Top RC Zero from Gator R/C
01-30-2016, 09:05 AM
#126
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how much weight did you ad to yoursa to balance? at 145 from th leading edge i had to ad about a pound and a half thats with all 4 batts up front and an evo 777 with scale spinner and cf prop was kinda hoping for less but still the overall weight is under 30 pounds will try and post some pics thanks hot rod
01-30-2016, 12:02 PM
#127
OK, just got back from the field today. Was planning on it last weekend but it was a high of 46 degree, I am from Florida so standing outside in 46 degree weather does NOT work for me. Anyways I put five flights on mine today.
I texted a friend to see if he wanted to met me out there. He said sure , he needed to Review a couple of planes anyways.
I balanced mine at 6 1/8" or 155cm not the 145cm or 5 3/4" stated. The wing planform said it would be nose heavy. I have a Evolution 7-77 radial and the stock gear it came with. This is the first plane that I have owned in 30yrs that has electric retracts. Mine came in at 32lbs with 1.25lbs lead up front.
First flight went ok , but was lacking power 22x12-3blade so I landed it . Touched down perfectly, but an e-clip came off the right wheel and dropped and broke the gear door in half. (SAD) Luckily a buddy had extra e-clips.
I thought OK I can go steal the prop off of my Corsair a 20x14-3blade ( cool back in action). Second flight was much much better good speed and power scale like. The plane handled fine trim only took 2 clicks down and 2 clicks right aileron. Now she is flying like it is on rails. Loops, rolls stalls very clean and smooth. The Zero is very predictable like a pattern ship. I would say flies just like my TopFlite P-51.
Flight three , I started having fun, spins, stalls any maneuver you can think of . Low speed passes are crawling along it floats. Anyways fourth flight , just happy with the design. Fifth Flight I let my buddy " Barracuda" a highly regarded RC reviewer for several magazines , online company's and manufactures have it. He agrees it is a docile beauty and liked it very much.
He took several photos and videos of the flights and will be posted on RCU and Youtube soon. All five flights were greased in on the mains, running true to scale. Gear worked Flawlessly!!
!!!!! I give it two thumbs up !!!!!
Now Gator just needs to do a P-47 for us.
I texted a friend to see if he wanted to met me out there. He said sure , he needed to Review a couple of planes anyways.
I balanced mine at 6 1/8" or 155cm not the 145cm or 5 3/4" stated. The wing planform said it would be nose heavy. I have a Evolution 7-77 radial and the stock gear it came with. This is the first plane that I have owned in 30yrs that has electric retracts. Mine came in at 32lbs with 1.25lbs lead up front.
First flight went ok , but was lacking power 22x12-3blade so I landed it . Touched down perfectly, but an e-clip came off the right wheel and dropped and broke the gear door in half. (SAD) Luckily a buddy had extra e-clips.
I thought OK I can go steal the prop off of my Corsair a 20x14-3blade ( cool back in action). Second flight was much much better good speed and power scale like. The plane handled fine trim only took 2 clicks down and 2 clicks right aileron. Now she is flying like it is on rails. Loops, rolls stalls very clean and smooth. The Zero is very predictable like a pattern ship. I would say flies just like my TopFlite P-51.
Flight three , I started having fun, spins, stalls any maneuver you can think of . Low speed passes are crawling along it floats. Anyways fourth flight , just happy with the design. Fifth Flight I let my buddy " Barracuda" a highly regarded RC reviewer for several magazines , online company's and manufactures have it. He agrees it is a docile beauty and liked it very much.
He took several photos and videos of the flights and will be posted on RCU and Youtube soon. All five flights were greased in on the mains, running true to scale. Gear worked Flawlessly!!
!!!!! I give it two thumbs up !!!!!
Now Gator just needs to do a P-47 for us.
Last edited by TimD.; 01-30-2016 at 12:18 PM.
01-30-2016, 01:34 PM
#128
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glad it went well for you. i to am using the evo 777 and have ordered the recomended prop 22 /12 but in a two blade hope this is better than the three. did you go with recomended throws how much flap did youdeploy? any elevator mix with flap . and lastly what made you balance it at 155 thanks
01-30-2016, 01:38 PM
#129
I have some work to get out of the way but I'll put pics up soon.
Loved it in flight though. Very stable, no ballooning with flaps and lands like the lightly loaded model that the numbers would suggest. As cool as the radial sounds I'd go with a gas engine personally, 1 I don't like burning that much expensive glow fuel and two I want a few more mph than his setup was getting but don't take that as a negative, it flew great and I was very impressed.
Loved it in flight though. Very stable, no ballooning with flaps and lands like the lightly loaded model that the numbers would suggest. As cool as the radial sounds I'd go with a gas engine personally, 1 I don't like burning that much expensive glow fuel and two I want a few more mph than his setup was getting but don't take that as a negative, it flew great and I was very impressed.
01-30-2016, 06:27 PM
#132
glad it went well for you. i to am using the evo 777 and have ordered the recomended prop 22 /12 but in a two blade hope this is better than the three. did you go with recomended throws how much flap did youdeploy? any elevator mix with flap . and lastly what made you balance it at 155 thanks
Aileron needed expo< I wound up at 30% by the time I was happy Elev 20% and rudder at 20%.
Now I, in NO WAY recommend you use my settings. Go with what is advertised or your own judgement. I have been modeling for 30+ yrs building and designing my own for years. I do enjoy other designs at times as well.
There is a formula for calculating CG. Just by looking at it , I felt is was a little forward.
Last edited by TimD.; 01-31-2016 at 03:16 PM.
02-01-2016, 10:49 AM
#133
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGAM...ature=youtu.be
This was the first flight . Got it trimmed out and radio setup for the rest of the flights.
This was the first flight . Got it trimmed out and radio setup for the rest of the flights.
Last edited by TimD.; 02-01-2016 at 05:20 PM.
02-02-2016, 05:17 PM
#136
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Here is the first print of the part. A second is being printed in a different orientation to utilize the strength if the printed layers. Also, I have come up with printed honeycomb panels that will be used for the heat exchanger under the cowl. If anyone is interested I can do it in different sizes to accommodate the scale being replicated. standard sheet size of 6" x 6" X .25". Custom sizes can be printed to specification.
These are first prints, subsequent ones will much smoother. Just wanted to get the word out for the builders.
Chris
These are first prints, subsequent ones will much smoother. Just wanted to get the word out for the builders.
Chris
Last edited by Stratotanker; 02-02-2016 at 05:20 PM.
02-02-2016, 06:14 PM
#138
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That would be awesome! I have a little more tooling to make, I want the parts as easy to install as possible and to have all hardware that would be needed so there is no head scratching for the modeler. Be sure to check out my site!
Chris
Chris
02-02-2016, 06:18 PM
#139
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The upper linkage. I will be making the other two tools to make the second bend and drill the bolt holes. There will be scale brass hex head bolts that attach the linkage to the door.
Chris
Chris
02-02-2016, 06:23 PM
#140
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Although not applicable to the Zero that I am aware of but here is a retractable landing light that I am developing.
https://youtu.be/u2niiZu0Ehs
Chris
https://youtu.be/u2niiZu0Ehs
Chris
02-02-2016, 06:55 PM
#141
Here is the first print of the part. A second is being printed in a different orientation to utilize the strength if the printed layers. Also, I have come up with printed honeycomb panels that will be used for the heat exchanger under the cowl. If anyone is interested I can do it in different sizes to accommodate the scale being replicated. standard sheet size of 6" x 6" X .25". Custom sizes can be printed to specification.
These are first prints, subsequent ones will much smoother. Just wanted to get the word out for the builders.
Chris
These are first prints, subsequent ones will much smoother. Just wanted to get the word out for the builders.
Chris
02-03-2016, 06:00 AM
#142
Those look nice. It would be nice to get rid of the servo's that operated the clamshells and not have to mess with sequencing them.
The only concern I would have is that they have the proper spring tension so they stay down in the air blast, yet are easy enough to retract so that the retracts have no problem pushing them up.
Have you figured out how you're going to install a spring yet?
The only concern I would have is that they have the proper spring tension so they stay down in the air blast, yet are easy enough to retract so that the retracts have no problem pushing them up.
Have you figured out how you're going to install a spring yet?
02-03-2016, 01:36 PM
#143
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TimD, The parts can be scaled accordingly to fit your application.
As far as operation goes for the doors, spring rate and leverage of linkage arm will be adjusted to allow smooth closing without interference. I am adding a couple additional holes to arm to tweak tension and leverage. More to come!
Second print came out much better!
Chris
As far as operation goes for the doors, spring rate and leverage of linkage arm will be adjusted to allow smooth closing without interference. I am adding a couple additional holes to arm to tweak tension and leverage. More to come!
Second print came out much better!
Chris
02-03-2016, 05:15 PM
#144
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nice work chris i would be interested in buying a set when your done how about the transport cradels will the be like the ones for the tutors? hot rod can we run a two cell lipo with the new controllers no instructions what are youusing i am runing a two ceell lipo with the old controller and works ok a little slow but i have them through a switch maybe hook up the battery direct to switch with deans plug and get rid of the off on switch thoughts
02-03-2016, 06:54 PM
#145
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I have the preliminary measurements for a stand for the Zero. I will be working with Gator RC to develop parts for the other kits as well. The universal stand the Dean and I developed is working well for building and shop maintenance. The dedicated Zero stand will be very nice, it is next on the chopping block.
http://www.reiteraviation.com/universal-stand.html
http://www.reiteraviation.com/universal-stand.html
02-03-2016, 07:07 PM
#146
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I have the preliminary measurements for a stand for the Zero. I will be working with Gator RC to develop parts for the other kits as well. The universal stand the Dean and I developed is working well for building and shop maintenance. The dedicated Zero stand will be very nice, it is next on the chopping block.
http://www.reiteraviation.com/universal-stand.html
http://www.reiteraviation.com/universal-stand.html
02-03-2016, 07:53 PM
#147
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quick question for anybody that has recieved the new controll board i noticed that the red and black wires are reversed is this correct black wire is in the middle where the red wire usually goes this is the part that plugs into the reciever dont want to fry anthor one lol
02-04-2016, 05:41 AM
#148
I haven't tested my retract control board yet. I'm using 2 cell Life, so I don't expect I'll have any problems voltage wise. As far as the colors on the wires, I didn't notice that they were incorrect on mine, Now that I look at the photo I see they have them crossed. It appears to be intentional, but I agree, it makes me a bit worried to plug it in. I'll Check with Mike at Gator to see if he knows what it's about.
02-04-2016, 07:53 AM
#149
Some answers from Mike about the new control modules:
The wires are reversed, and that is the way they should be. It will work properly. I would guess they wired them wrong on the board, so rather than make the hard change they just changed them on the plug.
The button on the case is for sequencing. I haven't messed with it yet to see how it works, but Mike indicated once you hit the button it's obvious how it functions.
The wires are reversed, and that is the way they should be. It will work properly. I would guess they wired them wrong on the board, so rather than make the hard change they just changed them on the plug.
The button on the case is for sequencing. I haven't messed with it yet to see how it works, but Mike indicated once you hit the button it's obvious how it functions.
02-05-2016, 04:10 PM
#150
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I am getting closer to figuring this thing out. I need to make some changes to the arm that the spring hooks up to and build the two jigs that will finish out the tubing portion. Stay tuned!
Chris
Chris