corsair183

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Hey Reverend,

That's a really great shot of your zero. The three bladed prop adds a lot to the appearance. The scale antenna and tank drop are very nice also...
Well done!

I built a semi scale retractable steerable tail wheel from some parts from an old crashed fly baby and copied the robart mechanical tail wheel parts in aluminum. Took about twenty dollars to buy the aluminum and about twenty hours to cut and fit the pieces. You can see a pic on my models at RC universe. The left side shows a part of the fly baby tail wheel spring.

lomcevac540T

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I bought the one from glazier808 back on page 7 of this thread. Looks really good. I am trying to decide if I want to add an air cylinder to operate it or use a servo. I am already fighting a tail heavy issue, so I want to keep this as light as possible.
How did you bond a former in the fuse to attach the tail wheel to?

corsair183

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I spent some time making a plywood piece that would fit the inside of the fuse. Epoxy was used to bond the piece to the fuse. Isn't the fuse epoxy fiberglass? It took more time to fit the retract to the former because the pivot point for the extended gear was precisely below the pivot point for the rudder. The linkages clear by just a few thousands of an inch. I have complete confidence in the unit.

I think the fuse is short on this model compared to the w.s. So there's an advantage. Additionally, the cable system took extra time, but it is much lighter than having rods going back to the tail surfaces. There are few warbirds out there that will balance as easily as this one...

carrera mike

Here's my pilot for the TF giant scale Zero, Saburo Sakai

lomcevac540T

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Nice! Where did that pilot come from?

carrera mike

He's from Best Pilots. I think he's the best representation of Saburo.

carrera mike

I have a used Robart set for this plane if anyone is interested, PM me. Its the 630 RSE(90 deg) Electric and the 671 Left and Right Robo Struts.

The springs for this set have been cut to work with with this plane, 19-24LB plane, Absorbs shocks good. This set will come with all the the connectors and the OEM wheels and axle for the ESM Zero.


Here's a video of their drop checks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRQN...DFP4PFNqhI0dug

OL55

My Feedback: (25)

My Zero flew very good, and fast with the G62 on it, but I lost the plane at an event this season as I wore through the up elevator wire even though I built the plane with DuBro 4 40 pull,pull wire rather than the lighter wire the kit supplied. The elevator bellcrank chaffed the wire to the point that the loop broke through leaving me no elevator. I was able to fly it on aileron, rudder, and throttle for a brief time, but eventually lost the plane in the trees. I had fun with this bird, but probably won't be buying another ESM product in the future, if for no other reason than the shipping. Best of everything good to y'all who have subscribed to the ESM lineup.

Lifer

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OL55,

If you don't mind my asking, what prop did you use on your G62 and did you get an rpm reading?

OL55

My Feedback: (25)

You bet! I'm not an advocate of peaking the mixture with the use of a tachometer (although I use one for reference) but rather peak the RPMs on the ground then back up the high speed needle slightly as the engine leans itself when in the air at altitude, and with less load on the engine at speed. I used a Xoar 22x10 WWll style two blade. A 23x8 is also a good prop for this engine. And a Bennett muffler (not a pitts).

Lifer

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Thank you!

lomcevac540T

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Not much action going on here. Got back started plugging along with mine. Got the engine mounted and the tail controls figured out. Still have the tail wheel retract to install.
Looks like the engine is going to fit nicely! Sure hope it is enough power, using the DLE 35RA.
Then I will have to install the cockpit. Really looking forward to flying this bird!

Reverend

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Love my Zero more and more. Flies absolutely brilliantly!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJu5Aj0iZKY

lomcevac540T

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looks great!

lomcevac540T

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few pics from my build.
this is the tail wheel

lomcevac540T

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the cockpit from Ty


and the DLE 35RA with starter

lomcevac540T

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This is how I have moved the servos around to clear the cockpit kit.

corsair183

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Lomcevak,

Tail wheel is nice...where did you get the starter? I guess it has to have a battery and how much does it weigh? I like the idea of not having to flip the prop. Would you tell us more about it? Hope I haven't overlooked a previous post.

corsair183

My Feedback: (6)

Reading OL55's remark, I think a simple spot of epoxy on the steel wire where it goes through the metal on the elevator control shaft would prevent this from happening again. That should stop all metal to metal chaffing. Its something that needs to be resolved.

OL55

My Feedback: (25)

Something definitely needs to be re engineered here as another club member experienced the very same thing with his ESM Dauntless, but it happened on the ground (I wasn't that lucky,LOL). Another thing we've found of recent was the much improved performance in a multi pitched Zinger prop for the G62s (and my DA50) in a 20x8-14 pitch Zinger prop. Marked RPMs and in air speed. Not that our Warbirds are all about speed, but we fly a lot of formation flying, and to have it on tap is useful. I myself have moved to Yellow Aircraft for my Zero, and 47 airframes.

corsair183

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OL55,

I didn't mention that I was sorry to hear about the loss of your plane. Even losing a low cost plane is not enjoyable and the larger ones require much more time and effort just to get them airborne. You seem the resilient type, nonetheless, I wish you well, that you may have a speedy recovery and that your greatest success and satisfaction is yet to come...

OL55

My Feedback: (25)

Thank you for the thoughts.... You are right in writing that when these giants go in so does a little part of us. When I lose one through dumb thumbs it does bother me, but when one ends it's life through no fault of ours, the human pilot/builder I tend to do better with the reality of the fact that they ALL have an expiration date on them and can't defy gravity forever. This would be the reason I am okay with the loss of the ESM Zero. I enjoyed the build, and the plane was a joy to fly with the power I had installed in it, but between the problems given with the retracts and their mounting plates, and some lesser than acceptable quality components (such as the chinsy mil thickness of the canopy) I wrote this experience off to a failed attempt at a reasonably priced ARF giant scale airplane from TBM. Nothing more...nothing less. Thanks for your compassionate thoughts on my loss though.

lomcevac540T

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Sorry for the wait, been at a fly-in all weekend. Here is a link to all the info on the starter.
http://www.milehighrc.com/EME_E_Start_30_35.html
I tried it out last night and it seems to work well. I am trying to get the plane finished so I can fly it in two weeks. Maybe then I can let you know more.
It does use another battery, but I am needing nose weight anyway. That is partly the reason I chose to put a starter on it anyway. They make starters for other engines as well.

dgiatr

Hi,
i have just purchased esm zero and i want to put a pair of sierra retracts made for that plane.
Does anyone has any experience with sierra retracts;
i am worried that it would be difficult to put the strut covers because the strut scissors protrude at that side, which of course is the scale design.

Lifer

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I would have to call Sierra retracts a superior design in both form and function. They are pricey, but worth the extra expense.