eclipso

I still have mine but it is still in the rebuild and lightening phase.

DGrant

My Feedback: (4)

Very good guys!!! I actually acquired another one a few years back. It was basically a rescue, as the plane had not been flown, was nowhere near ready, and has major problems in the build...but I took it and wrapped it in plastic and stowed it away, until I figure out what I'm going to do. It needs as much work as building a whole new plane.. but .. a new plane can go for alot of money.. and this one is here, and totally saveable.. so.. see the dilemma... haha.. I always say though.. you can't have too many Extras..

ddewey

Mine is still in the "bones" awaiting time to finish it. Expect it to move up the list of "to do" later this year. DLE 50 installed.

dghmiel

My Feedback: (1)

Chrismedicatrix:

First, thank you for posting the Extra plans and build manual; a true lifesaver!

When going through the build per the pdf, I realized that Page 14 seems to be missing. Is there anyone with this page that I might get?

It would certainly help, though it could probably be figured out without the page, just much harder.

Dave

Crismedicatrix

Hi Dave !
Sorry but that's all i' ve got !!!!! And it took quite a while to be able to find these ! A fellow builder on the thread sent them to me.

I still have my 2 midwest extras. One is very nice, 300xs and is going to receive an new OS 55gt ( by the way guys, what a beautiful engine this is, perfect fit to one outstanding plane like this extra) well and the other is a workhorse, tough machine, fell down with a dl50 but rebuilt it and it looks sharp again.

Wish i had more time for the hobby as when i started nearly 20 years ago!

Happy flying all
Cris

dghmiel

My Feedback: (1)

Cris,

No problem and thanks again for your effort in putting the PDFs on this thread! They helped immensely.

I'm sure I can figure out how it all goes together. It does go together quickly and nicely, doesn't it?

I'm still deciding on the size of engine to use since I most likely won't be 3Ding it. I'll save that for my foamies.
At least for now...

Regards,
Dave

lgaines85

Is there anyone out there still building and/or flying the Midwest Extra 300. I've skimmed though the threads and see that they are a few years old so I'm gonna reach out there and see if anyone is still reading this thread. I've actually started building my Extra and will be putting a DLE 55 in it. I'll post a few pictures next as I've already built a lot of the plane. Still trying to figure out if I'm going to use a 3 or 4 blade prop. Any suggestions on this one?

lgaines85

This is the rudder and elevator I completed a few moths ago. These actually took a little longer to complete than I anticipated.

lgaines85

Here's the fuselage, I must say it's a lot larger than I thought it was going to be, here's me 10 and 6yr old daughter with the fuselage. After installing the Smart Fly, batteries and the engine it actually doesn't weigh much. I'll get the weights later and post it. The inside of the fuse has a lot of room to position everything I'm using. For the tail wheel, I'm using a carbon fiber set up, going to modify the assembly tho. Hopefully the pictures come out clear.

lgaines85

Another picture of the fuse and tail wheel.

lgaines85

Here are the wings that I've started about a week ago. As large as they are they go together quite well and in no time. Most of the sheeting is done and I'm already cutting out the ailerons. I'll get some pictures and post them for everyone. I'm open to any ideas from anyone regarding this kit.

computermonkey

My Feedback: (90)

Still flying mine. I have a Fox 3.2 for an engine turning a APC 21x10w.

Cyberwolf

My Feedback: (4)

Notice my avatar, I flew that plane for many years up until 2 yrs ago when a mishap on landing cost me the wing, I have since looked and looked for a replacement kit or wing with no luck. The plane is not a 3-d bird but will fly IMAC with the best of them, A flying buddy called it my honest airplane because it was so precise and smooth. I started out with a G-62 but changed it to a DL-50 and if memory serves me right the AUW was just about 13 lbs. There is only one drawback to the plane and that is the one piece wing, if I was to ever make another it would be set up and made for a 2 piece wing for ease of transport, other than than I never found anything on the plane to complain about. Except they no longer make it LOL. Keep it light and fly it like you stole it.

computermonkey

My Feedback: (90)

Call Midwest, they was still selling the Cap21 which used the same wing.

MTK

I built one of these about 20 years ago. It was a pachyderm weighing a wopping 17# built stock with the recommended MOKI180. If I could re do it, I would remove a few pounds of completely unecessary wood and forget about the 3/32 balsa sheeting. 1/16" contest grade is plenty. All that lite ply of the fuse needs a diet, big time. Forget about the triple layered lite ply firewall. I use 1/4" carbon laminated cross grained balsa for my firewalls. Works great and is super lite for up to a 60cc engine

I wouldn't use the DLE 55, just too heavy up front. The DLE 35 on a pipe is plenty of power. Better yet the OS33 is even stronger than the DLE and you would shave 12 ounces up front

Good luck and BTW if built stock per McConville's instructions, it flies like a brick and lands worse

jester_s1

I fly one. I didn't build it, so I can't say how much weight was saved in construction. It doesn't fly as lightly as some of the newer planes do, but it's not a lead sled either. Mine has a Zenoah 45 with a 20x10 MAS prop. It's appropriately powered for IMAC, but not enough for more than the mildest 3D flying. I plan to recover it next winter and will put it on a diet when I do.

DGrant

My Feedback: (4)

I still have mine. I haven't flown it in quite a few years now... but its still in excellent shape... These are excellent planes... matter of fact, I just remembered, I have another one that I picked up a few years back, thats in my garage rafters... Its a rescue project that I acquired... I just plastic wrapped it for time being.. but someday it could be a worthy plane.

Igains... When you install the aileron servo plates... you might want to add a gusset somewhere in there... I did, as I thought that smallish plate needed a bit more triangulation... and you're doing a great job with that plane I might add.. they are quite the builders kits... not at all hard... theres just alot of it. Can't wait to see some finish pics.

lgaines85

Thanks DGrant. As a matter of fact when I was installing the aileron plates I saw they were a little flimsy. I added some triangle stock around the plate and rib. No kidding about this kit having a lot of it. I didn't realize at first how much there was until I got into it. I must say everything goes together extremely well. I don't see how this plane can be a brick or how anyone got it to that state. So far the fuse is light given all the items I installed and the wing halves are no where close to weighing what the fuse is. I'll weigh it all tomorrow after work tonight and post it the weights. I know I said I'd do it sooner but I had a school function tonight with my daughter.

MTK, I agree the sheeting on the wing is a tad thicker than it needs to be. The only reason I'm using the 55 is because my 35cc is in another plane. Either way the motor will be sufficient and I don't think it'll make that much of a difference in weight....so far. The one down side to the kit is that it didn't come with a cowling, oh well tho at least I can order one at a reasonable cost.

I'm glad to see people are still on this thread.

computermonkey

My Feedback: (90)

Mine weighs in at 16.5 lbs with the Fox 3.2. Great landing plane, just don't' over elevate it, snaps on a dime.

DGrant

My Feedback: (4)

Mine weighs in at 15lbs with a BME50. I subbed the hardwood spars for balsa and laminated c/f. The wing ended up very light... and stiff.. ha. and yes.. great landing planes... just keep a tad of air flowing under the wing and she'll settle with the best of them.

Mine has the flat-stabs(first generation kit). I subbed the steel pull-pull rudder set-up for coated kevlar cable/line, as well as used same coated kevlar on the flying wires.. the flying wires are a must in my mind for the flat-stab versions... whereas the "foiled stab" versions have alot more inherent triangulation built in.. and probably don't need the flying wires...

Excellent flying planes though, and I will fly mine again. I'm contemplating a modernization to get it current with todays battery/radio technology.. it is equipped with PCM equipment, which when it was built was top of the line stuff... ha.. my how times change... I'd still fly with it.... I think.. I'm just not sure I have the confidence in it that I had in 2002.

Its still one of the best kits I've ever built... really a nice package... and will stand the test of time. I built mine in '02 and it was my first real giant(I'd built many smaller kits).... and it was a stepping stone to what I consider the wholy grail of Extra kits the GreatPlanes Extra330... and although I haven't built the 330 yet... I now have the kit, engine, covering, and most of the components to start it... but it was the Midwest Extra that gave me the confidence and experience to tackle bigger planes... now if I can just get this thing they call "work" out of the way for good, I'll get to it.

lgaines85

Well just weighed the fuse with the motor, batteries, landing gear and all the other little stuff, came out weighing 9 1/2lbs. Must say that not bad at all considering all the extra stuff I added.

DGrant

My Feedback: (4)

Very cool... the wing/servos are the lightest part of the whole plane(in complete form, as shipped to the flying field)... so you're definately in running for a nice light plane... and the 55cc engine I'm sure is lighter then the BME I used.. again funny how times change, at the time of my building, the BME was one of the lightest 50cc engines around... albeit the BME is a reed-valve induction, beam mount engine... it beat out any Zenoah, Brison, Quadra, and a few others... that 55 you have I'm thinking is a rotary valve induction, without the bulky beam mounts, ... and probably has alot less "fat" then the BME. .. I think your engine, and what you have so far will definately put you in the 15lb or less range... which in my experience will make your Extra a big kitty cat.

jester_s1

I have a decent chunk of lead in the nose of mine, so there's no reason to go with less than a 50cc engine IMO. My Zenoah 45 has CDI ignition, which makes it lighter than the engines the plane was designed for.

MTK

Must have re-bended that gear at least a half dozen times. It would just fall out of the air at that weight. Having flown so may 2 meter planes that weighed 10 pounds or so, this 17 pounder was just a turkey on landing. Had to keep too much speed on.

On the other hand, had I known, I could have easily shaved 3-4 pounds off it during the build.

The DLE55 is a pretty decent engine putting out lots of useful power especially when piped. I had mine installed in a 78" EF extra which was a very light airframe of around 12 pounds. Now that combo rocked. Flew very light on its feathers which is my preference.

Cyberwolf

My Feedback: (4)

My Plane even with the lightened G-62 didn't land bad, it was typical Extra in the way it handled, don't over throw the elevator or it will snap and right now, but rudder only KE flight either was was easy to do. (Lomcevots) (SP) Snap rolls aileron rolls, barrel rolls ,loops inside and out, the plane just flew well, granted when I changed engines and dropped off even more weight it flew that much better. But the plane with ther G-62 was around 151/2- 16 lbs. I will fix it one day,if I can get a wing kit or the plans for one.