Predator II ??
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RE: Predator II ??
Lanier scr*wed me on a defective Predator kit so bad I will never buy another of their products.
Luckily through this forum I found some excellent Q-500 kits! Currently flying a Bill Vargas Racer ll, and
I am building a Seeker right now. Great products at very fair prices. ARF's have their place, just saying
there are some very nice alternatives out there.
Luckily through this forum I found some excellent Q-500 kits! Currently flying a Bill Vargas Racer ll, and
I am building a Seeker right now. Great products at very fair prices. ARF's have their place, just saying
there are some very nice alternatives out there.
#4
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RE: Predator II ??
Sounds like I got a good taste of your same medicine. Maidened my Predator today and she wanted to climb to the moon. Everyone said the incidence was off making it climb. Sounds about right to me. Please share with me your experiences with your Lanier Predator.
Thanks,
Frank
Thanks,
Frank
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RE: Predator II ??
Frank,
My issue was simpler- the wing as received was severly twisted and warped. No way acceptable.
Had a difficult time getting Lanier to do anything, after shipping back the old wing (at my expense)
they sent out a new wing, of the wrong color several weeks later. Their reply to my asking why
send a different color was "that was what we have left, basically take it or leave it"
Since you already have one, learn from it. Use the search function-there are a ton of usable suggestions
on improving the Predator. Get it straight and the incidence correct it will fly ok. What engine are you using?
I have been in the hobby 30 years but just racing 2 years so there are many more folks who can comment
on what works best for what application. Are you going to race or just wanting a fast sport flyer?
I have built these:
Predator
Viper
Dominator
Racer II
and am working on a Seeker.
I like the Viper over the Predator, and the Racer II / Seeker will be an improvement over the others. Lighter and
a competitive airfoil.
Scott
My issue was simpler- the wing as received was severly twisted and warped. No way acceptable.
Had a difficult time getting Lanier to do anything, after shipping back the old wing (at my expense)
they sent out a new wing, of the wrong color several weeks later. Their reply to my asking why
send a different color was "that was what we have left, basically take it or leave it"
Since you already have one, learn from it. Use the search function-there are a ton of usable suggestions
on improving the Predator. Get it straight and the incidence correct it will fly ok. What engine are you using?
I have been in the hobby 30 years but just racing 2 years so there are many more folks who can comment
on what works best for what application. Are you going to race or just wanting a fast sport flyer?
I have built these:
Predator
Viper
Dominator
Racer II
and am working on a Seeker.
I like the Viper over the Predator, and the Racer II / Seeker will be an improvement over the others. Lighter and
a competitive airfoil.
Scott
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RE: Predator II ??
In your opinion, what's the best Pylon racer for the price. Keep in mind, I'm a novice at Pylon.
Ed S
#8
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RE: Predator II ??
quote:
In your opinion, what's the best Pylon racer for the price. Keep in mind, I'm a novice at Pylon.
Get a plan and build your own. Then you know it is put together properly.
Ed S
In your opinion, what's the best Pylon racer for the price. Keep in mind, I'm a novice at Pylon.
Get a plan and build your own. Then you know it is put together properly.
Ed S
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RE: Predator II ??
SRpropTwister,
I agree with High Plains!!!....Did I really say that?? The airframe rule pretty much designs the airplane for you. If you want a basic outline to start with I will gladly send you a copy of my plan. It is full size, however I use a glass fuselage and foam wing so there is very little construction detail to show.
Ed S
I agree with High Plains!!!....Did I really say that?? The airframe rule pretty much designs the airplane for you. If you want a basic outline to start with I will gladly send you a copy of my plan. It is full size, however I use a glass fuselage and foam wing so there is very little construction detail to show.
Ed S
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RE: Predator II ??
I agree with Ed and Highplains (Wow, did I say that too?)
That is basically the background on why I started the Seeker. I was not happy with the available options and decided to start my own. I basically just took the moments off the Vortex and designed something similar and it flew great.
That is basically the background on why I started the Seeker. I was not happy with the available options and decided to start my own. I basically just took the moments off the Vortex and designed something similar and it flew great.
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RE: Predator II ??
The rules pretty much design the plane.
Fuselage shape and size: build to minimums for lowest weight and drag.
Wing area and span, chord thickness, and plan: build to maximum span and minimum wing area (determines chord) to minimum thickness. Some choice allowed with airfoil and aileron placement and configuration. Also, a 4-screw mount is now required for a single aileron servo, though a 2-screw mount is okay for dual servos. For all the debate about low vs. mid vs. high wing placement, all have been successful.
Choose between conventional and V-tail, but I expect more conventional tails to pop up considering the new rule requiring rudder-like control.
Fuselage shape and size: build to minimums for lowest weight and drag.
Wing area and span, chord thickness, and plan: build to maximum span and minimum wing area (determines chord) to minimum thickness. Some choice allowed with airfoil and aileron placement and configuration. Also, a 4-screw mount is now required for a single aileron servo, though a 2-screw mount is okay for dual servos. For all the debate about low vs. mid vs. high wing placement, all have been successful.
Choose between conventional and V-tail, but I expect more conventional tails to pop up considering the new rule requiring rudder-like control.
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RE: Predator II ??
Choose between conventional and V-tail, but I expect more conventional tails to pop up considering the new rule requiring rudder-like control.
We have rudder control on Vee tails anyway with transmitter mixing.
Ed S
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RE: Predator II ??
I haven't seen anything with "rudder-like control" rule proposal come across the AMA board. I don't know where this one is coming from.
V-Tails do have "rudder-like" controls. I am confused by this statement.
DK
V-Tails do have "rudder-like" controls. I am confused by this statement.
DK
#17
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RE: Predator II ??
The rules pretty much design the plane.
Fuselage shape and size: build to minimums for lowest weight and drag.
For all the debate about low vs. mid vs. high wing placement, all have been successful.
The only remaining difficultly is providing the strength to survive the rigors of racing, while still making weight. This is an area that many are unsuccessful, with firewalls breaking out on landing bumps, landing gear mounts ripping out, or even wing hold downs failing. On top of that, a poor design will also have problems with the lack of torsional strength absorbing power from the engine that should be turning the prop.
#19
RE: Predator II ??
No debate here. The high wing is clearly the lowest drag configuration in the turns. In level flight, wing placement doesn't matter.
That being said, the most important factor is the thumbs. That's why the same pilots can be expected to come out on top consistently, it's also why they tend to stick to the same design.
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RE: Predator II ??
ORIGINAL: Stand
That being said, the most important factor is the thumbs. That's why the same pilots can be expected to come out on top consistently, it's also why they tend to stick to the same design.
That being said, the most important factor is the thumbs. That's why the same pilots can be expected to come out on top consistently, it's also why they tend to stick to the same design.
There is only so much one can do to a rectangular box-section fuselage. Keep the firewall as small as possible, build cross-section area to the minimum allowed, somewhere between the CG and mid-chord, and taper in a French curve to minimum possible cross-section at the tail. Keep the corners at maximum radius allowed. Balance the curves in your panels side-to-side and top-to-bottom. Some designers like to maintain a rather tail fuselage all the way back, reasoning that doing so will add to yaw stability. It's really not difficult to dream up a box fuselage that will work.
Spend your time making things as smooth and aerodynamic as possible. Anything sticking out in the wind will slow you down. For instance, if your engine has a remote needle valve, remove it from the engine, slot the knob, and install it behind the firewall, with the end of the knob flush with the fuselage covering. Adjust with a screwdriver. Put your receiver switch in the fuselge under the wing. It's a hassle to remove the wing to turn the receiver on and off, but you gain from not having the airflow disrupted. Configure your V-tail control horns like torque rods and hide them from the slipstream inside the fuselage. Mount the aileron servo(s) on the wing so they are inside the fuselage, again hiding from the wind. Keep fuel lines as short and direct as possible--a large loop of fuel line is an air brake. Also, use fuel line with the smallest outside diameter--some are fatter than others. Cut down your wheel collars, make them no wider than you have to to hold the set screw. Cut your axles to match. Mount the tail wheel behind the end of the fuselage instead of under it, or, better yet, run a skid, or a small round-head screw to keep the covering off the pavement. Don't forget to fill the slots. Experiment with spinners--different sizes and shapes do make a difference.
From http://www.modelaircraft.org/comp/05...k/rc-pylon.pdf page 114:
"7.3.1. Steering: Except in 1/2A, every aircraft shall be equipped with a positive means of steering on the ground using a dedicated, operable servo(s). Aerodynamic yaw control by means of a movable rudder or “V†tail fulfills this requirement."
You guys who are using computer mixing on your V-tails are already doing this. Some people in our club forego the second servo on the tail in the interest of less weight and try to ROG start without rudder control. You'd think they'd figure out that might be the reason there are so many air-to-airs at the starts (ground-to-grounds and air-to-grounds, too)?!?!?!?
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RE: Predator II ??
ORIGINAL: pylonracer2
They are on order, no date time but they have new colors available this time. and they are 104.99
They are on order, no date time but they have new colors available this time. and they are 104.99
Where are they $104.99? Their website says $129.99 My local hobby shop says he'll call Monday to see what the lag time will be.[]
ORIGINAL: smokingwreckage
For instance, if your engine has a remote needle valve, remove it from the engine, slot the knob, and install it behind the firewall, with the end of the knob flush with the fuselage covering. Adjust with a screwdriver.
For instance, if your engine has a remote needle valve, remove it from the engine, slot the knob, and install it behind the firewall, with the end of the knob flush with the fuselage covering. Adjust with a screwdriver.
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RE: Predator II ??
Tower Hobbies, $104.99.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...EARCH=PREDATOR
***Reno***, that is correct, the needle valve is inside the fuselage usually screwed to the firewall, but can be anywhere between the tank and firewall. An access hatch allows pulling the line off the valve for filling the tank. (Fuel dots are unnecessary drag and weight.)
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...EARCH=PREDATOR
***Reno***, that is correct, the needle valve is inside the fuselage usually screwed to the firewall, but can be anywhere between the tank and firewall. An access hatch allows pulling the line off the valve for filling the tank. (Fuel dots are unnecessary drag and weight.)
#23
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RE: Predator II ??
build cross-section area to the minimum allowed
build cross-section area to the minimum allowed, somewhere between the CG and mid-chord
Balance the curves in your panels side-to-side and top-to-bottom.
#24
RE: Predator II ??
We don't have a cross-section requirement in Quickie rules. We have a minimum height and width within the chord of the wing. They don't have to be at the same point on the fuselage.
3) Cross-section: The fuselage shall have a
simple, rectangular “box†cross-section with a
maximum radius of 1/4 inch at the corners.
Diamond-shaped cross sections are prohibited.
simple, rectangular “box†cross-section with a
maximum radius of 1/4 inch at the corners.
Diamond-shaped cross sections are prohibited.
The front firewall
shall be a rectangular, flat plate measuring
at least 2-1/4 inches by 2-1/4 inches. The
perimeter of the front firewall may be rounded
to a maximum radius of 1/4 inch
shall be a rectangular, flat plate measuring
at least 2-1/4 inches by 2-1/4 inches. The
perimeter of the front firewall may be rounded
to a maximum radius of 1/4 inch
1) Depth: Minimum 3-1/2 inches at its deepest
point, which must occur within the wing chord.
2) Width: Minimum 2-7/8 inches at its widest
point, which must occur within the wing chord.
Width and depth points need not coincide.
point, which must occur within the wing chord.
2) Width: Minimum 2-7/8 inches at its widest
point, which must occur within the wing chord.
Width and depth points need not coincide.
Stan D.