Francis Fernand

I did receive two days ago my SIG Extra 300 XS with O.S. 1.60 FX 2 cycle engine on it, fully assembled.

I have read a lot of threads here un RCU and didn't heard about athis plane to be so tail heavy with this type of engine.

The engine's weight with muffler is 2.5 Lb. . When I place the whole plane onto the C.G. Machine to check the balance I found that for reach the 27% recommended balance I should place 15 ounces, yes 60 units of 1/4 oz. lead weights.

The problem was then when I flew it for first time today, I found the plane was tail heavy yet when flying.

I don't know if I'm gonna reach 1.25 or 1.5 Lb. to compensate the balance.

Please tell me your comments.

Francis Fernández

Vince

My Feedback: (1)

This is the problem with this plane, use a lightweight glow engine, then add 2lbs of lead to balance. You could move the servos out of the tail if you don't want to add the nose weight, or you could install a 2.4cid gas engine and add no nose weight. My Extra 300XS came out at 14lbs with a Fox 2.4, and balances perfectly with no additional nose weight.

Vince

Steve

My Feedback: (54)

The perfect engine for this plane is the BME 50. Lots of power and balances good.

Vince

My Feedback: (1)

That would be an awesome combination indeed.

Vince

Francis Fernand

Thanks for your advice.

OSilfa

My Feedback: (2)

FPE 2.4

todavia esta disponible!!!!

Traxxas_Tech

My Feedback: (22)

Your plane is tail heavy because you are using too light of an engine. I'll bet your vertical uplines could be better also. If you add a pound of lead to balance your plane, your verticals are gonna be even worse. You may not even have unlimited vertical at that point.

I flew mine with a Brison 2.4. On this plane, you cant beat a gasser combo. If you want best performance, and want to REALLY enjoy this plane, keep your eye out for a good 2.4 Fox/Brison, or BME 44/50 engine to go on sale somewhere.

The Sig 300XS is an amazing aerobat! You'll love it!

Francis Fernand

Thanks for all your answers.

I just took the choice of buying a O.S. 1.60 FX, because Dick Hanson and some other guys says that for this plane and any of this category with a wing area below 1200 sq. in. it is recommended a light engine not a gas engine.

At this time I just want to know why they recommend this, if anyway you need to put a lot of weight on the nose, just equaling the gas engine weight for this plane.

F.F.

Traxxas_Tech

My Feedback: (22)

If they have never flown this plane, then engine recommendations only sound good on paper. Some planes dont always work according to the manual. This plane was designed around a Irvine two stroke, it shouldnt be sooo tailheavy unless you installed servos or batteries in bad spots, or put heavy pushrods in the tail...

You might can get away with keeping your 160 up front by moving your engine forward on the mount as far as it will go, or moving your batteries, receiver etc. up front as far as you can. Heck, even adding another battery and switch for redundncy will add some weight up front... A slightly tailheavy plane is not a terrible thing.
It sounds like you've flown it already without major problems like losing control of the plane, so it sounds to me like it cant be that bad. I always move my CG back further than what the manual says, its just the way I fly.

If its flyable as it sits right now, put your batteries in the nose, fly it, and see if you like it.. Just move stuff around, or add weight untill you like the way it flies.

Good luck

crazyray

Francis,
I also have a Sig 300SX w/ OS 160. I only needed 5oz to balance the plane per instructions. The battery (1100mAh) and 3 oz of lead were placed on the fuel tank cover. The other 2oz of lead was placed on the motor mount. If I would have used a Tru Turn spinner I could remove some of the lead since it would be heaver than the stock one. My plane flys great with this setup.

Crazyray

DUCATI996

crazyray:

Were is the CG on your Extra (i.e. 27%,26%,...) ?

Regards,

GL

Francis Fernand

Cuanto vale el motor FPE 2.4 ?.

crazyray

DUCATI996,
It's at 27% now but I'm going to try 29% as soon as it gets warmer along with an 18-8 prop.

crazyray

DUCATI996

29% ! Let us know how it flies at 29%. Any Flat Spins at 27%? If Yes, what throws do you have on all surfaces?

Regards,

GL

crazyray

The plane would not flat spin, waterfall or harrier with the CG at 27% The throws were at the rec. settings but I'm going for more on all surfaces. I hope it will 3D after the changes.......If not I have a PW Extra and H9 27% Cap NIB for this coming season,

bdtsr

My Feedback: (5)

If you want to stick with glow power try a SuperTigre 2500, 3000, or 3250 with a Perry carb. I have the ST 2000 (1.20 same case as the 2500) in my Extra 300 and it balances on the money. The ST 2500 and Perry carb will swing a Mezlik 18X8 around 8900rpm. I have this combo in my Sig Cap 231EX and have to keep putting things back on that seem to keep coming off! The ST's are cheap on e-bay and can also be found here on RCU. If you want gas, then the posts above should provide you with plenty of info.

DUCATI996

crazyray/all:

What can You tell about the incidence between wing and stab? Is a 1 to 1.5 degrees acceptable for this plane or should I take apart and fix the difference ?

Regards,

GL

crazyray

My incidence diff was 1.0 degree and it flys great.

Red7fifty

My Feedback: (73)

My stab incidence was 2 degrees out of the box. I put it at zero before I flew it, it flew level with no trim correction on its first flight out.

athos341

My Feedback: (33)

The planes airfrme doe snot handle gas well nor will it stand up to the vibration. I fly mine with a Moki 2.10 and they are perfect together. Plenty of power for 3d or throttle back and run the IMAC series. You'll be happy. And no extra weight.

Lean540

Mine need the full 16oz treatment as well, I thought I had lost my mind.
I checked, double checked, rechecked and yup, the manual says thats the size engine to use.
My Saito 180 is about 3/4 of an inch further than recommended and also have put to battery on top of the gas tank access hatch.
This helps quite a bit.
Lean540

flyinglow

My Feedback: (2)

Mine was tail heavy also with the Saito 1.80. 16 oz. of weight. Unfortunately I crashed it. I thought the plane flew great, if I do another one I will take the servos out of the tail and move them forward.

Red7fifty

My Feedback: (73)

Saitos are great engines, but as with all things, sometimes too light has drawbacks. My Extra has a gas 2.4 FPE, weighs more than a Saito, but mine airplane balanced with no added lead.

WalkerBoh-RCU

My Feedback: (3)

I've had 2 of these planes. The first was powered by a Saito 1.80. Great combo swinging an 18x6 mez. prop. My balanced by putting a 4 sub-c cell 1500 mah pack on the tank cover and still had to add a few oz of lead, still flew great. I lost it last spring and liked it so much that I bought another one. This time, tho, I bought an FPE 2.4 for it. No lead needed, flies GREAT.....does the most amazing tumbles.....but I had to add a rather large muffler to get the noise to our club specs so it's performance is not what it used to be.

-Aaron