The Great Planes Slinger
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The Great Planes Slinger
I have one and love it! I put a link to a littlw flight report I put together. Also a good platform for aerial photography.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...hlight=slinger
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...hlight=slinger
#3
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RE: The Great Planes Slinger
Air1, I've been flying the Slinger for about 6 months and love it. I've been soring it off the peaks where I usually fly my 2m glider and its been so much fun taking advantage of good winds and electric motor when we get into trouble. As its so durable, had 3 spirals into the ground with no damage, I've been letting friends fly it that are not skilled. However something has happened with the CG and balance. I put on a FMA Co-Piolt which is a wounderful device for training and real gusty conditions, anyway I'm having this problem of stalling where the wing just points it nose strait down and spirals into the ground. I just can not recover it.
When you balanced your Slinger did you have the plane upside down at 8" and was the nose level or a bit down? The last flight my elevons had almost full up trim and it seemed to be dragging its rear end which it never did before I put the extra electronics in. My nose hangs down a bit and when I move the battery back the wing does these uncontrollable spirals straight down and I'm just having fits. It was never like this and I had the CG right at 8". I'm going to do a bit more adjustment to the balance and give it a go again tomorrow. This was the perfect plane that all you had to do was charge the batteries, grab it and go fly.
BTW: I used Velcro and epoxied the fluffy side to the wing and put the loop on the plastic fins. This lets me take them off to transport and they just stick right on when I get to the hill top. Cheers.
When you balanced your Slinger did you have the plane upside down at 8" and was the nose level or a bit down? The last flight my elevons had almost full up trim and it seemed to be dragging its rear end which it never did before I put the extra electronics in. My nose hangs down a bit and when I move the battery back the wing does these uncontrollable spirals straight down and I'm just having fits. It was never like this and I had the CG right at 8". I'm going to do a bit more adjustment to the balance and give it a go again tomorrow. This was the perfect plane that all you had to do was charge the batteries, grab it and go fly.
BTW: I used Velcro and epoxied the fluffy side to the wing and put the loop on the plastic fins. This lets me take them off to transport and they just stick right on when I get to the hill top. Cheers.
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uncontrollable spirals straight down
My sliger does the same thing, and so did my zagi. All you have to do is push in some down elevator, which gets the speed back up, then gently pull it out of the dive. If you will decrease your elevator throw it will be less likely to get into the spin in the first place. Of course, correcting the CG would be the first thing to do.
Later;
D.W.
Later;
D.W.
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RE: uncontrollable spirals straight down
Ahh yes, the famous Spiral Of Death(tm). It's the flying wing version of the Dreaded Tip Stall(tm).
Loading the wing up with too much equipment, having the CG too far back, and/or having too much elevator throw will contribute to how easily a wing will enter the Spiral Of Death(tm).
Loading the wing up with too much equipment, having the CG too far back, and/or having too much elevator throw will contribute to how easily a wing will enter the Spiral Of Death(tm).
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RE: uncontrollable spirals straight down
A very good name for it, Matt. When you know what it is and how to avoid/recover, it becomes a non issue. As a matter of fact I intentionally use the phenomenon to do snap rolls and spins. I just got in from a great evening of flying, and was doing spins with my Slinger. It drops pretty fast, and the most spins I got today was 22. When it's time to recover, I just release the elevator. Once in a while I have to use a little down to get the speed up but it will usually recover on it's own within a turn or two after releasing up elevator. I think everyone needs a Zagi or clone like the Slinger. They are great fun in all conditions. The wind was about 15 mph and directly across the runway when I arrived today, so I just pulled out the Slinger and had a ball. When the wind changed to more or less straight down the runway, I pulled out my other planes.
I tried a new battery pack today. It's made from two of the Thunder Power 2100 mah, 3 cell LiPo packs, which makes it a 3S2P 4200 mah. pack. It's a tight fit in the Slinger, but fits with a bit of prodding. It's about the same weight as the 1700 mah packs I have been using so there is no CG problem. The Slinger is stock except for a carbon prop and prop adapter. It uses a standard brushed 400 motor, and was almost ballistic with these cells. Huge loops, continuous rolling circles, climbing at about 35 to 45 degrees, cuban eights, you name it.
Gotta go! I have a pile of battery packs to recharge ;o)
Later;
D.W.
I tried a new battery pack today. It's made from two of the Thunder Power 2100 mah, 3 cell LiPo packs, which makes it a 3S2P 4200 mah. pack. It's a tight fit in the Slinger, but fits with a bit of prodding. It's about the same weight as the 1700 mah packs I have been using so there is no CG problem. The Slinger is stock except for a carbon prop and prop adapter. It uses a standard brushed 400 motor, and was almost ballistic with these cells. Huge loops, continuous rolling circles, climbing at about 35 to 45 degrees, cuban eights, you name it.
Gotta go! I have a pile of battery packs to recharge ;o)
Later;
D.W.
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RE: uncontrollable spirals straight down
Thinking of getting one of these as a second zagi replacment, the covering job looks great and so much better than the taped kind. How does it go with the brushless motor.
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RE: uncontrollable spirals straight down
I have one too An excellent model (?) Fly mine with the stock setup and an 8 cell KAN 1050 pack.
Best £45 I ever spent......
It is definitely recommended to watch the throws though.......especially elevator..
I've only managed to spin mine in once and that was enough.......damage ? limited to throwing off the canopy and ejecting the motor.
Shows how resilient these models are
Best £45 I ever spent......
It is definitely recommended to watch the throws though.......especially elevator..
I've only managed to spin mine in once and that was enough.......damage ? limited to throwing off the canopy and ejecting the motor.
Shows how resilient these models are
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RE: uncontrollable spirals straight down
Thanks guys, I went back and removed the large round pads from my GP C.G. Machine and used only the small round ball heads right on 8" from the nose and was able to rebalance the Slinger so its was level, no more noise down. I then went back and checked the throws and did have them over GP's recommended settings. So with the Elevator set at exactly 1/2" and Ailerons at 3/4" the Slinger is back to its old reliable self. Seems the extra weight from the FMA Co-Pilot made it more sensitive to excessive control surface throws. I was able to fly my usual slope with the wind blowing backwards. Felt really good to be able to crank it hard in the turns and not have it nose over and spiral down. Even with the added turbulence created by the reverse wind direction.
Next I'll now put on the Zagi carbon prop the then the brushless motor that should be here next week. I agree with the UK gentleman, this is the best $65 bucks I've ever spent at tower.
Next I'll now put on the Zagi carbon prop the then the brushless motor that should be here next week. I agree with the UK gentleman, this is the best $65 bucks I've ever spent at tower.
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RE: uncontrollable spirals straight down
when You say watch the throws you mention elevaor and airelons, I thought these use elevons. do you mean by mixing on the tranny you set the up and down to less that the left and right. I always set mine the same. perhaps I should change mine too.
I was thinking of getting a slinger, it just depends if my sanyo 2/3sub c 1200 packs will fit in
www.zagi.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
I was thinking of getting a slinger, it just depends if my sanyo 2/3sub c 1200 packs will fit in
www.zagi.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
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How does it go with the brushless motor
I can't comment about the brushless but can say that in a dive with the LiPo pack, the tip plates flutter badly on mine. If you are trying to increase the speed very much, you will probably have to make some from stiffer material.
My favorite feature of the Slinger is it's ease of construction. I'm a slow builder and it took me a little over 3 hours from box to air! That included routing out a hole in one wing for the receiver..
Later;
D.W.
My favorite feature of the Slinger is it's ease of construction. I'm a slow builder and it took me a little over 3 hours from box to air! That included routing out a hole in one wing for the receiver..
Later;
D.W.
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RE: How does it go with the brushless motor
well, I fly the ele-bee called the x-ite in the UK I payed 34 uk pounds and that included everything, no gluing the LE on and 100% moulded epp makes it stronger than the zagi. I upgraded to a mega brushless and the sanyo packs but even stock it flew great.
The wing halves come taped together no glue required, just mix some 5 min epoxy in the slot for the carbon rod (included) stuff the rod in and it's as strong as anything. The kit came with everything you need invluding the fibre strapping tape, and 2 rolls of covering tape. I have flown mine 100's of times and the wing as taken so much abuse. Just recovered in heat shrink film and looks like new again
for pics look here
http://www.zagi.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/rebuild.html
The wing halves come taped together no glue required, just mix some 5 min epoxy in the slot for the carbon rod (included) stuff the rod in and it's as strong as anything. The kit came with everything you need invluding the fibre strapping tape, and 2 rolls of covering tape. I have flown mine 100's of times and the wing as taken so much abuse. Just recovered in heat shrink film and looks like new again
for pics look here
http://www.zagi.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/rebuild.html
#13
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RE: How does it go with the brushless motor
Hi Rick, That's a fantastic job on the website. I believe this is the wing made here in Hong Kong where I live and work, well probably made in China by an HK company, regardless I bought the entire kit for a friends birthday as he just lost his really nice 2m Graupner off the peak at Ma On Shan. I/we were so bummed this happened and so impressed with the Slinger I went out and got him the kit and gave him a Hitech AM 3ch radio with mixing I had laying around. I've sent him your link and will now push him to get this thing built! Its impressive what 35 to 40 pounds will get you these days. Best of all it don't break !!
Regarding Elevator/Ailerons or Elevons, yes you are correct in terminology however you still must check your total control throw in both Elevator control and Aileron control. I use a neat little device from Great Planes GPMR2405 "AccuThrow" and its cheap. I believe any computer radio can limit the total travel of each type of control action. Unfortunately if you don't have a computer radio I'm not sure you can. I gave my only non-computer Hitech radio to my friend so I don't have it handy to check. It will do the Elevon mixing, but not sure about limited throws in this mode. I was a bit mixed up at first on my Futaba computer radio and first tried to do this on Ch1 for Elevator (ATV setting menu) and only the servo connected to Channel 1 would respond. I then discovered I had to limit the total throws in the Elevon menu. So do this for Ch1 and Ch2 on Mode 2 radios. I think UK is like Japan/Hong Kong in that there Mode 1 with the throttle on the Right side. Anyway it made a big difference in the way the wing handled.
Yes I've had the flutter on the Wing Tip panels too now that I use Velcro. I have some 1/16" ply I will make some new ones out of. Oh and make sure you have these on the wing when you balance it. I just went to recheck my balance and could not understand why it was so far off. Daaa I had removed the Wing Tips to carry the wing down the slope. Yes this is my first wing and I was more or less anti-wing until I tried it. When I'm back home in California I want to get one of the 60" wings from CombatWings. I think this would be killer off one of the peaks here in Hong Kong. There so steep we get fantastic lift when the wind is coming right of the ocean and a 60" glider wing would sure be impressive not to mention I don't have to worry about breaking it. Cheers.
Regarding Elevator/Ailerons or Elevons, yes you are correct in terminology however you still must check your total control throw in both Elevator control and Aileron control. I use a neat little device from Great Planes GPMR2405 "AccuThrow" and its cheap. I believe any computer radio can limit the total travel of each type of control action. Unfortunately if you don't have a computer radio I'm not sure you can. I gave my only non-computer Hitech radio to my friend so I don't have it handy to check. It will do the Elevon mixing, but not sure about limited throws in this mode. I was a bit mixed up at first on my Futaba computer radio and first tried to do this on Ch1 for Elevator (ATV setting menu) and only the servo connected to Channel 1 would respond. I then discovered I had to limit the total throws in the Elevon menu. So do this for Ch1 and Ch2 on Mode 2 radios. I think UK is like Japan/Hong Kong in that there Mode 1 with the throttle on the Right side. Anyway it made a big difference in the way the wing handled.
Yes I've had the flutter on the Wing Tip panels too now that I use Velcro. I have some 1/16" ply I will make some new ones out of. Oh and make sure you have these on the wing when you balance it. I just went to recheck my balance and could not understand why it was so far off. Daaa I had removed the Wing Tips to carry the wing down the slope. Yes this is my first wing and I was more or less anti-wing until I tried it. When I'm back home in California I want to get one of the 60" wings from CombatWings. I think this would be killer off one of the peaks here in Hong Kong. There so steep we get fantastic lift when the wind is coming right of the ocean and a 60" glider wing would sure be impressive not to mention I don't have to worry about breaking it. Cheers.
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RE: How does it go with the brushless motor
ah great memories I have from Hong Kong, I spent many months working in Kowloon watching the planes landing and taking off, real shame they moved the airport, wish I had an RC wing then. I can imagin the awsome lift you get from them slopes. Like you I have tried fixed wing and allthough fun I just keep coming back to the wings. Maybe they just give more fun and give you more guts to try things. I am scared to death of crashing my balsa piper cub with a 150 quid brushless on the front.
Regards and glad you enjoyed the site.
Rick
Regards and glad you enjoyed the site.
Rick