ToolJoint

Rick,

Regarding the Kraft radio, the video shows the gentlemen I was referencing in the post when his T-6 bit it because of weird radio play. Sounds like fun digging out the old radio and flying your old reliable with it. I have always thought that the single stick arrangement actually makes perfect sense with the rudder on top, especially if your used to full size flying. I'm too old and slow to be learning over again though, as I learned RC in the early nineties on an Airtronics mode 2 also.

Hey SunShyne, good luck on that cowl search.

Best Regards Hawk flyers,

TJ

ToolJoint

Well, she has re-entered the arena, and flew very well. When I rechecked the CG after repairs, I added about 6 oz. to the weight box and this seemed to improve handling. I also added just a smidge more expo to the aileron and that also seemed to settle things down. Of course this time I stood by the windsock pole on the runway and there are no collisions to report, thank goodness. I love how it looks in the air...big swoopy scale-like barrel rolls seem to look real nice, as do giant loops. I forgot my tach, but the 2 blade 16x8 APC seemed to pull much better than the 3 bladed 15x7. "She is definately a floater on landing. I expected it to land like the Camel and kept about 1/3 power in during the entire approach, and she just flew right on by us like she was on rails. Next time I reduced power to idle over the numbers, and she settled down on her mains easily. I relaxed back pressure, and she stayed up on her mains for a nice 2 point, until speed bled off and the tail wheel came down. This is going to be fun.

RickVB

My Feedback: (24)

Congratulations on getting her back in the air, TJ! Is that a 1/6 Waco in the last picture next to it? (Seems to small for 1/5.)

ToolJoint

Thanks Rick. The biplane shown next to the pole bender is a Dynam Waco, which looks and flies quite well for a foamie. The picture before that shows the recently repaired wind sock knocker next to a beautiful Balsa USA Bristol M-1, built over the winter by my nephew. He did a great job with Solartex fabric and hand painted latex roundels. That day was maiden day for the Bristol, and as good as it looks on the ground, it looks even better in the air. I am a WW1 aviation student and aficionado. I haven't had an opportunity to fly since then with track meets and horrible Wyoming winds.

ToolJoint

Though few and far between, there have been a couple of days where the wind has been slightly less than 50 kts, and I took advantage by flying the P6E. My latests observations are:

1. The Saito 150 seems to like fuel. I run 15% Morgan Fuel, and a 16x8 APC two blade and I can get about 8800 rpm peak lean, and tune to about 8650 so it's not too lean. It smokes so much it almost looks like there is a smoke system installed, there is not.

2. She is rock solid stable. I was messing around with IMAC routine, and the Hawk is plenty capable of the entire basic routine. It is much easier to land than the Camel, and can endure much more wind, though I haven't really tested it in a high wind situation.

marksp

My Feedback: (9)

Realizing that the thread is old as is the kit, I may be the only reading these posts!

In any case, I just started my build and was planning on using a DLE35RA that I already own. Quick search shows a few folks with DLE30's which is the same height (110mm from center of crank to top of cooling fin).

Curious if anyone out there can share what was required to mount? Cowl mods? Baffling? Ballast?

It appears that my 35 may be a little tall to fit without hacking the cowl which I prefer not do. Wondering what folks running the DLE 30 did to make fit?

Comments?

Also, any leads on the scale Keleo exhaust for the P-6E?

Cheers

marksp

My Feedback: (9)

Curious with ailerons on the top wing only and fairly pronounced dihedral on the bottom, what the roll rate is on the P6-E. You'd think with the mission it was designed for, it'd be fairly aerobatic!

Cheers

radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

Here is a DLE 30 in my plane. Yours won't need the muffler cutout but will still need clearance for the head. I did add baffling around the engine to force air through the fins.

You're right about the ailerons not being very effective. Use all the throw you can get.

radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

You can see how the plane flys with the DLE 30 here: http://youtu.be/QWUW-jFBTKY

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QWUW-jFBTKY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

marksp

My Feedback: (9)

Right on, thanks! It's great to see the pics as well as the video! Was concerned that I may not be able to use the DLE35RA, but now know it's a go. Love the vertical climb rate, loops & rolls in the video.

Cheers

RickVB

My Feedback: (24)

No, you're not the only one reading this; I'm getting started on one and so I have subscribed and watch it.

As to the Keleo exhaust, he has told me he has no interest at all in making more, so the only option is finding a used one. I lucked out and found probably the only second-hand but unused one in existence; and am now trying to adapt it to my DLE-20RA.

marksp

My Feedback: (9)

Wow...finding that exhaust is a major score! Good for you!

I sent Kelvin a note inquiring about making a P6-E exhaust and was denied. He happens to be making me a radial ring for another model and I was hoping for scale exhaust for this as well.

I'll continue to scrub the interwebs in hopes of finding one...

Good luck in making it fit.

Cheers

marksp

My Feedback: (9)

Tailwheel ?

I'm at the tailwheel installation build point. I notice multiple references in the thread to tailwheel mods, but no mention as to the reason. Do you know if folks experienced failure? Ground control issues? Or perhaps concern about rudder servo effectiveness. Eight years later, the servos are much stronger, in fact I'm using 200+oz metal gear so I'm inclined to use the included tailwheel.

What did you do?

Cheers

Capt G

My Feedback: (8)

my main reason was for the scale look but it also improved handling.

marksp

My Feedback: (9)

Thanks!

That does look nice! In fact, in the picture you posted I noticed for the first time that the full scale has ailerons on both top and bottom wings. Wonder why GP didn't include this design feature?

Cheers

radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

I also used a more scale looking tailwheel.

ToolJoint

Hey, you guys certainly aren't the only ones following this thread with interest...and coincidentally...I pulled my tail wheel off the other night. For some reason, the hinges pulled right out of the fuselage; then the assembly laid to the side supported only by the 90 degree bend in the wire where it was inserted into the rudder LE. I don't know why it happened as the last landing was pretty much a greaser...nothing rough. I really like the looks of yours Radford. That looks like a larger Dubro Semi Scale assembly, which is what I think I will go with after seeing how yours looks...plus it looks way more solid. Did you just bolt it to a piece of ply then glue the ply to the stringers in the bottom of the fuselage? Rick, that picture is great and is worth more than a thousand words, indeed. Also, I noticed her really pulling to the left on post landing roll out. Huh...wheel collar on left main, gone. Can't blame that on the previous owner since I traded out the factory foamies for some more accurate looking Dubro Low Bouncers. Apparently, red locktite is in order.

TJ

radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

Installing the DuBro tailwheel does take a little work. I used a piece of 1/4" ply as the base, but you have to double or triple this where the tailwheel wire goes so that the wheel unit doesn't work loose. After that it's a matter of cutting the necessary stringers, adding some reinforcements, and painting the wood to match.

metaldriver

The full scale had ailerons only on the top wing. They were driven by a control rod and belcrank from the bottom wing. So the Great Planes version is reasonably correct

radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

Here is the original aircraft in a museum....no ailerons on the bottom wing.

metaldriver

The one at the EAA Museum is an exact replica created by one man and his dream of owning a Hawk. Read Hawk Safari for the entire story. The only original Hawk is at Dayton in the Museum of the USAF

radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

Who wants to buy a Great Plains P6E ARF...brand new on the market? http://www.towerhobbies.com/products...pma1164_e.html

handyman 220

My Feedback: (54)

Had one on back order since it was announced. The UPS guy brought it to me Friday. I opened it just to check for damage. Overall it looks real nice, typical GP quality. I'll try to post pics when I get a chance.

ToolJoint

Just got the Dubro semi scale tailwheel. Radford RC Mod initiated.

marksp

My Feedback: (9)

Right on!

My lack of patience got the best of me and I mounted the stock tail wheel so that I could maintain my build momemtum. I figure if it fails or I otherwise get board, the semi-scale wheel mod can be implemented down the road.

Cheers