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New Balsa USA Smoothie XL Build

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New Balsa USA Smoothie XL Build

Old 03-22-2017, 12:39 PM
  #201  
swift bill
 
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Old 03-22-2017, 12:43 PM
  #202  
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Came in at 14 lbs
Old 03-22-2017, 04:02 PM
  #203  
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Beautiful.
Old 03-22-2017, 04:03 PM
  #204  
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What engine did you install and prop size??
Old 03-22-2017, 04:41 PM
  #205  
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Very nice, should fly great. Do you ever go the the event at Eureka Spring? I like to go in the spring.

Rich
Old 03-23-2017, 11:58 AM
  #206  
Check6
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Just finished installing all the equipment and balanced it. Came out nose heavy and weighs in at 15 lbs. That's right between the low and high weight on the box. I need to do some touch up work and finish putting on the trim stripes. I am not happy with the wrinkeling of the paint but hey it looks great from 5 feet. LOL. Equipment Syssa 30 gas engine, combination of Hitec 645 mg and power metal gear servos. 32 oz. tank, two 2000 ma nihydride. battery packs, 18x 6 prop
Thanks,
Fred
Old 03-23-2017, 11:59 AM
  #207  
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Old 03-23-2017, 12:08 PM
  #208  
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Where are the battery packs located within the plane?
Old 03-23-2017, 12:15 PM
  #209  
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I had both temporarily mounted in front of the tank. I'm going to move one in back of the tank on the CG and leave the other one in front. Rather have it slightly nose heavy until I fly it.
Thanks,
Fred
Old 03-23-2017, 12:52 PM
  #210  
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32 oz tank? Better get a power cord for your transmitter, a neck brace, and a comfy lawn chair. You're gonna be able to fly for an hour at a time. Haha.
Old 03-23-2017, 12:56 PM
  #211  
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Hi Pappy35,
I fill the tank in the morning and won't have to worry about it all day. LOL. Don't know what these engines burn but an 1 oz. a minute gives me half hour flying time and enough for a few missed approaches.
thanks,
Fred
Old 03-23-2017, 02:14 PM
  #212  
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I'm installing a 12oz tank and hope to get 10-15 minutes running a DLE-35RA. I'm running 8 Savox SAV-0221 high voltage servos, a BEC (so I can run ignition and the radio on one battery), and one 2S 2550 LiPo. I have a variety of LiPo's sitting around so I'll check and see what I use per flight up front and change out the pack as required to get 4-5 flights + about a 50% margin.
Old 03-23-2017, 02:16 PM
  #213  
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What engine are you using? 16oz. is my most common size of tank, I do have a 24 oz in a 1/4 scale Fokker D-VII and that is for weigh. I have my timer set for 15 min. and I have about a half tank left. I run Zenoah 26, 38s and 3 DLE 35 ra. Your 32oz tank will make your airplane very nose heavy and add to wing loading. Just mt 2 cent.

Beautiful airplane

Rich
Old 03-23-2017, 02:37 PM
  #214  
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Hey guys,
Thanks for all the input on tank sizes. It makes sense about the weight with a 32 oz. tank. I have to get rid of the Warbird mentality. I'm use to G 62's and GT 80's for my Warbirds and adding up to 5 lbs. of lead to balance them as well as a 32 oz. tank. I'm removing the 32 oz. tank and installing a 14 oz. tank that was in my spare junk drawer. That should give me plenty of flight time with my Syssa 30 engine.
Thanks for the help, guys,
Fred
Old 03-23-2017, 07:13 PM
  #215  
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Yeah. A warbird this is not. Mine is looking like it's going to be a bit on the nose-heavy side but then again I haven't got any Monokote on yet. A 30cc might pull 1 oz/minute at wide open throttle but most folks don't fly like that continuously. As thick at that wing is I'm betting half to full throttle will net a 5 mph speed increase 8-)

I'm itching to get back going on mine. Got family visiting this weekend so I'm hoping to pour on the coals and get to covering starting Sunday afternoon.
Old 03-24-2017, 02:43 AM
  #216  
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Congratulations Fred, it looks great! It's a very simple but elegant paint scheme. When I build, I don't mind having a tail heavy plane, which is easily balanced with a lot less weight than if it were the other way around...Hope your maiden is uneventful!
Old 03-24-2017, 05:20 AM
  #217  
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Great stuff guys. I have a saito 1.50 glow waiting to be used. Do you guys think it'll be enough for sport flying in the xl ?
Old 03-24-2017, 08:11 AM
  #218  
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Originally Posted by VincentJ
Congratulations Fred, it looks great! It's a very simple but elegant paint scheme. When I build, I don't mind having a tail heavy plane, which is easily balanced with a lot less weight than if it were the other way around...Hope your maiden is uneventful!
Huh?

Don't you mean the other way around? An ounce extra on the nose will take less added to the tail than an ounce extra on the tail will need on the nose to balance.

The tail moment is considerably longer than that of the nose. So tail heavy needs a whopping big amount of nose weight to move balance forward. Of course, if you could remove tail weight, that would work as well.
Old 03-24-2017, 08:49 AM
  #219  
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pappy35,

You mentioned that it has a thick wing. Did you happen to measure it at the thickest point?
Old 03-24-2017, 10:36 AM
  #220  
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I can measure it later when I get home but I'd say it's between one and a half to two inches. The thickness is constant across the span and tapers the last five inches or so at the tips.
Old 03-24-2017, 11:11 AM
  #221  
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That should result on a very low cubic loading and a great handling airplane. Enjoy!
Old 03-24-2017, 01:18 PM
  #222  
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OK Guys, the plane is finished. Thanks for joining me on this build thread. I changed the tank and buttoned up all the radio gear. Applied all the trim tape. Hope it stays on LOL.
Just have to test run and adjust the engine and wait for some good weather.
Thanks,
Fred
Old 03-24-2017, 01:25 PM
  #223  
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Old 03-24-2017, 02:55 PM
  #224  
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Looks terrific! Hope the weather cooperates.
Old 03-24-2017, 03:46 PM
  #225  
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Thanks, Lifer. I appreciate it.
Fred

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