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RE: Tree Hopper - 12/16/2006 5:49:36 AM   
teufelhund



Posts: 282
Joined: 9/16/2003
From: Bladenboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Hi guys, Any new Treehoppers out there? If not, anyone have updates and pics of their aircraft they would like to share? I am working on this build (along with others) right now, and would like to see what everyone else has done with theirs. Mine is going into use as an AV platform when finished. Ben

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RE: Tree Hopper - 12/16/2006 10:51:47 PM   
TRoc


 

Posts: 76
Joined: 2/11/2004
From: Fairbanks, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Ben,

Glad to hear of others building a Treehopper.

Here are some updates and comments:

I haven't flown the plane for awhile because I used the servos on another project. Maybe next summer, I'll get it going again.

My Treehopper needed some down thrust. At "cruise" the plane would very noticably nose up when full power was added. I put washers between the top of the Zenoah G26 mount and the firewall to fix the problem.

The landing gear I first made had aluminum that was too soft and didn't spring back. The second version was made out of a springier 1 3/8" wide material that did the trick. I also added a music wire stiffener held with standoffs that I had; I don't know if it was really needed but I had the standoffs and so I used them. The size of the gear I'm using is on the large size but I like the looks. The wheels are 4" Dubros.

I've also had some experience with the gear detaching too easily on normal landings;the screws I used to hold the gear to the fuse were too small. When the gear would come off (this happened a couple of times) it would hit the underside of the fuselage about half way back to the tail and then run in to the horizontal stab and ding that up too. The (metal) screws I'm currently using are large enough to prevent the gear coming off too easily and hopefully aren't too big. I've considered nylon bolts.

A fellow club member suggested putting a round cowl on the plane. I haven't been inspired to do this yet but looked at a cowl from a Top Flite Corsair 60 kit I have; the size of this looks about right and I think it would give it a nice "Curtis Robin" look.

I've also considered getting another one of these planes and try extending the wing out one bay on each side. This would mostly be for looks because I think the plane flies just fine with the stock wing. But the long chord makes the plane look a little stubby.

I've also mixed in some flaperons. I don't think they're necessary but I like messing with stuff like that.

I look forward to hearing more about your Treehopper (and anyone elses)! What engine are you using, etc? Maybe post some pics.

Cheers,

Tom

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< Message edited by TRoc -- 12/16/2006 10:56:21 PM >

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       Post #: 27

RE: Tree Hopper - 12/17/2006 12:00:40 AM   
teufelhund



Posts: 282
Joined: 9/16/2003
From: Bladenboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Tom, Thanks for the quick reply. I'll be taking what you have said into consideration while building mine. I have a 25cc Poulan(Weedeater) conversion going in mine. It still has the mag on it since it cranks fine with it. I'm constructing my landing gear out of 3/16 music wire. It will have a close resemblance to the Cub LG. I plan on using O rings for the suspension dampers on it(LG). I am planning on using flaps on mine also. That big wing begs to have them cut in it seems to me. I have the fuse built and reinforced the firewall with tri stock. I also reinforced the F2 former with scrap 1/8 lite ply and epoxy. I'll be glassing the inside completely to fuelproof and add a bit of strength as this area worries me a little. It seems odd that they would cut the fuse at F2 then have you add the nose section. It just may be me but I would not have done that knowing a heavy gasser will be mounted there. Regards, Ben

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RE: Tree Hopper - 12/17/2006 12:02:28 AM   
teufelhund



Posts: 282
Joined: 9/16/2003
From: Bladenboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		I forgot to add that I have a set of floats for it as well. They're the GP .60 size, supposed to be able to supprt a 15 lb aircraft. Ben

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RE: Tree Hopper - 12/17/2006 12:17:16 AM   
teufelhund



Posts: 282
Joined: 9/16/2003
From: Bladenboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Hey Tom, I also wanted to say you have a good looking bird there. Any other pics of the whole plane(flying maybe, or not)? Thanks for posting the LG specs also. Did you say that you built washout in your wing? I'm thinking about adding washout if you think it may need it, since you are the only person I know that has flown the plane. The LG you have made looks fantastic! What did your planes AUW end up being? I have thought about a cowl of some sort also. I'll definately be adding something to smooth the area from the FW to the wing. Ciao, Ben

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RE: Tree Hopper - 12/17/2006 1:14:52 AM   
TRoc


 

Posts: 76
Joined: 2/11/2004
From: Fairbanks, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Hi again, Ben,

Nope, didn't build in any washout.

It came out to about 14 pounds.

On the landing gear, I tapered the metal about half way down the gear leg from 1 3/8" wide to 1" wide near the wheels and I think it looks much better than leaving it the same width all the way down. You can see on the picture from a previous post of the original (too soft) gear that I didn't taper...looks too thick near the wheel.

I took a quick look around but couldn't find any other full view pictures of the plane. Sorry.

It will be interesting to hear how the plane flys with flaps and/or other modifications/engines.

Tom

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RE: Tree Hopper - 1/11/2007 5:03:19 AM   
teufelhund



Posts: 282
Joined: 9/16/2003
From: Bladenboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Took me a while with the holidays and all, but here are some pics of what I have done so far. I reinforced the firewall area with tri stock and fiberglass/epoxy. The landing gear is formed from 3/16 wire and should hold up well. Ben

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RE: Tree Hopper - 1/15/2007 11:35:16 PM   
TRoc


 

Posts: 76
Joined: 2/11/2004
From: Fairbanks, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Looking good, Ben ! I enjoy seeing pictures and looking at the subtlties and how they're handled. The landing gear looks good. I'm interested in seeing how you do the flaps. Have you decided on what you're going to cover it with?

It'd be nice to see other pictures of Treehoppers too.

Tom

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RE: Tree Hopper - 1/16/2007 12:24:28 AM   
teufelhund



Posts: 282
Joined: 9/16/2003
From: Bladenboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Hey Tom I guess it's just you and me. Thanks for the compliments! I've just about got the wing completed, I'll shoot some pics to post tonight. I have the ailerons marked for the flap cutouts just have been concentrating on the wing build for right now. I have the flaps at 14" and the ailerons at 22" long. The flaps are around 38% of the total rear of the wing. I also moved ribs W1B out further toward the wing tips to help get the aileron horns toward the center of the ailerons. I am going to be covering in either Ultracote or Super Coverite for the strength. Ben

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< Message edited by teufelhund -- 1/16/2007 8:24:16 AM >

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RE: Tree Hopper - 1/16/2007 1:43:14 AM   
psk560



Posts: 609
Joined: 3/7/2002
From: Appling, GA,
Status: offline 		Please post pics of the ailerons and flaps. I've got one of these I want to build for my son. It will be his trainer but flaps makes it fun for me. LOL.

Craig

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RE: Tree Hopper - 1/16/2007 8:36:50 AM   
teufelhund



Posts: 282
Joined: 9/16/2003
From: Bladenboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Welcome to the thread Craig. I will be posting pics of all the modifications I make to help others if they decide to build this aircraft. It isn't a good first kit for anyone new to building as TROC(Tom) said in the beginning. The instructions are not very clear and the pics they include are mediocre at best with a few contradicions on almost every page. That said, it shouldn't be to difficult for anyone with some experience to construct, and the kit is very well made. Ben

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RE: Tree Hopper - 1/16/2007 7:27:16 PM   
TRoc


 

Posts: 76
Joined: 2/11/2004
From: Fairbanks, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Craig! Glad you joined in. With you and Ben talking about flaps, I've been thinking of getting another Treehopper kit and just building the wing with modifications I've been pondering (I'd end up with a spare fuselage kit for later if needed). I'd want to try it myself before recommending it to anyone else but I think the spars in the kit are long enough to extend the wings out one bay on each side without having to splice anything. Wonder how much differently it would fly with the longer wing.

Tom

Edited to include an afterthought...another thing I'm glad I did was install the radio equipment in the back of the fuselage (away from the engine however the receiver battery is towards the forward part of the fuse (behind the fuel tank)). It leaves a lot of room in the fuse for anything else you may want to haul. Just thought I'd include it for your consideration.

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< Message edited by TRoc -- 1/16/2007 9:01:39 PM >

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RE: Tree Hopper - 1/17/2007 3:18:40 AM   
psk560



Posts: 609
Joined: 3/7/2002
From: Appling, GA,
Status: offline 		Good idea to leave the fuse open. Very interested in flaps. I don't have much for power up front (g-20 or old maloney-baloney 125) so dropping a parachutist might be tough to lift but who knows. Should be a great trainer as it is a big plane.

Craig

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RE: Tree Hopper - 2/12/2007 5:09:16 PM   
TRoc


 

Posts: 76
Joined: 2/11/2004
From: Fairbanks, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Hey Ben,

Are you making any headway on the flaps?

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