A 90 size engine is perfect for this plane. I was a bit surprised the manual suggested it would handle up to a 1.20.....but hey, whatever works!
Power Plant - OS 91 FX Exhaust - Bisson Pitts Guidance: JR XP652 Servos - (5) 517's Skin - Monokote; Painted cowl
IMHO only.
I like: -Good Manual, quick building -Excellent Flight Characteristics: Snap Rolls are Unreal- don't blink! -Generally a tough plane, can take a bit of a beating -Looks great in the air
Don't like: -Wheel Pants, cracked up after 2-3 flights -I found landing can be somewhat tricky in winds less than 5-7 mph. -Main gear support is weak -Very sensitive elevator response
MODS: -Wheel Pants - tossed them out -Main Gear - Rebuilt entire under structure w/ reinforcements -Over sensitive elevator response- moved front incidence up approx. 1/4" inch from (front) factory mount holes; added 30% expo -Landing- Practice proper approach, subtle throttle management, lateral balance. -Rudder, Rebuilt top rear corner after it met my front door, DOH!
Posts: 188
Joined: 9/30/2004 From: Green Point NSW, AUSTRALIA Status: offline
rcapmd, Nice looking plane. I replaced my Os 61 with a Supertiger 90 in last month. Good combination. Also running a Bisson in cowl muffler. I have had to strengthen the main gear attachment plate after ripping the two thin ply plates out when I landed and allowed the plane to run onto uncut grass at the end of the strip! Put in a thicker ply plate and secured well to fuselage former. No excuses if I land properly...
I have a lot of cracking/splits in the ABS cowl and also removed the ABS wheel pants due to same. I might need to put an anti vibration type engine mounting in as I am sure it is the vibration causing this to the cowl. I have ordered a fiberglass cowl and pants from a US company called Fiberglass Specialties. Should be here (Aust) in 2 to 3 weeks. Not cheap but want the plane looking good.
Ditto: same exact thing happened to me with the main gears - into the deep grass and off came the gear. Let me know how the new wheel pants and cowl work out - The wheel pants (for the little time I had them) really finished off the plane nicely.
Posts: 380
Joined: 12/20/2004 From: Ashburn,
VA, USA Status: offline
never was designed as a 3d aircraft. it's a good scale aerobat. there's a thread w/build mod's, increase elevator, rudder and aileron area. mine's almost done (working on other projects right now), using an os 120 fs w/pump (i have it), i put the three servos (metal gear on rudder, 2.1 oz) in the tail to balance for the engine. comes in at a little over 8 pounds. everything i've read said that it's just not the right aircraft for all out 3d. no matter how much you lighten it, you can't get enough horsepower for all out 3d. jon b
Posts: 380
Joined: 12/20/2004 From: Ashburn,
VA, USA Status: offline
can anyone tell me; my extra 300 is almost done, and last night while handling the wing (it's covered) i made a small crack (about 2 inch circle) in the leading edge sheeting on the bottom of the wing, 1" behind the leading edge between r2 and r3. it really doesn't show, i'm concerned w/strength. i have considered cutting the covering and pull it back together and maybe lay a small pc of 2 oz glass over the crack. can i leave it alone, or do i have to repair it? jon b
Posts: 188
Joined: 9/30/2004 From: Green Point NSW, AUSTRALIA Status: offline
Jon, It all depends on the finish you are after. You could peel back the covering carefully, repair the crack with zap and then re iron the covering back down. Another option is to put a series of small pin holes through the covering to let zap (or other glue) through to fix crack.
If you have an actual hole in the sheeting the only option would be to remove a portion of the covering and re glue another piece of balsa shaped for the hole and then use a light filler to smooth edges. Will need sanding but you will have to be careful not to damage surrounding covering. It is a shame it didn't happen before covering. Nothing more frustrating than finishing a plane and then having to repair before it has actually flown!!!!!
Wouldn't recommend the glass cloth as you will have a high spot which will show after covering.
Posts: 400
Joined: 10/14/2002 From: Sterling,
VA, USA Status: offline
If it makes you feel any better, I cracked the leading edging sheeting on mine pulling it out of the car after attending my club's building contest. Just pull the covering back, fix the crack with thin CA, repair covering. No one has ever noticed my repair, and I'm sure no one will notice yours.
Posts: 118
Joined: 9/18/2005 From: Locust Grove,
GA, USA Status: offline
This may be too late, but I encountered the same thing. I drilled a small hole from the bottom directly under the cracked area. Then I squirted some thin ca in the hole, rotated the wing around a bit to spread the ca, then stuck a small "L" shaped allen wrench threw the hole and pushed the area back up. Covered the small hole, and no one can tell.
Posts: 380
Joined: 12/20/2004 From: Ashburn,
VA, USA Status: offline
i cut open the covering, pulled the pieces back and put some thin ca over it. seemed fine, it was only about a 1 1/2" circular area that was damaged. i sanded it and laid about a 3" patch of 3/4 oz glass over it w/thin ca, feathered it out, after covering you can't see it. i wanted some glass to reinforce it since i can't reach behind for a patch of balsa. jon b
Posts: 146
Joined: 4/18/2003 From: Honolulu,
HI, USA Status: offline
Nice planes guys... I actually finished mine a while back and haven't had time to get it flight ready until now. plane will have the following setup
Futaba 9 channel receiver All Hitec servos - x2 5625 for ailerons x2 5645 for elevators x1 5925 for rudder x1 225BB for throttle
may be a bit of an overkill but all of this stuff comes off of a funtana... 90
Saito 1.25 fueled by a 16oz fuel tank...
Here are some pictures...
I do have a question. I will be using a 5 cell 6 volt pack, where did you all place it to get the CG? could it fit right in the middle of the fuse or would i need to move it back to the tail to compensate for the engine? Let me know guys, i want to get this thing flying in about two weeks
has anyone flown this plane with a 120?
OH! if you guys want you can use U-Can-DO 60 wheel pants... they're a little big, but they're cheap and are nice
as for the cowl, i dont know what i'm going to do yet
Posts: 118
Joined: 9/18/2005 From: Locust Grove,
GA, USA Status: offline
xX911gt2Xx,
Your plane looks awesome!
Ive got an OS 120 w/ pump 16x6 prop Carl Goldberg plastic spinner Futaba 9 channel receiver 2 Futaba S3010 for elevators (mounted externally in rear) 2 Futaba S3010 for ailerons 1 Hitec HS-645MG for rudder 1 Futaba S3004 for throttle 1 5 cell 6v battery pack Stans Fiber Tech cowl and pants Great plane lite wheels Sullivan tail wheel
The only modification I made was externally mounting the elevator servos in the rear.
Came out just under 8lbs.
Be sure and use bonded washers to mount the cowl!
I mounted the battery pack to the bottom of the pilot platform. I put it as far back as possible, yet still easily accessible. I originally had a tru Turn spinner, but it balanced perfectly with a plastic one .........
Posts: 146
Joined: 4/18/2003 From: Honolulu,
HI, USA Status: offline
Oh man nice plane. It's too late for me to mount my servos in the rear, i thought about doing that. i might have to make a hatch for the battery so i can mount in the back. My saito i think is a lot lighter than your OS but i will be using a tru turn spinner. this is going to be really interesting when CG balancing time comes. I am going to use the stock cowl and reinforce it with fiber glass resin. for cowl mounting i use nylon screws and O rings to protect the cowl. maybe down the road i will order a cowl from stan but for now i just want to