bmitchell138

I recently purchased an Ultra Stick 40 and have been considering moving the elevator and rudder servos to the rear of the fuselage to help balance the plane without using weights. I have seen a few posts with some pictures of the relocated servos and it looks like a relatively easy mod.

For those of you who have done this type of mod, what did you use to secure the servos? Did you add some ply or hardwood blocks to the inside of the fuse where the servos are bolted down? Any information is greatly appreciated.

Bill

dignlivn

I added a tail wheel servo to my GP 40 stick.
I cut out a rectangle whole and epoxied some
lite ply where the screws would attach. It is
working great and the short linkage is a plus.

Bob

mxerman

If you are going to use a 40 size motor you may not need to move the servos. If however you like most of us us a 60 size (weight) moving the servos back is perfect. mxerman

Ed_Moorman

My Feedback: (1)

This is my Ultra Stick 40 with an OS .55AX, which only weighs 1 ounce more than their .46AX. With one servo in the rear, it balances fine.

The servo is mounted in the top of the fuselage and uses a pull-pull set-up with coated fishing leader wire. I glued 1/8" ply underneath each end of the hole for mounting. The servo is a Hitech Sport digital, HS-5475. The plane does a nice knife edge loop.

It does have 3 degrees of anhedral on each side, which eliminates roll in knife edge.

dignlivn

Ed,


A knife edge Loop, I got to learn that. You always
give great advice.

Bob

bmitchell138

I'm using an Evolution 46 and with the servos and the battery in the stock location I have added 2.75 ounces on the tail to get it to balance at 4 inches.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

I've had 4 Ultra Stick 40's for one reason or another.

They all balanced perfectly with the servos in the stock position because I threw the aluminum motor mounts away and used Great Planes plastic mounts. All these planes had a Saito 50 or 56 four stroke engine.

tunes079

I have an ultra stick 40 with a saito 72, and needed a gross amount of tail weight to balance. In hind sight I should have replaced the stock aluminium mount
with a nylon mount and moved the servos to the tail. I have performed this mod on later modeld with great success. If you plan to use standard torque sevos
a simple balsa doubler will suit your needs.Good luck and enjoy a great stick.

bmitchell138

W8ye,

Did you have to modify the Great Planes mount or the US firewall to make it work? Or do you have the part number of the mount that you used? I have a GP mount from another airplane but the holes on the mount don't line up with the blind nuts.

tunes079,

This is my second US. The first one had about ten years ago and I loved it.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

You have to modify one or the other.

I found it easier to redrill the Great Planes mount when assembling a plane with a good firewall.

But I have done it the other way by plugging the original holes and redrilling the firewall.

Its six of one and 1/2 dozen of the other. Either way has given me long service life with my Ultra Sticks.

bmitchell138

w8ye,

Is your GP mount the adjustable one? Also, if you have some close up pictures of the mount that wold be great.

dignlivn

This is the mount I used,

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXJ772&P=SM

with my Saito 82. I pretty sure this mount is the one that came with
my GP 40 Ugly Stik

Bob

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

I used the same mount as above

hobbyflier20

My Feedback: (2)

I have a .61 in my US 40, and I have two standard servos mounted in the tail for ailevators. (my elevator split in the middle, by the tailwheel, so I went with it, and just made it dual elevators). My rudder servo is mounted in the stock location, although I may rear mount it also. I also have a 14oz. fuel tank mounted over the CG under the wing and it balances with 3oz of weight added to the rear. This plane is my everydayer and it is a blast to fly!!

bmitchell138

I got my GP motor mount installed on the US today. I drilled new holes in the mount and it fit perfectly. I also mounted the rudder and elevator servos in the tail and the plane balanced perfectly at 4" with no additional weight. In fact I eliminated close to 4 ounces. I plan on flying Sunday. The weather is here is going to be perfect.

Thanks again guys for the advice and pointers.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

The Ultra Stick series is my favorite airplane. I've been flying them for a few years and I'm sure you are going to enjoy yours,

War Eagle

bmitchell138

Well, I was having a blast today with my US until a mid-air with my cousin's P 51 ended its life. The fuse is totalled and the tail and main wing are questionable for repairing. I will probably just by a new kit. I definately won't be dogfighting anymore.

spadeng

I got my Ultrastick used, I have a ST .51 on it now, but it has a Great Planes 60-90 motor mount on it, but the original owner made a battery box in tail, I don't use it with the engine I have on it now, but if I decide to put on a heavier engine, I can easily shift the battery back. I know it is not a servo relocation, but it is another means to the same end