Drag

Ok thanks, All that I had was Monokote and I was having a little trouble getting it to stick.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

Ultracote is better about applying over other coverings

Scooterpilot

My Feedback: (5)

Here's some additional pic's of the Funtana. I thought I was going to run the Syssa motor tomorrow but Mr. Winter is now here. Bad weather is forecast until next Monday, with it starting tomorrow night. Looks like I'll have to wait untill next week to start the motor.

1. Electronic ignition kill located just above the wing tube

2. Ignition kill connected to ignition power wire.

3. Battery wire to the on/off switch

4. Wiring routed back to the Receiver

5 Carbon fiber spinner/back-plate sold by Syssa motors

lou1947

Very neat set up. Nice to see workmanship like that. Good luck with your maiden,let us know how it flyes.

wyo69cowboy

My Feedback: (2)

Anybody got a measurement on the diameter of the CF wing and stab tubes on the 125?

Drag

diameter of the CF wing tube is 7/8" and elevator is 1/2"

AngLeo

Very nice scooter.Love the CFspinner! Very neat looking wire job.Where did you get the black what looks like stick on wire holders? Never seen ones like that....Would love to use them....Im wiring my Tana this weekend.I know everyone likes this plane light,but Iwould like to add a pilot....Has anyone done this? or should I stick with the bare plain cockpit...I like my aircrafts to Look great,as well as fly great.

Scooterpilot

My Feedback: (5)

Angleo,


Thanks! Keep the wiring neat just reduces problems when tracing wires or when I have to determine which wire for what RX plug.

Airwild hobbies carries them. They are very light weight and work well. I usually add a drop of medium CA when gluing them to wood. For the Ultra-coat I clean it with denatured alcohol before I use them. They call them "wire-keeps." Here's the link;

http://www.airwildpilotshop.com/More...product&id=923

Regards
Chuck

Ken Cz

My Funtana came out really tail heavy using the standard setup (except I have a Saito 115 on mine) so I ended up adding a 14oz of lead to the engine mount and motor box.
I flew it twice and it was a still a tad tailheavy and since I did not want to add even more lead I bit the bullet and converted it to a Pull-Pull rudder. Worked out really well and I was able to mount the Rudder servo just behind the throttle servo.
At that point I also moved my RX and switch all forward of the CG and I also replaced the standard Elevator Push Rods with CF. Took me a few evenings but it was worth it as I was able to remove about 12oz. of lead.
My AUW is now 9.0 lbs on the digital scale and that's with A123 2300 RX battery.
Can wait to fly it but I fear it will be months as the temp is down to 10deg. tonight here in Michigan.

wyo69cowboy

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks Drag! I think I may order a set to use for my 50cc Reactor, as it's the same size tube. Horizon's price is pretty good for the set.

RealViking

My Feedback: (5)

Ken Cz,
Any pictures on your Pull Pull for the rudder, I did this to my Funtana X100 (8lbs with O.S. 120AX) and I guess I will have to do this to my Funtana 125 also to avoid added weight.

phantomdriver

I put a MLD 28 on my Funtana and a Dura-lite 7.4 in front of the fuel tank and mine balanced out perfect.
This setup up I believe should be awsome. I have a AW 90-120 Yak with the MLD 28 and flies great.
Cheap to fly to boot $3.00 a gallon.

Ken Cz

Real,
No photos handy but I will take some and see if I can figure out how to post them.
It seems most folks are not having the tail heavy problem I have so I have to assume that mine might have denser balsa in the tail feathers - noticed too that my cowl is extremely thin - most flimsy one of the 20+ planes I currently have.

My Funtana was one of the first batch from HH since they owed it to me as a replacement for a Showtime 90 that self-destructed on a maiden flight last April. They were really good about it.
Perhaps the very first ones had a minor problem that has now been corrected.
KC

atasse

Ken..I've been reading the post for a while now and have noticed that most guys who use the Saito 125 up front and the recommended servos for the tail have been balancing out pretty close. Those who use some other servo, (regular size so elevator servos require a shim to mount without touching), all are very tail heavy. The guys using a heavier engine, gas but not the FG20, are ok with regular servos in the tail because they get the offset of the heavier engine with ignition and batt up front. Confused yet! The recommended servos are light by about .6 to .8 oz compared to say a HS5645MG from hitec. That puts about 2 ozs more in the rear and I haven't measured it but it has to work out to something like 6-10ozs more required up front to counter. Another factor for tail heavy posts seems to be changing the tail wheel assembly to something stronger and likely heavier. Sounds like the ideal solution for you is a pull pull system so you don't have to add a bunch of lead to the nose. I'd be interested to hear what servos you are using in the tail...
Sorry for the lengthy post...thought I'd add my 2 cents worth, my Funtana is still in the box but I'm mounting a Evolution 26GX up front and using regular servos down the back...I'll post how well that balances out when I'm done.
Cheers Alan

Ken Cz

Atasse,
I believe you may be correct.
I am using JR 821's for the elevator because I did not want to spend $200 for the 2 special low profile JR servos. I did not realize they are that light and I will compare the wt. to my 821's. I did check around for other servos (except the new low profile jobs) and found most servos with MG were similar in wt.

My engine (S115) is also about 1.5 oz lighter than the 125 so that is working against me too.

You are 100% correct on the weight ratio forward vs aft of CG. I did not measure it either but I am guessing it's close to 4-5 to one when you figure the aft position of the rudder servo vs the engine.
One thing I did do was modify a Harry Higby brass prop nut (machined off fwd end) and use that as my main prop nut with a locking spinner adapter nut to ensure all stays tight. Most bang for the buck with that wt. full forward.
Also went wth with APC 16x4 prop for the weight.

No problem here with your post length. I appreciate your input and insight into this issue.
If you are aware of any lighter weight servos with good torque that I can use in place of the pricy JR low profile jobs I would appreciate any recommendations.
Thanks again!

Ken

Ken Cz

Here are few pictures of my Pull-Pull rudder.
I don't like the way the wire crimps came out so I am going to re-do them. Must be a better way - I just don't know the technique.

Ken Cz

Alan,
Out of curiosity I just checked the weight difference between the JR821's I am using and recommended 9411's.
Difference is .14 oz per servo for a total of .28 oz - so my elevator servos are heavier by .28 oz.

Double checked the weights on my Saito 115 vs the 125 and the 115 is 1.2 oz lighter.

I guess I'll never know why my Funtana came out so tailheavy. Neither of differences above is enough to warrant adding all the lead (12+ oz or so) to the nose.
Oh well, fixed now with the Pull-Pull.
Live and learn.
It's still a beauty!

Ken

atasse

Ken...your correct that weight diff doesn't seem to warrent such a tail heavy situation for you. Glad you were able to solve the problem with the pull pull. I may end up with the same issue and will be contacting you for more info on your set up! Cheers AT

Scooterpilot

My Feedback: (5)

Ken,


I haven't flown mine yet. I have the Syssa 30cc gas motor in it and I'm very tail heavy with the 9411's. I have a 6.6 volt, 2300, A123 battery. I had to place it in the engine box to balance at 6" & 3/8." I decided not to mount the battery there! I want the battery to have more separation from the electronic ignition module, so I'm going to have to do the pull/pull configuration too. Also, I want to be able to change the CG later and mounting it in the engine box leaves little room to move the weight forward/aft.

With that said, where did you move your RX mount? Where was you battery placement, how large is your battery? Lastly, where did you get the nylon control horns for the rudder? I looked online for the control horns and could not find them.

Any information is greatly appreciated.

After sleeping on this, I decided I'm going to move the motor out 1/4 " and see how that affects the balance before I relocate the rudder servo.

fritz1975

Hello,

I am new to this forum but been reading it for a while. I just got a FUNTANA 125 and I was wondering if the funtana with the o.s. 120ax would be a good combination.

Tanks
fritz

Ken Cz

Scooter-
My battery is a A123 2300mAh mounted to the side of the motor box.
I moved the RX mounting tray to a position just forward of the wing tube. Minor mods to the plate required - add small spacer to lower side.
I also moved my switch to the forward most position on the LH side. (1 switch for glow).
I replaced the 2 elevator control rods with CF version.
Pull- Pull cable is 19 strand 50lb test SS w/nylon coating beading wire. Bought it at the local Michaels Craft store or anywhere they sell beading supplies. May not be strong enough - we'll see - but very light and how much do you really need.
Sullivan sell a Kevlar cable for PP Rudder as an option.

The 2 control horns I used were from a Graupener AT-6 that sadly, no longer lives.....

Try Hangar 9 - I think they have similar horns like the ones that came with the Funtana. If not, dubro makes a pull - pull rudder kit that includes most everything although I think the bolt they use through the rudder is heavier than my set up.

Mine still had about 3 oz. of lead up front plus the Higby Brass prop nut (modifed to fit under spinner).

Good luck!
Ken

RealViking

My Feedback: (5)

Thanks Ken Cz,

I will do the same pull pull setup, And with the battery up under the cowl I think I will make her balance.

Ken Cz

RealViking,
Glad I could help. If you have any other questions just PM me and we can chat.
Ken

Scooterpilot

My Feedback: (5)

Ken,

Thanks for the input. It's greatly appreciated.

Last night I attempted to add spacers to the standoffs for the motor and move it further away from the fire wll. That won't work because of the cowl.

So tonight, I'll mock-up (using cardboard) the location for the pull/pull rudder servo and get everything ready so I can cut wood and glue Friday night.

I'll take pic's when everything is moved.

Regards
Chuck

BreakingPoint

My Feedback: (2)

Ken,

I'm a little late to this thread. However, I just completed my Fun 125 and I also am having trouble getting it to balance with the Saito 125.. I have my 2300 battery all the way against the fuel tank, as far forward as possible and it's still too tail heavy. I noticed that you added a lot of weight to your nose to get it balanced. Here is what I'm gonna do and maybe you could try it as well. I'm going to move to motor forward on the motor mount. I've had to do this on other planes and it works great and keep you from having to add all that weight. Generally if it's just a little out of balance, then I don't mind adding a little weight to help the balance, however when it's this far off, I think you're better off moving the motor.

Move the motor forward and take off all the added wight.