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RE: RC Universe Profile Biplane (Flatout) Build thread - 2/23/2006 12:47:34 AM   
FlyerBry



Posts: 449
Joined: 9/12/2003
From: Washington, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks for the input! I'll probably go ahead and try them out. I suppose with tape hinge systems you always have that tendancy for the control surface to want to self-center the control surface while at extreme deflection. I ordered an extra set of hardware with mine. Sounds like I may need it!

(in reply to jasonbrent)
       Post #: 26

RE: RC Universe Profile Biplane (Flatout) Build thread - 2/23/2006 3:12:21 AM   
Bmr4life


 

Posts: 140
Joined: 3/20/2005
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: jasonbrent

I too have a centering issue (Reflection) with my Ailerons that I've yet to tackle.. I'm literally afraid to unclip any of the "hinges" to try to free up movement any however... I went through two complete kits to get one "working" set of hinges.

Interestingly enough, full right aileron centers fine.. full left doesn't... I'll find the binding soon.. and hopefully without breaking anything terribly.

-jbl


I had the same problem with just one side not centering correctly. Try to disconnect the top ailerons from the bottom ones and see how the servo acts with just the bottom.

_____________________________

.21 T-Maxx'.18 RC10GT'.21 T-Inferno'Terra Crusher'TLT-1'3 E-Pedes 1BL'E-Hawk'E-Rustler'2 Aero Aces'2 Mini Dragonflies'Humvee

(in reply to jasonbrent)
       Post #: 27

RE: RC Universe Profile Biplane (Flatout) Build thread - 2/23/2006 2:37:02 PM   
GM1



Posts: 246
Joined: 12/6/2001
From: Tallahassee, FL, USA
Status: offline 		The vast majority of the problems ocurred when the control horn was not drilled. The flashing on the clevis makes it very tight and sticky. I overdrilled mine one size and everything now just falls. The minute amount of slop introduced into the system has noi efect at all on flying characteristics. Hey, it's a freakin' foamie, not rocket science, so don't sweat the slop.
Gordie

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In a dog sled team, if you're not the lead dog, the view never changes.

(in reply to Bmr4life)
       Post #: 28

RE: RC Universe Profile Biplane (Flatout) Build thread - 2/23/2006 2:53:53 PM   
stuk_at_work



Posts: 1392
Joined: 1/23/2003
From: Oceanport, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		GM1,

You must have been reading my mind (or some of the earlier posts ). I'll have some time tonight to remove the ailerons and drill out the hinge "clips". I'll report back to this thread and let you all know how it worked out. Assuming it does (why should in not?), I'll update some of my earlier posts to reflect this modification to keep the thread in the "build along" spirit.

_____________________________

-Stu

Moderator Marketplace, Warbirds & Warplanes
Jersey Coast Sport Flyers, Exec. Board

(in reply to GM1)
       Post #: 29

RE: RC Universe Profile Biplane (Flatout) Build thread - 2/23/2006 3:12:56 PM   
Bmr4life


 

Posts: 140
Joined: 3/20/2005
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Status: offline 		I didn't have to drill out my hinge clips, just the aileron link horn. If you drill out the hinge clips, the ailerons may not stay on the wing. I'm thinknig of using hine tape just because the clips are so fragile anyway.

_____________________________

.21 T-Maxx'.18 RC10GT'.21 T-Inferno'Terra Crusher'TLT-1'3 E-Pedes 1BL'E-Hawk'E-Rustler'2 Aero Aces'2 Mini Dragonflies'Humvee

(in reply to stuk_at_work)
       Post #: 30

RE: RC Universe Profile Biplane (Flatout) Build thread - 2/23/2006 3:50:08 PM   
stuk_at_work



Posts: 1392
Joined: 1/23/2003
From: Oceanport, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		We'll see. I will start out with a bit the same diameter as the hole. That will tell me if I have (had) a flashing issue I overlooked when I initially installed the ailerons. Judging by how tough it was to pop just one hinge clip off and how much pressure it took to press them on, I'm not too worried about the ailerons popping off on their own, even if I do end up enlarging the holes slightly.

_____________________________

-Stu

Moderator Marketplace, Warbirds & Warplanes
Jersey Coast Sport Flyers, Exec. Board

(in reply to Bmr4life)
       Post #: 31

RE: RC Universe Profile Biplane (Flatout) Build thread - 2/23/2006 3:50:29 PM   
GM1



Posts: 246
Joined: 12/6/2001
From: Tallahassee, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Yes, me too. I drill the control horns, not the hinges. I would suggest you slid a rod into the hinge and then pull it straight out to prestress the hinge but other than that, I have never done anything special.
Gordie

_____________________________

In a dog sled team, if you're not the lead dog, the view never changes.

(in reply to Bmr4life)
       Post #: 32

RE: RC Universe Profile Biplane (Flatout) Build thread - 2/23/2006 3:57:41 PM   
Bmr4life


 

Posts: 140
Joined: 3/20/2005
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Status: offline 		I do think i drill my control horns to big though, but I'm gonig to try and make my own linkage out of some .047" music wire. Just slip it through the control horn and bend a small U at each end. The amount of slop I get should be negligible.

_____________________________

.21 T-Maxx'.18 RC10GT'.21 T-Inferno'Terra Crusher'TLT-1'3 E-Pedes 1BL'E-Hawk'E-Rustler'2 Aero Aces'2 Mini Dragonflies'Humvee

(in reply to GM1)
       Post #: 33

RE: RC Universe Profile Biplane (Flatout) Build thread - 2/24/2006 2:51:21 AM   
stuk_at_work



Posts: 1392
Joined: 1/23/2003
From: Oceanport, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		I didn't get to spend a whole lot of time looking at my aileron centering problem, as my priority tonight is to get my "wish list" together for my trip to the WRAM show tomorrow. However, this is what my preliminary investigation uncovered:

After removing the linkages between the top & bottom ailerons and disconnecting the control horns from the servo arms, I was able to look at each aileron separately. What I found was that while there was a bit of flashing and a case or two of glue overflow to remove, the majority of the friction seems to be caused by the leading edge of the aileron (foam) rubbing against the carbon fiber tube on the trailing edge of the wing (the one the hinges attach to). I took a small drill bit and ran it down carefully against the edge of the aileron between the hinges to form a bit of channel. Once the aileron was put back on the wing, it moved freely!

In retrospect, maybe a slight gap should have been left when installing the aileron hinges to avoid this situation. I never noticed the problem on the previous flatout I built, but that plane (Flantana) has two, not four ailerons, so the friction was not that apparent. I'll probably go back and redo the ailerons on that plane too!

_____________________________

-Stu

Moderator Marketplace, Warbirds & Warplanes
Jersey Coast Sport Flyers, Exec. Board

(in reply to Bmr4life)
       Post #: 34

RE: RC Universe Profile Biplane (Flatout) Build thread - 2/24/2006 12:02:21 PM   
gpw



Posts: 72
Joined: 2/27/2005
From: New Orleans, LA, USA
Status: offline 		It surely is a nice LOOKING biplane .... too bad they made it like all the other Flatouts .... brittle foam , and that somewhat less than innovative hardware doomed to early failure...could have been a really great plane , but they are so pleased with the graphics and themselves , the quality of materials is ignored.......and I built 4 Flatouts allready ..... all went to an early grave.....not from bad flying either.... Better to trace the outline on some Blucor or something more durable ...

Stuk , you must work for them , eh ?

(in reply to jasonbrent)
       Post #: 35

RE: RC Universe Profile Biplane (Flatout) Build thread - 2/24/2006 12:21:00 PM   
Maudib



Posts: 5833
Joined: 7/16/2002
From: Ashland, KY, USA
Status: offline 		GPW,

The flatout can easily be assembled like any other foamy you like with Blenderm tape hinges and Dubro control horns & micro hardware.

Since it's $40 it's not too much more to add to customize your plane with your hardware preferences...

The extra cf tubes left over make AWESOME pushrods... very lightweight and stiff.

The foam is more rigid and therefore less resistance to snapping, but then again the less flex results in less twisting and more authoritative surfaces.

I like the Flatout design... and it seems there is only two camps on that... really like or really not like.

My turmoil is the best foamy I've flown to date, and now that I'm feeling a little better (been sick the last few days) I plan on getting my RCU Bipe built this weekend.


(in reply to gpw)
       Post #: 36

RE: RC Universe Profile Biplane (Flatout) Build thread - 2/24/2006 12:53:48 PM   
gpw



Posts: 72
Joined: 2/27/2005
From: New Orleans, LA, USA
Status: offline 		Maud ... try some of the Blu-cor flatties at www.FoamFly.com/gallery/Glen most can be built for 2 bucks , last forever , tape hinges , and bamboo skewer spars... it's the FUN per Buck Ratio....

(in reply to Maudib)
       Post #: 37

RE: RC Universe Profile Biplane (Flatout) Build thread - 2/25/2006 12:29:53 AM   
stuk_at_work



Posts: 1392
Joined: 1/23/2003
From: Oceanport, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		I just got back from the WRAM show. I spent about a 1/2 hour talking to Don Anderson. He's really a very nice guy! He acknowledged that the flashing was an issue with the flatouts, and that they are looking into it. Assume for now though, that all moving parts should be checked carefully for flashing (my words here).

They did have the RCU Bipe on display, and one thing I immediately noticed was that they had about 1/16" inch of space behind the hinges, i.e., the hinges stick out more! This sort of supports my foam rubbing on the carbon fiber theory. Since I still haven't "fixed" two of the ailerons on my plane yet, I think will try to extract the hinges from them and offset them the same 1/16" and see which fix works better. That will be tomorrow though.

_____________________________

-Stu

Moderator Marketplace, Warbirds & Warplanes
Jersey Coast Sport Flyers, Exec. Board

(in reply to gpw)
       Post #: 38

RE: RC Universe Profile Biplane (Flatout) Build thread - 3/5/2006 2:54:00 PM   
Maudib



Posts: 5833
Joined: 7/16/2002
From: Ashland, KY, USA
Status: offline 		Well I've made a lot of progress now that I'm feeling a bit better...

I did review of the Turmoil Flatout a while back and really liked it so when the RCU bipe came out... well I had to give it a try!

The elevator and fuse is built first...

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(in reply to stuk_at_work)