RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF  
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RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF - 3/21/2007 10:51:59 PM   
gunfighter


 

Posts: 629
Joined: 7/13/2002
From: Canyon Lake, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Motorman - my bad. I meant to say 126's not the old 125's.

As to the magnum, I know some love them (some people love Ford too) but I have had nothing but bad luck with them and will not buy another one. I am not a great fan of OS either if I can get a Saito. However, Due to the twin valve covers on the Saito 100 and 125, I could see that I was going to have to cut up the cowl to install either. Saito 82 probably would fit, but not sure if it had the power for this size plane. I also looked at the OS 91 2 stroke but saw there was an issue with the muffler. So I "settled" for the OS 91 Surpass 2 as the easiest to install for now.

I have not given up on the BME 90 gas and may order another cowl and try it at a later date.

Construction is proceding rapidly. Should have the airframe completed tonight. I am going to replace some of the hardware in the kit, specifically the control horns and aileron / flap pushrods. I just don't like the way they are installed. They look a little weak. Other than that, I am very happy with the plane so far.

Lat us know when you get yours airborne and I will do the same.

(in reply to MOTORMAN37)
       Post #: 126

RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF - 3/22/2007 12:01:28 AM   
MOTORMAN37



Posts: 2088
Joined: 10/26/2002
From: CLINTONVILLE, WI, USA
Status: offline 		Gunfighter,
I will not be flying mine untill late april. We still have snow on the ground here. I am still waiting for a RH flap, My kit had two lh's. Some poor guy is going to get one with two rh's. I am convinced the "Ultimate" muffler from Bisson will fit enableing me to run the Magnum .91XLS (.91FX clone but with true ABC not a ring). Take a look at the muffler on Bissons site. The only bad thing is that you have to order it direct from Bisson for $60.00 since neither Tower or Horizon carry that model.
Are you stuck with ST125MG's too, I have two "NIB", and am scared silly to use them in anything. I cannot believe after all the bad posts, and the discontinuing of them that Horizon does not instruct customers to send them back in exchange for something else.

(in reply to gunfighter)
       Post #: 127

RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF - 3/22/2007 12:52:07 AM   
gunfighter


 

Posts: 629
Joined: 7/13/2002
From: Canyon Lake, TX, USA
Status: offline
quote:

Are you stuck with ST125MG's too


No. I got the 126's. the new ones.

My airframe is almost complete. Have to make a trip to the LHS for a few parts and should be finished by tomorrow PM.

Few tanks to break in the engine and I expect to be airborne Friday PM or Saturday AM. I'll post how the maiden goes.

(in reply to MOTORMAN37)
       Post #: 128

RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF - 3/22/2007 1:23:04 AM   
MOTORMAN37



Posts: 2088
Joined: 10/26/2002
From: CLINTONVILLE, WI, USA
Status: offline 		Gunfighter,
What do think of the landing gear mounting? I like the design, but think it could of used a little more meat in the front, that is why I beefed it up. I have Hitec 5625's for the tail, and will be running JR DS821's on the ailerons and flaps. I really take my time on "ARF'S" and pretty much go over the entire plane as if I was building it. I am a Mechanical designer by trade, so I am extremely fussy with my planes. The only thing I care about, is that it is done by Late april. I have a whole basement of planes to fly.

(in reply to gunfighter)
       Post #: 129

RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF - 3/22/2007 1:53:26 AM   
gunfighter


 

Posts: 629
Joined: 7/13/2002
From: Canyon Lake, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I think the LG mount is unique and very stout. I saw no need for reinforcement. Though on all ARF's I go over everything I can reach with thin CA.

I had a couple of days off so I have been working steady on it today. I have not been rushing anything but things just "fell" into place and I made very good progress. Tomorrow I have to mount control horns, servo's, mount the engine and cowl, and glue on the canopy.

I'm thinking of using a pair of ST 47's on the elevator (6V = 55 oz/in. ea.) I've got ST 126 MG's for everything else and an ST 47 for throttle.

The OS .91 gets lost in that huge cowl!! If the shape was a little different I would definately have a gas engine up front!

This is one fine ARF!!

(in reply to MOTORMAN37)
       Post #: 130

RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF - 3/22/2007 4:47:25 AM   
MOTORMAN37



Posts: 2088
Joined: 10/26/2002
From: CLINTONVILLE, WI, USA
Status: offline 		Gunfighter,
The reinforcement I did added about an ounce. It probaly did not need it though. I too have used the ST47B's quite abit. Infact I was able to get a comment by a tech at Hor**** when they first came out that they are nothing but a rebadged JR537. He told me it was a marketing thing. I finally recieved my pilot from Cajun RC, and it will really finish off the plane. I plan to get alot of it done this weekend. I have joint custody and placement of my daughter, and this is my ex's week starting tonight, so I will actually have time to work on it quite abit this weekend.
I did some measuring tonight, and it looks like the "ULTIMATE" muffler will be a perfect fit, the pipes will need about 2" of extension on each pipe.

(in reply to gunfighter)
       Post #: 131

RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF - 3/22/2007 6:59:51 AM   
flyfastest


 

Posts: 38
Joined: 11/16/2005
From: Oregon City, OR, USA
Status: offline 		Tonight I had a HUGE surprise. I'm sitting with my wife and kids watching....ahem.... American Idol... and my mother calls. Since I'm going out of town next week I was invited over tonight for some unkown reason. So my daughter and I jump in the car and we go over to my parents house. When we arrive my parents inform me they got me a birthday gift. Well now I'm 36 years old and have two daughters and getting b-day gifts from my parents is a little unexpected. They take my daughter and I downstairs to give me my b-day gift. When I look at the back of the living room I see a huge box containg a Great Planes 1/4 scale RV-4. Now tears aren't something that a lot of guys show so the ones that seemed to well up in my eyes were harder than hell to hold back. I must say I was surprised and extremely happy to get not only get such an expensive gift but one that was perfect. I am currently building an RChomebuilts RV-6 and am almost completed. I will get some good time in with the 1/5 scale rv-6 and then build the RV-4. Can't wait to see it...and hope to hear more from you folks that are currently getting ready to maiden yours.

Now I just have to decide what motor to eventually get. Looks like for fit and power the OS .91 is the way to go.

Anyway....just had to tell my story.


(in reply to MOTORMAN37)
       Post #: 132

RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF - 3/22/2007 4:14:06 PM   
wbpo


 

Posts: 42
Joined: 8/20/2003
From: Pittsboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Sure, I am finishing up one of the Hobby People DH-88 Comets. As soon as I clear off the table and start the RV I'll take some photos.

(in reply to mejetdrvr)
       Post #: 133

RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF - 3/22/2007 7:05:49 PM   
airboss82


 

Posts: 10
Joined: 11/22/2004
From: , MI, USA
Status: offline 		RV-4 ARF hit the LHS on March 14th. I picked mine up on the 15th, but have to finish a decathlon project first. I decided to power it with a new OS-91 Surpass II. This engine fits the cowl perfectly with no need to cut into the fiberglass cheek cowl. My Saito 91 will not fit without cutting the side of the cowling. You can see the airplane fly on an OS-91 by going to [link]http://www.greatplanes.com, then click on Gallery and select which size video you want to watch. Looks like it flies great and very scale on the 91.

(in reply to GerKonig)
       Post #: 134

RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF - 3/22/2007 7:35:10 PM   
pettit



Posts: 2136
Joined: 12/19/2001
From: Durham, NC, USA
Status: online 		And the review and video (not Great Planes) is here too:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=634239

_____________________________

Dick Pettit
Associate Editor, R/C REPORT Magazine
"You Can Buy Better,
But You Can't Pay More"

(in reply to airboss82)
       Post #: 135

RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF - 3/23/2007 3:31:48 PM   
airboss82


 

Posts: 10
Joined: 11/22/2004
From: , MI, USA
Status: offline 		PETTIT<
I've got the same set-up but haven't started construction. I noticed you mounted the engine almost at the end of the motor-mount. How did your balance come out with this set-up? Also, did the cowling slide on far enough for a good fit?

Thanks for your input.

Jerry

(in reply to pettit)
       Post #: 136

RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF - 3/23/2007 5:23:57 PM   
pettit



Posts: 2136
Joined: 12/19/2001
From: Durham, NC, USA
Status: online 		Built the way the book says, balance came out perfect with minor battery relacation.

The cowl fits perfectly also.

_____________________________

Dick Pettit
Associate Editor, R/C REPORT Magazine
"You Can Buy Better,
But You Can't Pay More"

(in reply to airboss82)
       Post #: 137

RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF - 3/25/2007 3:48:21 AM   
gunfighter


 

Posts: 629
Joined: 7/13/2002
From: Canyon Lake, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Got my maiden flight in today with the RV-4. this thing flies SWEET!

Power is an OS .91 surpass 2 turning a 15x6 APC @7800 (rich - still breaking in). Weight came in at 10 1/4 pounds unfueled.

Ran 2 tanks of fuel through the engine to get it broken in, then checked over everything to make sure no bolts had worked loose.

Wind was steady at about 15 mph straight down the runway. OK - here we go!
Got in position on the runway and slowly advanced the throttle using a little rudder to keep it straight. After about 75 - 80 ft. and 3/4 throttle, it was airborne with no input from me. Climbed at about 10 degrees steady as a rock. It was about 80 - 90 ft. up before I even touched the sticks! After a pattern turn, I leveled off at about 200 ft. and put in 3 clicks of down elevator to hold altitude. It flew hands off after that. Did a few rolls and several loops. The responce is very scale. That is to say, it will do aerobatics suitable for the full scale RV-4. It is not a 3D capable ship but will definately please the average sport aerobatic type. Vertical was very good in my opinion. From level flight I could pull straight up and it would climb about 250 - 300 ft. before stopping. Then it would just hang there at about a 30 degree angle (into a 15 mph wind). No tendancy to drop a wing. It was very stable.

After about 5 minutes my engine died (more on that later) and I came in "dead stick". I severely underestimated the glide path of this ship. It floated well past the center of the runway and I actually had to force it down before I ran out of real estate. And this was without flaps!

Assembly was a breeze and the final product is very pleasing to the eye. I got lots of compliments from every one that saw it.

One thing I will have to change. The airflow to and over the engine is not adequate to provide cooling. My engine got very hot while running it on the ground, and apparently was also hot in the air. I am building a "deflector" to route air from the blank side (opposite the cylinder head) onto the engine. I hope this will help cool the engine. that is the only complaint I have.

This is a quality ARF and it flies extreemely well.

(in reply to pettit)
       Post #: 138

RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF - 3/25/2007 5:18:20 AM   
kaosfan


 

Posts: 23
Joined: 12/11/2006
From: Elk Grove, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Excellent, Gunfighter

Good to hear that news.

Unfortunately mine is going a little slower on the completion. I was wondering about the engine cooling issue. That seems to be something even full-scale RV pilots have trouble perfecting. If you can please post a photo of yours.

(in reply to gunfighter)
       Post #: 139

RE: Great Planes RV-4 .60-.90 ARF - 3/25/2007 12:27:13 PM