stretch wound all launched into the wind
1 170 winds deep wet grass tissue is wrinkled 3 sec slight turn right descending lots of winds were left on the motor.
Here is where I started using paper towels to brush off the water drops downward direction only. It pulled the drops off quite well.
2 200 Aim more left 4 sec straight pic
3 220 5 sec angled up on launch going out. came down from apex nice glidepath under power to a nice sitting landing.
4 230 5 sec perfect angle up not as high as above came down nice sitting on LG
5 240 5 sec same as above but one half flip forward on landing.
6 270 6 seconds
7 270 5 sec There is seven seconds of wound rubber in the motor on landing still left - about half of the double knots.
Pic #1 2532 Wind on the flag at the Spit and Hurri.
Pic #2 2533 My winding stooge setup in the Cricket Field.
Pic #3 2534 First flight landing.
Pic #4 2535 Orange flagging tape blowing in the wind.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #232 Tuesday April 21 2026 Post 4 of 6
Flight Report #7 of Friday April 17 2026
Pic #1 2536 Back at my setup.
Pic #2 2537 Deep wavy wet grass.
Pic #3 2538 Soft landings on all flights.
Pic #4 2539 Ribbon is still blowing pretty hard.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #233 Tuesday April 21 2026 Post 5 of 6
Flight Report #7 of Friday April 17 2026
Departing Jackson Park.
Pic #1 2540 High school lunch kids taking over the pitch.
Pic #2 2541 On the way back home, wind on the flag now at the Spit and Hurri.
Pic #3 2542 The flower garden is in full bloom.
Pic #4 2543 Exiting the park with an intact Beaver.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #234 Tuesday April 21 2026 post 6 of 6
Flight Report #7 of Friday April 17 2026
Pic #1 2544 The wind on the flag is too gusty.
Pic #2 2545 Really gusty - no more flying for now.
I think I have it trimmed out, but I have to confirm this on the next session #8 (which I did but I lost the 19 pics).
Lastwoodsman
Richard
End of Flight Report #8 of Fri Apr 17 2026
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #235 Tuesday April 21 2026 post 1 of 2
Larger Motor and New Rear Peg
Rear Peg Plates Moved Aft 2 inches.
New more powerful longer rubber motor.
So, after losing those 19 pics of flight report #8, I looked at my best flights so far - only a couple of six second flights using a 7 inch four strand, 2 strands 3/16" and 2 strands 3/32" motors, on a prop hook to rear peg of 7 1/2". Total cross section 0.563"
Pic #1 2576 Two new yellow rear motor peg triangular balsa supports.
Pic #2 2578 Closeup shows the new motor peg holes (moved up 5mm).
Pic #3 2580 Here are two 3/32" balsa cutouts.
Pic #4 2581 Closeup of above
It was always landing with weak power on descent ( not enough power/lift to hold flight ). Landing also with a lot of winds left in the fuse.
So I made up a bigger motor and moved the rear motor pigs aft by two inches.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #236 Tuesday April 21 2026 post 2 of 2
Larger Motor and New Rear Peg
I just made a new, 9 inch four strand, 2 strands 3/16" and 2 strands 1/8" motor, for the new prop hook to rear peg of 10 3/8". Total cross section 0.625"
Pic #1 2585 The peg holes are drilled incrementally.
Pic #2 2587 The holes are cut out in the sides of the fuse.
Pic #3 2589 The triangular balsa peg support is fitted in the fuse.
Pic #4 2590 Closeup of the above.
Time to test it out on the table stooge.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
I think this is a good move Richard. I just hope it doesn't require too much more weight to maintain CG in the same place.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #238 Tuesday April 21 2026
Thanks for the reminder Jeremy. It had left my mind there for a bit. I will balance it right now - the balsa plates, for the rear prop peg, are extremely light, so just the weight of the extra two inches of weight for four strand rubber motor, is left to compensate for.
Get a load of this wind forecast for tomorrow morning and all day -- the humidity goes from 86% at 6 AM to 69% by 10 AM to 47% from noon to 8 PM 47%.
And low, low winds speeds all day ....
Sunrise is 6:40 AM
Sunset is 8:20 PM
Pic #1 2595 New motor tied up.
Pic #2 WIND FORECAST WED APR 22 2026 AM
Pic #3 WIND FORECAST WED APR 22 2026 PM
Balancing the Beaver
Pic #4 2597 It looks like it is balanced already, but that cannot be.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #239 Tuesday April 21 2026 post 2 of 2
Balancing the Beaver
Pic #1 2598 Front View.
Pic #2 2599 That extra small blob of clay, upon being added on top, magically and ever so slightly, instantaneously moved the fuse to a more horizontal attitude.
Pic #3 2600 Right rear view of the open fuse located in the stooge with the necessary new holes, in the wooden ear planks of the stooge.
Pic #4 2602 That finger tip sized blob of gray clay is rolled into a flat pancake, and added to the top of the cowl onto the other 5 grams of clay anti sun reflection pad.
I will fly the Beaver tomorrow with the open fuse, and see how it goes ....
Three runs in the table stooge
1 100 finger winds 5 sec
2 200 stretch winds 9 sec
3 230 stretch winds 10 sec
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #240 Tue April 28 2026 post 1 of 2
Flight Report #9 of Wed Apr 22 2026
In Jackson Park in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, the weather was perfect. The grass was perfect. No one was on the Cricket Field ...
I would end up having only one Flight - but at least it was a good one in front of the crowd ... with repairs to follow all day and night, just in time for Flight Report #10 the next day of Thur Apr 23 2026 , which was eight flights.
It was such a nice day, the High School next door marches their students out into Jackson Park right next door, for a rejuvenating walk as part of the actual curriculum. They have a name for it but it escapes me. I saw their groups marching around on the paved trails, but when they saw me and my plane and backpack supplies getting pulled out and spread out ie - winding stooge etc, they all started coming over (a young mid 20s teacher woman among them - I did not even notice the difference from all of the giant kids these days), and asking questions.
Pic #1 2604 Morning sun on Flight day.
Pic #2 2605 Another view.
We walked out into Jackson park.
Pic #3 2606 Stopped at the picnic table to get out the camera.
Pic #4 2607 No wind on the flag by the Spitfire and Hurricane.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #241 Thur April 28 2026 post 2 of 2
Flight Report #9 of Wed Apr 22 2026
Free Flight Rubber Powered Stretch Wound Tutorial for Grade 12 Class of Students.
As a free flight rubber powered balsa modeler and flyer, I knew just what to tell them. They were really interested, unlike any of the other kids in the park all these last few years time - except one - that did not even give a curious glance up, away from their phones ...
So, ... any way... , I got make a good presentation, from the pin stripe color scheme, to the Beaver logo and the deHavilland way of naming his aircraft after animals, from finger winding to rubber motor and rear peg, and removable nose block, and all of the reinforcing I did, and I got to demonstrate everything, and they watched me peg out the stooge, and I showed them how the plane is held by a piano wire in the stooge. Then I pulled out the prop and motor, took the motor off of the prop hook, and put the 10:1 winder hook on the rubber motor, and demonstrated ten winds per one crank of the handle.
Pic #1 2608 On the Cricket Field. Look at that grass !!
Pic #2 2609 My set up.
Here I gave my tutorial to the kids and then proceeded to fly one perfect flight of 5 seconds.
Pic #3 2610 Here we are on the way out of the park. You can not really see the crack by the nose thrust button in this pic.
Pic #4 2611 Another view on the way out.
Well, I put in 220 winds counting ten twenty thirty .... demonstrated how to change the prop hook nose block back on to the loaded rubber, pulled the pin on the stooge, I said "do you have your cell phones ready? " They all said yes, and I did a fast walking shuffle to a left foot out front, sideways stop, and finger launched off a perfect five second flight, to a perfect three point landing to the cheers and applause.
When I picked up the plane, it still had a lot of winds on the motor, that now gave off a racket, and a ratting sound as the prop motor unwound. I had cracked the edge of the Cowl face center flat, where the nose thrust button seats. So, the kids got to see the damage also. So an all time great session for me, even though it was only one flight.
The kids were really swarming me to get the web site written in their cell phones, but the teacher said they could type it in later. I think that teacher enjoyed the presentation more than anyone - she could not stop smiling. I told her it was amazing because I never saw any kids demonstrate an interest here in the park. She said "Oh no. These are the good kids. These are the ones you want."
Then I went back to the apartment and started working on the Cowl all evening and night and early morning, to get back on the Cricket Field the very next day, while the low wind was still there.
End of Flight Report #9 of Wed April 22 2026
Repairs coming right up ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
So good to get to show youngsters that there are fun ways to do stuff by making it for yourself that does not need to be complex or computerised. Well done and good luck for the next set of flights!
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #243 Wed April 29 2026
Thanks for that Jeremy. It really was rewarding, giving that full, stretch wound rubber power tutorial, to a class of interested high school kids. And I pulled the flight off too .... no final embarrassment! :-[ Just the session ending crack in the Cowl nose .... ::) but still ... they got to see that crack in the white plastic cowl too.
Back at the Apartment ....
Repairs after Flight Report #9 of Wed Apr 22 2026
Pic #1 2612 View of cowl damage by window light.
Pic #2 2613 Inside pic of the damage.
Pic #3 2616 The real crack to fix.
Pic #4 2617 Getting started on the reinforcement repairs. I have white plastic sheets of 0.014" thick, and 0.0225" thick, for some washer shaped clamping parts, and a large cowl face ring.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #244 Wed April 29 2026
Repairs after Flight Report #9 of Wed Apr 22 2026
Pic #1 2619 The marker colored engine is dew soluble, from soakings from landings on the wet grass. Circles are drawn.
Pic #2 2622 I would end up cutting out three small rings and one large cowl face ring. Two small rings of 0.014", one small ring of 0.0225", and the large ring of 0.014" white plastic sheets.
Pic #3 2626 Here are the cutout dimensions, and the parts cut out very slowly in small increments by hand. The corner cutting edges will be sanded off smooth.
Pic #4 2627 There is a thin layer of 5 min epoxy over the actual crack, that was flattened back even, before gluing, that has now dried, and the Cowl front white plastic 'washer' of 0.014" plastic, is now glued on top of the crack's front face.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #245 Wed April 29 2026
Repairs after Flight Report #9 of Wed Apr 22 2026
Pic #1 2632 I have photocopies of the colored engine already made.
Pic #2 2633 Closeup of water damage and a new fresh engine photocopy.
Pic #3 2638 There are two white disc plastic 'washers' that get glued to the inside of the Cowl nose - one of each thickness.
Pic #4 2639 Here it is completed. The big white plastic cowl ring was test fitted first, before the new engine photocopy.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #246 Wed April 29 2026
Repairs after Flight Report #9 of Wed Apr 22 2026
Pic #1 2642 All painted up properly now.
Pic #2 2645 snip Repairs are completed on the morning of Thur April 23 2026, just in time for Flight Report # 10, after working on it all day yesterday and all night.
Ready to fly!!!
----------------------------------
Start of Flight Report #10 of Thur April 23 2026
The weather wind and grass were really good again and we headed out to the park. We would get eight flights in, of which six flights were each about 5 seconds. No records but a lot of good practice ...
Pic #3 2646 Wind on the flag at the Entrance to Jackson Park.
Pic #4 2647 Wind on the other flag at the Spitfire and Hurricane replicas.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #247 Wed April 29 2026
Repairs have been completed above, after Flight Report #9 of Wed Apr 22 2026
-----------
Start of Flight Report #10 of Thur April 23 2026
Pic #1 2648 No one on the Cricket pitch.
Pic #2 2649 On the stooge.
Pic #3 2650 First flight landing.
Pic #4 2651 Close up of landing.
EIGHT FLIGHTS
1 220 stretch winds 5 sec good height left turn perfect landing one half flip forward.
2 250 5 sec same as above but perfect 3 point landing.
3 270 5 sec big left turn almost one quarter of a circle soft landing one half cartwheel.
- I added a little more clay weight on the right wing tip.
4 270 5 sec very high launch from on high it dived down almost to a hard landing in the tall grass.
5 270 I tried a down wind launch - bad launch and flew into the ground with power.
6 270 5 sec went high and got caught up in the air headwind which really slowed it down,
7 300 4 sec high launch perfect 'stand on it's nose landing'.
8 300 5 sec perfect one half flip on landing There is still about 10 seconds of rubber power still left on the motor. More to think about for another day ...
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #248 Wed April 29 2026
Flight Report #10 of Thur April 23 2026 cont
Pic #1 2652 2nd flight landing.
Pic #2 2653 Balancing act.
Pic #3 2654 Spring in the park.
Pic #4 2655 Leaving the Cricket field. Getting too gusty. I can wait for a better day.
End of Flight Report #10 of Thur Apr 23 2026
Lastwoodsman
Richard.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #249 Thus April 30 2026
Flight Report #10 of Thur April 23 2026 cont
A few more spring pics in the park.
Pic #1 2656 Too windy on the flag now.
Pic #2 2657 Under the Spit and Hurri is this huge plaque in memory of all the 19 yr old local boys killed in WW2.
Pic #3 2658 I think there are over 500 names.
Pic #4 2659 Another view.
Lastwoodsman
Richard.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #250 Thur April 30 2026 post 2 of 4
Flight Report #10 of Thur April 23 2026 cont
And a few more pics of the park in spring.
Pic #1 2660 Undersides of the Spit and Hurri.
Pic #2 2661 View from the side.
Pic #3 2662 The full tulip bloom in the Flower Garden.
Pic #4 2663 Flowering tree.
Lastwoodsman
Richard.
FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #251 Thur April 30 2026 post 3 of 4
Pic #1 2664 Last Spring Park pic Purple flowers.
---------------
New 12" Motor Prop hook to rear peg is 10"
I took out the old 9" motor of 0.625" cross section, and I made up a new 12" motor of 0.563" cross section.
Pic #2 2667 The prop hook to rear peg is 10".
Pic #3 2668 The long motor will not keep the nose block tight. We will see how soon the nose block rattles off of the fuse nose, at the end of the prop run.
Pic #4 2672 Mandrake and Bloodroot maneuver the Beaver into the Table Stooge, for some motor test runs.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #252 Thur April 30 2026 post 4 of 4
New 12" Motor Prop hook to rear peg is 10"
Pic #1 2674 rot Bloodroot is saved by the rubber motor. :o
Pic #2 2676 The 10:1 winder hook hangs from the rubber motor.
Pic #3 2681 The new 12" motor is hooked up and ready for bench testing.
Pic #4 2684 spinning prop.
Stretch Winding Results
250 winds 18 sec
270 winds 14 sec weak pull the last half of run
350 winds 19 sec sort of OK
400 winds 18 sec
450 winds 18 sec
450 winds 18 sec
We will see how weak this motor really is in flight. I may have to build a new motor with the stronger 0.625" rubber cross section, and try that ...
It looks like tomorrow, Fri May 1 2026 morning, is a good flying day !!!
6 AM, winds 3 mph from NNW gust 7 mph 74% humidity 42 deg F
by 12 Noon, winds 6 mph from N gust 9 mph 56% humidity 48 deg F
Light rain starts at 1:00 PM.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #253 Thur April 30 2026 post 1 of 2
New 12" Motors Prop hook to rear peg is 10"
Well, here is the second of my new four strand 12" motors. The first new one is in the fuse now, with a total rubber cross section of 0.563". The second new one is just completed at 0.625" total cross section, ready to use.
As soon as I find out that the smaller motor is too weak, I will substitute in the larger cross section motor of 0.625".
Prop hook to rear peg is 10".
Pic #1 2687 Tying up two new 12" motors of different cross section size strength.
Pic #2 2690 I leave an extra inch of rubber at the ends to tie the knot.
Pic #3 2695 The two loops are tied using that inch of excess rubber, and then cut off at the triple knot.
Pic #4 2698 The extra is all snipped off. Now we need to position the triple knots away from the rear peg, and away from the prop hook.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #254 Thur April 30 2026 post 2 of 2
New 12" Motors Prop hook to rear peg is 10"
Pic #1 2701 Here we are tying the ends together with a small piece of string.
Pic #2 2704 The 'lead in' string is added while all is pinned up.
Pic #3 2705 Here is the completed motor, along with the 'lead in' string.
Pic #4 2708 Overview of the table. The larger motor is now also ready to go.
Well, I got these motors made, but now the weather is rain all day Fri May 1 2026 - it was forecast to not rain until the afternoon ..... at least I will be RTF for the next time .... It always rains right after the full moon, or so the boys at Cameron Falls Hydro Electric site contend ....
In the meantime, I could make the third, next size up larger cross section and heavier, 12 inch motor : eight strands (or four loops as the Brits say), of 3/32" wide rubber , which equals 0.75" total cross section of rubber. Or go directly to 0.81" cross section using six strands of 3/32" plus two strands of 1/8".
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Seeing the nose hanging out like in your last picture makes me think that it would be well worth while for you to use the rain delay to braid (or pre-tension as the Poms say) those 12"motors.
I would think that 50 turns on each half of the motor would reduce the length to less than 10"which will help keep the nose in the fuselage.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #256 Fri May 30 2026
New larger motors for Flight Report #11
Well, the forecast changed again. Now there is no rain in the forecast, but the humidity goes from 89% at 6 AM, to 68% by noon. At 9 AM winds are from East at 6mph gusting to 9 mph, going to 7mph ENE gust 10mph at 10 AM. Temps are 42 deg F to 46 deg F.
Pic #1 2709 108.35 g All Up Weight
Pic #2 WIND FORECAST FRI MAY 1 2026 745 AM
Jeremy, .... not yet with the braided motors, so hold your horses. ;D I have two new 12" motors which have three more inches of rubber, 33% more, than the 9" motors I just tried out. I got 6 seconds with the 9 inch motor. I theoretically should get 33% more flight time also now. A third more of six seconds, is two seconds, so I should get flights now of 8 seconds. The goal is ten second circular flights.
Hopefully, Flight Report #11 coming up.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #257 Fri May 1 2026
New larger motors for Flight Report #11
Oh NO!! We just got rained on. Those "cloudy" skies started to turn into marble sized sprinkle dots, on the side walk and trail into the Park, and then worse into light rain, so we had to turn around suddenly, about one fifth of the way into the park, towards the Cricket Field.
Well, the Lite Silkspan tissue needed a mid-life "shrinking" from the rain water, anyways - should be nice and taut now.
Pic #1 2720 The Beaver got soaked by rain.
So, .... no Flight Report #11 yet .... I'll keep my eye out for a break in the weather though ...
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #258 Sat May 2 2026
Flight Report #11 of Fri May 1 2026
New larger motors for Flight Report #11
At noon the rain let up, and the wind was low, so we ran out there again, same day, for the first three flights (there will be three more later, same day), and total soaking is three times in one day.
The wind was 6 mph from ENE gust 11 mph 65% humidity. We left at 12:15 and got back home at 1:08 PM, second soaking for the Beaver.
This time we made it to the Cricket Field with no rain, and got set up, and got in three flights before we were rained out again the second time.
That was three flights with the 12" two strands 3/16" plus two strands 3/32" motor, of cross section 0.563".
I think the extra three inched of motor seemed to give a stronger and longer power burst. It seemed to be a stronger flight even though only getting 5 sec and 5 sec and 5 sec for the three flights, all with good landings in very long wet grass.
1 250 stretch winds 5 sec perfect half flip forward on landing.
2 380 5 sec perfect 3 pt landing.
3 450 5 sec lots of winds left on the motor good flight
All these flights are leaving a lot of winds left on the rubber.
After three flights, the rain came on again with solid sprinkles, and another second soaking, so we went back home. I then did change out that weak 0.563" cross section motor, and put in the 12" 0.625" cross section motor of two strands 3/16" plus two strands of 1/8" rubber, which should give me an even longer power burst.
I also have a 12" motor under construction pic 2726 , of eight strands of 3/32" rubber for a total cross section of rubber of 0.75" . So now I can bench test the 0.625" motor, and bench test the 0.75" motor.
Pic #1 2722 The new 12" 0.563" motor is in the Beaver now.
Pic #2 2726 Starting on the 0.75" cross section 8 strands of 3/32" rubber.
First three flights of six flights.
Pic #3 2727 Wind on the flag at the Park entrance.
Pic #4 2728 Beaver at the Cricket Field.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #259 Sat May 2 2026
Flight Report #11 of Fri May 1 2026
Changed to the bigger motor just made, 0.625".
After working on the 8 strand motor, the rain let up again, and we scooted back out to the Cricket field and got another 3 flights using the 0.625" motor, that I had just put in. Three more short flights now.
At 3:00 PM same day Fri May 1 2026 it was 49 deg F (feels like 53 deg F), winds blowing from WNW at 5 mph gusting to 12 mph, 54% humidity.
Three flights
1 350 winds 4 sec into the wind
2 450 winds 3 sec bad high launch
3 460 winds 5 sec good launch goof left turn and flatter angle of descent
Lots of winds were also left on the rubber for these flights also.
Pic #1 2729 Beaver sitting in very high grass.
Pic #2 2730 1st flight of three half flip forward.
Pic #3 2731 2nd flight of three nose block popped off.
Then it rained again. Got back at 4 PM.
Pic #4 2732 Packing up to leave soaked by the rain again.
At least I got in six flights for Flight Report #11 using those two new motors, while it was raining off and on. The grass was so high I could not resist going back out, and there were no Cricket players.
Amazingly, the Lite Silkspan, after those good soakings, really did shrink down nearly drum taut, all over, with the old wrinkles disappearing like they never did before!
End of Flight Report #11 of Fri May 1 2026.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Windows?
Flight Report #12 coming up real soon.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #262 Sun May 3 2026 post 1 of 2
Eight Strand 3/32" Motor 12" long
I am hoping that this motor will give greater lift, and a longer sustained flight, on the initial power burst. All of the flights so far have had lots of turns left on the motor on landing. So I am trying to extend the power burst time, by adding that extra, strong rubber ... I may have to try a maximum 15 inch long motor, before going down the 'braided motor' rabbit hole, as a last resort.
Here is the eight strand motor build first, before the Flight Report #12 post (coming up).
Pic #1 2724 4 four loops = 8 strands
Pic #2 2760 The ends are tied off with short string. The knots are spaced out.
Pic #3 2765 The extra rubber ends are cut off,
Pic #4 2770 Elevated set-up for tying up the motor.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #263 Sun May 3 2026 post 2 of 2
Eight Strand 3/32" Motor 12" long
Pic #1 2772 Four short pieces of white string knots are added.
Pic #2 2775 The string ends are cut off as close to the knots as possible.
Pic #3 2778 Motor with prop.
Pic #4 2781 The eight strand motor is in the beaver Ready To Fly !! And ready to bench test and see how the "pull" feels ...
Flight Report #12 write-up, is next ...
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #264 Sun May 3 2026 post 1 of 6
Flight Report #12 of Sat May 2 2026
After getting rained on three times on Friday, we still got up early, first thing in the morning on Saturday, before the wind was scheduled to get too high to fly.
7:00 AM 38 deg F (35) 82% winds 4 mph from N gust to 9
9:00 AM 70% 7 NW gust 12
There was a lot of water in the deep grass and a lot of humidity in the air, and a lot of wrinkles on the tissue. On each flight I had to constantly take a lot of time, to wipe off the balsa, wings, and fuse and cowl, and nose front etc with dry paper towels. I even used the portable black fan - I think it helped. What helped the most, was setting up right on top of the artificial turf of the Cricket pitch, where there was no soaking wet deep grass, wafting up humidity from underneath.
The sun eventually came out and I could see it help dry the tissue faster.
Pic #1 2737 No wind on the flag at 7:30 AM
Pic #2 2738 My steps from coming out yesterday in the grass, trodden black.
Pic #3 2739 I am holding my spinning fan at the bottom of the pic, over the wing to try to get it dry.
Pic #4 2740 First flight 110 degree flip on landing.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #265 Sun May 3 2026 post 2 of 6
Flight Report #12 of Sat May 2 2026
six flights 0.625" motor
1 450 winds 6 sec slight left turn 1/2 flip on soft landing.
2 450 4 sec launched too high.
3 470 5 sec Stayed at five feet above ground the whole way to a perfect landing 1/2 flip.
4 500 4 sec very high launch angle stalled and came down fast The sun was coming out and the plane tissue was drying out over the pitch, which has no grass evaporating. I was also experimenting with the wind from the portable fan
5 500 winds RECORD farthest and longest so far ... seven (7) seconds straight out low, holding flight perfect 3 point landing.
6 500 4 sec high launch wind was gusting We quit.
Pic #1 2741 High humidity and wrinkles. That is the little rechargeable fan I bought to try out.
Pic #2 2742 My path out to grab the first flight of the Beaver plane and the deep path back - tracks in grass have trodden black ....
Pic #3 2743 2nd flight 135 degree flip about as soft as a flip can get.
Pic #4 2744 Another softy nose pillow, about 75 degree flip.
We got in six flights on Flight Report #12 using up to 500 stretch winds on the stooge, using the 12" long 0.625" motor, two strands 3/16" and two strands 1/8". I just got the first 7 second flight. After I came back home, I finished off the 8 strand 12" motor of 3/32" rubber, to try now ....
Today Sat morning. We left the apt at 7:15 AM did six flights, and got home at 9:00 AM.
At 6:49 AM the weather was 38 deg F (feels like 35 deg F), wind from NW at 4 mph gust 9 mph 79% humidity.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #266 Sun May 3 2026 post 3 of 6
Flight Report #12 of Sat May 2 2026
Well, we got in some good flying over very long grass. There are no more good flying days until three or four more days, which means the long grass will probably get mowed in the park. But the city sets the mower blades a little higher from the ground at the start of the season, when they can fall behind schedule with big growth. This is the first time I saw this grass this high in 14 years! So, you gotta make hay while the sun is shining .... and get in as many flights as you can.
Pic #1 2745 Dewdrops on the tips of every blade of grass. I spent a lot of time thoroughly wiping the water off of everything with dry paper towels, after every flight.
Pic #2 2746 Another 3 point landing, sinking in the deep grass.
Pic #3 2747 The sun came out to help dry the tissue.
Pic #4 2748 Wrinkles are mostly gone.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #267 Sun May 3 2026 post 4 of 6
Flight Report #12 of Sat May 2 2026
Pic #1 2749 I think this was my 7 second flight. The Spit and Hurri are getting blocked out in the background by the new leaves.
Pic #2 2750 Another view of the 7 sec landing.
Leaving the Cricket Field and Park pics on the way out.
Pic #3 2751 The wind was gusting, so we packed up. I hold the nose block in with green masking tape for the walk in and the walk out (prop still spins in the wind).
Pic #4 2752 This is standing at the North end of the Cricket Field.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #268 Sun May 3 2026 post 5 of 6
Flight Report #12 of Sat May 2 2026
Pic #1 2753 The wind is gusting on the flag.
Pic #2 2754 Pic of the Day. Identify this twin fuse aircraft. Prop of Beaver blowing in the wind.
Pic #3 2755 more pics around the spit and hurri.
Pic #4 2756
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #269 Sun May 3 2026 post 6 of 6
Flight Report #12 of Sat May 2 2026
Pic #1 2757 more pics around the spit and hurri.
Pic #2 2758
Pic #3 2759 Sycamore tree.
End of Flight Report #12 of Sat May 2 2026
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #270
Monday May 4 2026
Bench Testing the 8 strand 3/32" motor
Pic #1 2785 M and B haul out the table stooge and set it down on the work table.
Pic #2 2788 Bloodroot and Mandrake place the Beaver on the table Stooge.
Pic #3 2791 M & B slide in the 3/64" pin.
Pic #4 2797 View from the other side.
I tested 5 different numbers of winds, safely up to 340 winds.
Results
No of Stretch Winds = seconds of prop spin
230 = 8
270 = 10
300 = 11
330 = 14
340 = 13
There are some water damaged logos and maple leafs and striped strips and the engine, that will get fixed up now too.
Ready to fly.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #271
Tuesday May 5 2026
Pic #1 2800 A lot of those marker colors dissolved and ran, from the rainwater.
Pic #2 2803 I have a bunch of extra pin-striped strips ready also.
Pic #3 2806 These cutouts are ready to glue using
Studio Gluestick.
Pic #4 2809 Roundels, striped strips, red maple leafs, and the engine flat have all been re-glued.
Ready to fly .... 8) She will look better in the air now ...
Lastwoodsman
Richard
The Gods of Free Flight giveth, and the Gods of Free Flight taketh.
Here is a poem from our Hangar, narrated by Bloodroot, to the Gods of Free Flight.
PSALM OF THE BALSA MODELER/BLOGGER (no discomfort intended)
The balsa modelling website is my Shepherd.
There were many to learn from.
They give me build threads and blogs,
And Aviation History galore.
They make me fly in green pastures of high grass
and low wind conditions.
They restoreth my free flight modelling soul,
and guide me in the paths of Theory of Flight,
especially for rubber powered balsa models.
Yeah, though I build through
The bumptious and harrowing,
Nuisance thread killers, site killers,
And naysayers,
I shall fear no intruders.
For the moderators are with me.
And Bloodroot and Mandrake,
They comfort me.
Thou preparest a building board and flying forum before me,
In the presence of site distraction adversaries.
Thou givest us 'Kudos' and 'Ignore' buttons, usually.
My building board, and build threads, and Flight Reports runneth over,
Surely long flights and soft landings shall follow me,
For the rest of my Free Flight, Rubber Powered,
Balsa Model, flying days of my life.
And I will dwell in the Interweb's Aviation Modelling World, for ever. And ever.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
:D
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #274 Tuesday May 12 2026 post 1 of 5
Flight Report #13 of Tues May 5 2026 4 PM to 6 PM
At 4 PM in the afternoon, it looked calm out now, but earlier I could see that the gusts were really blowing the big tree branches aboot. I checked the weather, started packing up, and out we went.
At 4:30 PM the temp was 57 deg F (feels like 55) 64% humidity, winds at 9 mph from WSW gusting to 18 mph.
Pic #1 2810 Wind on the flag at the Entrance to Jackson Park.
Pic #2 2811 Wind on the flag at the Spit and Hurri replicas.
Pic #3 2812 They looked like Giant Puffball mushrooms in the deep grass from far away - edibility is "choice" - in the Cricket Field. But they were not spherical. I think they were Abruptly-bulbous Agaricus, Agaricus abruptibulbus, edibility is: choice with caution.
\
Pic #4 2813 The City only mowed two circle strip paths of grass, and painted the white lines only, in the Cricket Field.
cont.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #275 Tuesday May 12 2026 post 2 of 5
Flight Report #13 of Tues May 5 2026 4 PM to 6 PM
Pic #1 2814 Another pic of the grass cut and the white line.
Pic #2 2815 My stooge setup.
Pic #3 2816 First flight of the day 10 seconds!! I finally succeeded!
Pic #4 2817 The ten second flight landing.
six flights twelve inch 8 strand 3/32" motor
1 400 stretch winds 10 sec perfect flight straight out nice and slow flight at the end, with only 5 sec of rubber run at the end.
2 450 6 sec launch was too high into the wind.
3 450 5 sec low perfect left circle try a better launch next time.
4 450 9 sec flight was up high just right made a left turn and a half circle.
5 450 5 sec nice flight but too much headwind gust.
6 450 13 sec our longest flight yet !! I sent it all along the tree line, to go left, which it did, and had a long slow shallow glide at the end.
I tried to stretch wind for flight number 7, but the 10:1 winder broke, and I then noticed one of the loops of rubber had also broke. I will tie up a new motor.
It was too gusty with the wind now (I did have my spare 15:1 winder with me though), but we quit anyway and got back home at 6:10 PM 58 deg F (54), 55% humidity, winds blowing 9 mph from the West gusting to 15 mph.
cont.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #276 Tuesday May 12 2026 post 3 of 5
Flight Report #13 of Tues May 5 2026 4 PM to 6 PM
Pic #1 2818 The next flight landing in thick tall grass.
Pic #2 2819 13 Thirteen second flight !!! The longest flight yet!!! I tried launching, just left of the headwind, along the tree line, to get out of the wind, and have the Beaver turn left, which turned into a long low extended glide, on the final wind down of the prop.
Pic #3 2820 Closer look at the 13 sec flight landing.
Pic #4 2821 Closeup.
cont.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #277 Tuesday May 12 2026 post 4 of 5
Flight Report #13 of Tues May 5 2026 4 PM to 6 PM
Pic #1 2822 I launched this 13 sec flight from way off to the left of my set up.
I was winding for flight 7, when the 10:1 winder broke the plastic, and one loop of the rubber broke at the front of the motor.
Pic #2 2823 Pic of the cracked winder and the broken loop of rubber.
Pic #3 2824 I started to pack up and go home.
Pic #4 2825 Pic down the inside of the fuse.
cont.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #278 Tuesday May 12 2026 post 5 of 5
Flight Report #13 of Tues May 5 2026 4 PM to 6 PM
Pic #1 2826 Leaving the field.
Pic #2 2827 Wind now on the flag at the Spit and Hurri.
Pic #3 2828 Flower Garden on the way out.
Pic #4 2829 The flag is gusting too much.
The end of Flight Report # 13 of Tues April 5 2026
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #279 Wed May 13 2026 Post 1 of 3
Two New Motors
After breaking my 10:1 winder and the 12" motor, in Flight Report #13 above, I decided to try another 12" motor again, as it gave me the best 13 sec flight so far.
Well, I decided to make another 12 inch motor, and while I was at it, I also made a motor of 15 inches, for prop hook to rear peg of 10" - the maximum usable (? or something like that) motor length, is 1.5 times the prop hook to rear peg length, of 10".
Both motors are 8 strands (4 loops) of 3/32" rubber.
12 Inch Motor
Pic #1 2832 The loop is broken at nose of the motor.
Pic #2 2835 Trying to triple knot the loops to the same length.
Pic #3 2839 Ends carefully cut off.
Pic #4 2842 Small pieces of string to tie up the motor.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #280 Wed May 13 2026 Post 2 of 3
Two New Motors
12 Inch Motor cont
Pic #1 2844 Tied up.
Pic #2 2846 There is an extra 10" of string tied to the front of the motor.
Large 15 Inch Motor Motor
Pic #3 2851 About an extra 1 1/2" of extra rubber is needed on the strand ends, in order to tie up the motor strands.
Pic #4 2855 Ends are tied off on the 15" motor.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #281 Wed May 13 2026 Post 3 of 3
Two New Motors
Pic #1 2859 15 Inch Motor is tied up.
Pic #2 2862 Two new motors ready to go.
Pic #3 2863 3 motors to compare - the broken strand motor is on top.
Pic #4 2865 Final pic of two new motors ready to go.
Ready to fly, and the grass is still long!
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #282 Wed May 13 2026
Flight Report #14 of Wed May 6 2026
I had big plans with the new 12" motor.
At 1:30 PM it was 54 deg F (58), 47 per cent humidity, winds 7 mph from the South, gusting to 12 mph.
Flight #1 was 6 sec , and flight #2 instantly veered right (maybe it broke a strand). I was launching it along the tree line hoping that it would go left. It sailed right into that tree line under a lot of power, hitting high on the main trunk (which busted off a big piece of the front fuse), and then it went straight down into the ground, left wing tip first straight into the ground, falling with all of its weight, and smashing the wingtip pretty good.
On our way to the Cricket Field ...
Pic #1 2868 Wind at the Spit and Hurri.
Pic #2 2869 Still heavy snow on the Cricket Field.
Pic #3 2870 Broken left wing tip.
Pic #4 2871 Broken nose.
End of Flight Report #14 of Wed May 6 2025
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #283 Wed May 13 2026
Flight Report #14 of Wed May 6 2026
Started at 1:30 PM and going back home at 2:00 PM with a smashed up Beaver.
Pic #1 2872 Going back home.
Well, I worked on it all evening and all night because the weather wind forecast was good.
Pic #2 2873 The top section of the fuse is glued back in its place. And two infill planks are now glued on the top of the front fuse.
Pic #3 2874 Closeup.
Pic #4 2876 M and B have two infill planks fitted, and ready to glue, at the lower left.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #284 Thur May 14 2026 post 1 of 2
Flight Report #15 of Thur May 7 2026
Made another 12" motor and worked all night gluing up the Beaver repairs.
Pic #1 2878 Wind on the flag entering Jackson Park on the way to the Cricket Field. The Dawn Redwood leaf flush is out. First thing in the morning.
Pic #2 2879 Quick stop for a wind pic at the Spit and Hurri.
Pic #3 2880 On the Cricket Pitch, no players, look at that deep grass.
Pic #4 2881 Soft 110 degree nose flip - no fear of crashes ....
Five Flights 12" motor 8 strands 3/32" 15:1 Winder
1 270 winds, 5 sec left turn perfect half circle lots of wrinkles on the tissue
2 315 7 sec high launch into almost no wind.
3 345 5 sec into slight wind no penetration enough, but nice flight.
I have been having to wipe off a lot of microdots of water forming right out of the air, on the Silkspan from the humidity.
4 345 3 sec hard left - bad launch? added a bit more clay to the right wingtip.
5 345 4 sec nice left turn - needs a little bit higher launch
It was a Broken Strand. That is all - just five flights.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #285 Thur May 14 2026 post 2 of 2
Flight Report #15 of Thur May 7 2026
Pic #1 2882 Closeup.
Pic #2 2883 I was wondering why the flights were suddenly shorter - I broke a strand.
Pic #3 2884 Deep wavy Keil Kraft grass.
No damage.
End of Flight Report # 15
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #286 Thur May 14 2026 post 1 of 4
Flight Report #16 of Thur May 7 2026
Three Flight morning pics.
Pic #1 2886 View from front right.
Pic #2 2887 View from front left.
Pic #3 2888 Front right.
Into the park now ...
Pic #4 2889 The flower beds are prepped, and the grass mowed once, at the entrance.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #287 Thur May 14 2026 post 2 of 4
Flight Report #16 of Thur May 7 2026
Pic #1 2890 Lush greenery.
Pic #2 2891 Monument Memories Alzheimer Society
Pic #3 2892 Wind on the flag at the Spit and Hurri.
Pic #4 2893 Today is May 12 2026. The Cricket Field was mowed for the first time, two days ago, on Sunday May 10 2026.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #288 Thur May 14 2026 post 3 of 4
Flight Report #16 of Thur May 7 2026
Pic #1 2894 Clumpy cut grass. The ground is already getting harder.
We had six flights of 4, 10, 5, 6, 6, 4 seconds
Pic #2 2895 First flight 4 sec half flip forward on landing.
Pic #3 2896 Second Flight 10 sec perfect three point landing.
Pic #4 2897 My setup.
Six Flights Tue May 12 2026 Flight Report #16
new 12" motor 8 strand 3/32"
1 315 winds 4 sec high launch came down from on high. half flip forward on landing.
2 360 10 sec perfect launch half circle the final leg was low to the ground for a long distance perfect 3 point landing.
3 375 5 sec launch was too high.
Wind was picking up.
4 405 6 sec perfect landing.
5 435 6 sec nice high long flight lots of winds left still on the motor.
Gusts were almost too much.
6 435 4 sec I tried a quartering downwind launch pointing a little left too much gust not even a real flight.
We quit - too much wind
No damage.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #289 Thur May 14 2026 post 4 of 4
Flight Report #16 of Thur May 7 2026
The wind was getting too gusty now.
Pic #1 2898 On our way out. Saying goodbye to the Pitch, but we will be back. No damage.
Pic #2 2899 Wind on the flag at the Spit and Hurri.
Pic #3 2900 Side view when there is no gust.
End of Flight Report #16 of Tues May 12 2026
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Quote from: Lastwoodsman on May 14, 2026, 08:11 PMReply #289 Thur May 14 2026 post 4 of 4
Flight Report #16 of Thur May 7 2026
Just curious, Richard
Are the reports coming out 7 days after the flying?
Cheers
Jeremy
Thur May 14 2026 30 inch Beaver
Hi Jeremy. In the last 12 days, I had six flight reports and a lot of pics and text to edit, and a lot of motors to build and test, and a lot of repairs to do. Plus I had to wait for all of the threadkiller slop to clear out, from flooding the Recent Topics board. But I am caught up now. Plus I had a death in the family.
Jeremy, are you building and flying anything?
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Quote from: Lastwoodsman on May 15, 2026, 06:46 AMThur May 14 2026 30 inch Beaver
Jeremy, are you building and flying anything?
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Still trying to get Scram finished
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #293 Fri May 15 2026
Two New Motors and Bench Testing
After Flight Report #16, I still have the 15" motor 8 strands of 3/32" rubber, to try out yet.
I don't think that there is enough pull with the 0.75" total cross section rubber motors. So I made up an even stronger motor to try.
I made up and bench tested two new motors, 9" and 12", of total cross section of 0.813", the strongest motor yet. Prop hook to rear peg is 10".
Pic #1 2909 I made the bottom one in 9" and 12".
Pic #2 2912 9" eight strand motor.
Pic #3 2918 Here is the new 12" motor.
Pic #4 2922 And bench testing in my table stooge.
Bench Test Results
9" motor 80 to 100 finger winds = 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 sec.
9" motor stretch winds 15 x 15 225 = 6 sec, 225 = 7 sec
15:1 winder
12" motor 20 winds x 15 = 300 turns = 11 sec, 10 sec
I went straight to the 12" motor, and used it in Flight Report #17 I just had, first thing after sunrise this morning, today on Friday May 15 2026.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #294 Mon May 18 2026 post 1 of 7
Flight Report # 17 of Fri May 15 2026
We got up early, to try and get some flights in before the Cricket players show up.
Pic #1 2923
The wind was only going to be good from sunrise at 6:11 AM blowing 2mph from SW gust 4 mph 79% humidity (a big factor), winds good until 9:00 AM when the wind becomes too strong 5 mph SW gust 9 mph 62% humidity.
Pic #2 WIND FORECAST FRI MAY 15 2025 5 AM
Pic #3 2925 Morning sunlight pic of the Beaver on the table RTF Ready To Fly (I'm spelling out the acronym for Jeremy because he needs to start doing it ::) ).
Pic #4 2929 Wind on the flag at the Spit and Hurri replicas Dead Calm.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #295 Mon May 18 2026 post 2 of 7
Flight Report # 17 of Fri May 15 2026
We got in 14 stretch wounds flights.
Pic #1 2930 First flight 10 sec
Pic #2 2931 In the stooge (I am looking East towards the sun rising).
Pic #3 2932 Closeup motor is 8 strands 12" long of 6 strands 3/32" and two strands 1/8". I left the opening in the covering at the rear fuse sides, so that I can access the rubber motor wrapped around that 1/8" aluminum tube rear peg, and push that rubber back into the middle of the rear peg before flight. The Beaver is just a utility plane to experiment with now - no more Beauty Queen.
Pic #4 2933 Second Flight 7 sec.
Fourteen Flights of Flight Report # 17 stretch wound
First seven of fourteen flights.
1 360 winds 10 sec perfect flight nice left turn 1/2 flip on landing.
2 375 winds 7 sec low downward point on launch nice left turn 1/2 flip
3 405 winds 8 sec straight out no left turn pic of wet grass all around the wheels.
4 420 winds 7 sec left turn lots of dew evaporating tissue is sagging and drooping.
5 420 winds 4 sec way too high bad launch good thing for long grass to cushion the stall and dive.
6 405 5 sec bad launch flew right low over the ground held horizontal flight.
7 405 8 sec big left turn almost landed on the artificial turf pitch.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #296 Mon May 18 2026 post 3 of 7
Flight Report # 17 of Fri May 15 2026
Pic #1 2934 Drying off the Beaver - paper towel.
Pic #2 2935 The grass depth after one mowing was still good for soft landings. The wheels hit a clump of grass. I had to blow off the wet grass, and sponge towel the Alaskan Bush wheels, that were soaking up the water, even though the bush wheels were made from a kid's kick splash board for the pool ....
Pic #3 2936 Loaded into the stooge ready to stretch wind.
Pic #4 2937 Flight 7 - this one almost landed on the artificial pitch - I was hoping to see the Alaskan Bush Wheel performance, landing on this off airport strip.
The humidity is now starting to go down.
Last seven of fourteen flights.
8 405 5 sec nice flight left but descending
9 405 9 sec long flight the wind kept it straight.
The sun is starting to come out, and the breeze is starting to pick up.
10 390 9 sec high big left turn nice flight.
11 405 8 sec pic in flight and on ground
12 405 5 sec bad launch pic just after hitting the ground.
13 405 7 sec pic low left.
14 405 10 sec good height held straight by wind coming from the left.
The wind was gusting too much now, so we quit. But it was an all time great flight session in long grass!! And no damage to the Beaver!
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #297 Mon May 18 2026 post 4 of 7
Flight Report # 17 of Fri May 15 2026
Pic #1 2938 Flight #9 9 sec
Pic #2 2939 Flight #9
Pic #3 2940 Flight #9 Closeup on the chalked line.
Pic #4 2941 First in Flight pic for the Beaver. Flight 11 of eight seconds.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #298 Tue May 19 2026 post 5 of 7
Flight Report # 17 of Fri May 15 2026
Pic #1 2942 Flight 11 landing full of cut wet grass.
Pic #2 2943 Second in flight pic shows the descent angle, of the weak, powered portion of flight, into the ground.
Pic #3 2944 Third in flight pic Big left turn low.
Pic #4 2945 Fourth and final in flight pic on the day. Flight 10 10 sec longest flight of the day along with flight 1.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #299 Tue May 19 2026 post 6 of 7
Flight Report # 17 of Fri May 15 2026
Well, it was getting gusty, so we quit after 14 flights. And I finally got some picture proof of the Beaver actually flying.
Pic #1 2946 Packed up and heading home, and thanking the Gods of Free Flight. No damage! Well, ... just a couple of cracked stringers from grabbing/gripping the model - still flyable though ...
Pic #2 2947 Horse Chestnut tree in full flower of erect panicles that are 8 to 12 inches long.
Pic #3 2948 The wind is now gusting at the Spit and Hurri.
Pic #4 2949 And the side view.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #300 Tue May 19 2026 post 7 of 7
Flight Report # 17 of Fri May 15 2026
And lastly, on our way out, wind pic at the entrance and pics back at home.
Pic #1 2950 Wind on the flag on the way out.
Pic #2 2955 Back home right side front view.
Pic #3 2956 Left side rear view.
Pic #4 2958 I put the 'tight' 9 inch new, strongest total cross section rubber motor in the Beaver now, for some finger wound flight experiments in the Park. I got a big power burst and four second prop runs, with 100 finger winds, with this 9 inch motor.
Well .... overall, I did finally get a few 10 sec flights , but I think that that is about all I can get, and only if the launch and the wind are perfect. And I got a couple of pics in the air. So ... mission accomplished, and I got a lot of practice in, also.
The hardest part was removing the "fully wound" four loop (eight strand) rubber motor, by fingers, from the stretch winder hook, and then trying, by fingers, to hook the prop shaft hook, through those four loops of stretched rubber - with out nicking the rubber !!!! I do loosen, and let spin and unwind, about one inch of the wound motor's rubber, while stretched on the winder hook, with a finger tip vise grip pinch of the wound motor, at about an inch's worth of rubber from the winder hook, and then let that inch spin and unwind while holding that pinch point. Then I have enough rubber loop room, to get the winder hook through those four loosened loop ends. Still, very difficult ....
The end of Flight Report #17 of Fri May 15 2026
Get out there and fly .... we will fly again soon...
The Beaver is still Ready to Fly - just waiting for some light wind.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Richard, love your perseverance on this Beaver. A hardware store O-ring makes getting multi-strand motors on and off the prop and winder hooks much easier. I use O-rings about 5/8" diameter and 1/8" thickness with motors up to 8 strands of 1/8" rubber, purchased at the local Home Depot in the plumbing repair section. This size will be more than robust enough for sport flying along the lines of what you've been doing. Enjoy!
Mike
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #302 Tue May 19 2026
Hi Mike. Thanks for the nice reply. I will definitely pick up a couple of those elastics next time I go to the Home Hardware store.
Well, I stopped in at the Cricket field at 8:00 Am, on my way back home from early grocery shopping. I wanted to see how the grass was doing and if they had cut the Cricket Field. Yes they had the second cut of grass, but with the fair amount of rain we have had, the grass has continued to grow.
There were 3 Cricket players standing on the end of the artificial pitch discussing things. The grass was really wet and rain was forecast for 3:00 PM.
At home I got about 6 sec spin on 140 'safe' finger winds.
At 10:00 AM the weather was overcast and 59 deg F (feels like 68) 96 % humidity winds 3 mph from the South, gusting to 7 mph.
Pic #1 2995 The Beaver on the table is ready to fly with the 9" motor of six strands of 3/32" and two strands of 18" total cross section 0.813" - the strongest motor .... Prop hook to rear peg is 10 inches.
Pic #2 Wind Forecast Sunday May 24 2026
So off we went for some finger wind flying, (no stretch winding), just to play around ....
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #303 Tue May 19 2026
Flight Report #18 of Tue May 19 2026
Well, we did get out there for some finger wind flights. The Criket guys had their teams playing, so we had to walk out past the Cricket Field by the Tennis Courts where that drainage swale had two ducks in the water earlier this spring. The grass was deep and perfect and the wind was almost dead calm here. If I launched from as close to the Tennis Court as I could, the Beaver will not reach all of the way to the fence, that was fenceing off the baseball field diamonds. It all worked out fine.
That strong motor seemed to really pull the plane right out to max height, where ever I pointed it, into the ever so slight wind, and initiate a slight left turn. Launch angle of about 35 degrees to 40 degrees, was perfect on three perfect flights in a row. Finger winds were 100 140 and 140 winds. Times were 5 sec 6 sec and 7 sec as it tried to stretch out the final descent on the last flight! These were all high enough to get a good pic, but alas, these things only happen when you forget to put the card back into the camera. :-\ It was really sharp to see the paint scheme shine bright on this over cast morning, flying up in the sky for a background, instead of trees in the background.
Sorry about no pics ... it's not over yet ....
It was getting hot and muggy, so I also went home. This practice was a real confidence builder. Now it is time to put a big motor 15" motor back in to try for some duration flights.
No damage.
End of Flight Report #18 of Tue May 19 2026
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #304 Tue May 19 2026
Flight Report #18 of Tue May 19 2026 - added on ...
Well, 5:30 PM rolled around, and there was no wind and no rain yet either.
We got ready to go and left the apt at 6:00 PM.
The wind was blowing at 5 mph from the South East gusting to 11 mph. 92 % humidity 65 deg F.
It started to gradually spot sprinkle a few drops. The Cricket guys were still on the field, so I had the long trudge out to the south end of the park again. Got in three more flights - one was six seconds - and I saw the rain coming in and left. Same 9" motor. The rain got harder on the way out and my towel only covered the front and the wing, so the tail only got really soaked.
At least I got a couple of background pics of the Beaver, with some nice new modern 'interlocking' hand laid stone/brickwork, in the park. I see a lot of pics of restored vintage motorcycles etc. on the net, with old brick wall buildings in the background .... in old abandoned building industrial sites ...
Pic #1 2996 Brickwork 1
Pic #2 2997 Brickwork 2
Pic #3 2998 Brickwork 3
cont.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #305 Tue May 19 2026
Flight Report #18 of Tue May 19 2026 - added on ...
Three more pics.
Pic #1 2999 Low wind on the flag.
Pic #2 3000 Cricket players still on the field all day.
Pic #3 3001 Drenched tail is bleeding color.
Now, it is the end of Flight Report #18 of Tue May 19 2026.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Great thread, finally had time to walk through it. Was missing those spitfire and hurricane photos! Cool model also, need to try one day something that big.
Cheers,
LRF
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #307 Fri May 29 2026
Hi livingroomflight LRF ! Thanks for the nice comment. Great to see you posting your Dewoitine D.520 on here too.
Sorry I am behind in my posting, but I just flew again this morning - I still need to post full flight reports #19 Mon, #20 Tue, #21 Wed, and today Friday would be #22. (The picture edit and resizing and all the text are done, it should post quickly ...) But in the meantime, I have to take advantage of the grass and wind ...
The last several days, the wind has been unusually low and the grass unusually high. I actually got out flying five times in the last six days .... As I am getting a lot of nice compliments from all kinds of people in the park, I end up giving them the full explanation of how it works for finger winding (or stretch winding), and they are so very impressed with it, and I get to promote the hobby. It helps to have a flashy paint scheme on that big 30 incher. If you want a better 30" flyer - I recommend the 30" Dumas Rearwin Speedster - the cowling nose holes are where the clay weight for balance goes, and you are then off to the races ...
I am having more fun with the 9" motor (prop hook to rear peg is 10"), and just launching with up to 180 finger winds now, with a max of about 6 seconds.
Motor is 8 strands of six strands of 3/32" and two strands of 1/8", and 0.813" total rubber cross section. Got about eight flights in ...
Pic #1 3088 Wind on the flag.
Pic #2 3090 Long flight out.
Pic #3 3091 Going down hard left.
Pic #4 3092 Turning left from base leg onto final approach ...
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #308 Sat May 30 2026 post 1 of 6
Flight Report #19 of Mon May 25 2026
Sorry I'm late - I had some flying to do. ;D When the wind is low like this, and the Cricket Field grass is still thick and just got the tops cut today (high setting on the mower blades), it does not get any better.
At 1:00 PM the weather was 75 deg F (feels like 83) winds blowing 4 mph from the East gusting to 9 mph with 52% humidity.
I did not have my fill of finger wind flights yesterday because of the rain, so off we went at 3 PM today Mon May 25 2026 to the Cricket Field.
These were 20 flights of 140 finger winds each, same nine inch rubber motor, 6 strands 3/32, 2 strands 1/8" for a total of 0.813" total width cross section of rubber.
Pic #1 3002 Wind on the flag at the Jackson Park Entrance.
Pic #2 3003 Mushrooms on the walk out.
Pic #3 3004 More mushrooms.
Pic #4 3005 The upright cones of this Gymnosperm True Fir (I think), have disintegrated and fallen apart at maturity, leaving behind a spike-like vertical axis on the branch.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #309 Sat May 30 2026 post 2 of 6
Flight Report #19 of Mon May 25 2026
Pic #1 3006 Wind on the flag at the Spit and Hurri.
Pic #2 3007 The Cricket Field is wide open and the grass was just cut high.
Pic #3 3008 Hard bank left and descending.
Pic #4 3009 Straight out.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #310 Sat May 30 2026 post 3 of 6
Flight Report #19 of Mon May 25 2026
Pic #1 3010 Soft Landing.
Pic #2 3011 Another good 5 second flight.
Pic #3 3012 Another landing.
Pic #4 3013 BEST PIC
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #311 Sat May 30 2026 post 4 of 6
Flight Report #19 of Mon May 25 2026
Pic #1 3014 Just a pic on long deep grass.
Pic #2 3015 Almost landed.
Pic #3 3016 Another almost landed.
Pic #4 3017 The plane is in the third big tree from the left, half way up the tree. They never reach all the way to the fence - see the shadow?
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #312 Sat May 30 2026 post 5 of 6
Flight Report #19 of Mon May 25 2026
Pic #1 3018 Cart wheel landing.
Pic #2 3019 Angle of descent.
Pic #3 3020 Nice flight straight out.
Pic #4 3021 Another angle of descent.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #313 Sat May 30 2026 post 6 of 6
Flight Report #19 of Mon May 25 2026
Pic #1 3023 Four rubber loops around the rear peg.
Pic #2 3025 Plush Park in the shade.
Pic #3 3026 Gust wind on the flag on the way out of the Park.
Well, that was fun with the nine inch motor. Now I will put in the 12 inch motor and stretch wind it.
The End of Flight Report #19 of Monday May 25 2026
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #314 Sun May 31 2026 post 1 of 7
Flight Report #20 of Tue May 26 2026
We left the apartment at 8:30 AM, loaded for bear, and headed into Jackson Park towards the Cricket Field. The Beaver now has that 12" motor back in, 6 strands 3/32, 2 strands 1/8" for a total of 0.813" total width cross section of rubber, which would later break a strand of rubber ... Prop hook to rear peg is 10".
The forecast weather at 8:00 AM was 58 deg F, winds blowing at 2 mph from SSW gusting to 7 mph humidity 90%.
At 10:00 AM it was forecast 68 deg F, with winds blowing 4 mph from SW gusting to 8 mph
We got in five flights all stretch wound 25x15 = 360 winds. The times were 8, 12, 11, 6, 9 seconds. The Beaver landed on the pitch twice!
Pic #1 WIND FORECAST TUES MAY 26 2026
Pic #2 3027 Morning sky
Pic #3 3031 Wind on the flag.
Pic #4 3032 Long sun-dappled grass not yet cut.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #315 Sun May 31 2026 post 2 of 7
Flight Report #20 of Tue May 26 2026
Pic #1 3033 Deep wet grass.
Pic #2 3034 Dead calm at the Spit and Hurri.
Pic #3 3035 Another view.
Pic #4 3036 Another view.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Looks so nice!!! I really loved this model.
I already have the kit and still thinking of making it a Seaplane!
Definitely is on my "to do" list!
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #316 Sun May 31 2026 post 3 of 7
Flight Report #20 of Tue May 26 2026
Pic #1 3037 Flight #1 flying low 12 seconds!
Pic #2 3038 Flight #1 landed.
Pic #3 3039 Flight #2 This would fly an upside "U" flight and land on the pitch. BEST PIC!
Pic #4 3040 Rolls just on to the grass right beside my setup!
Five Flights
1 360 winds 8 sec perfect flight long low flight at the end one third of a circle flight.
2 360 winds 12 seconds a full 360 flight lands on the pitch by my setup, and short roll off the side of the pitch into the grass. I only had one 13 sec flight before.
3 360 winds 11 seconds lands on the runway again, crosses the runway, and stops pointing 180 deg the other way in the grass.
4 360 winds 6 sec bad launch went into a long left turn.
5 360 winds 9 seconds! launched a little high but finishes out at the end of the pitch, with a long low final flight where it actally gained height for a moment on that long low run.
I had heard a faint "ticking" on the flight out. When I put the plane in the stooge, I noticed the broken strand. It was getting too hot and gusty anyway, so I went home.
I should have made a fresh motor. The next flight report will be with a new, all out, 15" motor of the same type. Prop hook to rear peg is 10 inches.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Thanks for the nice comment Spiros! :)
Reply #318 Sun May 31 2026 post 4 of 7
Flight Report #20 of Tue May 26 2026
Pic #1 3041 Walking up closer.
Pic #2 3042 Closeup of the final resting spot just off the pitch. It landed really close to the edge to begin with.
Pic #3 3043 This is the next flight. Turning left. This was 11 seconds!
Pic #4 3044 It landed on the pitch, and rolled off the far edge into the grass pointing 180 degrees.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
My last message got lost somewhere in the cloud , I guess.
I just love this plane.
Already have the kit and it's on my "to do" list as a Seaplane!.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Hi Spiros thanks again for the nice comment! :) I'm just whipping through the posts .... trying not to get lost ... :)
Reply #320 Sun May 31 2026 post 5 of 7
Flight Report #20 of Tue May 26 2026
Pic #1 3045 Closeup of 11 sec flight landing.
Pic #2 3046 Closeup of landing looking the other way. You can see my steps in the wet grass.
Pic #3 3047 Flight 4 bad launch Flying left low.
Pic #4 3048 This is flight 5 nine seconds it flew long and low on final and actually gained a little height (for the first time :o ) into the slight breeze, on that long low run at the end.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #321 Sun May 31 2026 post 6 of 7
Flight Report #20 of Tue May 26 2026
Pic #1 3049 Flight 5 landed.
Pic #2 3050 View from other end.
Pic #3 3051 In the stooge with the 12" motor hanging out of the nose.
Pic #4 3052 They only cut the grass on the Cricket Field proper.
I broke a strand and we had to go home.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #322 Sun May 31 2026 post 7 of 7
Flight Report #20 of Tue May 26 2026
Pic #1 3053 Wind now on the Spit and Hurri
Pic #2 3054 One side of the Boer War refurbished Monument.
Pic #3 3055 Robert Burns statue.
Pic #4 3056 Wind at the flag at the park entrance, on our way out.
I am going to make a new 15" motor now. This was the 12" motor. The 12" motor would turn out to be the best motor. Prop hook to rear peg is 10".
The End of Flight Report #20 of Tue May 26 2026.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #323 Sun May 31 2026
Quote from Spiros "I already have the kit and still thinking of making it a Seaplane!"
Hi Spiros! Sorry for blowing past your comment - I had just loaded a big reply and clicked 'post' ... and up popped this big warning and I lost all of my concentration, and I just hit post. :o ??? :-\ So I am checking back now.
I originally wanted to make the seaplane version of the Beaver, but the Dumas kit had no floats. I would like to build a Beaver, or any float plane, that has three interchangeable undercarriages - floats, wheels, and skis. Maybe there is a plan some where for one?
Spiros, if you are going to build the seaplane, I have a Fleet Canuck float plane to build (partly started), and maybe there would be interest in a floatplane cook-up. They had a really good floatplane cookup on Stick n Tissue several years ago. I have seen people fly float planes indoors, and land them on the floor, with no problem.
So, thanks for your comments Spiros. I did reinforce the landing gear and the wing struts junction, that interlock with the slot in the heavy duty landing gear fairings. The 'wrap around' elastic band, with the small white paper clip on the bottom of the fuse, used here, deserve mention. It was 'unsightly', but it held everything in place, distributing all of the crash landing loads, evenly into the strut and fuse and fairings and gear wire. And the landing gear/wing strut connection never broke (except once). I also have a big area of sheeted/infill planked balsa, on the fuse, for finger grip tossing, which worked great also.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #324 Sun May 31 2026 post 1 of 4
Flight Report #21 of Wed May 27 2026
New 15" Motor
Pic #1 3058 Sunrise on flight day.
Pic #2 3062 The new 15" motor silver morning acrylic paint touch ups for the thrust button and engine nose hub, new engine.
Pic #3 3065 Another view of above.
Pic #4 3069 The finished new 15" motor. The old 9" motor is drooped over the left wing.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #325 Sun May 31 2026 post 2 of 4
Flight Report #21 of Wed May 27 2026
Reply #325
Pic #1 WIND FORECAST WED MAY 27 745 AM
Pic #2 3074 View of the eight strand motor down the fuse tunnel.
Pic #3 3075 All Up Weight AUW = 113.60 g.
Pic #4 3077 Balanced on the Coffee Jar pins.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #326 Sun May 31 2026 post 3 of 4
Flight Report #21 of Wed May 27 2026
Pic #1 3079 Hardly a drift on the flag.
Pic #2 3080 Wind on the flag at the Spit and Hurri. Hanging tree catkin flowers.
Pic #3 3081 The deep rough grass in the foreground just had the tops mowed off, now down even with the Cricket Field grass.
First Flight 15" motor
Pic #4 3083 Hanging low to the ground, not enough power. Short flights, maybe 4 or 5 sec
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #326 Sun May 31 2026 post 4 of 4
Flight Report #21 of Wed May 27 2026
Pic #1 3084 Almost landed.
Pic #2 3085 Not enough power. Last look before packing up.
Pic #3 3086 Dogwood ? with flowering catkins.
We got out first thing in the morning, and did several flights - not enough power. So we packed up and went home.
The End of Flight Report #21 of Wed May 27 2026
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Quote from: Lastwoodsman on May 31, 2026, 05:36 PMBEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #323 Sun May 31 2026
Quote from Spiros "I already have the kit and still thinking of making it a Seaplane!"
Hi Spiros! Sorry for blowing past your comment - I had just loaded a big reply and clicked 'post' ... and up popped this big warning and I lost all of my concentration, and I just hit post. :o ??? :-\ So I am checking back now.
I originally wanted to make the seaplane version of the Beaver, but the Dumas kit had no floats. I would like to build a Beaver, or any float plane, that has three interchangeable undercarriages - floats, wheels, and skis. Maybe there is a plan some where for one?
Spiros, if you are going to build the seaplane, I have a Fleet Canuck float plane to build (partly started), and maybe there would be interest in a floatplane cook-up. They had a really good floatplane cookup on Stick n Tissue several years ago. I have seen people fly float planes indoors, and land them on the floor, with no problem.
So, thanks for your comments Spiros. I did reinforce the landing gear and the wing struts junction, that interlock with the slot in the heavy duty landing gear fairings. The 'wrap around' elastic band, with the small white paper clip on the bottom of the fuse, used here, deserve mention. It was 'unsightly', but it held everything in place, distributing all of the crash landing loads, evenly into the strut and fuse and fairings and gear wire. And the landing gear/wing strut connection never broke (except once). I also have a big area of sheeted/infill planked balsa, on the fuse, for finger grip tossing, which worked great also.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Actually, the Dumas kit I have, does include the floaters. Not sure about the parts, but definitely, it does have the plans.
Still I have not worked on the kit due to other priorities, but I think it does.
Maybe a later edition? Could that be the case?
I'm into float planes, so we could definitely discuss it. Meet at IIFI or UK next year?... :)
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #328 Sun May 31 2026
Oh, Oh .... Bad news, Spiros
Sunday May 31 2026
Dumas is closing April 15 2026 :( :(
https://www.dumasproducts.com/product-category/plane-kits/
Pic #1 DUMAS IS CLOSING APRIL 15 2026
Spiros, maybe your kit was 24" for the Beaver. I think Guillow's has a 24" Beaver, but I am not sure about the floats.
I don't think I am going to any contests - I live in the middle of the Great Lakes in North America, Canadian side, Windsor Ontario Canada ...
PS post a pic of your plan with the Beaver floats ... :-\
Lastwoodsman
Richard
Good morning.
True. Dumas is shutting down and this is a petty. Seems we are not that many so a busniess can hold up and be profitable. It would be good though if another company (e.g. VMC), could step up and take over.
My kit is not even 24". It is the 18".
In Greece and in Europe overall indoor is the main activity instead of outdoors, therefore, smaller sizes are preferable.
and here are some pics of the plan for the floaters.
Let me know if you'd like to have it.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #332 Mon June 1 2026
Hi Spiros!
Thanks for posting the pics of the kit box and plans, of the floats only, 18" Dumas Beaver! I forgot about that 'oddball'. 8) I do have 30 kits un-built, on the wall shelves full of laser cut balsa and plans, and all of the extras needed for a complete build, that are way ahead in the cue, but thanks for the offer anyway. :)
I wish I had an indoor flying site like you have. I tried to get some guys to rent the local high school gym here, but I got no interest unfortunately. Out of 14 guys in our Model Club at our local Canadian Aviation Museum, only two were balsa builders and 12 were plastic builders. And the other balsa builder was only making static display models.
That is why I fly outside. I have no choice, but it is a good one, because I live right next to a big park with a Cricket Field. I can leave my apt door and in 15 minutes be set up and stretch winding the Beaver in a winding stooge. ;D
Of course, a 30" plane will fly better in the wind (there is always wind), than an 18" model will. That is why I went large Jumbo size with the 30" Beaver, a "rubber powered Park Flyer", in the thread title (one must cover all the angles in a thread title). ::)
But in a cookup, all sizes and all types, of amphibious planes would be welcome. Maybe an 'informal cookup' with separate build threads - I would say get three or four committed, and call it a 'cookup with no specific end date'. Just a thought. We all have a model just waiting for a category of cookup, that the model would suit.
I am still in shock that Dumas is closing. :(
Soul's Lament song
Soul's Lament by Philip Wesley from the album Dark Night of the Soul http://www.philipwesley.com/
Soul's Lament https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prF8QpEUltA&list=OLAK5uy_nW9yQPpnvl3mCW0mR6wfIqOoToCjhFBVQ&index=6
Lamenting, on "loop".
Lastwoodsman
Richard
I know how it is.
Trust me. We struggle to find people sometimes, to be able to share the cost. It's rather expensive!
BTW, the melody is so nice!!
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #334 Wed June 3 2026 post 1 of 2
Flight Report #22 of Fri may 29 2026
We got out again for some finger wind flights with the 9" motor. We tried up to 180 finger winds. Longest flight was 6 seconds. I'm having more fun just finger winding.
Pic #1 3087 Sitting on the stone work in Jackson Park.
Pic #2 3088 Wind on the flag.
Pic #3 3090 Long flight out.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #335 Wed June 3 2026 post 2 of 2
Flight Report #22 of Fri may 29 2026
Pic #1 3091 Going down hard left.
Pic #2 3092 Turning left from base leg onto final approach.
Pic #3 3094 Wind on the flag on the way out. Dawn Redwood trees at the entrance.
End of Flight Report #22 of Fri May 29 2026
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #336 Wed June 3 2026 post 1 of 2
Flight Report #23 of Monday June 1 2026
We still have unreal low wind weather - I must fly as much as I can .... the summer drought is coming ....
I broke a 1/8" strand on the second flight, and it still flew but not as long - I thought the strand smacking around in the fuse was making that little ticking sound. It turned out to be a loose nose block I think.
Six flights - 6 6 4 3 5 seconds, on 180 finger winds, on the nine inch motor.
Pic #1 3098 Wind on the flag - Dawn Redwood trees.
Pic #2 3099 Wind at the Spit and Hurri.
Pic #3 3100 Six second flight.
Pic #4 3101 Soft landing.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply #337 Wed June 3 2026 post 2 of 2
Flight Report #23 of Monday June 1 2026
Pic #1 3102 Soft landing view looking the other way.
Pic #2 3103 Another nice five second flight.
Pic #3 3105 Just about landed.
Pic #4 3106 Mushrooms .... Booted amanita?
End of Flight Report #23
I went home and started working on a 13" motor, and other repairs.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Wed June 3 2026 post 1 0f 6
Reply #338
REPAIRS
The repairs started Mon afternoon, right after Flight Report #23 and #22 posted above, and were worked on from Mon night, and all day Tues and half of today Wed. I missed two flying days of looooonnnnnngha grass!
I worked all day Tues June 2 2026 on a lot of repairs, whereupon closer inspection of the nose, whilst changing the motor, caused me to find a lot more damage than I thought.
The weather has still been great. I flew Fri May 29 just finger winds with the 9" motor Flight Report #22, and flew again on Mon June 1 2026, Flight Report #23 just finger winds again, but I broke a strand on that 'previously almost used up', 9" motor.
So here are my repairs, actually starting on Monday.
Pic #1 3109 New 13" motor rubber loops are tied up and the extra is clipped off.
Pic #2 3112 Knots are spaced out ready to tie up.
Pic #3 3114 Looks like the old 9" motor broke a strand right at the knot. The 13" motor is all tied up.
Pic #4 3118 The installed 13" motor is hanging out from the nose. There is a lot of latent energy sitting there .... Prop hook to rear peg is 10".
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Wed June 3 2026 post 2 0f 6
Reply #339
REPAIRS
Nose Damage and Infill Planking
Pic #1 3119 The nose is cleaned up and ready for new stringers and infill planking, top and sides. I should have done this from the start ....
Pic #2 3124 There are four, cut out, 1/16" sq stringer replacements.
Pic #3 3126 These are tricky to butt-glue in there.
Pic #4 3132 Four paper strips are cut out to add to the four sides of the tenon of the slightly loose nose block.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Wed June 3 2026 post 3 0f 6
Reply #340
REPAIRS
Pic #1 3135 Small patches of silkspan will cover the small open holes.
Pic #2 3138 Two stringers are replaced and it is ready for four infill planks on top.
Pic #3 3141 Mandrake fits a 3/32" plank.
Pic #4 3143 More progress.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Wed June 3 2026 post 4 of 6
Reply #341
REPAIRS
Pic #1 3146 M and B examine their planking job.
Pic #2 3148 Top view of the four planks.
Pic #3 3152 Striped strips, roundels, and red maple leafs are ready to glue.
Pic #4 3154 Other side view.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Wed June 3 2026 post 5 0f 6
Reply #342
REPAIRS
Pic #1 3155 Some progress.
Pic #2 3158 All glued in.
Pic #3 3159 The cowl fits very snugly now.
Pic #4 3161 Four infill planks are left to glue, along with four long rectangular strips of silkspan, for the lower rear fuse, two on each side, after the new 1/16" square stringers are replaced.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Wed June 3 2026 post 6 0f 6
Reply #343
REPAIRS
Pic #1 3164 Two more silkspan pieces are cut out (difficult spot for planking). for the outlined area on the plan copy.
Pic #2 3167 Here we are finished, and the cowl holds in there tight by itself. Looking all trim.
Pic #3 3170 Underside view. I have not sanded the infill planks smooth yet ....
Pic #4 3171 Six new striped strips, two new red maple leafs, and two big new roundels, all on top of the wing and stab.
Ready for the motor. Then balance, then fly.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Fri June 5 2026
Sorry, no flight report for yesterday June 4 2026 - I woke up really run down, and I went back to bed - but later on in the day, I did make a new fresh 9" motor for finger wind flights, and I got out the table stooge, stretched it, and bench tested that 9" motor with the latest, "tightened up", nose block. What a loud sudden 'whirrrr', and strong pull, for six seconds on 180 finger winds. The new 13" motor is also ready to stretch and bench test for later on. I'm just still recharging for now.
Pic #1 3174 Sunrise - at least I was up ...
Pic #2 3175 Two new motors.
Pic #3 3181 Putting the Beaver together.
Pic #4 3184 Bench testing the spinning prop run.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Fri June 5 2026 Reply #345
Well, after taking the day off yesterday, I went out this morning eventually, to see how the grass in the park was. We have had no real rain lately, and a heatwave is forcast for the next couple of weeks.
They mowed the grass Thur June 4 on the Cricket Field, and they mowed an even shorter grass height cut, on the small width cut, for chalking the white circle lines of the field. There is still enough grass for flying though, but the ground is starting to dry out and get harder.
I just made one flight 140 winds with the nine inch motor = 4 seconds. I just wanted to see if it was still in trim, and I saw the wind picking up.
I talked with the park staff and took some more pics of the Spit and Hurri, this time, with the sun shining on the wing undersides, and some pics of the Flower Garden just finished this spring's planting. It has tons of watering at night and yearly manure composting spread on it - it will really thicken up.
When I got back from the walk, I bench tested the new 13" motor on the table stooge. 27 cranks on the 15:1 winder = 405 winds = 14 seconds prop run.
So, I am pretty much caught up now, and just have to try out that new 13" motor, when the wind is low ...
In the meantime, it is time to start gluing up some balsa parts (already cut out), for my 30" Gipsy Moth biplane build.
Pic #1 3186 Sunrise
Pic #2 3188 Wind on flag
Pic #3 3190 View of the Cricket Field from a distance. The park grass was mowed yesterday.
Pic #4 3191 Depth of grass. The grass was mowed yesterday. Still good to fly on, but the ground is hardening up.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Fri June 10 2026 Reply #346
Hello fellow modellers. I'm just posting a little update on the Beaver. We are still waiting for a flying day. The Beaver sits patiently with the 9" tight motor installed, and the new untested 15" motor (prop hook to rear peg is 10") lies in front, ready to fly.
In the meantime, here are four pics of the Gipsy Moth Workshop Hangar and Beaver.
Pic #1 3319 Beaver
Pic #2 3320 Beaver
Pic #3 3321 Beaver
Pic #4 3316 The Beaver is on the 'Gipsy Moth' table.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
users = 1 (me) guests 100
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Flight Report #24 early morning 845 AM Wed June 17 2026
Reply # 347 Thur June 18 2026 post 1 of 2
We got in five flights on 180 finger winds, all with five or six seconds duration. Only one flight pic though. The best flight was a nice high six seconder. I aim the plane just a tad left of the Westerly headwind, that headwind is coming straight at us at ninety degrees from the treeline. The model goes left, the stars must align, and the plane will max out a six second flight, going left, turning just inside the treeline, and fly along that treeline which is then blocking the wind, then left out from the treeline, and run out of steam, and a forward flip on landing.
On the last flight, I did not point the plane just to the left of the straight on wind, which was veering and increasing, but it was accidentally pointed just to the right, of the wind. Well, ... the wind caught it and made it do a big long right turn, to my shock!
Pic #1 3513 The grass is still good, but the ground is harder.
Pic #2 3514 This flight landed on the hard ground right beside the Pitch.
Pic #3 3515 I will later find a crack in the tailing edge of the left wing second bay from fuse.
Pic #4 3515 IM003515 SNIP BEAVER HIGH FLIGHT (Small)
And that was it. We headed out, after a few more pics.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Flight Report #24 early morning 845 AM Wed June 17 2026
Reply #348 Thur June 18 2026 post 2 of 2
Four pics on the walk out back home.
Pic #1 3516 Hurricane and Spitfire
Pic #2 3517 Palm trees?
Pic #3 3518 Spit and Hurri again, no wind here.
Pic #4 3519 Carved wooden Eagle.
End of Flight Report #24 of 845 AM Wed June 17 2026
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 349 Wed June 24 2026 post 1 of 5
Flight Report #25 of morning 10:30 AM Wed June 17 2026
Well, believe it or not, I just had another great flying session Flight Report #25, this time ten flights (then it got windy), as opposed to five flights in #24. All ten seconds with soft landings.
I thought I was just going for a walk again, so we took our time getting to the field. There was a lot going on early, with everyone coming out to the park on a hot sunny morning, even an 8 person womens' Choir singing in the Flower Garden.
I thought the players always had a double header of two games on each Saturday and Sunday in the park. We ended up getting on the field, after the morning practice guys ended at 10:30 AM, with the later game starting at 1:30 PM - lots of time for flights. AND the grass was not cut yet!
I would end up getting 10 flights of 180 finger wounds.
Coming up on the Cricket Field, I could see that they were all off of the field and along the sides. I came up and asked the guy if I could try a flight - he said "Sure" . Good thing I asked, as they were just packing up early, in the tree shade where I was going to finger wind and toss from. I got a total of 10 glorious flights of six to seven seconds, they even filmed me - I gave them the whole lowdown of free flight rubber and how it worked, and followed through with one of my best flying sessions ever.
One flight launched directly horizontally outwards, and it flew the full six seconds with a slight left turn, until the rubber ran out, proving ... , that it can maintain level flight at an altitude of four and one half feet, all the way. This model is trimmed out.
Pic #1 3576 Choir in the Flower Garden.
Pic #2 3577 Flying Eagle wood carving.
Pic #3 3578 Work on the new park monument.
Pic #4 3579 Another angle.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 350 Wed June 24 2026 post 2 of 5
Start of ten flights in Flight Report #25 of Sat June 20 2026
Pic #1 3580 First flight landing in long soft grass which has not been cut for a week.
Pic #2 3581 Second flight landing.
Pic #3 3582 There is still deep grass.
Pic #4 3583 Coming down at a steep angle.
I suddenly realized that the first few flights were long enough for a pic, so I tried to get some.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 351 Wed June 24 2026 post 3 of 5
Flight Report #25 of Sat June 20 2026
I was launching from the windless shade of the trees, launching downwind 90 degrees to the tree line, through the calm wind lee side of the trees out to the Cricket Field, with the model always initiating a left turn. What a joy it is to throw around a big thirty - incher balsa model plane, using just finger winds, over long uncut grass, for soft landings.
Pic #1 3584 Landing.
Pic #2 3585 Almost landed.
Pic #3 3586 Another 3 point landing.
Pic #4 3587 Steep left turn.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 352 Wed June 24 2026 post 4 of 5
Flight Report #25 of Sat June 20 2026
A trimmed model really allows you time to think about the finer details of the next flight, just 180 finger winds away.
Pic #1 3588 Long left turn going left.
Pic #2 3589 Long deep grass again - the reason I never leave home without the Beaver.
Pic #3 3590 The big Willow tree guarding the North end of the Cricket field.
Pic #4 3592 Today's wind on the flag.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 352 Wed June 24 2026 post 5 of 5
Flight Report #25 of Sat June 20 2026
This seems to be the most flying days so far in a start of a season like this. So that means that these really are the good ol' days!
I like these little exercise Park walks with the 30" Beaver, that turn into a flying session, when I really wasn't expecting one ...
Long grass brings new mushrooms.
Cap convex smooth
Cap bell shaped expanding to flat
Gill spacing is crowded
Gill attachment to stalk is attached
Stalk shape is bulbous
Ring on stalk none
Whitish to buff Cap with white gills and slender, straight, white stalk with twisted lines of dark fibres.
Yelloish-white Melanoleuca Mushroom my guess
Melanoleuca alboflavida
Pic #1 3593 Beaver and mushroom.
Pic #2 3594 Beaver and mushroom 2.
Pic #3 3595 Beaver and mushroom 3.
Get out and fly!
The End of Flight Report #25 of Sat June 20 2026
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 354 Thur June 25 2026 post 1 of 3
Flight Report #26 of Sun June 21 2026
7 flights by tennis courts, four in-flight pics, and fathers day in Jackson Park
Pic #1 3603 The park had the guys playing on the Cricket Field, so we couldn't fly there.
Pic #2 3604 You can see where the grass was cut, just on the West end of the field, by the trees where I fly, first thing in the morning before the players started.
Pic #3 3605 It's in the air - long perfect flight and landing.
Pic #4 3606 Going left - Oh no! :o
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 355 Thur June 25 2026 post 2 of 3
Flight Report #26 of Sun June 21 2026
Pic #1 3607 It landed short of the fence.
Then the two runners came charging around the corner. Get a load of this ...
On Sunday, we got out there in Jackson Park very early, and the Sun was beating down and everybody was already out in the park enjoying the start of the day, with all of their preparations for all the things going on. The Cricket guys were in uniform on the field playing, this time, in the morning. So we went to the far South end of Jackson Park, which had a long swale of grass between the fencing of the two baseball diamonds, and the indoor and outdoor complex of tennis courts. Plenty of room to fly six second flights. I had just flown two perfect flights, when who comes charging around the corner, but two big young sweaty strong, healthy, in shape men, in their late 20's early 30's, doing their big time run (it was generally a Father's Day Walk/Run with kids in strollers etc) . They had a friendly hello, and I said "Wanna see it fly - I have it just about wound up". So they stopped and came over. Afterwards I deduced that they were both cops in civilian clothing .... :o :o
I lucked out with a perfect 6 or 7 sec flight, after fully demonstrating how rubber free flight works. They were really interested, and they got a big kick out of how elated I was to get a perfect flight. They were all smiles and congratulations, and they gave me two fist bumps, and off they ran. I am old enough to be their grandfather! I told them we had fun in the '60's ! LOL
Later on I surmised that they were plain clothed policemen. So, at least I made a good impression of flying finger wound free flight rubber powered balsa model airplanes, safely in the park where no one else was playing .... and I got in a good plug for our local Windsor Hobbies store. I told them that if they are ever wondering what present to buy their kids, go to Windsor Hobbies. Nobody leaves there without a good present.
Pic #2 3608 Long perfect flight for my two interested spectators.
Pic #3 3609 Another nice flight and landing after they continued on their run. Even had a nice little right turn at the end of rubber runout. All flights are left turn.
Pic #4 3610 Another perfect flight going left again - I must point it more to the right, on launching.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 356 Thur June 25 2026 post 3 of 3
Flight Report #26 of Sun June 21 2026
Pic #1 3611 Here we are passing the Cricket Field, after some nice flying on a hot sunny morning, up on the long grass draw between the tennis courts and the baseball diamonds.
Pic #2 3612 Palm trees?
The End of Flight Report #26 of Sun June 21 2026.
Get out and fly!
Jackson Park is just like that song by Chicago, "Saturday In The Park"
Chicago- Saturday in the Park "Live" (1972)
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=Chicago+Saturday+in+the+Park+Song&&mid=68AD14C10C50CEC871A268AD14C10C50CEC871A2&churl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fchannel%2fUC8w-ihTElKWp0vFz0Xd2VLg&FORM=VRDGAR
Lyrics
Saturday In The Park (feat. Robin Thicke) [Live]
Song by
Chicago
Saturday in the park
I think it was the Fourth of July
Saturday in the park
I think it was the Fourth of July
People dancing, people laughing
A man selling ice cream singing Italian songs
Will you help him change the world?
Can you dig it? (Oh, yes, I can)
I've been waiting such a long time
For Saturday, Saturday, Saturday
Another day in the park
I swear it was the Fourth of July
Another day in the park
I think it was the Fourth of July
People talking, really smiling
A man playing guitar and singing for us all
Will you help him change the world?
Can you dig it? (Oh, yes, I can)
I've been waiting such a long time
For Saturday, Saturday, Saturday
Slow motion riders ride the colors of the day
A bronze man still can tell stories his own way
Listen children, all is not lost, all is not lost
Funny days in the park
Every day's the Fourth of July
Funny, funny days in the park
Every day's the Fourth of July
People reaching, people touching
A real celebration waiting for us all
If we want it, really want it
Can you dig it? (Oh, yes, I can)
I've been waiting such a long time
For today, for today, for today
Lastwoodsman
Richard
This is a great look at for me. This has me convinced to build my Guillows Beaver kit on the old Guillows balsa building board. I really like the method you chose to use to hold everything together. Now I just have to get my act together. Thanks for the look back . Really. I know you have been here a long time. This shows trully fine construction.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 358 Fri June 26 2026
Fri June 26 2026
Hi MEETOO ! Thanks for the nice reply and welcome to the new website hpa.aeromodeling.gr !
I hope you do post a Guillow's Beaver Build here, by all means. I'm sure everyone would like to see the Guillow Beaver build, and don't forget the pics ...
A coupe of things that really worked on my Beaver:
1 Through many flights, the beefed up landing gear LG fairings and the embedded LG wire never failed.
2 The clear plastic wheel hubs that I glued on with super glue, never came off.
3 The prop shaft 0.047" (kit supplied 0.041") never even bent so far.
4 All of the extra balsa plating and infill planking - I'm sure it all helped.
5 The wrap around elastic holding the LG tight, that full elastic passes through the rear cockpit, and the loop ends of the elastic meet under the fuse, and the two loop ends are held together with a little white plastic paper clip. This held up and really worked!
6 I have about 12 grams of clay nose weight, or more, in the cowl and on the cowl.
Big Flight Session coming up today.
Next week the temps are rising into the heat wave category 89 deg F 96 97 96 90 87. So today Fri June 26 2026 is going to be the big day to try out the new unused 13" rubber motor, using stretch winds on a winding stooge. Previously, I got 8 9 10 second flights with a 12" motor. I tried a 15" motor but it was too sluggish.
The forecast is great all day, and the new 13" motor is now installed in the Beaver.
Also yesterday around 3 PM, I walked out (with the Beaver) to check the grass in the Cricket Field. We had a good short down pour 2 nights ago. The grass is high and not cut yet, but starting to yellow at the blade roots. Hopefully they do not mow it this morning. Also yesterday, I did bring a hammer and one peg of the stooge, and I hammered in that peg -- surprisingly, the ground is not too hard yet. I also sent the Beaver off on 180 finger winds for just one flight. Six seconds perfect and straight - the Beaver is trying to tell me something .... ;D 8) like it wants a bigger motor ...
So, today could be one of the last great flying days until fall. But today is the day of perfect conditions that I have been waiting for - the kids are in school and the Cricket players won't come until 5 PM or so.
Pic #1 3663 The old short 9" motor will come out.
Pic #2 3664 The 9" motor is out, and the 13" motor is ready to install.
Pic #3 3665 The 13" motor is in! Ready to fly!
Pic #4 WIND FORECAST FRIDAY JUNE 26 2026
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 359 Tue June 30 2026 post 1 of 7
Flight Report # 27 of Fri June 26 2026
It took a couple of flights to figure out the launch angle and launch direction to the wind, and where to launch from. We have the new big unused 13" motor in the Beaver, prop hook to rear peg is 10 inches, and all seven flights were stretch wound on a winding stooge.
Pic #1 3666 Jackson Park entrance, wind on the flag.
Pic #2 3667 Wind on the flag at the Spit and Hurri replicas. My rubber motor over floweth.
Pic #3 3668 The Cricket Field is UNCUT !!!
Pic #4 3669 I started this flight right along the treeline, expecting it to turn left, big mistake - this is where it landed, right underneath those bushy leaf branch ends that it hit, as it suddenly went right. Novice error on my part - never start right by the treeline no matter how much of a hurry you are in ...
We left the apt at 9:30 AM, and got home about 11:00 AM. We had lots of time to get out to the Cricket field as the wind was good all day! and no kids and no Cricket players.
Flights 1 to 7 Flight Report #27 of Fri June 26 2026
Flight 1 24 x 15 = 360 winds on a 15:1 winder. I started this flight right along the treeline, expecting it to turn left, big mistake.
As soon as I launched it, it went right, right into the leafy tree branch ends directly up from where it hit the ground - stopped dead in the air, and circled straight down. There was no damage and there were a lot of winds left on the motor. So, I looked at the model after to see if anything caused the right turn. The rear end of the Beaver Logo on the right side of the fuse, had lifted off from the fin/rudder, maybe causing it to turn right. I had some clear Scotch tape in the pack and taped the logo back down in the field.
cont
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 360 Tue June 30 2026 post 2 of 7
Flight Report # 27 of Fri June 26 2026
Pic #1 3670 Short flight soft landing.
Pic #2 3671 Landing near a line showing two heights of grass.
Pic #3 3672 I let the flagging tape fall to the ground, showing the wind direction.
Pic #4 3673 Moment of landing impact.
Flight 2 25 x 15 = 375 stretch winds. Nice high flight into the wind ie. not much distance traveled. Pic of the landing. It is windy.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 361 Tue June 30 2026 post 3 of 7
Flight Report # 27 of Fri June 26 2026
Pic #1 3674 My set up, blowing the orange flagging tape.
Pic #2 3675 Big long flight straight out.
Pic #3 3676 Big long flight curves left a little and lands.
Pic #4 3677 That is a long distance from the Pitch.
A visit came by the Grass Mower Operator after my second flight. I was winding the Beaver on the Stooge, and what do I see in the distance? The dreaded, foreboding, grass mower was approaching :( , 'and the wind began to howl' :o . And he drove right up to me and stopped. I asked if he could mow another spot first (they have long lists), since I only had two flights so far. He said he could but he had to get the Cricket field mowed today. Then he asked me if the plane was RC (radio controlled). I said rubber band power, hoping it would sound like less of a worry.
So, it was because of his accommodating me, that I was able to stay and get the next five flights in, so I do have to thank him for that. And now I see that he did get it mowed, so hopefully all is well. :) ie: I am not getting into trouble yet, for flying rubber powered balsa plane models in Jackson Park ... all is well ...
Flight 3 27 x 15 405 turns, 4 seconds long low left turn. I cannot physically crank in any more turns without breaking the 15:1 winder - I already broke the 10:1 winder dong the same thing.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 362 Tue June 30 2026 post 4 of 7
Flight Report # 27 of Fri June 26 2026
Pic #1 3679 Flight 4 long flight 11 sec
Pic #2 3680 Flight 5 long flight 13 sec 8)
Pic #3 3681 Landing of perfect 13 sec flight.
Pic #4 3682 Flight 6 8 sec perfect
Flight 4 and 5 were both very long flights of 11 seconds and 13 seconds, respectively, on the 13" motor. These tied the 12" motor best flights.
Flight 4 405 turns 11 seconds !!. :o This flight was launched from the pitch and landed way out, right beside the outer boundary white paint stripe on the Cricket Field grass.
I launched on an upward angle, straight into and at right angles, to the tree line. The wind was coming from the left, and kept the plane flying straight (it turns left naturally) off the start. It eventually started to turn left into the wind (little wind). Once the plane entered close to the lee wind side of the trees, where the wind was blocked off, it had enough rubber run out, for a long lazy slow finish, right out to the stripe. All factors must came together to get this long of a flight - especially the direction of launch, and the angle of attack at launch., and the wind. No super records or anything like that - just some fun small park flying.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 363 Tue June 30 2026 post 5 of 7
Flight Report # 27 of Fri June 26 2026
Pic #1 3683 Landing of Flight 6. Look at that thick grass !
Pic #2 3684 Underside view and closeup of the long grass.
Pic #3 3685 Here is my set up by the Pitch.
Pic #4 3687 Flight 7 It went right !! Oh no!
Flight 5 405 turns 13 seconds !! This ties the 12" motor record. It was almost 2/3 of a circle, and was the same flight as Flight 4, but further out left.
These last two flights 4 and 5, really completely ran out the end of the rubber motor knots, to the softest of landings in the unusually high grass.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
I can hardly imagine this beauty, flying only for 13".
Why is this happening? Have you tried a straight single rubber? Obviously shorter but definitely could be stronger in my opinion.
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 365 Tue June 30 2026 post 6 of 7
Flight Report # 27 of Fri June 26 2026
Pic #1 3689 Wind gust blowing the flagging tape. Time to go.
Pic #2 3690 Last pic of the high grass before mowing.
Pic #3 3691 Even deeper grass.
Pic #4 3692 The flower garden is fully planted.
Flight 6 405 winds 8 sec perfect flight. It went out one quarter circle left, but not as far as the 13 and 11 second flights. Good flight nonetheless.
Flight 7 405 6 sec bad launch pointing too far to the right, and the wind caught it and sent it way right to my shock! The gusts were getting more prominent, and it was getting windier, and it was too hot. So I quit while I was ahead.
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 366 Tue June 30 2026 post 7 of 7
Flight Report # 27 of Fri June 26 2026
Pic #1 3693 Wind on the flag on the way out.
Pic #2 3724 pics of Beaver at home
Pic #3 3726 The 9 inch tight motor is back inside the Beaver, resting ....
Pic #4 3727 Ready to fly finger winds again .
It might be later in the fall, here as well, for the next flights, as we are in the big summer heat wave now ...
Conclusion: The 13" motor appears to be as good as the 12" motor, and the 15" motor was too sluggish. Of course we need more flights to be sure. But for now, that is the end ....
End of Flight Report #27 of Fri June 26 2026
Lastwoodsman
Richard
BEAVER DH C2 30 INCH RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER DUMAS KIT 306
Reply # 367
Wed July 1 2026
Hi Spiros! Thanks for the 'likes'. :)
Quote from Spiros above " I can hardly imagine this beauty, flying only for 13".
"Why is this happening? Have you tried a straight single rubber? Obviously shorter but definitely could be stronger in my opinion. "
That is a good question, the all time question ... . I was only going for a ten second flight from the beginning. I think ZKAUD Mike said that he would be satisfied with a ten second flight (where is Mike?). So, I was going with that.
I documented, first time for me, the different rubber motors and cross sections and their builds, and their run times on my handy dandy table stooge, and the run times outside also. A power run time of 12 sec on the table stooge, does not equate to a 12 sec flight outside ...
Pic #1 1739
Pic #2 2695
Pic #3 2726
Pic #4 2859
"straight single rubber?" - do you mean a single strand ( one half of a loop ), and what total width cross-section of the rubber strand(s), of your straight single rubber ? I found that the best 'pull' was that eight strand motor of total cross section of 0.813" of rubber motor strands. Since there is not a 0.813" width in rubber (only 3/32", 1/8", and 3/16"), I added extra strands sizes of rubber and tested them as I went along.
I started this rubber powered hobby 14 years ago at age 55, with the Guillow Nieuprt 11 24" laser cut kit (totally hooked) just for a display model back then, so I don't have all the answers. I think it was Cal Goddard who said it would be good to get a ten second flight with this 30" Beaver plane too. And I always thought that that blunt nose, and the enlarged landing gear and no windshield, were all resistance factors causing shorter flights.
PLUS
Total Wing Area 3.3125" x 30" = 99.375" sq
Max Weight Rule for Flying is 0.5 g of model weight per one sq inch of lifting surface.
99.375 in sq X 0.5g per in sq = 49.7 g
The Beaver weighs about 113 g, so it is way over weight. :-\
I am settling in for 'build mode' with the 30" Gipsy Moth now, in my air-conditioned apartment, during this heatwave. No flying for me ...
Lastwoodsman
Richard
What I would do, is double strand double lenght than the motor to peg. I'm not sure on the size but in metrics I would go somewhere betweem 4,20 - 4,40mm.