stanordave

Haven't seen much on this one..

Mine came last night! Finished the wings this AM and have all the servos installed.

One item I have to pass on, the control horns have 4 screws to mount to the aileron surface HOWEVER there is no support for them! The front 2 go into soft balsa and the back 2 punch through the covering. I drilled and inserted 6-32 bolts and used a nylon horn over the bolt and used thin CA to harden the area. haven't hooked up the tail parts yet so don't know if thats a similar problem. The kit clevises and rods can still be used.

[edit] Plenty of wood in elevator/rudder for screws but used the 6-32 bolts on elevators to get more throw w/my setup and easier to drill 1 hole and use a power screwdriver to run a bolt through than drill 8 holes for the rudder so used a bolt there also! quick cg check and off to fly!

[edit] had motor troubles so no maiden last wknd BUT discovered one last gotchya. Bothe ailerons and Rudder/Elevator bind. Had to remove wood on inner end of aileron and cut of some of the elevator to clear the rudder (part of the rudder problem is I like full throw but even if you go w/the suggested throw it will bind. In my case, full down elevator then full rudder will trap the elevator so it wouldn't return.

The last big item is, I think the CG is way off! Listed at 191 mm but that puts it about 50%. I had to move it forward an inch [moved even more-see following post] but am still nervous about the 1st flight. Similar size planes (World Models Extra 330S, same span and area) have the CG about 133mm! Motor's running like a top now so will probably head out soon to find out..

stanordave

Maiden - Finally! Plane flies well. Several of the other pilots liked the way it flew. No bad habits. Yank the elevator and the nose tracked straight. No tendencies to drop off. KE w/ minimal coupling and easily. Landing was easy (kept it hot just on case). I want to increase the aileron throw to get a better roll rate but that's the only real change I plan to make as I break it in.

CG is WAY off in the manual! I moved it several inches forward. Its 1/8" back of the wing tube with a full tank (tank sits with rear touching the wing tube) and looks to be almost spot on. Several 50cc Nitro planes have the CGs listed as inches back of where they should be - wonder why? I'm sure the planes were test flown??

So overall: Problems expected w/ this price plane are to be expected. Easily solved but do need attention but looks to be a very good value.

PS Everyone like the way it looks in the air. Myself, I like a bit more contrast between top & bottom so will put some large black swuares on the bottom. To my old eyes, that checkerboard just blends into a shade of grey in the air!

SunnyFlyer09

I can't figure out why the chinese always screw up the Cg , every frickin time. Whatever the chinese manual says, add at least a 1/2 pound or more.

Maybe they want you to crash so you buy more planes?

Maybe they never test fly them?

This is a never ending cycle with the chinese. It has been going on for years and years. Unbelievable.

Thank goodness you had a good maiden. PICS ?????

opjose

Yup. I wonder if they are figuring the C.G. with a full tank?

So when we set it with an empty tank, it ends up too far back.

I've found the reverse to be true with some of the pushers, as if they get it backwards...


You should avoid adding weight though...

I resort to putting my battery packs on the engine box, this usually does the trick.

stanordave

Disaster! 2nd flight, having a good time, plane handling very well, just doing some mid-power blenders, snaps, etc and then, going straight and level, what looked like flutter turned out to be a broken wing tube!

If you're going to roughouse then I'd get a CF tube or probably expect the same pile of plywood that I ended up with.

later,
Mike