Super Skybolt ARF
#851
Senior Member
My Feedback: (13)
You've probably got the most 'Bolt experience in this thread, so I'll ask you.
I plan to get one, and am hoping that my Laser 150 will fit in there. It should, as it was a perfect match for the Goldberg Ultimate, but… that puppy swings a 16" prop.
Am I going to have ground clearance problems with the stock LG?
.
I plan to get one, and am hoping that my Laser 150 will fit in there. It should, as it was a perfect match for the Goldberg Ultimate, but… that puppy swings a 16" prop.
Am I going to have ground clearance problems with the stock LG?
.
#852
Senior Member
My Feedback: (13)
Well, okay… ANYONE here still flying this model?
Looks like my Laser is not going to fit, especially after I add a supporting firewall. New engine choices are sparse, for sure. I'm leaning toward a Saito, probably the 1.25. Again, I'm concerned about prop clearance.
.
Looks like my Laser is not going to fit, especially after I add a supporting firewall. New engine choices are sparse, for sure. I'm leaning toward a Saito, probably the 1.25. Again, I'm concerned about prop clearance.
.
#853
My Feedback: (17)
I'm still flying my Skybolt nearly every weekend. Mine, powered by an OS 91 S2, has more than enough power for anything I want to do. My question is, why would you want to take a 7 lb airplane and turn it into a 10 lb airplane? Mine, swinging an APC 13.5X9, has roughly 2" of ground clearance. A Saito 1.00 would be about as large an engine as I would recommend.
#856
Senior Member
My Feedback: (13)
But you're right, the 15"-16" props those engines require would simply not work with the stock LG. Which is what I suspected. Your information confirmed it; thanks.
Regarding the firewall… did you reinforce yours by adding a second thickness of real plywood, as detailed way back in this thread? I have no doubt that some additional fuel proofing will be needed, and perhaps some tri-stock here and there. But slapping on another firewall over the existing one is pretty… severe. Necessary, you think? Or not?
Off to check out the Saito 1.00...
.
#858
My Feedback: (17)
I don't. Where do you get those three pounds from? The larger engines I am discussing are, at most, a half-pound heavier than an OS 91 Surpass (which I have, but in another model) and, I presume, a Saito 1.00.
But you're right, the 15"-16" props those engines require would simply not work with the stock LG. Which is what I suspected. Your information confirmed it; thanks.
Regarding the firewall… did you reinforce yours by adding a second thickness of real plywood, as detailed way back in this thread? I have no doubt that some additional fuel proofing will be needed, and perhaps some tri-stock here and there. But slapping on another firewall over the existing one is pretty… severe. Necessary, you think? Or not?
Off to check out the Saito 1.00...
.
But you're right, the 15"-16" props those engines require would simply not work with the stock LG. Which is what I suspected. Your information confirmed it; thanks.
Regarding the firewall… did you reinforce yours by adding a second thickness of real plywood, as detailed way back in this thread? I have no doubt that some additional fuel proofing will be needed, and perhaps some tri-stock here and there. But slapping on another firewall over the existing one is pretty… severe. Necessary, you think? Or not?
Off to check out the Saito 1.00...
.
As for my firewall, I replaced it after about my 3rd or 4th flight when I tested the stall speed at 3 ft off the ground. It popped out clean with very minor damage to the fuselage. I replaced it with 1/4 aircraft ply at that time. BTW, I believe the Saito 1.00 is lighter than the OS 91 and has slightly more hp. My 7.5 lb Ultra Sport with a Saito 1.00 w/13.5X9 prop has enough power to hover, though not enough tail to hold it for long.
#859
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (2)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: millville,
UT
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
GOOD HEAVENS !!!!! It's been nine and a half years and this thread is still going !!!!!! I've been away a long time and never checked in on RCU. [ but that doesn't mean I haven't been flying ] I still have my first Skybolt along with a kit-built one and they are the smoothest flying planes ever. Matter of fact, I call them the " Cadilacs ". Both with OS 91, Three-blade MA's. I've never broken a prop on them in all this time plus not one scuff on the wheel pants on either of them...... Not one ! The kit is one pound heavier than the ARF but no difference in performance at 4500 feet elevation. I was really looking to find out why JR stopped making their 1500 mh NI-MH TX batteries when I stumbled across this thread but sofar, no luck. Seeya guys around, MM
#860
My Feedback: (26)
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: El Paso,
TX
Posts: 677
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just remember guy's, 3% power loss per 1000 ASL**....sooo....4500 ft. altitude equals a 13.5% Power Loss, very simple. Typical Saito 1.25 minus 13.5% equals a Saito 1.08...just sayin'...
**Normally Aspirated Internal Combustion Chamber Engines. Externally Aspirated Engines such as Turbocharged and or Supercharged engines, this rule does not apply.
**Normally Aspirated Internal Combustion Chamber Engines. Externally Aspirated Engines such as Turbocharged and or Supercharged engines, this rule does not apply.
Last edited by Prop_Washer2; 09-17-2015 at 03:38 PM.
#873
Senior Member
My Feedback: (13)
The box says a .70 four stroke is acceptable. I find that a bit… optimistic, at the very least. No joy on the 1.20 Surpass I was promised, so I'm back to deciding what engine to get. I want plenty of power, but I don't want to bust that flimsy firewall loose with too much power.
This is annoying...
.
#874
My Feedback: (28)
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Latrobe,
PA
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LSP 972- The most recent GP Skybolt ARF is pretty much the same as the earlier ones, with their selection of wood that thay use. I bought mine used/ wrecked at a swap meet, and only the firewall, and front formers were damaged. The previous owner that I bought it from has an OS 91 4 Stroke in it, and on his 2nd flight, he ground looped it, and the OS 91 went straight back and took out the firewall and F1-F4.
I did a refurbish of it, and have an article in the "Crash/Rebuild" forums here on RCU. If u go to that forum- go to page 4, and look at my article "GP Skybolt crash find" near the bottom of P4, and u will see how I rebuilt the front end, and added a lot more structural integrity to the front airframe. When u go to fly urs, make sure u let ur groundspeed get hi enough, and it will lift off effortlessly. You also may want to cut, and add an additional 1/8" ply firewall to the existing one for added support. I'm flying mine with an OS 61SF long stroke, and it will do anything I want it to. Here are a couple pics, but u can check out my article if u like. Let us know how u will progress with ur assembly, and maiden flight- Best of Luck-- Dean
I did a refurbish of it, and have an article in the "Crash/Rebuild" forums here on RCU. If u go to that forum- go to page 4, and look at my article "GP Skybolt crash find" near the bottom of P4, and u will see how I rebuilt the front end, and added a lot more structural integrity to the front airframe. When u go to fly urs, make sure u let ur groundspeed get hi enough, and it will lift off effortlessly. You also may want to cut, and add an additional 1/8" ply firewall to the existing one for added support. I'm flying mine with an OS 61SF long stroke, and it will do anything I want it to. Here are a couple pics, but u can check out my article if u like. Let us know how u will progress with ur assembly, and maiden flight- Best of Luck-- Dean
#875
Senior Member
My Feedback: (13)
Many thanks for that, Dean. It looks to be the simplest solution to the problem.
I let a 1.08 FSR get away from me a few years back… sure wish I still had it for this airplane.
It will be a while before I get around to starting this one, so I've got time to select an engine. I'm just real hesitant to buy used these days...
.
I let a 1.08 FSR get away from me a few years back… sure wish I still had it for this airplane.
It will be a while before I get around to starting this one, so I've got time to select an engine. I'm just real hesitant to buy used these days...
.