jetmech43

My Feedback: (9)

I think you may be to far forward, but you can tweak it from there

big_G

I am at 9.25 to 9.5, and on a 45 degree inverted upline, it gently falls to the canopy. Rolls are sweet, and no hunting or wandering tendencies.

Zippi

My Feedback: (10)

Had to take a break and cut grass for the first time this year. Gotta keep my better half happy. Wing and stab incidence is set, CG is ok for the maiden, ESC programmed thanks to Mike, and test ran the motor. The Canalizer is off quite a bit so I'll have to do something with that but other than that Just a few more things to tweak and it's good to go.

mups53

My Feedback: (41)

Bob the T-cans are all off by a little bit. They require a small shim on the right side. It's a 5 minute fix. BTW we have other models from different manufacturers that suffer the same flaw.
It's not a big deal and proves that nothing is perfect about what we sell.
We strive for excellence and affordability. It we ever get it 100% right it'll be a miracle.
Good luck with the plane and I look forward to seeing you with Larry this summer.
Mike Mueller

Zippi

My Feedback: (10)

Mike,

Thanks for the info on the T-Can. Mine seems to be ok in the direction you speak. Mine is twisted. If you stood over the plane and looked straight down the T-Can is twisted clockwise. But, as you said, no big deal and it's a simple fix. I had the weigh-in today and all looks good. The only thing that is over weight is the rudder servo (Hitec 7955TG) only because I had it and the Glacier 5300 35C Lipos. I use Glacier batteries on everything. Just never had an issue with them. I do seem to have an issue I have not dug into yet. The mains and tailwheel spin freely but when the plane is put on the ground there is a lot of drag as if the brakes are on. The plane does have a lot of toe-in so I'm not sure if combined with the foam wheels if this is the issue are not. This much toe-in, is it by design?

kdunlap

My Feedback: (12)

There is toe-in on my V1, but I would guess that it is about 1 degree or less. The screw holes on the gear plate line up straight, as do the holes in the gear. So, I am guessing that the toe-in comes from the CF gear mold. Just a guess, but it rolls fine.

Zippi

My Feedback: (10)

Thanks for the info kdunlap. I have one more question before the maiden. My T-Can was at about -1. I added three small washers per side and now it's at about +0.2. My question is, there is a gap under the T-can. I don't have any experience with T-Cans to know if the gap will affect the flight characteristics or not.

kdunlap

My Feedback: (12)

It looks like ours are the same. I used the wing saddle tape to close the gap. The black that you see between the fuse and Tcan is the foam tape.

Zippi

My Feedback: (10)

Thanks for the info. Haven't used wing saddle tape since I was building planes back in the day so looks like a trip to the Hobby Shop.

Zippi

My Feedback: (10)

Still waiting to maiden my Caelus. I have never seen weather so bad for so long.

mups53

My Feedback: (41)

I set my CG at 1/2 inch behind the back of the wing tube. I like an aft CG where it takes very little elevator to hold it inverted. I find it rolls better this way. Rudder in normal cruising speed is so effective you'll have to dial it down to very little. Then you'll need some type of ability to have more rudder for Stall turns be it a stick switch or a dual rate switch.
Here's a cool picture from the manufacturer.
We just placed our 3rd large order for more Caelus'. I've had a lot of fun selling these planes and a lot of satisfaction because it's getting new people into the sport.
Thanks as always for your support.
Mike Mueller

Zippi

My Feedback: (10)

Well......I was hoping to get the maiden flight in on my Caelus today but as luck would have it I never got to get one flight in. During the range check I found the right aileron was not working. I thought I had forgot to plug it in but not the case. A friend of mine (Larry Diamond) let me fly his Monolog that has the same setup as my Caelus. Sweet flying plane. I also got a couple flights in on my 50cc Slick 540 running on 12S. When I got home I checked into my aileron issue on the Caelus and found out it was not the servo but the brand new 9" servo extension. The day was not a total loss but I was disappointed that I didn't get to fly my Caelus.

cactusblues

Nearing completion of my Caelus V2. Won't have an all up flying weight until later this week when the new HK Graphene batteries arrive. All else feels pretty light. Installed a Motrolfly 5320 motor with Mike's optional rear firewall mount. This motor with a 20x10 prop generates 25 lb of thrust and 2700 watts so it should be more than sufficient, on an 8S battery config. I'll report on this after the maiden.

Did have a few "undocumented features" to deal with during the build process. Stab tubes too long to allow the stab to seat snugly against the fuselage. One gear leg had a toe-out twist, the other a toe-in twist. One aileron had a 3/32" twist in it from end to end. Only received 2 nylon wing bolts in the hardware pack, versus the 4 called for in the build manual (and learned after a trip to the hobby shop for some Secraft wing bolts that the wing bolt sockets are actually 1/4x20 threaded, versus the 6mm listed in the manual). Finally, the T-can listed to starboard like many have stated. Apparently the gear leg problem is a known issue with this model, and Mike gave me a solution to correct. Placed the gear in my oven at 250 degrees for 15 minutes, then use pliers to "untwist" the gear. Not perfect, but significantly better than supplied. Hate to shell out the $91 for a new set of PT gear, so I fly with these for awhile and see how long the foam tires last on our asphalt runway.

Did install the new Jeti DSM redundant power switch running one side off my ESC set to 7.4v and the other off of a Castle BEC using a 2S lipo also set to 7.4v. Nice clean arrangement with an electronic external switch activated by a magnet, and the whole configuration including a 2S 1000mAh lipo and the Castle BEC only weighs a total of 96g. Not enthused about packing the extra weight, but that is cheap insurance.

cactusblues

Finished and weighed the model today. 4612g all up and ready to fly with my 8S 5000mAh flight packs in place. That's about 60g lighter than my MythoS 125e with the same power section and flight batteries. I was hoping to finish at around 4100g, but missed that mark. Still, I'm confident the Motrolfly 5320 motor on 8S and a 20x10 prop will give me more than enough thrust to easily compete on the Intermediate sequence. Nice model overall, especially given the purchase price.

ironman597

My Feedback: (10)

Caelus toe in toe out of carbon fiber landing gear. My gear was toe in on left gear looking from rear of plane. Toe in was substantial. Here is a good permanent fix and took me 10 minutes. I took off gear and used my toaster oven set for 300 degrees. I left the top part of gear hanging out. Only heat 2 minutes then check. It took 3 minutes total to heat gear above 200 degrees which softens the carbon fiber epoxy. Using my welding gloves as the gear are now 200 degrees I removed the gear and held in the straighten position till it cooled so I could hold in bare hand. Approx 5 minutes to cool. Do not hit with cold water but rather let epoxy cool down. My gear are perfectly straight. I was able to do this as I have extensive knowledge and experience working with carbon fiber propellers. All up weight with Power Unlimited 5100 packs 4990. With Power Unlimted 5400 packs which are 100 grams lighter 4890 grams. Looks like I will be upgrading to 5400 when my 5100 die.

jetmech43

My Feedback: (9)

I believe you will find 8s wont be enough

Zippi

My Feedback: (10)

Went out early this morning for the maiden flight. It was 53°, very over case, and the worst conditions I could ask for. I got 4 flights in but had to really keep the Caelus in close as I was having a very hard time seeing the plane in the sky because of the conditions. I ended up moving the battery's even with the back of the battery tray. On a 45° up line it holds and then fades off. Level flight it seem nose heavy. All I did today was just fly around to get use to the plane and get the CG closer. It's a different concept for me since I'm use to banging the sticks. Still have some work to do. I did get a video but not much to see from my flying. When your not use to flying a straight line it's hard. I guess that's why they call it Pattern.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOeS...ature=youtu.be

big_G

Good job, Zippy. How did you like the prop and how was the current consumption?

Zippi

My Feedback: (10)

I think the prop did very well. I flew for 6 mins and had 53 percent left in the packs. 7 mins should be fine. The ESC, motor, & batteries were just slightly warm after 6 mins.

ironman597

My Feedback: (10)

I built a Caelus last year for someone else but never flew it. I had a BJ Craft Prolog. After my son Brandon was at the Milwaukee contest last year and had an issue with his Proteus and Contra drive he had an opportunity to fly Mike's Caelus. When he came home he said sell the Prolog and get the Caelus. So this year I sold the Prolog and built my Caelus. I maidened my Caelus today, Batteries 5100 Power Unlimited, Castle HV80 esc, himax 63 motor, JR servos, Airtronics SD10 radio. - Batteries about 1/2" behind battery tray.

Well let me tell you this plane is awesome. I am not a very good flyer and my rolls are bad, always practice to improve, but this plane made my rolls look good while breathing on the rudder. I will definitely improve and move up from the bottom at the NATS in intermediate. My brother in law was flying his prolog and tried my Caelus and is now ordering a Caelus.

Best plane I have flown yet.

Mike - Thanks for the help and setpoints along with CG point. I would have been way off on CG.

cactusblues

After completing several flights, and several flights by a buddy that flies in the F3A class, the 8S power config is plenty for this model. Again, the Motrolfly 5320 motor swinging a 20x10 prop is probably more powerful than a "typical" 8S power plant. It is certainly much more powerful than my Hacker A60-7XS, the only 8S motor I personally could compare it to.

Zippi

My Feedback: (10)

Nice to see another Caelus in the air.

big_G

My Caelus squeaked out a first place win in Intermediate at this weekends D-6 pattern contest. It is proving itself to be a low cost ship capable of competing with more expensive birds. Hat tip to Mike M. for his wishing me good luck. I needed it!

mgosson

My Feedback: (8)

I"m so close to dropping the cabbage to purchase the Caelus my wallet is hot.
Maybe one of you fellows could help me with a simple request. I"m trying to determine of this will fit in my vehicle. At 74" long I can fit the nose between the two front seat but the height of the tail with a tailwheel might be an problem. I measured the height as my vehicle is a hatchback type.

Does anyone know the overall height including the tailwheel to the top of the rudder and width of the rudder you could share with me?

Thanks

big_G

19 inches tall and 6 inches wide.