Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

:eek:. I just ordered a Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF. I welcome any suggestions for selecting one of the five options or othes of electric power for this size Flivver.
Wing 54"
Weight 78.5 oz
Wing area 648 sqin
.40 Twostroke
.52-.56 Fourstroke

Option 1: Dymond's recommendations for 3 flights 8 minutes each or one long flight approx 25 min: $314.50
Motor Gunther 30/3 500 Watts 225g 1350 KUV 11x5.5 prop 58 oz thrust 3 cell Lipos. 5 mm shaft. $79
Speed controller 60 A $69
5 mm clamp on propeller adapter with 40 mm aluminum spinner
Aluminum motor mount with cooling fins
Propeller 11 x 5.5
Battery 3S2P 7000 mah $130
Ultimate BEC which can be wired in parallel with the speed controller $19

Option 2: Hacker set up to acheive approximately 15 min run time:
A50-S w/Hacker X-70 Opto Pro ESC $249.99
Connectors soldered to ESC
BEC wired to ESC
A50 Mount is $19.99
Prop: APCE 13X10
Thunder Power Xtreme packs equivalent to 5S2P 6800mah pack
Connectors soldered to LiPo

Option 3: Found this one at my LHS and also using MotoCalc s/w:
E-Flite Power 32 Outrunner $90
Castle Creations Phoenix 60 includes BEC $120
Kokam 2100SHD 3S4P for 2100 x 4 = 8000 mAh total
Prop: 13x9

Option 4: A post here at WattFlyer led me to United Hobbies $150 total!
HXTBSC60 - hexTronik BSC 60A Speed Controller
HXT5052 - HXT 50-52B 480kv 55A Brushless Outrunner
HXT22003S - hexTronik 2200mAh 4S1P 20-30C
HXTVR2A hexTronik Voltage regulator 2A Continuous

Option 5: Cermark Special OutRunner Motor Hover Package for up to 7 lb Sport
Code: HP-42C Price: $189.95
Cermark 4230-520 Brushless outrunner Motor, 520KV. Able to handle from 3 to 7 lbs airplane with electric size 12x7 to 16x10 APC propeller fro Li-Po 3 TO 5 Cell pack (11.1V to 18.5V). Size: 60.5mmL x 42.5mmD, Weight:280 grams, 5.0mm Dia. motor shaft.
CERMARK ESC-70BL, 70amps Speed Controller.
One propeller adaptor
APC 15x8E Electric version Propeller.
Recommend power pack: Thunder Power Lithium Polymer Pack, TP-LiPo 6000-3S3P, 11.1V, 6000mAH Capacity Power Pack.

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

I have the same plane, that's been new-in-box for a few years now,
and I'm glad I never went to glow with it, because it will make a great electric model.
I believe I'm going with AXI motors and Jeti controllers for reliability and ease of operation.

http://www.hobby-lobby.com/glow2econ.htm
Several conversions they have done.

http://www.hobby-lobby.com/taxicup.htm
to convert the Flivver, I like this for an example - airplane TaxiCup 6 lbs
AXI 2826/12 External Rotor Brushless Motor ..... $ 93.80
Jeti Advance PLUS 40 Amp Opto Brushless Controller with Program Card ..... $ 102.90
Thunder Power 3S2P 4200 mAh 11.1V Li-Poly Pack ..... $ 159.90

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

I guessed that the first reply back would be on an Model Motors AXI Option #6:
PM282612 AXI 2826/12 External Rotor Brushless Motor ..... $ 93.80
JESAP40PW Jeti Advance PLUS 40 Amp Opto Brushless Controller with
Program Card ..... $ 102.90
PM282002 Radial Mount for 2820/2826 Motors ..... $ 14.50
TP420032 3S2P 4200 mAh 11.1V Li-Poly Pack ..... $ 159.90
PE13010E APC 13x10 Electric Flight Prop ..... $ 5.20

http://www.modelmotors.cz/index.php?...e=12&line=GOLD

While the TaxiCub high wing 63" wingspan, 47-1/2" long, 597 sq. in. wing area, 96 oz. is one pound heavier that the Flivver low wing 54" wingspan, weight 78.5 oz., this is a reasonable match up.

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

I fly mine with a hacker a30-12xl swinging a 13x6.5 e prop, hacker x-40 esc., tp 4s2p 2100,s. Flies awesome.......

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

I like the price much better with your choice - namely A30-12XL w/Hacker X-40 ESC $149.99
>A30-12XL 770 6.3oz 3 LiPo 25A 37A APC-E 13x8 to 14x7 400 Watts

This is also consistent with Option 1 30/3 Gunther recommended by Dymond and Option 3 E-lite 32 that Motocalc gave me.

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

How about trying to get some replies here by providing me your ranking of these options?

Here are my current choices:
#1 Option 1: Dymond's recommendations for 3 flights 8 minutes each or one long flight approx 25 min:
#2 Option 5: Cermark Special OutRunner Motor Hover Package for up to 7 lb Sport
#3 Option 2: Hacker set up - Change this to A30
#4 Option 3: E-Flite Power
#5 Option 4: A post at WattFlyer led me to United Hobbies
#6 Option 6: Model Motors AXI

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

I am still leaning toward Rank #1 Option #1 Dymond. However, I have a Cermark BD-5 that flys great with the Cermark motor and controller, thus my experience makes it Rank #2 Option #5 for me.

Sounds like Hacker, AXI and EFlite are all good next choices - my LHS carries EFlite stuff.

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

The Hacker set up that I use I run on 4s. You can run it on 3s and it would probably fly scale. Mine is not scale. Be aware that there is a little work to be done on the mounting of the motor. There is a front mount all ready built into that fuse, I dont know if all the motors you suggested will fit. I had to dremel out some areas to get the hacker motor to fit. Strengthen their would mount, mine has broke twice.

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

here is a pix

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

sorry

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

I ordered #1 Option 1: Dymond's recommendations and will provide an update when this shipment arrives.

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

As promised....

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

I will also have to dremel out some areas to get the Gunther motor mount to fit. How did you strengthen their wood mount to avoid having it break?

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

The building of the Dymond Ford Flivver is completed as shown my pictures below. Yesterday, I tested it with runway trials. It landed after briefly breaking ground and stuck in the runway mud, which cause a nose over and broken prop. Its maiden flight is delayed one week.

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

Yesterday, I finally made my maiden flight. It took off the runway in about only 20 feet and accelerated nicely up to flying altitude. After trimming with elevator down to drop the nose, I should have realized it was tail heavy (CG is at 5 inches, rather than recommended 4 to 4 1/2 inches. I will correct this by cutting a hole in the firewall to move the LiPo forward to balance at the correct CG after I recharge the batteries.

After only five minutes, power dropped, controls became erratic and I just barely landed it on the runway after one go around. I had expected 24 minutes with three 8 minute flights, not just 5 minutes! Then, I was able to still quickly taxi it off the runway, when I did not expect any power left. Is something not right with LiPo, motor or ESC?

After only charging it 1580 Amps using Astro Blinkie on 1 of 2 balance jacks. I called tech support at Dymond Motorsports to discuss this short flight and still having 11.8 V reading on the LiPo batters. Dymond said that the 60 Amp opto ESC should be not cutting off power at this Voltage reading.

Today, I discharged past 2000 Amps, and then ran it down further in my backyard. It would run for 2 minutes, then quickly drop power with extreme servo chatter. I repeated this 4 times. I took the canopy off suspecting that the motor is overheating and shutting down. But in a few minutes, the motor ran noticeable slower with final 11.16 V reading.

I just recharged it 5500 without Blinkie and with final voltage of 12.56 V (12.6 optimum). I will adjust the CG and try flying it again, but am thinking of first cutting a hole in the canopy over the motor for both cooling and later adding a "Anzani' mock engine.

Any thoughts on what is flivvering going on here?

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

Today, I talked with Helmut, who suspected that the ESC is the cause of the problem with power loss and servo chatter. He suggested removing the BEC and replacing it with a receiver battery, along with removing the red wire from the ESC to the BEC.

He also thought that reducing the prop from 12x6 to 11x5.5 would help reduce the Amp draw. I will try the prop change first after replacing the prop hub adapter, that would not tight down on my motor shart after removing it. If this does not work, then back to the ESC changes.

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

Hey,

I'm flying my flivver with a saito, this modell has to make noise!!!
He's flying verry funny

Greetz

Jasper

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

Dymond repaired the motor under warranty. "The shaft was spinning in the magnet. We installed a new magnet with shaft..."

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

I had one of these and flew it for a couple of years using an old OS 91 4-stroke. That old motor made a lot of noise, popping and cracking and smokin' - just like it should. Although it was overpowered, it flew quite well. I could take off in on a few feet and land so slow you could catch it with your hands (never did try). My only problem was nose overs that finally flipped and broke the vertical stab. The stab is one of the weakest parts of this plane. I just glued it back together and continued flying. You should enjoy flying this plane.

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

Good, but shorter than expected of approximately 10 min, second flight was a success yesterday. Due to 5-10 mph winds, I used 3/4 to full throttle into the wind and then backed down to 1/2 throttle with the wind. I suspect that I had only a 85% charge of the Lipo batteries, as I am still learning the operation of my new Astro 109 charger.

I corrected tail heavy behavior by cutting a hole in the firewall and moving the LiPo forward to balance at the recommended CG of 4 to 4 1/2 inches.

I also replaced the JR 700 Rx with Spectrum DX7000 Rx and added hole in the canopy to improve airflow over the motor and Rx.

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

My Ford Flivver lost power with Dymond ESC and Motor after 5 min and dropped like a brick to the landing field. I should have replaced the ESC or at least removed the BEC and replaced it with a receiver battery. I suspect that the ESC overheated and shut down (again?), as the battery ran the motor for approximately 10 minutes testing it after the crash.

Lesson learned - best to try another power option than the one I chose.

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

Eight very nice flights after I removed the wire extensions to the motor, relocated the ESC/BEC to forward of the firewall, and moved the Lipo as far forward as possible in the fuse to adjust CG. Lipo discharge 7 AH after approximately 24 min flying, which is expected here.

This power option has worked out now. Just avoid motor wire extensions and tape connections from the motor to ESC, as they had once disconnected while flying.

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

After replacing both small servos in the wing for ailerons with large servos in Fall 2007, the Flivver was very tail heavy and need down elevator trim, then mechnical adjustment on clevis for elevator. Back to fixing CG problems that were mostly resolved before...or else time to retire it?

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

The wing loading is 21.533 oz/sq.ft based on 6.0 lbs (96 oz) weight with battery, wingspan of 53.5 inches, and average wing cord of 12 inches for wing area of 642 sq.in.

Dymond gave CG of 4-4 1/2 inches, while I measured 4 3/8 inches.

The only option is increasing weight in nose and thus increasing wing loading. Thus, I am stripping the electronics for another Winter project and retiring from the Flivver Club!

RE: Ford Flivver small glo 40 size ARF - 5 options for electric power
 

Do you know where can i find plans for scratch building it ?