Pimp My Salto. Make it a Forty. (46% scale Hans Muller Salto!)

[Steve P]

More out of boredom waiting for parts, I thought I'd share a few shots of the famous D-Salto 46% Hans Muller Salto. This in no way qualifies as a "build thread."

More on the full scale Salto specs: http://www.rcaerotowing.com/forum/sh...y-Ursula-Hanle

As seen on the Radio Carbon Arts DVD! Its first restoration transformed it from a pink a purple monstrosity with a blue canopy into a sleeker looking red and white bird. More recently wiring and wing connections got a complete overhall thanks to Kevin Kavaney, but everything on main power still traveled in the top of the cockpit space out in full view. But, it's been a few years and many flights, dents, dings, scratches and epoxy.

Time to get it back in the shop, strip stuff out, get out the tiny brushes and matching paint, and spend some time doing the anal-retentive mambo.

An impressive size ship! It will be in the air at the Quebec tow in July.

[Steve P]

Here are some shots of the first round of play. Mostly a preview of coming attractions...

Attacking wing roots and fuselage sides. Making them all
pretty and fresh white. Aluminum portion of wheel that shows is
now matching red. Never was scale, but will fool the eye better in flight...


Cleaning up the battery boxes, paint and procuring some
fresh electrons (heavy weight ones on purpose). Going up from
4 cell to 5-cell...


Beginning to clean up the cockpit interior, new floor that wiring
runs beneath (old floor was cut full of holes for batteries, switches, and
screws), first coat of fresh paint in the battery area...


Added a two-piece PETG cover on the wheel to keep water and grass
out. Gone are the "D-Salto" markings. In fact all markings have
been or will be removed. "Unlimited Gilder Aerobatics" will be replaced with
a fresh similar graphic. I translated the "NO PUSH" markings on the tail and
also added same to the ailerons, but "unbegrenzte Segelkunstflug"
just isn't cutting it for the big fuselage graphic


New markings beginning to appear on the fuselage. Swiss flags replace
text on fuselage rear, fuselage top getting a new look. All white/red transitions
are now black pinstriped. The simple pinstripe makes a big impact...

[yyz]

Cool. That paint scheme is starting to grow on me

[Steve P]

Cool. That paint scheme is starting to grow on me

I'm trying to make the red "work" harder by changing it to Swiss markings. We'll see.

[yyz]

Steve,

Is the wheel fairing treatment legit? Looks a little blingy.

Listen to me... the semi-scale guy harping on the little scale nits....

Mike

[Steve P]

The fuselage wheel faring should wrap completely around the wheel with just the very bottom of the wheel extending outward. This fuselage is completely hacked out to permit the surrounding structure to extend farther below the fuselage. It is not even in the same galaxy as legit. To change it back is a major undertaking, not for this project. What's there is very robust, custom side plates that are machined beautifully, great wheel, great shock, strong like bull. Just a bit fugly. It was a lot more obvious when what is now red was just raw aluminum. It's cool.

Full scale example, in red to boot. Given what remains, it probably looked like this, before....

[yyz]

A guy on a galloping horse will never know the difference... I love this plane!

[Len]

scale shmale, As long as it rolls good we wont tell

[kjkavaney]

This is looking Super Steve...I am glad you are taking it to the next step....I really like what you are doing....WOW.....
As hard as it was to sell the Salto, it sure makes me feel good that it went to good home and to a good DAD !!! YOU.... Kevin

[xroadie]

I always love Swiss color schemes....what scale and kit are we looking at? Was this the model I saw way at the back of the hanger at the JR event?