The Best and Worst of times (Death of a Fourstar 120)  
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Crash & Rebuild >> The Best and Worst of times (Death of a Fourstar 120)
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The Best and Worst of times (Death of a Fourstar 120) - 6/2/2008 9:52:52 PM   
Bigshark


 

Posts: 117
Joined: 12/1/2004
From: St. Louis, MO, USA
Status: offline 		The first flight was brilliant and the second was fatal. My winter project a four star 120 with a ST 2300 for power flew beautifully with terrific verticle performance, quick roll rate (clipped a bay off each wing tip,) landed nicely o the stock gear with no bounce. The second flight, the never to be sufficiently damned, supplied by Sig, screwlock connector on the throttle came loose at about 3/4 throttle and I was flying race track ovals for what seemed like forever. The batteries were well charged but new and after about 18 minutes (24 oz tank) the plane rolled over verticle and hit the ground at a high rate of speed. I think I ran out of juice though I cannot be sure. The receiver still works the servos are fine except the elevator servo is stripped. The ST 2300 performed great and looks to just need a crankshaft. I lost the muffler extention but the muffler is usable. I'm amazed by that motor I can tell you.

The plane was trying to look like a KI 61 Tony........

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_____________________________

All attempts at artificial aviation are doomed to failure from an engineering standpoint.
1905 Editor Times of London
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RE: The Best and Worst of times (Death of a Fourstar 120) - 6/3/2008 1:54:49 AM   
Gary L.



Posts: 504
Joined: 5/5/2007
From: Weatherford, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Ouch!!!!! sorry for your loss..

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We''re all here because we''re not all there !! AMA # 884678 Proud to be a volunteer firefighter !

(in reply to Bigshark)
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RE: The Best and Worst of times (Death of a Fourstar 120) - 6/3/2008 3:36:55 AM   
Blade-breaker


 

Posts: 101
Joined: 5/14/2008
From: Austin, MN, USA
Status: offline 		Sorry man!!

I never have liked those screw locks! Not sure what a better option is? Maybe just a standard clevis end?

(in reply to Gary L.)
       Post #: 3

RE: The Best and Worst of times (Death of a Fourstar 120) - 6/3/2008 4:49:58 PM   
Bigshark


 

Posts: 117
Joined: 12/1/2004
From: St. Louis, MO, USA
Status: offline 		On my next fourstar I'll use a Sullivan plastic pushrod with a metal clevis. The braided wire included in the kit is too flexible for my taste anyway. I asked my wife (who is a freelance journalist) why she didn't take more photos of the aftermath and she said she was trying not to be a vulture.

Next time 16-18 oz tank, I'll dump ALL of the stock push rods, and maybe try for a P40-ish sort of fourstar instead of a KI-61-ish sort of fourstar.


On another note, after a major deceleration trauma does everyone still trust the servos, batts, receiver in the next plane? Not that I'm saying they lead to the crash but do you trust them after?

< Message edited by Bigshark -- 6/3/2008 4:52:24 PM >

_____________________________

All attempts at artificial aviation are doomed to failure from an engineering standpoint.
1905 Editor Times of London

(in reply to Blade-breaker)
       Post #: 4

RE: The Best and Worst of times (Death of a Fourstar 120) - 6/3/2008 5:46:58 PM   
Blade-breaker


 

Posts: 101
Joined: 5/14/2008
From: Austin, MN, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Bigshark

On my next fourstar I'll use a Sullivan plastic pushrod with a metal clevis. The braided wire included in the kit is too flexible for my taste anyway. I asked my wife (who is a freelance journalist) why she didn't take more photos of the aftermath and she said she was trying not to be a vulture.

Next time 16-18 oz tank, I'll dump ALL of the stock push rods, and maybe try for a P40-ish sort of fourstar instead of a KI-61-ish sort of fourstar.


On another note, after a major deceleration trauma does everyone still trust the servos, batts, receiver in the next plane? Not that I'm saying they lead to the crash but do you trust them after?



Thats a good question.
Servos-I usually mark them with a scribe so I know they may have issues. Use them for flaps and other such things that would hopefully not cause a crash. If they prove to be reliable after some use, maybe put them back in full service.
Battery- unless it shows damage should be fine.
Receiver- unless it shows damage I would use it.

Really its hard to tell when a servo will go south. Whos to say when a new one will fail.

(in reply to Bigshark)
       Post #: 5

RE: The Best and Worst of times (Death of a Fourstar 120) - 6/3/2008 5:49:45 PM   
CGRetired



Posts: 4224
Joined: 9/14/2004
From: Galloway, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		Send the whole mess to the manufacturer. Let them decide if the RX and servos are good or not. Don't trust them in another plane until you are sure they are ok.

CGr.

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Skylark 70 - OS 75 AX; Venus II - OS 1.20 AX; Tiger 120 - OS 1.20 AX; Protege - OS .75 AX. Airtronics - Spektrum. AMA 705964. Semper Paratus!

(in reply to Bigshark)
       Post #: 6

RE: The Best and Worst of times (Death of a Fourstar 120) - 6/3/2008 7:07:14 PM   
Bigshark


 

Posts: 117
Joined: 12/1/2004
From: St. Louis, MO, USA
Status: offline 		After seeing a cheap aluminum spinner turned into a pancake in about twelve pieces and thinking of an out of control 11 pound missle which by the grace of God did not hit anything of import, I'm inclined to agree with you but I'm also on a pretty tight budget when it comes to replacing this bird. I'm thinking I should be able to test this stuff well enough to fly it although I'll probably get a new elevator servo instead of just new geartrain.

I haven't tested the receiver yet. I know Hitec's customer service has been amazing with crashed parts so I'll probably send it to them to check out. The servos were hobbico so I've no idea how they handle this sort of thing. The batteries are no-bs and seem to be fine except the connector is gone leaving only the pins. I'll cut the shrink wrap and give it a thorough inspection.


Now the real hard part: How to hide new four star 120 kit from the wife......

< Message edited by Bigshark -- 6/3/2008 7:10:16 PM >

_____________________________

All attempts at artificial aviation are doomed to failure from an engineering standpoint.
1905 Editor Times of London

(in reply to CGRetired)
       Post #: 7

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