rica1

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Hi James,
Not sure if the moving of the L/G forward was a result of nose overs but that's a good possibility. I think under the LE of the wing is a good location as long as it behaves well on the ground. To much power sounds good to me! Lots of vertical and pull out. I have the same engine waiting to go on my plane. Curious to know the weight and performance with the DLE 35RA. Your build thread was really well done. Looking forward to your flight reports. Rick

Rubbernecker

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Nice build James. I have one just like it under construction. I do not like the tail wheel set up for rudder control. Not sure how it would look with the pull pull cables popping out of the top of the fuse. How did you do yours? Any pictures of that area?

John

rica1

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Hi John,
Look at James photos at post 223 second photo from left (can't see it real well). I put pull-pull on my Pepsi Chipmunk and am much happier with it than the way it was set up at the tail wheel. Which kit maker are you building and how about some photos? Rick

James3922

Hi John,
I used pull-pull on the rudder. Servo is mounted in the wing seat area - kevlar cables crimped and glued - guide tubes built in to the fus - large horns nut bolted together thru rudder - top leg of tail wheel assembly inserted into metal tube inside rudder between the horn bolts. I cut off the plastic horn on the tail wheel. The pull-pull system allows the tail wheel some give when taxiing.
I can't find any pics of the rudder horns. Hope these pics will help-

Rubbernecker

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Thanks James & Rick. What are the tubes made of that the cables are in. That looks very nice. I have never put them in tubes, always open which can get in the way of other things. I have the old Ohio RC one. Nothing special to take pictures of. I got it partly built from a friend before he passed. He was a great builder. He had it set up for the rudder servo under the rear fuse to hook up like the plans show. I do not like that plus I'm using a G-26 with an electronic ignition (Ralph from RcIgnitions) which will be lighter than the g-38 the plans show. The G-26 with an 18-6 prop in the 7,500 rpm range is about 17 pounds of thrust. Should be fine for a 14 lb plane. Anyway, I had to get a friend to make a motor mount since the blind nuts (which are now inaccessible) were set up for a Moki 1.8. That resulted in me moving it to the back burner while I assemble a Sig Extra 300 w/OS 1.6. I do like to have as many issues solved before building. I will post some pictures when I get back on it. May be in the fall/winter. Don't usually do much building in the summer.

Thanks,

John

James3922

Hi John,
The tubes are plastic, made by Kavan. I happened upon them, I was looking at stuff like snake outers or whatever.
You might need some extra ballast up front with a lighter front and a heavier tail.
I look forward to your pics. Hope you enjoy your build.
Is it a Skydancer or another variant?
James

Rubbernecker

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Yes, it is the Skydancer and I have the decals for it. Also have a set of Robart oleo struts. Had a set of them on a Dynaflight PT 19 (about the same size) and they were great.

John

rye

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the kit from precision lazer cut for the pepsi chipmunk kit have the 2 peice wing or can it be build from this kit thanks

rica1

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Rye,
Precision Cut Kits Pepsi Chipmunk wing is one piece. No provisions for two piece that I know of. The old Apache Co in the UK had an optional two piece wing. That company was sold to another UK kit company and they shortened the wing span some(not sure why, maybe a better roll rate), don't remember the name of the new company right now. Very expensive to ship to the US (not worth it).
Aztech Aeromodels discontinued their Chipmunk kit and it was rumored that they would be coming out with a two piece wing version of the Chipmunk. They sold the Super Chipmunk version only.
Maybe someone knows of a two piece wing kit out there?

rye

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thanks ,rica1 i going to wait for now to see what comes out later ,i am a chipmunk kit nut i have build 4 so far and have the drawings and a CG kit in hidding iscatch build 1 that i am doing in the pespi design ,the 60 size fly great but would like to go bigger i have a dle 35 that i think would be great for the 80" chipmunk ,,we lose 2 last year in a midair when my boys were formation flying now we have one new one up and a second one coming

rica1

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Rye, the Chipmunk is my favorite 60 size plane. To bad about losing two Chipmunks at the same time! I have thought of doing the CG Chipmunk in Pepsi desigen as well. So far, it is still in my mind only. LOL. The DLE would be a good choice for the 80" Chipmunk. You can still find the Ohio r/c, Procraft Chipmunk kits around. There a little heavy but good flyers. Let us know if you start building a larger Chipmunk, I for one would like to see the build. Also, like to know what mods you have done on the Goldberg Chipmunks.

rye

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sure will but if i do it will be a winter build as for mods just beef up the firewall and landing gear area ,here the video of the mid air watch at about 3/4 ot the end and then the boys high five each other lol man they kill me
https://youtu.be/S75IF4LUMoE

rica1

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A dog fight with no winner. Hope there was some good parts left. Sounds like you have other Chipmunks coming? James has a really nice Pepsi Chipmunk, I'd like to hear how it's doing with the DLE 35? And John's, Hint! How are they doing??
This thread helps remind me I need to get my Chipmunks flying again.

rye

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just the motors they cut each other in half and then they both hit the trees don't trust the receivers servos were all stripped so now I have do it all from the beginning at lesce I have 2 more 60 size flying this year and build a biG one for next year in the winter time maybe 2 of them you know how 2 boys will fight over one toy lol looks like I spending more of there inherent

rye

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ok

rica1

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Teach those boys to build during the Winter also. Just think how many Chipmunks you'd have! Hopefully they won't mind you spending their inheritance money because it's going to a worth-while cause. Build a larger Chipmunk and show us the build!

James3922

Hi Guys, I've had to iron out a couple of teething problems with my Chip but I'm happy to report that I flew it today and enjoyed it immensely.
The DLE 35RA gives the model more power than any other model I've flown. It's a bit scary actually. For now
Sorry, still no pics of it flying and no weight. Good to see other builds in progress.
Rubbernecker- had the camera out today,- hope this pic helps-

rica1

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Ok James,
Thanks for the teaser but we need more photos! Hope your Chipmunk is done teething! I think you will get comfortable with the DLE35RA power and really enjoy it, especially vertical! Let us know what changes you've made. Go next door and borrow the neighbors scale and weight that plane. We have been waiting months to find out the weight. We will take up donations so you can go buy one if needed! I'm glad your enjoying it, please share your fun with us. Rick

James3922

Hi Rick,
I've had difficulty posting the last few days. Hope you like the pics.
Also, just purchased some 25 lb scales so I should have the weight soon.
Haven't flown since last post. I have programmed a throttle curve to give a more linear control response.
The engine is soft mounted with Apache dampers. The choke is made from a linkage rod with a ball-link. The small black box is a tacho. Prop for break-in is 19 x 8. Using Bel-Ray HR1 oil at 30:1 now, but will go to 50:1 later. The "L" and "H" are drinking straws over the needles. A fellow club member tuned the DLE up in 2 minutes. She starts easy and can idle all day.
More soon.

rye

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hi rick
whats the name of the blue that u use on yours and where did you get your Apache dampers from thanks nice bird by the way

rica1

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Rye,
That is a reply from James3922 with the new photos. I hope he will respond to your questions on the color blue and Apache dampers. He is in the UK. His build thread (here) is really excellent with lots of photos. I have really enjoyed it. Nice that he has it flying now. Hope to hear about it's flight characteristics as he gets more flight time. Rick

rica1

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James,
That is one great looking plane. The detail is really well done. Thanks for the photos. Hope you get more flying in soon and can give us flight reports. Like; where is your cg and how does it fly there, what is the weight (thanks for the 25lb scales for us on this side of the pond), how do you like the Apache dampers, how's the undercarriage (landing gear) holding up etc. I use the same set up for the choke. Sounds like you have the eng running well and off to a good start! Are you going to make any changes now that you have it flying? What would you have done differently in the build if anything? Great looking plane! Rick

James3922

Hi Rye,
I've looked around the web for the Apache anti-vibration mounts and can't find them. Apache's owner retired and sold up to SLEC uk a couple of years ago.
I use Oracover which is polyester film. The colour is just called dark blue. The colours are from the stars and stripes flag.
BTW the photos make the blue lighter than real life.
Thanks for the comments guys, she turned out really nice.

James3922

Hi Guys,
She weighs in at 14lbs 11oz.
I had 4 flights with the Chip today before the rain started. She's my new favourite plane. Really happy with it. Rolls and loops are dead easy.
Had her blasting around at full tilt - tons of power but not prop-hanging stuff. No probs with the mounts.
I installed the tail servos up front and converted from single to double flap servos - (2 piece wing)
I've had bother with the spats rotating. Turns out he collets are rotating inside the wooden supports, I guess CA isn't suitable- they'll be epoxied shortly.I flew my last flight today without them.
Full build blog here - hope this link works-
http://www.hamiltonmodelflyingclub.c...play.php?fid=4 I'm Cookie Monster.

rica1

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James (Cookie Monster),
Thank you for the update. You must have had that "nick name" Cookie Monster since you were a kid? Glad your getting some flying time in and you have a new favorite flying plane!
14Lbs 11oz sounds like a 40-50cc motor for prop hanging maneuvers. Sounds like the DLE 35RA is a perfect match for your flying. I think I'll consider a larger motor.
How do you like the two piece wing for convenience? I'm sure you'll get those spats secure.
SLEC is now selling the Apache Chipmunks in the UK and they have a shorter wing span. Is yours the 81 inch wing span? I wonder why SLEC shortened the WS?
I'm going to go back over your build thread because it's so well documented and the workmanship is really superb! Thanks Cookie Monster. Rick