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Great Planes Big Stick 40 problems - 7/8/2006 6:20:47 PM   
topwinguk


 

Posts: 77
Joined: 10/31/2002
From: Beaminster, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		I have had a couple of real hairey flights with a newly built Big Stick 40 powered by a Supere Tigre 40. First flight nearly uncontrollable and lucky to get safely down. Second flight reduced the throws and added expo, slightly better but still a real hand full. CG OK and throws now less than recommended. Is this a real dog of a model or any ideas.

Tony
       Post #: 1

RE: Great Planes Big Stick 40 problems - 7/8/2006 7:07:35 PM   
aerowoof


 

Posts: 1963
Joined: 6/11/2006
From: pembroke, NH, USA
Status: offline 		big stick is like an aerobatic trainer.they fly really nice.what controls are sensitive?all of them or the elevator.sensitive elevator is a sign of a tail heavy airplane.the stick should balance one the main spar.if you are having problem try balancing it 1/2 forward of where it is now.

(in reply to topwinguk)
       Post #: 2

RE: Great Planes Big Stick 40 problems - 7/8/2006 7:53:59 PM   
Tripower455



Posts: 403
Joined: 1/14/2005
From: Naples, FL, USA
Status: offline 		As Aerowoof said, the only way that a Stik will be a handful is if the CG is way aft...... Balance it a bit forward of the spar. It will fly much better if it is too nose heavy than if it is tail heavy. They usually aren't too bad even if they are a bit tail heavy. I notice it more on landing than in any other flight regime. They land like they're on rails with proper to nose heavy cg, but will be squirrely in pitch with the cg aft. It might also be a thow issue, but that is very subjective. I always set my throws to as far as they'll go without sdtalling the servos. The airplane is very responsive with lots of throw, especially if you are used to trainer type planes.

I bashed one of these from plans back in the '80's, and have been flying the heck out of it with a Rossi .6 1re on it ever since...... Awesome airplane.

< Message edited by Tripower455 -- 7/8/2006 7:56:23 PM >

(in reply to aerowoof)
       Post #: 3

RE: Great Planes Big Stick 40 problems - 7/12/2006 1:29:03 PM   
Mturowski


 

Posts: 46
Joined: 3/3/2005
From: Drums, PA, USA
Status: offline 		I don't know what your level of experience is, but you may want to have someone who's been modeling for some time to give the plane a once over. This isn't meant as a dig, many times its easy to overlook or miss something. Like the other guys said, it sounds like the CG may be too far back. You could also have a warp in the wing as well, maybe the controls aren't level at neutral etc.

The GP Stik is a sound plane and design. Most of the later stiks are knock offs of the old stik design from the 60s/70s which were solid flyers. There were so many variations of this design simply because it was so good. Once you get the bugs worked out you should be fine.

This winter I built the Das Ugly Stik from plans, powered with a 61. True to its history its a great flyer and will do everything you could ask of it.

(in reply to Tripower455)
       Post #: 4

RE: Great Planes Big Stick 40 problems - 7/14/2006 6:54:54 PM   
topwinguk


 

Posts: 77
Joined: 10/31/2002
From: Beaminster, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Thanks to all you guys for the tips. Anyway after you all sang the praises of the Big Stick I guessed it must be something dumb that I'd done, so gave the model a complete check over and all the throws were spot on, no warps and the CG spot on the measued mark that I'd made on the fuz side. Balanced it out again using my Multiplex CG balancer and again spot on. Scratched my head a few times and then got the instructions out. The CG position was spot on that in the table but I'd used the CG position in the table for the 60 powered version. So the CG was about 1/4" more rearward than the max quoted. My wife says I should keep taking the medicine! Only been doing the Hobby for 50 odd years. First ARF model I've ever had, must stick to scratch building in the future. Still haven't had a chance to check it out agin as the weather has either been up in the 80's and blowing a gale or pouring with rain and calm. Typical UK weather. Let you know my opinion when I get it in the air again.

Tony

(in reply to Mturowski)
       Post #: 5

RE: Great Planes Big Stick 40 problems - 7/14/2006 8:41:18 PM   
chashint


 

Posts: 1057
Joined: 1/1/2002
From: Rowlett, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I recently maidened a Big Stick 60, cg and all controls were set to the recommended high rate range.
I had been exclusively flying an Astro Hog for quite a while prior to this maiden flight.
The Big Stick responds a lot quicker to the controls than the Astro Hog so if you have been flying a trainer or another slow reacting plane then this will be a big step up initially for you. For the first 10 seconds after takeoff I had my hands full, but as soon as I stopped over controlling the plane and gained some altitude to trim it out everything was fine. The plane was not hard to trim at all.
I did decide to shift the cg forward some since the tail seemed to want to drop down on the landing approach, do not be hesitant to do this with your model, you can always shift th cg back once you become more comfortable with the plane.
Since the plane belongs to someone that has also been flying an Astro Hog and is not accustomed to flying a 'twitchy' airplane the control throws were reduced to a little less than the low rate values after a few flights I think we will be able to speed the roll rate back up.
I am impressed with the new Big Sticks, they appear to be well constructed and lightweight. There is a 40 size, 60 size, and giant size at our club and everyone just loves the way they fly.

Just saw your follow up post.
Experience does not seem to be a factor so discount all references to that.
I don't know if 1/4 inch will make that much difference on the Big Stick, since it was so wild I would try moving it at least 1/2 inch.
Good luck.

< Message edited by chashint -- 7/14/2006 8:48:17 PM >

_____________________________

regards,
Charlie

(in reply to topwinguk)
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RE: Great Planes Big Stick 40 problems - 7/15/2006 7:47:22 AM   
topwinguk


 

Posts: 77
Joined: 10/31/2002
From: Beaminster, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Hi Charlie

Because I mixed up the CG positions from the 60 and 40 powered versions, the CG was about 1" out!!! Thanks for the info. Hope that it is now a cutie. CG is on the Fwd position now. As you say I can always move it aft later.

Tony

(in reply to chashint)
       Post #: 7

RE: Great Planes Big Stick 40 problems - 7/15/2006 4:43:40 PM   
Tripower455



Posts: 403
Joined: 1/14/2005
From: Naples, FL, USA
Status: offline 		BTW, here is my 18 year old, plans bashed from scratch, Big Stik .40....... Great flyer! It now sports a late .80's vintage Enya .60X III, after some noise and speed complaints at the club I fly....... I am a new member and don't want to push buttons. It's just as fast and noisy, but no one complains..... Go figure. I guess the sight of the tuned pipe makes it noisier.....

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(in reply to topwinguk)
       Post #: 8

RE: Great Planes Big Stick 40 problems - 7/15/2006 6:54:20 PM   
parrthd


 

Posts: 552
Joined: 1/22/2006
From: Nettleton, MS, USA
Status: offline
quote:

Go figure. I guess the sight of the tuned pipe makes it noisier.....


that's one MEAN looking pipe.........2 questions about it...

1 does it sound and perform as mean as it looks

and

2 is it a custom job cause i've never seen a pipe quite that long.

_____________________________

AHHHHH, I love the smell of CA and epoxy in the morning.....AMA #860567

(in reply to Tripower455)
       Post #: 9

RE: Great Planes Big Stick 40 problems - 7/15/2006 7:13:22 PM   
Tripower455



Posts: 403
Joined: 1/14/2005
From: Naples, FL, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: parrthd

quote:

Go figure. I guess the sight of the tuned pipe makes it noisier.....


that's one MEAN looking pipe.........2 questions about it...

1 does it sound and perform as mean as it looks

and

2 is it a custom job cause i've never seen a pipe quite that long.



It performs unbelievably... The Rossi .61 re is a very powerful engine. It used to pull my old 10 lb pattern planes vertically.....

It really moves the BS .40 well.

The pipe is a common, off the shelf Macs pipe for a .61...... I guess it is old school tech nowadays..... The engine is ported for around 13.25" from the glow plug to the high point of the pipe. It spins 16,500 rpm on an 11-7........

< Message edited by Tripower455 -- 7/15/2006 7:14:59 PM >

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       Post #: 10

RE: Great Planes Big Stick 40 problems - 7/19/2006 6:25:33 PM   
Mturowski


 

Posts: 46
Joined: 3/3/2005
From: Drums, PA, USA
Status: offline 		Having the CG that far back will do it every time. At least you got the plane back for a second change. You should be much better now.

(in reply to Tripower455)
       Post #: 11

RE: Great Planes Big Stick 40 problems - 7/19/2006 8:14:41 PM   
Tripower455



Posts: 403
Joined: 1/14/2005
From: Naples, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I just put 4 flights on mine again today..... What a great flying plane.... It's almost 20 years old, and still puts a smile on my face.

(in reply to Mturowski)
       Post #: 12

RE: Great Planes Big Stick 40 problems - 7/20/2006 9:18:54 AM   
parrthd


 

Posts: 552
Joined: 1/22/2006
From: Nettleton, MS, USA
Status: offline 		i'm covering the wing to an ultra stick 60 (i know this forum's about the big stick but....what the hey....)

The plane was given to be by one of our flyers, it's been repaired several times but i stripped it completely down and gave it a good going over fixing everything i thought needed attention.

Hope to fly it next weekend. i had planned on it flying this weekend but no one has a motor mount that'll fit a super tiger 90 2 stroke. i'll keep everyone posted about the flight and what i think about it.

_____________________________

AHHHHH, I love the smell of CA and epoxy in the morning.....AMA #860567

(in reply to Tripower455)
       Post #: 13

RE: Great Planes Big Stick 40 problems - 7/22/2006 5:15:18 PM   
Tripower455



Posts: 403
Joined: 1/14/2005
From: Naples, FL, USA
Status: offline 		It's raining ehere, so no flying today....... I took a few pics of my Stik...... It is now sporting an Enya.61X III in it.... It pulls it around nicely, but nowhere near as well as the Rossi!

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RE: Great Planes Big Stick 40 problems - 7/22/2006 5:32:54 PM   
topwinguk


 

Posts: 77
Joined: 10/31/2002
From: Beaminster, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Well guys you were all correct with your assessment of the Big Stick. It flys great now that I got the CG where it should be!! Might last as long as my DeBolt Custom Bipe, 50 years old next year.

Tony

(in reply to Tripower455)