Mikel-t

My Feedback: (12)

Any helpful suggestions on making -OR- buying a Center of Gravity gadget for larger size aircraft ...1/4 scale and larger..my first home-brewed attempt wobbled and twisted under the weight of the plane. PIC'S would be a great help!. THanks Mikel-T

rcfury

My Feedback: (5)

The first thing that you could try is slinging it from the rafters in your basement. There was a thread in the warbirds forum of doing it that way.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_68.../tm.htm#688627

tony221264

I use two paint spray cans with two marker pens taped to the top,place one under each wing with the pen in line with the c g and see which way it drops, carefully of course. my planes are relativly small but you could scale it up

BillS

The pictures are of a method that I like. Mason twine is not strong enough for a 45-pound airplane. Don’t ask how I know.

Cost: About 20 cents.

Bill

staggerwing

My Feedback: (5)

I have a large one at home that I found here on RCU. I believe the company is Kollar Craft or something like that. I will look tonight to see the name and if I have a web site. I've balanced my Super Flyin' King (see my avistar) which is a 140" ws and weighs about 40 lbs on it with no problems. The legs are about 30" high.

Rich

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Wyoming Wind Festival Jan 1 to Dec 31

Jim Messer

My Feedback: (2)

Here's how I balanced my J-3 Cub. I know where the balance point must be, so there is a socket head screw threaded into the exact locatiion. Then a crossbar with two prongs, like a nail, fits into the two socket head screws, and the balance is very precise. I fill the tank with fuel, and balance until the wing incidence is at zero to one degree positive.

Sdd photos of balance stand, crossbar, and incidence meter.

Mikel-t

My Feedback: (12)

Seems like I have a few choices. Jim that Cub is outstanding and you CG machine is too.

THe idea that RCFury sent along with the dowel seems more of a one-man operation and I want to give that a try.

Looks sort of like the BillS idea on a smaller scale, Bill what are those dark objects on the wings?....weights?

Rich if you find that web site on "Kollar Craft?" pls e-mail, me, I'd like to see it before I try these ideas.

"The stuff you got to do to HANG with the BiG-Boyz"

BillS

Too lazy to commit to mounting servos until finding out if the balance would be anywhere in the ballpark. The pictures show a rough first balance check and servos were placed on the wing and tail in the approximate location where they will be mounted. Of course he servos will be under the wing.

Balancing in a cradle allows one to lay parts all over the airplane to test different locations or concepts. I use the same cradle on everything from gliders to 30-pound airplanes. When the mason twine broke on the 45-pound airplane I was considering adding two gas engines to the wing of a Big Ugly Stick. It had two 4-pound water jugs attached to the wing (simulating engines) and it only fell an inch on the wheels.

Bill

Dsegal

For a serious balancing stand for large models see the September, 2004 issue of Flying Models.