hoser

Spaceman the saddles are per plan the new upper tank by jet tech is per RS, ingenious idea. Thanks for the heads up I will test them for pin holes before install.

oh and I also put all hi-flow fittings on them

Rafale Sport

1. not much up elevator anymore since the change of tanks set-up and well balanced CoG

2. this is what I have but I don't think it is critical as I know many planes don't have any duct and it does work very well too.

3. Always test your tanks for leaks before use (slightly pressurized under water), a critical step to me. I had some leaks at the joint between the 2 half of the side tanks, fixed with a layer of fiberglass and resin.

hope that helps

hoser

thanks RS you have been very helpful!

hoser

RS i was looking at your saddle tank pictures and realized my saddles are upside down when compared to yours, mine are narrow side up. Everything fits fine but should i bother removing the vent and flipping them?

Rafale Sport

If they fit well and are well maintained in place like this then you don't need to bother, it will not make any difference to flip them.

hoser

RS got I my broken gear part today finished all bench testing and fuel tubing. All in 35 lbs dry, now to balance, test engine and go maiden.

Any new changes to the CG or are you happy with the 430mm?

I have to say Eric and Catherine has been very responsive in providing replacement gear parts to ones that did not work well or broke during bench testing, that is pretty good customer service i must say.

Rafale Sport

Hi Hoser, on my post #183, there is a picture of the measured CoG with the xicoy balancer, it is 80mm in front of the main gear wheel axle. You can check but it should translate to 430 / 440 mm from the leading edge.
All the best for the maiden !

hoser

finally got the maiden done, sorry for taking so long I had some personal issues during the holidays that prevented me from getting it in the air. I though the plane was a ***** cat, first flight no gyro or slats and was able to land very slowly, second flight got the trim done with the slats. so i will start working on the landing approach with slats.

Because of the bumpiness of the grass field and my first high alpha landing the pin that holds the nose gear to the retract bent a little so I was not able to get many flights in, cause once bent it gets soft so i could not get more than a couple of flights done yesterday.

very happy no aileron trim needed just a little up an down trim adjustments on flight modes when the slats were extended. I did have a noticeable ballon when applied and could slow her down up high, so I can't wait to dial in the slow landings.

there was a noticeable pitch change when the gear was cycled but was easy to adjust to, i think the CG can be moved further back, even past 435mm it would of been very nose heavy per the manual .

over all VERY happy.

Rafale Sport

Congratulations for the maiden, happy that everything went well for you too . You need to have a couple of nose gear pins as spares because indeed it is a bit soft and tends to bend easily. I wish we could have the same weather condition here in Belgium, but we have snow and it is very cold !
Once you'll fly with the weapons the CG will move further backward and you'll see how she flies.

hoser

thanks RS and i have to say i thought my first landing was pretty good (B-) but it bent, so I'm going to order several pins and have some locally made of hardened steel. I'll probably order a full gear set for spare parts so i don't have to wait.

the gear and doors (with new located cylinders) worked flawlessly BUT I used the JMP 2 way air Valves and that made ALL the difference the FB valves are ok but the difference in operation was dramatic. I used all the JMP high flo fittings and they also work great, the pump Pw prespire was super low.

the weather was great yesterday and today its raining with 30mph gust.... i got lucky!

i think my T-33 will be on the shelf for a while

hoser

I came to find out someone at the field took video of my first flight. yey!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm6yO_Uj3Rw

jcterrettaz

My Feedback: (1)

Congratulation , very nice Mirage and landing

hoser

thanks, but the nose gear pin still bent if you believe that.

smeegarn

I bought a few spares as they appear very soft and bend eventually even on the best landings

hoser

went flying again this weekend and bent another pin.

I did some inverted flight and strongly believe the 430mm CG can be moved further back to help with landings. I'm going not make another pin ad move the rx batteries about 1' back and give it a go. i ordered 8mm rods and c-clips http://www.hpiracing.com/en/part/z240 to make the future replacement of these pins easy, and so i don't need a T pin. The clip will act as the cap at the top of the pin. That way I can make a dozen :-) till i get the landings perfect.

apart from the nose t-pin issue the plane is a delight to fly.

bluescoobydoo

can you try it on hard top, it might be the uneven surface that is bending the pin the nose bounces a lot after what looked like a good landing?

hoser

yeah it's a slightly bumpy field but i'll get my landings dialed in.

RS did I already ask, when you balanced you did it gear down, i assume so cause of the electronic balancer.

hoser

Re balanced at 435mm with gear down (originally did 430mm with gear up). Will be moving back another 20mm as inverted flight still proved nose heavy. Landing and take off much better and fast sink rate went away. I only see it getting better. In the air the plane is a pleasure to fly.

I highly recommend the tank modification RS did and the revised CG. Using the tank that goes in front of the intake duct Y would only make it nose heavy.

PS no bent pin either

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJaA...&feature=share

Chris True

My Feedback: (14)

NICE landing

hoser

thanks CT

Rafale Sport

Hi Hoser, a short video of take off & landing (CoG gear down), this was before moving the main tank, as you can see there is a small jump at take off, this does not happen anymore with the main tank located at CoG, but the landing was smooth (tank empty !)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIAmElpqwk0

hoser

thanks RS i can tell you mi first flights the jump was pretty dramatic, I'm sure grass does not help, I have not gone to pavement yet and the transition is always problematic as I'm used to grass and tend to oversteer on pavement. Dont know why you can't program expo on the nose wheel channel on a DX-18, would make life easier.

DornierJet

My Feedback: (91)

Hoser,
i just acquired spaceman's mirage. What pin are you referring to on the nose gear? I would like to perhaps make some spares as well. In case I bend some.

hoser

actually dreamworks sells one that works, you just need to grind 1mm of the head

http://www.dreamworksrc.com/catalog/...Hardened-Steel

spaceman 01

My Feedback: (44)

Hoser, Did you fly the Mirage?
Nick