Did your somethin extra build nose heavy?
05-23-2006, 10:09 AM
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Did your somethin extra build nose heavy?
Since so many have built this great airplane, I was wondering if it tends to build nose heavy. With the fuselage being primarily balsa it seems to me that it will be needing some lead to balance. If this is the case Im not going to be to concerned about beefing up the aft section of the fuse, considering sheeting the turtle deck and adding a beefier tail wheel tri-stock etc. Of course it all depends on what engine you strap to this thing- I know some folks go a little extreme with this plane. But I plan to use a OS 52 four stroke just like I did on my four star forty, an excellent engine. If anyone has used this combo did you have to add tail weight? Alot of people have built this thing so your feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!
05-23-2006, 10:38 AM
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RE: Did your somethin extra build nose heavy?
Just the opposite. Mine came out rather tail heavy.
I started with 1.75 ozs of lead on the firewall to
balance according to the plans. I subsequently
have removed 3/4 oz of that as I got more used
to the way it flies.
The tail braces add quite a bit of weight to the tail.
But that is usually good since a lot of people put
rather heavy motors on this thing. Dont omit the tail
braces. They ARE needed.
I went with a relatively lightweight TT46 Pro and
found it was plenty of motor for this plane.
Mike Hammer
I started with 1.75 ozs of lead on the firewall to
balance according to the plans. I subsequently
have removed 3/4 oz of that as I got more used
to the way it flies.
The tail braces add quite a bit of weight to the tail.
But that is usually good since a lot of people put
rather heavy motors on this thing. Dont omit the tail
braces. They ARE needed.
I went with a relatively lightweight TT46 Pro and
found it was plenty of motor for this plane.
Mike Hammer
05-23-2006, 10:38 AM
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RE: Did your somethin extra build nose heavy?
ORIGINAL: stallspeed
Since so many have built this great airplane, I was wondering if it tends to build nose heavy. With the fuselage being primarily balsa it seems to me that it will be needing some lead to balance. If this is the case Im not going to be to concerned about beefing up the aft section of the fuse, considering sheeting the turtle deck and adding a beefier tail wheel tri-stock etc. Of course it all depends on what engine you strap to this thing- I know some folks go a little extreme with this plane. But I plan to use a OS 52 four stroke just like I did on my four star forty, an excellent engine. If anyone has used this combo did you have to add tail weight? Alot of people have built this thing so your feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!
Since so many have built this great airplane, I was wondering if it tends to build nose heavy. With the fuselage being primarily balsa it seems to me that it will be needing some lead to balance. If this is the case Im not going to be to concerned about beefing up the aft section of the fuse, considering sheeting the turtle deck and adding a beefier tail wheel tri-stock etc. Of course it all depends on what engine you strap to this thing- I know some folks go a little extreme with this plane. But I plan to use a OS 52 four stroke just like I did on my four star forty, an excellent engine. If anyone has used this combo did you have to add tail weight? Alot of people have built this thing so your feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!
05-23-2006, 11:23 AM
#4
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RE: Did your somethin extra build nose heavy?
Mine has tail wires, built stock except for a Sullivan tail wheel. Saito 82 up front, RX on CG, Battery slightly behind CG. No lead added, 6 pounds total.
05-23-2006, 12:24 PM
#6
My Feedback: (10)
RE: Did your somethin extra build nose heavy?
With the model just completed yesterday (whew!), it balanced perfectly- with the Saito 82 up front, a 13x4W APC prop, GP aluminum-backed nylon spinner, DuBro composite gear and 3" light wheels, and the 600mAh pack Velcro'd to the floor under the tank space. I honestly can't believe how lucky I got with the balance. Lateral balance looks good, too.
With the OS 52, the most you should have to do is re-position the battery pack- or buy a larger-capacity one; functional weight is good [8D]
Post some pics of the build and completed plane if you can.
With the OS 52, the most you should have to do is re-position the battery pack- or buy a larger-capacity one; functional weight is good [8D]
Post some pics of the build and completed plane if you can.
05-23-2006, 05:00 PM
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RE: Did your somethin extra build nose heavy?
Mine came out slightly tail-heavy with a Super Tigre .46 perched on the front of the motor mount. Everything is stock, including tailwheel and wires. Radio gear mounted per the plans. Flies great slightly tail-heavy.
05-24-2006, 08:53 PM
#8
RE: Did your somethin extra build nose heavy?
I was given one that had crashed too many times for the builder. I rebuilt the nose, firewall, and did some mods to it. I have an Evo .46NT. Mine was nose heavy but I slid the battery way, way back in the fuselage until it balanced. No flying wires on it and I've run it as fast as it will go many times.
05-24-2006, 09:14 PM
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RE: Did your somethin extra build nose heavy?
I did some mods to mine, counter balanced the rudder, sullivan tail wheel, aft mount elevator servo, dubro main gear, os50sx on the nose. Balanced right on the nuts.
[8D]
[8D]
05-25-2006, 08:29 PM
#10
RE: Did your somethin extra build nose heavy?
Mine has a hatch from the firewall to turtledeck. Pine blocks for 1/4" gear bolts. Counterbalances by the original builder. Shortened canopy. Tailwheel is a wire stuck in the rudder. A small fin under the gear like a side force generator to assist knife edges. Main gear lifted 1/2" for APC 12.25x3.75 prop.
05-28-2006, 08:02 PM
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RE: Did your somethin extra build nose heavy?
Hi all. Mine came out tail heavy which helped my decision to use a OS 70. Plus to boot I have a heavy brass hub on there and it balances, My battery is shoved underneath the tank up to the firewall. The plane is covered with white Worldtex and is clear coated to make it easier to clean the fabric. I also installed a Sullivan tail-wheel and sheeted the turtle deck.
05-29-2006, 01:04 PM
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RE: Did your somethin extra build nose heavy?
Question??? If yours came out nose heavy... why did you use a brass hub and put the battery up front etc... Did you mean tail heavy? 
ORIGINAL: Rob C
Hi all. Mine came out nose heavy which helped my decision to use a OS 70. Plus to boot I have a heavy brass hub on there and it balances,
Hi all. Mine came out nose heavy which helped my decision to use a OS 70. Plus to boot I have a heavy brass hub on there and it balances,
08-21-2006, 03:02 PM
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RE: Did your somethin extra build nose heavy?
It helps to build it tail heavy and then mount a larger engine on the front. Man what a combination when you have all that power to rely on.
08-26-2006, 11:30 PM
#16
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RE: Did your somethin extra build nose heavy?
Sullivan tail wheel assembly. And a MECOA 46 no lead added anywhere. been flying it in club fun flys for five years and it's still together. A couple of years ago i did put four star 60 landing gear on it for more prop clearance. the holes for the wheel pants lined up the same.
Dennis
Dennis
