Birman

Hi all. I just ordered a Great Planes PT-40 kit. Does anyone have any good hints or ideas pertaining to building this kit?

Thanks,
Larry

manks7477

Larry,

I am just finishing up my 2nd PT 40 now and have lots of thoughts on how to build it.

Is this your first build?

The most important thing for you to do is carefully read the instruction book, and really understand everything well, it is easy to miss a step or two.

Second, do not build the wing with the extra dihydral angle, I think you want to build the B wing that is much flatter.

The PT 40 is a very easy to build plane, when you get the kit go through it carefully and mark each part, it is much easier to organize it that way when you build.

The plane is a very good flyer, power it well with a .46 and you will have lots of power to do what you want.

Good choice in a new flyer.

If you have any questions please feel free to post here, or you can PM me.

manks

theo63

i did a build thread on this plane in the beginners forum around feb of 06 might want to check that out it was my first one and it was a pretty easy build for the first timer good luck and it flies fantastic

Birman

Thanks for the info guys. I haven't built a kit since 1995 when I got out of the hobby for awhile. Just getting back into the hobby and decided on the PT-40 because it reminded me of the OLD RCM trainer 60. Built a couple of those.

Somewhere I read that the PT-40 came out a little tail heavy and I was wondering if anyone else heard that.

Theo63, I'll check out the forum for your post on the 40.

Thanks again,
Larry

manks7477

My first PT 40 came out bang on, I did not have to add any weight at all.

Not sure about the second one yet.

AERORICH73

Birman: I purchase a PT-40 built by another modeler after it had only a couple of flights on it.
As I understand, the plane came to the club field tail heavy, and needed 6 oz. of lead in the
engine compartment. Then there was some aileron problems during the flights. The dad and
son decided to go into sail boats instead, and that is when I purchased the model. It took me
a while to correct some of the construction problems, but only needed 3 ozs once the work was
finished. With the new Magnum .40 already through the break-in cycle, the plane flew beautifully. I soloed on this plane in 1996, and flew it for about a year before it stalled far from
the club field, and flew away with a new GMS .47 just installed. It was never found. Moved on
to an Eagle 63 purchased from another club member, and still fly it today.

In my construction changes, I moved the servo tray up against the former next to the front
wing hold down dowel, and installed the flat rx battery up against the back of the firewall. By
making these changes, I reduced the balance weight by 3 ozs. As others have posted on this
thread, you might not have a tail heavy problem with your plane. Just thought what I found
with my PT-40 would help you in your construction.

Get back to me if I can help in any way.

Rich S.