CAPtain232
Posts: 2467
Joined: 12/15/2001
From: Waynetown, IN, USA
Status: offline
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Hey guys,
I can tell you from experience that yeah you may only take a half an ounce off here and a half an ounce off there, but it all really adds up. Thing of it is, you have to look and find every location where you can take the weight out. When you look at the larger CARDEN aircraft, yeah they build a little heavy, but they fly GREAT..... Take 2 pounds out of it and it flies tons better.
I have taken 1 1/3 pounds out of .60 size airplane. I am going to be working on a NEW 40% CARDEN CAP 232 after I finish a 35% EDGE for someone else. My goal with the new CAP is 34 to 35 pounds (NO MORE) with smoke.
One very important part of the whole process is EQUIPMENT SELECTION. With the newer stronger servos, you can use less of them which equals weight reduction. KEEP IT SIMPLE....... do you really have to run all them fancy gizmos??!! The 40% CAP that I fly now doesn't have a power box, match box or anything that it doesn't REALLY need. These planes have been flying well without them since long before all of this stuff came out. If you like using HITEC servos, it's even better as you can PROGRAM them which is a great way to reduce your need for match boxes or similar items. Again, my CAP has 2 RX, 10 servos, 2 RX batteries with REGs, 1 Ignition battery with REG and switches....nothing else for the radio system. You may say that the regulators are unnecessary if you just use a 6v NiMH pack, but the truth is that the Lithium packs with regulators weigh equal or less and have a higher capacity.
Oh yeah the BIG NAME PILOTs use them, but that is mostly advertising. Now I am not saying that these devices don't have their place in the hobby, but is it necessary to do the job.... Hitec has the right idea with the programmable servos. JR and FUTABA haven't done it because they have some neat little devices to sell you.
Obviously, using light weight hardware pays off. The only problem here is that many of the parts that are available to us do not have a weight listed on the package. If I know I am going to a hobby store to get some things, I will take a scale with me to weigh and compare parts..... Take a pencil and paper and write down what you find for future reference.
Using good light weight building techniques and good equipment selection will result in the ultimate flying plane. It seems to take a ton more work, but I am telling you it is well worth it if you build for yourself.
Good luck all.
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CUSTOM GIANT SCALE BUILDER
PROTOTYPE MODEL BUILDING for full scale aircraft
current project can be seen at http://www.geversaircraft.com
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RE: Carden Cuda Build - 
