Great Planes PT-60 + DLE20cc 'Goof-Off' Build
#1
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (42)
Great Planes PT-60 + DLE20cc 'Goof-Off' Build
Good day fellow modelers, I am starting this thread to document a build of a semi-bash of a PT-60 to become a fun overpowered weekend flyer. I have built and flown almost everything, but going back to something simple this time around because I can
Looking to set it up for possible FPV flying, Glider towing, bomb/item dropping, night flying.
Planned mods, although I am sure more will come:
Cram a DLE20 into it
Tail dragger conversion
Swept tail
Larger control surfaces
No dihedral
No Wing Washout
Looking to set it up for possible FPV flying, Glider towing, bomb/item dropping, night flying.
Planned mods, although I am sure more will come:
Cram a DLE20 into it
Tail dragger conversion
Swept tail
Larger control surfaces
No dihedral
No Wing Washout
#2
I built one of these with my son and it is in the ARF stage now. It is setup for an XYZ 20cc. I also built it as a taildragger and enlarged the surfaces. Since it was mainly for my son (who is now 7), I kept the dihedral and the stock washout which is a lot IMO....a whole lot! Anyways, hopefully, it will fly as we are wishing. I will warn you to take a bunch of weight out of the tail....I cut circular lightening holes in the whole tail section and it appears as though the plane will balance perfectly with the gasser up front. I don't know how they expect a person to balance these with a tiny .60 glow. I have heard others talk about how heavy the wood in the tail is too so yours may very well be the same. Good luck and post a build thread!
#3
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (42)
I built one of these with my son and it is in the ARF stage now. It is setup for an XYZ 20cc. I also built it as a taildragger and enlarged the surfaces. Since it was mainly for my son (who is now 7), I kept the dihedral and the stock washout which is a lot IMO....a whole lot! Anyways, hopefully, it will fly as we are wishing. I will warn you to take a bunch of weight out of the tail....I cut circular lightening holes in the whole tail section and it appears as though the plane will balance perfectly with the gasser up front. I don't know how they expect a person to balance these with a tiny .60 glow. I have heard others talk about how heavy the wood in the tail is too so yours may very well be the same. Good luck and post a build thread!
Also, I am trying to build the full kit in 2-3 weeks
Kit showed up yesterday, and here is my night one progress
#5
I mounted my engine inverted.....I just think a gasser looks odd mounted upright but that's just me. It fit tight side to side but will be mostly hidden by the fuse cheeks.....just a small portion of the muffler sticks out below.
#6
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (42)
Got the firewall wrapped up, and is stock, so will toothpick pin it, and fiberglass the front joints for a little added strength. Also need to come up with a method for adding strength to the 'cowl cheeks' since the blocks the manual instructs to glue in wont fit anymore.
#7
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (42)
Trimmed up the cheek plates to work out nicely
Also found the top firewall to be about 1/16" forward for some reason, even though everything has lined up. All the formers and fuselage doublers were glued in perfectly, bottom of the firewall is perfect, I had no fitment issues anywhere. Hopefully this doesn't cause any problems as there is already -4.5deg down thrust per the plan, plus whatever the additional 1/16" more its leaning down. :/
Also found the top firewall to be about 1/16" forward for some reason, even though everything has lined up. All the formers and fuselage doublers were glued in perfectly, bottom of the firewall is perfect, I had no fitment issues anywhere. Hopefully this doesn't cause any problems as there is already -4.5deg down thrust per the plan, plus whatever the additional 1/16" more its leaning down. :/
#9
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (42)
Today marks 2 weeks upon 1st opening the kit box, hoping to finish things up in the next week. Still need to sheet the wing, set up dual aileron servos, build new tail control surfaces, hinge everything (using Robart hinges), then cover it. Colors will be Monokote White, Medium Purple, and Fluorescent Orange. Decided to lop off the wing tips, will do 1/4" Hard balsa block tips for durability.
#10
Did you use the washout jig when you built the wings? I think there was a trainer one and then you could cut it in half for less. I used the full washout on mine since it is for my 7yr old son (who was 3 when we first opened the box) and it is a lot of washout!!!! Hope it flies good. We just been messing with it on and off for the past 3.5yrs. It's in the ARF state now.
#11
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (42)
Did you use the washout jig when you built the wings? I think there was a trainer one and then you could cut it in half for less. I used the full washout on mine since it is for my 7yr old son (who was 3 when we first opened the box) and it is a lot of washout!!!! Hope it flies good. We just been messing with it on and off for the past 3.5yrs. It's in the ARF state now.
#19
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (42)
Needed 3 clicks of down trim at that was it! Balanced PERFECTLY with NO added weight, really surprised me here.
The servo tray is all the way back, and running 2 thunderpower 1350 lipos for the rx and ignition right in front of the tray.
Flew very well! Only got one flight on it, but will be perfect for the lazy beer days was intended for
The servo tray is all the way back, and running 2 thunderpower 1350 lipos for the rx and ignition right in front of the tray.
Flew very well! Only got one flight on it, but will be perfect for the lazy beer days was intended for
#20
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (42)
Put a few flights on it today, CG is perfect with nothing added to it, there is no way this thing would balance with a little 2 stroke glow it was intended for, but my 1.20 20cc its perfect!
Added 4" Sullivan aluminum wheels, and have a 15x7 3-blade coming for clearance, the 17x6 forces me to takeoff and land in a 3 point attitude
My buddy took a video of the 3rd flight, will post it shortly
Added 4" Sullivan aluminum wheels, and have a 15x7 3-blade coming for clearance, the 17x6 forces me to takeoff and land in a 3 point attitude
My buddy took a video of the 3rd flight, will post it shortly
#22
I was amazed too that GP expects people to balance this plane with a .60 2stroke glow engine.......amazing! If they didn't supply balsa that was as dense and heavy as basswood, I'm sure it would balance just fine. Like you, mine was spot on CG wise with the 20cc gasser in the nose- and this was with lots of lightening holes in the aft end of the fuse/tail!!!