ebeygin

Hi again!

Quick question.. a stock version of a 4*60 is 7.5-8 lbs..

By sheeting the wings with 1/16 balsa.. sheeting the turtledeck.. making round sides for the fuselage..reinforcing the gear.. and making a balsa cowl..
How much weight will that add to the plane??

I have a .91 Magnum four stroke...

How much extra weight is acceptable with this plane and this engine?

-eugn

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

It won't make it so heavy that it won't fly well, it just won't be as light. Some people prefer a plane to have a little weight to it. I do on some models, but a 4* wouldn't be my first choice to weigh down with a lot of extras.

ebeygin

thanks

why do they like the extra weight?

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

So they're not as "Floaty". A heavier plane can penetrate the wind better.

ebeygin

good point..

thanks minnflyer!

greenboot

My Feedback: (1)

Eugn, I love to argue the "other" side! The changes you mentioned would add 3 ounces, I just weighed the balsa. It would look nice and make your 4 Star special. If necessary, you can recoup that much weight with light weight wheels or using a smaller fuel tank.

I recommend you "dress up" that bird!

Giant Scale

greenboot,
what about the glue??

Ed_Moorman

My Feedback: (1)

I wouldn't worry about the little extra weight you are adding. The 4-Stars really have too much wing. They fly trainer-like unless you clip the tips 1 rib.

Mine has been bashed extensively from stock sort of like a Kawasaki Tony. It is overweight, but flies great. Here is the bashing:
2 ribs removed each side & 1 1/2 width rounded tips added back.
Three 1/8 aircraft ply half ribs added to hold hardwood landing gear blocks added.
3/16 wire gear in the wings.
Balsa and ply gear doors.
Rudder, stab and elevators extended.
Servos relocated to the rear.
2-56 bracing wires on bottom of stab.
Leaf spring type tail gear.
Balsa block cowl.
Airplane is painted with LustreCoat over orange Monokote. (When I bought it, it was orange.)
CB spinner-plastic front, aluminum backplate.
Magnum .91XLS with Ultra Thrust muffler, APC 14-6 prop.

I have flown a lot of planes since I started in 1950 and this isn't a 3D plane, but it is one of the best flying planes I have owned. I bashed my first one and immediately bought a buddy's that was built stock and modified it like my original.

This plane rolls down the runway like it was on rails, takes off and accelerates straight up. It knife edges all day, snaps, flat spins, does all the standard acro. And it lands really nicely. I think my next one will have retracts and I think the little bit of extra weight from your few mods won't make any difference.