Eflite T-34 to glow

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Eflite T-34 to glow - 7/20/2011 2:55 PM

acdii

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Has anyone done this? I was thinking, I can get a bare fuse and tail, and put a glow and guts in it, and just swap wings when I want to fly on fuel. What would I need to do to beef up the fuse and seal it for a glow and what size would it take. I am thinking 4 stroker.

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 7/20/2011 5:03 PM

mike early

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Saito .62 would be my choice.

A saito .40 would fly it though.

I usually cut a piece of plywood and epoxy it to the front of the fuse and mount the engine to it.

< Message edited by mike early -- 7/20/2011 5:07 PM >

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 7/20/2011 5:59 PM

acdii

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What about the tank? Would I need to open up the floor where the battery goes to fit one in, or do they make tanks about the same size as the pakc, which is long, narrow and flat.

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 7/20/2011 6:15 PM

mike early

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You wouldn't need a large tank. 4-strokes are pretty efficient. All sorts of shapes and sizes available. Probably would have to alter some of the internal bracing but weight wouldn't be much of a concern, so you could add wood to make it stronger than it was before. I've converted a few planes to glow and the fuel tank was never a big problem. Keep us posted and teach us all how it's done!

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 7/20/2011 6:42 PM

acdii

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I just looked up the parts, I can get the entire plane, minus the motor, and servos, for $199. If I get just the tail and fuse its $142. The wing is 108, so might just get the whole ARF instead. Yeah, found my winter project!

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 7/20/2011 10:08 PM

airraptor

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well if i was to do that plane as a glowhere is what i would do:

1. set up for saito 62 with 8 ounce tank for normal to to much power
2. Eflight electric retracts small ones if off paved runway.
3. add some pilots
4. if want scale and engine inside cowl then two options saito 40 single or saito 60 twin if weight isnt a concern for ya.

for the 62 run a 13x8 APC or xoar
40 single run a Xoar 12x6 electric prop with 35% will spin it at 9,700-9,900 very scale set up
60 twin run a 14x6 Xoar
xoar props can be painted flat black and have the tips yellow.

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 7/20/2011 11:44 PM

acdii

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Oh I didnt know they made twins that small. Definately something to look at. Now that would look awesome and sound really good too.

Oh retracts is something I have planned for the one I have now. If I were to swap wings I would only need one set of mains between the two birds.

< Message edited by acdii -- 7/20/2011 11:48 PM >

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 7/21/2011 6:42 PM

airraptor

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http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=SAIE060T

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 7/21/2011 7:11 PM

mike early

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That twin would be cool as hell. But heavy. Expensive.

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 7/21/2011 10:09 PM

airraptor

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yes it is heavy but really cool sound.

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 10/12/2011 2:47 PM

acdii

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Well after 2 dead sticks yesterday with less than 8 minutes each pack, I decided to go forward with the glow conversion. My friend was flying his hobbystar clone with a 4 stroke in it, and that thing was a rocket, yet could float at slow speeds. Made the 34 look anemic. I also found that with the glows going I cant hear the ESC whimper when the battery is about to go. I need to find out what motor he has and get one.

My first dead stick I had made a low pass over the runway, still practicing those so that I can get my line ups right to practice touch and goes, and just as it got 2/3rds down I heard the motor slow down, and I had to try to bring it around, missed the runway by 10 feet, but the soybeans made a nice catchers mitt. The second one started whimpering before the timer hit the 8 minute mark, but I had some altitude and enough time left to bring it in for a safe nice landing.

This is the first time I had short flight times in this plane, no hard flying, no more than 3/4 throttle through most of the flight, had to do a couple bursts to avoid the other plane, and an aborted landing, but nothing more than in previous flights. Each time the pack was pretty warm too. It wasn't as windy as it has been, and the temps were in the 70's, so not sure why the flights were so short. I have had 12 minute flights with juice still left in the pack in this plane. I get up to 16 minutes in the Apprentice.

So in addition to building the TF P-51, which I started last night, I am going to convert the 34 to glow. 8 minute flights just aren't long enough when you are trying to practice landings.

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 11/3/2011 3:05 AM

acdii

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OOOH http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=SAIEG14B&utm_source=rcu&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=rcu_sw&utm_content=FG14B%2882B%29

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 1/10/2012 12:58 AM

acdii

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Alright, picked up an OS 52 Surpass for it yesterday, going to start working on getting it converted tomorrow. Need to see if the current motor mount I have will work for it, or if I need to find something else. I put the motor up to the cowl and it looks like it will just clear the nose gear and will be completely inside the cowl. The cowl has two huge openings so it looks like there will be plenty of air flow, plus a large opening where the gear protrudes for an exit.

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 1/11/2012 7:18 PM

acdii

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Well, if anyone is deciding to go glow on the Eflite T-34, beware that there is a lot of modification to do. I took mine apart last night to begin the conversion and after studying it very closely, I am reconsidering converting it.

First, the E motor attaches to a box under the cowl, along with the nose wheel . It sticks out a fair amount too. The internal structure of it is what is changing my mind. The floor under the canopy extends all the way into that box, and the sides of the battery try extend to the front and interlock with the sides of the box and floor. If I were to cut it, I would need to cut it at the exact same angles that it has now, then fit the firewall to whats left of the box, notching it to match originally, then epoxy it all back together. I would have to take off about 1 1/2" from it to make the cowl fit.

Downside, it would also move the nose gear back that same amount. I think doing that would make ground handling a pain.

I weighed the new motor, mount, tank, and RX battery and compared them to the e motor, ESC and battery pack, and they come out almost the same, the new motor slightly lighter.

Alternate way, which would give me the ability to convert it back to e power is to mount the motor on the existing box, and extend the cowl out 2 ".

What I don't know about that scenario is how much it would affect the location of the CG. The less structure I cut out, the less bracing I would need to add.

One other item I am concerned about, the mounting of the tank. In order for the tank center line to be at or below the carb, I would have to cut out the floor, and that would make the fuse weak in that area since again it is tied into the firewall.

I have some pictures I took, but cant find my iPhone cable at the moment to post them.

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< Message edited by acdii -- 1/12/2012 2:36 AM >

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 1/12/2012 3:02 AM

acdii

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Gonna try again, it only lets me upload one image.

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 1/15/2012 4:44 PM

acdii

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After not being able to find a flat enough tank I decided not to do this conversion. I would have to basically rebuild the forward half of the fuse to strengthen it enough for the 4 stroke, and there isn't enough room for a tank even if I remove the floor, the wing sits to far forward. Considering how much this plane costs to replace is another deciding factor, just the fuse alone is over $100, and that doesn't include any hardware.

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 1/19/2012 8:03 PM

Admiral052

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Darn it Acdii I was hoping to see this happen too. I have this plane and like the look and design but this is my first electric and I am used to glow. I was kinda hoping for the option to convert it. I understand what you are talking about with all the work needed.

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 1/20/2012 1:41 AM

acdii

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I know how you feel. Here is a shot of the tank lined up on the Fuse showing how little room there is for it. This tank is actuallly the thinnest 12 ounce tank I could find.

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RE: Eflite T-34 to glow - 1/21/2012 9:34 PM

sharp333

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12 oz tank is way too much for a 52 4 stroke. I use a 6 oz and it gives me about 12-15 min fligth

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