GWS Zero Building Tips
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GWS Zero Building Tips
Here are some of the tips I've read in other posts and formats,
plus some shortcuts I've found.
1. Get over how much you dislike the mold marks on the plane.
2. Sand fuse mating joints smooth
3. Trial fit battery pack in its area before the halves are glued.
Cut out to fit as far forward as possible. I'm using 9 AAA 720's
4. Glue fuse together with 5 min. epoxy not the supplied glue.
5. Don't use tape to hold together while glue sets-- the tape will
remove paint. Use rubber bands in motor area and tail end,
while holding the rest of fuse together. It doesn't take long
for the epoxy to set.
6. Question if you really need rudder if you plan to hand launch.
I left mine as fixed rudder.
7. I used 1/8" carbon rod for wing spar instead of the bamboo.
8. For mounting cowl I used velcro in the raised areas instead of
the plastic strips that you are supposed to drill into for screws.
9. I ran two strips of 3/4" nylon strapping tape the full length of
the underside of wing before putting on meatballs.
10. Instead of using 1" aileron torque rod tube -- I used 4"x 1/16"
black heat shrink tubing. This gives more surface to glue into
wing channel and guide aileron rod for the full length.
11. If you go the gear route, try the DuBro 1 1/2" black solid lite
indoor wheels.
12. Make sure horiz. stab. is parallel to wing. I had to sand the
stab opening and put a shim under low side till level.
13. As much as you want to, hold off maiden flight till the rain and
30 mph winds have passed. ( like me -- drats )
14. Cg needs to be set at 45mm, NOT the 60mm as in manual.
15. Don't try to fly on 6 or 7 cell pack
Randy
plus some shortcuts I've found.
1. Get over how much you dislike the mold marks on the plane.
2. Sand fuse mating joints smooth
3. Trial fit battery pack in its area before the halves are glued.
Cut out to fit as far forward as possible. I'm using 9 AAA 720's
4. Glue fuse together with 5 min. epoxy not the supplied glue.
5. Don't use tape to hold together while glue sets-- the tape will
remove paint. Use rubber bands in motor area and tail end,
while holding the rest of fuse together. It doesn't take long
for the epoxy to set.
6. Question if you really need rudder if you plan to hand launch.
I left mine as fixed rudder.
7. I used 1/8" carbon rod for wing spar instead of the bamboo.
8. For mounting cowl I used velcro in the raised areas instead of
the plastic strips that you are supposed to drill into for screws.
9. I ran two strips of 3/4" nylon strapping tape the full length of
the underside of wing before putting on meatballs.
10. Instead of using 1" aileron torque rod tube -- I used 4"x 1/16"
black heat shrink tubing. This gives more surface to glue into
wing channel and guide aileron rod for the full length.
11. If you go the gear route, try the DuBro 1 1/2" black solid lite
indoor wheels.
12. Make sure horiz. stab. is parallel to wing. I had to sand the
stab opening and put a shim under low side till level.
13. As much as you want to, hold off maiden flight till the rain and
30 mph winds have passed. ( like me -- drats )
14. Cg needs to be set at 45mm, NOT the 60mm as in manual.
15. Don't try to fly on 6 or 7 cell pack
Randy
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GWS Zero Building Tips
I am going to be on my madien flight with my GWS Zero in the next couple of days. I noticed your comment about CG and putting it at 45mm. I saw another internet article that mention putting it at 60mm. This distance of 45mm does it make the plane at all tail heavy? How are your stall characteristics? Are you using the EPS100 or 300 system? Thanks in advance for any input.
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GWS Zero Building Tips
Has anyone out there tried the GWS Rx Set for the Zero?
It is a combo pack that has a receiver tree standard servos and 7.2 600mAh Ni-cad. My plane weighs 18 oz. with this combo in it. I am afraid it is going to be much to heavy. The battery pack alone is around 6oz. Just checking to see if any success stories exist using this combo pack.
Shane
It is a combo pack that has a receiver tree standard servos and 7.2 600mAh Ni-cad. My plane weighs 18 oz. with this combo in it. I am afraid it is going to be much to heavy. The battery pack alone is around 6oz. Just checking to see if any success stories exist using this combo pack.
Shane
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GWS Zero Building Tips
Electriflight: I do not use the GWS Rx set but I can tell you that from my experience your Zero will probably have trouble getting off the ground. That is how mine flew when I tried to use a 7.2 600mAh pack and it's AUW was about 16 oz. You really need to have 8 cells and get the weight to around 14 oz. When I did this the change in flight characteristics was remarkable
Good luck.
D
Good luck.
D
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GWS Zero Building Tips
I built mine almost exactly as the plans said to. The only thing I didn't do per instructions was I used epoxy in a few places instead of the glue supplied in the kit.
With an 8 cell pack of 2/3 AA it weighes 13.8 ozs. I set the balance per plan.
After the first flight I moved the the battery pack forward and it flys great.
I have about 8 flights and I haven't noticed any real bad habits. You need to land with a little speed if you want to keep it smooth, it took me a few hard landings to figure that out.
I have a 280BB that I may try in this plane but so far I'm gonna leave it as is.
Regards,
Monty
With an 8 cell pack of 2/3 AA it weighes 13.8 ozs. I set the balance per plan.
After the first flight I moved the the battery pack forward and it flys great.
I have about 8 flights and I haven't noticed any real bad habits. You need to land with a little speed if you want to keep it smooth, it took me a few hard landings to figure that out.
I have a 280BB that I may try in this plane but so far I'm gonna leave it as is.
Regards,
Monty
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GWS Zero Building Tips
All the feedback I've read has been nothing but thrilled at
the difference in flight when switching from 7 to 8 cells. The pilots
that used 6 cells are having to rebuild their planes. Now if GWS
would just get the P-51 on the shelves.
Randy
the difference in flight when switching from 7 to 8 cells. The pilots
that used 6 cells are having to rebuild their planes. Now if GWS
would just get the P-51 on the shelves.
Randy
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Good Tips
Thanks for the tips RREIS. The wheels that come with the plane do absorb shock well but unfortunaley broke while doing it. I'll pick up the Du-Bros. I fly with 3 packs 500 2/3 AA, 720 AAA and 800 AAA. All 8 cell packs. I like the 800's.