shotgun06

I was not sure where I should post that one, Nitroplane support or Crash and Rebuild... First , I would like to mention that I was very impressed by the quality of the component when I did the assembly of my CMP Gilles 202 50. I am more into scratch building and I just wanted a nice airplane to go fly since my current project is not ready to fly. The assembly was done quickly and without problems. My Giles is powered by a OS FP40 with a Bisson Pitts muffler.. Some will think that it is a little underpowered but I like my models to fly more realisticaly and I don't fly 3D. On maiden flight, the take off went well with the aircraft climbing straight. This airplane seems to be a really good flier. The crash that followed not long after was my mistake ( flying too low with dual rates not at the right position...). After spending half an hour to pick up all the parts that flew around, I was thinking at that time that I would just buy another wing if possible because I just wanted to fly and the fuselage was not too badly damaged. I sent an Email to Nitroplane to know if it was possible to buy just a wing but I never got an answer from them... ( seems to be a trend here)[&o]. I will then post for those interrested the rebuilt of the Giles wing.

Before and after...

shotgun06

Here some of the pictures that shows how it was rebuilt.

shotgun06

Some more of the work done to the wing and fuselage.

opjose

Wonderful work!

What are you going to do about the covering?

shotgun06

I am glueing back in place the covering using epoxy around the edge of the parts...As you can see on the second picture, I added some balsa in the right lightening hole to have a surface to glue the covering to. I did the same in the the left rear corner of the left hole. You can see it in the third picture.

shotgun06

Here some more work done to the covering...

shotgun06

More pictures... It is like doing a puzzleI plan to test fly the airplane and if it is worth it, I will probably remove the old covering and recover the entire plane with a scale looking scheme[8D].

shotgun06

More problems... actualy I found one problem[&o]. One of the aileron servo has the gears stripped[:'(]. Needs to be replaced. I don't have in hand a spare of that model but I have a pair of Hobbico C-60 servo and I will have to replace both. Got the ailerons back in place. The cowling was not really broken but had some cracks so I decided to had a couple of layers of glass with some epoxy. That should be good for a while[8D]. I should reassemble everything this week and maybe test fly next weekend. I will report then how it goes.

Sundance120

Hi Shotgun06:

Looks like a great job in the rebuild, a task that not many would undertake with an ARF. I like the fact that you even worked to restore the great covering job and liked the tricks you used in the open bays where covering had torn, you found a way to make the cover go back on with balsa supported underneath. I am sure that your airplane will fly great now and you will never know the difference. Nice to see that you did not trash the ARF just because you originally did not build it yourself. You now will make it a favorite plane to fly because you took the time to repair it. Good show, I will be there to see it fly let me know when you go get it in the air.

Cheers

Sundance120
Hip Pocket Aeronautics
www.hippocketaeronautics.com

shotgun06

I've decided to add some yellow to make the bottom easier to see,and maybe prevent another crash...

Sundance120

Hi Shotgun06:

Well that yellow covering looks like it turned out really nice. I like the arrangement of yellow at the tips and it blends well with the yellow trim highlights in the paintjob.

cool.

Cheers

Bruce

gelandestrasse

hey shotgun, i just received my gile 202 yester day. i think its a gorgeuos little plane too. i wanted to ask you where did you start with the c/g. i wory about c/g most on little planes like this.

shotgun06

I had to add some weight up front to get the cg as per the instruction because it was a little tail heavy when I crashed it. I would like it to fly a little longer the next time. My engine is an OS FP 40 with a Bisson pitts muffler and it's kind of light. I think this airplane could handle a .60 easily. I also added a pilot that contribute to make the tail heavy. I will test fly it today and I'll let you know how it fly with the new cg position ( actualy where it should have been in the first place...)

shotgun06

Good News. The Giles flew again and although it was really hot and humid yesterday the Giles 202 performed pretty well. On take off after applying full power the airplane tracked straight down the runway for maybe a little long ground run but positive climb after lift off. The airplane handling in the air was really good with the dual rates being set at 50% for aileron and 75 for elevator. I was being conservative for test flying and I expect the airplane to be wild with full aileron deflection.[>:] No bad tendencies noted. Almost no trimming required although the wings have been completely rebuilt. I completed 3 flights to get comfortable with the airplane and I plan to go back flying sometimes in the coming week to test the airplane at slow speed and test it with more control throw for aerobatics.

shotgun06

Gelandestrasse, I really recommend that you add some light color like I did to the bottom because the color scheme is really similar to the top and it's really hard to tell wich side is up when you fly it.

shotgun06

You can almost see the pilot smile after the first successful flight...

BastiG

Hi Shotgun!

I am just finishing my own Giles (same model...) And I'm glad to see that it does fly with the 40FP engine since I had that one lying around!
But I do have one question though: What does your Giles weigh? Mine seems quite heavy with almost 3kg (that's equal to 6.61 pounds).

Thanks for your answer, and btw: Yes awesome job on the rebuild! And I will borrow your "paintscheme" for the underside... It just looks too good!!! [8D]

shotgun06

Hi Bastig, I'm glad you liked my "paintscheme" and it's really helpfull... I don't know how much my airplane "did" weight but it was not super light (3kg seems about right). No problem flying it with the FP40 but don't expect to do 3D flying with that motor. I'm more into scale aiplanes and I like to fly my models realistically. I flew this airplane all summer but on the last flight of the season (it's too cold here to fly during the winter...) I unfortunately reduced it to scrap (pilot error[:'(])

I might buy another one...

opjose

Empty mine seems quite light.

I'd estimate that it comes in around 4.5lbs.

I'm using a NiMH 6V 1200mAh battery pack and everything stock except the tail wheel, DSC power switch, extensions, fueling port, instrument panel with guages and pilot.

High torque SG5010 servos all around and a JR R600 slim receiver.

I have a Tower Hobbies .46 engine in it with a Slimline Pitts muffler.

You can really tell that the fuel adds a LOT of weight to mine, so I don't think my weight estimate is that far off.

With this combo the plane has unlimited verticals. The C.G. came out spot on.

The engine seems to haul the plane around with so much authority that I'm about to try a 12x7 prop on it which is larger and faster than normally called for with the TH .46.

This plane is an excellent value for the money!

BastiG

Holy Smokes! Outch! Doesn't look like rebuildable this time... I'm sorry man!!

Glad to hear, that it performs well with that (rather small) engine and the high weight. After all it's more than a pound heavier than stated in the catalogue...

@ opjose: I don't think your "guestimate" is correct. 4.5lbs would be 1/4 to 1/2 lbs less (!) than what CMP says. And about 1.5-2 lbs less than shotguns and mine. And saying that, bear in mind that we are using an engine that weighs about a pound less than yours...

BastiG

Oh, and an additional question shotgun:

How much lead did you have to put up front to get the CG right? I'm looking at about 300g (.66 lbs) to get it to where the manual says...

shotgun06

I will check tonight for the weight. I still have it.

I agree with you opjose : This plane is an excellent value for the money!

Like I said, although I bought one of Nitroplane's Extra 330, I'm considering buying another Giles the one I destroyed.

And if you want to know, to make that much damage, the plane whent done in a vertical dive at full power from approx. 200'...[&:]

shotgun06

That's the weight I added in the nose of the Giles. Sorry I can't tell you how much it weight (I tought we had a scale at work) but it's a mix of steel epoxy with lead pellets. I would guesstimate it beeing less than 300 gr, maybe 200 gr.

opjose

I'll check it when I have a chance.

When you pick it up it seems very light as I have it. Others at the field have made the same comment.

BastiG

Thanks guys!

@ shotgun: ok, thanks! 200 or 300 isn't that big of an issue... it points in the same direction! Considering, that we propably used different equipement and amounts of glue on the stabilizers it seems alreight with my plane. And afterall: can't do anything about ayways, right!?! The CG needs to be where it is...

@ opjose: don't worry! Guestimating weights is always guessing with an idea already in mind, right!? And who knows: maybe the little chinese fingers were better assembling your airframe! The important thing is what you already said: it flies great!!!

I'm still waiting on my maiden flight... Reason being the weather and lack of weight to use for balance! Sounds funny? Well in Germany they banned the selling of pure lead. And now you have to buy **** thats awfully expensive or be lucky to find some left over! I'm still searching...

Keep you posted!

C U