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CGRetired -> RE: Venus II (6/29/2006 11:59 AM)
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Well, all of my engines are OS with the exception of one which is a Super Tigre 75. I like them all, but the Super Tigre leaks fuel and I had to replace the muffler twice.. the insides, the baffle, came loose on two mufflers, brand new mufflers, brand new engine.. so I put a tuned pipe on it. Definitely woke that plane up (Tiger 60), now if I could only keep nose-wheel gear on that plane.. ha.. it was my second plane after solo, I still have it, but that nose wheel took a beating. Anyway, this is a Venus II thread so I apologize for straying. I just wanted to say that all of my OS's run just great, I have absolutely no complaints about them. Can't say much about my former Evolutions.. had the 40, 61, and 100. All had problems.
Now the Venus II. Ok, I finished it yesterday. I am using Sullivan Composite rods with a 2-56 steel rod in the last six inches of the Sullivans on the control surface end. What I did was grabbed the Sullivan, not tight but tight enough to prevent it from twisting, using a pair of channel lock pliers. Previously, I marked the 2-56 rod for length (how far to push it into the Sullivan Rod) then I put the 2-56 rod in the chuck of a variable speed reversable drill. I put the rod at the opening in the center of the Sullivan, put a drop or two of thick CA on the rod, then powered up the drill. Then I pushed the rod into the center hole up to the mark. The CA actually acted as a lube but you have to work quickly, but when done, that 2-56 rod is not going anyplace and it stiffens the last 6 inches or so of the rods so they don't flex or bend under strain. I did that for both sides of the elevator and the rudder. My servos are located under the wing in the servo tray. I did not opt to put the servo's in the rear. I just don't like that look.
I was going to use the tube supplied for the antenna, but there is no real way to secure the antenna in that tube. Previous experience found that the vibration causes the antenna to dance around in that tube and it will work it's way back out if not secured. Then you end up with a ball of antenna under the servo tray and that ain't good at all. You all MUST know that the antenna needs to be stretched out to work.. won't go in to the antenna theory of that, but it MUST be stretched out it's full length. So, what I did was drill a small hole in the bottom of the fuselage about an eighth of an inch behind where the wing goes (there is a flat piece of balsa there) and stiffened it up with CA. Then I took a piece of plastic that was tear-drop shaped and about a half inch long, drilled a hole through that then CA'ed it to the spot on the fuselage (I used the teardrop piece as a template and cut the covering to match.. looked nice when done). Then I fed the antenna carefully through the hole, hit it with a spot of CA, then led the antenna rearward along the bottom of the fuselage. I then took a 1 inch wide by 24 inches long piece of red covering, believe it was monocoat, tightened the antenna so it would be straight, centered the strip of covering over the antenna wire, then ironed the covering over the antenna. It just looks like a trim strip and matches the color scheme and you cannot tell it's an antenna under there. This works well. I did that on my Excelleron 90 and have had 0 that's ZERO problems with this setup.
I am using a pair of 1200 mah NiMH 5 cell batteries and a matching switches (so two batts two switches). One goes to the battery input channel on the RX the other goes to an un-used channel on the RX, I had one free, channel 7. That will give me plenty of redundancy in the battery department for sure.
The motor is mounted on an angle as the plans suggested. I did that so the muffler goes into that port in the bottom of the fuselage, that ramp area.. you guys with the plane know what I am talking about. I put a coating of resin (very thin epoxy resin) over the firewall, that ramp area, and anywhere I thought fuel may get on or in based on my experience with the Excelleron... however, with this plane, the exhaust will be out the bottom and under so I only really have to be concerned about the area directly behind the ramp area. Will fuel proof it further tonite because there is an area that may need it.
I am going to put a light coating of clear RTV along the belly pan where it adjoins the fuselage. I don't like the way it joined according to the build plans.
Other than that, I built it according to the plans. It came out about a half pound lighter than the Excelleron. I was surprised. And I don't see any compromises in the Venus II that made it lighter, but it is.
I intend to break in the engine tomorrow eve after work (Friday) and, if time, I will put it in the air and get a report back to you all on how it did. I would imagine, I will take it easy with it for the first few tanks fulls, doing some basic maneuvers and some boring race-track orbits just to make sure all is well.
DS.
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