Thoughts on Reactor Bipe?  
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PARK ZONE F-4U CORSAIR
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All Forums >> Electric Aircraft Universe >> 3D Electric Flying! >> Thoughts on Reactor Bipe?
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Thoughts on Reactor Bipe? - 2/27/2008 6:22:48 PM   
bbagle1


 

Posts: 410
Joined: 1/15/2007
From: baton rouge, LA, USA
Status: offline 		I mainly fly 3d profiles and heli's but i really like the looks of this plane. I have plenty of 3 cell 3300mah batts which should work. They are a bit heavier than the reccomended setup but with such low winglaoding I think the plane could handle the extra weight. Also the motor I want to use is about 1 ounce heavier than the reccomended but is capable of delivering 500+ watts. I am sure I will be able to get it to balance with the big battery I want to use. Does anyone see any reason why this would not work? I will be using HS-55's all the way around which I think will be ok as I do not plan on putting huge 3d throws in this plane. I want it more for precision flying with some mild 3d. Also if anyone has seen this plane in person or heard anything about it other than what is on tower's site please let me know.
       Post #: 1

RE: Thoughts on Reactor Bipe? - 2/29/2008 6:25:57 AM   
AOG



Posts: 8
Joined: 12/27/2006
From: Champaign, IL, USA
Status: offline 		I have first-hand experience with the reactor bipe and I can tell you it is really a sweet flying airplane. As with anything it's better at certain maneuvers than others, but I don't think you'll hear any complaints for what it is... I think people will be very pleasantly surprised. With good servos and the right prop it is a rock-solid harrier machine.

I think your setup will work, but you can expect to add some tail weight in order to get it to balance. The recommended 35-36-1200 GP Rimfire motor weighs 3.6oz and the GP 2100mAh 3S LiPo weighs 6.2oz. These together get the plane in perfect balance, so consider that with the batts and motor you have.

For those who have reservations because of landing gear issues and stabs breaking on the monoplane EP reactor, don't fret - both the gear and the tail have been updated on this plane and it is considerably stonger than the monoplane.

As for the build, nothing really to look out for except that you should be careful to orient your interplane struts properly (TF goes to Top, Front). ESC installation takes a bit of fishing but keeps it out of the way and leaves the batt compartment clear.

Anyway, hope this helps!

Steve

(in reply to bbagle1)
       Post #: 2

RE: Thoughts on Reactor Bipe? - 3/7/2008 12:29:01 AM   
zac dady


 

Posts: 101
Joined: 2/13/2006
From: mullen, NE, USA
Status: offline 		Steve thanks for theinformation i have not started assembling my bipe reactor yet but i will start this week. I never knew there were any problems with the mono wing reactor. The guys i fly with have really wrung mine out. I hope to have mine ready in the next week or so. What prop are you using?

(in reply to AOG)
       Post #: 3

RE: Thoughts on Reactor Bipe? - 3/8/2008 3:34:57 PM   
AOG



Posts: 8
Joined: 12/27/2006
From: Champaign, IL, USA
Status: offline 		No problem Zac, glad to offer my 2 cents on the subject. I'm using the APC 10x5 prop for now which matches my "sport" pilot flying abilities. The all-around favorite should be the APC 10x7. The 11x7 adds more bite for 3D while keeping much of the speed the 10x7 offers. I haven't tried it yet, but I'd like to try the APC 11x5.5 which should offer plenty of thrust while keeping the plane in "low gear."

The original EP reactor was a hit or miss for people I knew. Some had no problems while some experienced all of the problems! As you may know, there's not much holding the landing gear plate on the plane and grass landings eventually rip it off. The horizontal stabs have broken on some planes b/c the balsa is 3mm thick and you have to very carefully trim off the covering from the stab ctr section before you glue it into the plane. You just can't help but score the wood in the process. Before you know it, your stab breaks. My best advice is to use plenty of thin CA to strengthen that area on your mono reactor. The new bipe uses 4mm wood and uses a hardwood spar in the stab. Also, the covering is not trimmed.... the factory uses a jig to apply it in the right spot so no knife blades contact the wood at any time.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the plane! Let us know what you think.

(in reply to zac dady)
       Post #: 4

RE: Thoughts on Reactor Bipe? - 3/11/2008 2:58:33 AM   
radiocontrol


 

Posts: 91
Joined: 8/5/2002
From: MURPHY, NC, USA
Status: offline 		I flew the Reactor Bipe for the first time last evening and it is a sweet airplane. Here's how I outfitted it: 2808/20 AXI outrunner motor, 30 Amp Jeti speed control, True R/C 2100 3 cell lipo, and 8x6 APC thin electric prop. The plane weighs 36 ounces with battery. At full throttle, I'm pulling 29 amps and 351 watts which translates into 142 watt lbs. I have it set on low rates for sport flying and the control throws are quick. I had to add 30% expo to aileron and elevator. This will become one of my favorite planes!!

_____________________________

You mean landing is mandatory?????

(in reply to AOG)
       Post #: 5

RE: Thoughts on Reactor Bipe? - 3/11/2008 5:10:51 AM   
iamman711


 

Posts: 166
Joined: 5/30/2007
From: Norwalk, CA, USA
Status: offline 		how do u know what % value expo/dual-rates to use? is it basically trial-n-error? i own the typhoon2 3d and recently bought a new tx/rx to replace the rtf tx/rx which had expo built-in already. thanks in advance

(in reply to radiocontrol)
       Post #: 6

RE: Thoughts on Reactor Bipe? - 3/11/2008 7:12:35 PM   
GP G-Rod


 

Posts: 25
Joined: 2/1/2007
From: Champaign, IL, USA
Status: offline 		On a Futaba system...I think 25%-35% would be a good place to start.
Is one of those things that need to be tailored to your own desired feel.
Remember....on Futaba...it should be a negative value...and on the other brand the settings may be a positive value.
Don't be scared...Expo is your friend!
cheers
George

(in reply to iamman711)
       Post #: 7

RE: Thoughts on Reactor Bipe? - 3/11/2008 8:13:26 PM   
iamman711


 

Posts: 166
Joined: 5/30/2007
From: Norwalk, CA, USA
Status: offline 		so i have the spektrum dx6i

should be positive right? thanks for telling me. man, i dont like learnign things the hard way at all

(in reply to GP G-Rod)
       Post #: 8

RE: Thoughts on Reactor Bipe? - 3/12/2008 1:43:48 AM   
radiocontrol


 

Posts: 91
Joined: 8/5/2002
From: MURPHY, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Dual rates are in the manual of most models. With Spektrum radios, expo is positive rather than negative. Start out at about 30% and see how it feels. You can always add or subtract from there. Remember, the more positive expo, the less sensitive the controls will feel around neutral.

_____________________________

You mean landing is mandatory?????

(in reply to iamman711)
       Post #: 9

RE: Thoughts on Reactor Bipe? - 3/12/2008 5:05:27 AM   
iamman711


 

Posts: 166
Joined: 5/30/2007
From: Norwalk, CA, USA
Status: offline 		thanks! i recently discovered how to adjust control stick tension so in addition to expo, i'll have an uber controllable setup


great tips, great tips... thanks again

(in reply to radiocontrol)
       Post #: 10

RE: Thoughts on Reactor Bipe? - 3/12/2008 8:03:30 AM   
iamman711


 

Posts: 166
Joined: 5/30/2007
From: Norwalk, CA, USA
Status: offline 		so i am just using D/R + expo the following:

high rate
Aeileron 100% + 30%
Elevator 100% + 30%
Rudder 100% + 30%

low rate
Aileron 50% + 30%
Elevator 50% + 30%
Rudder 50% + 30%

Does this look about right?

(in reply to iamman711)
       Post #: 11

RE: Thoughts on Reactor Bipe? - 3/13/2008 1:50:10 AM   
radiocontrol


 

Posts: 91
Joined: 8/5/2002
From: MURPHY, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Yep, that looks good. Try the sticks and see how you like the feel. You can always increase or reduce expo.

_____________________________

You mean landing is mandatory?????

(in reply to iamman711)
       Post #: 12

RE: Thoughts on Reactor Bipe? - 3/15/2008 12:15:55 PM   
LuckyArmpit



Posts: 847
Joined: 8/6/2002
From: West Middlesex, PA, USA
Status: offline 		I also have this plane. I went with the rimfire thats recommended. According to the great planes rep, an 11x7 E prop works perfect.
Its one of the prettiest covering jobs I've seen. Great color combination. The control surfaces are very large therefore, not much
deflection is needed for the plane to rip up the sky.
As far as expo to use, I'd start with 50%. I have the futaba 9c so I can blend in quite a few settings.
I also asked the rep about the landing gear. Basically, I told him why do model companies assume that everyone flies
off of a paved runway? There are many of us who fly off of a grass runway. He assured me that the wood structure was
much better than previous models. We shall see. I only use at minimum 2 inch foam wheels because smaller diameter ones
get stuck on my field.

Lucky...

_____________________________

Tiger 2, Giles 202, Space Walker 2, Pete 'n Poke, Sig Kougar, G 60 Stick, Smith Experimental Bi-Plane, numerous electrics

(in reply to radiocontrol)
       Post #: 13

RE: Thoughts on Reactor Bipe? - 3/18/2008 4:20:59 AM   
werew


 

Posts: 33
Joined: 9/11/2003
From: Grand Junction, CO, USA
Status: offline 		Just bought the power system for my future Reactor Bipe, hope it works good and any input/suggestions are appreciated.

I wanted to go with a motor that won't leave me yearning for more power as I get used to its characteristics and start doing a little 3d'ing, so I just picked up an E-Flite Power15, 950kv. With the plane weighing around 36oz/2.25lbs I got these figures on motor watts and watts per pound:

With plane weight @ 36oz.
@9.9volts & 34A = 336watts = 149.6 watts per pound
@9.9volts & 42A = 415.8watts= 184.8 watts per pound

With plane weight @ 38oz.
9.9volts & 34A = 336watts = 141.72 watts per pound
9.9volts & 42A = 415.8watts = 175 watts per pound

For an ESC I picked up the Thunderbird 54. This might bite me in the butt later on, allowing a little more amps going to the motor than the motor is rated for. The Power 15 motor is rated for 42A max burst, and this ESC allows 54A max. I'm using FP EVO25 2170mah 3s & TP 2100mah 15c 3s batteries.

I had 4 Spektrum 75 digital servos, 19oz/in torque @ .11 sec. speed.