RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

Oh yeh, I forgot about wheel weights.

Most tire shops discard the old weights so you might score some of those for free!

I am so used to seeking pure lead for muzzleloaing bullets I forgot about wheel weights.

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

I installed the 3 battery packs (2 for receiver and one for retracts) in the "pockets" behind the shutters that lots of folks find were broken. Wrapped in foam they fit firmly in place.

First photo shows the weight box I made that holds the 14 ounces of lead shot and epoxy needed to balance the plane.

Second photo is me holding the plane on my fingertips and it balances fine with that 14 ounces of lead. (Sorry, timed photo, I was alone)

Photo 3 is sheet of screening glued to the cowl that I painted yellow and covers most of the engine cylinder. It may look better in the air.

BTW, for you folks that are mounting the cowl, be sure to add some epoxy or CA to those 6 blind nuts in the fuselage. Ihad 2 of then work free and the prongs were not bent. It looked like they were just pushed into the wood by hand.

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

I like the lead box from the first pic.

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

That is where I am making my weight box as well. The fishing weights will fit nicely in there!

Pettit, nice clean job you did on yours! Thanks for the pic. I am surprised you only need 12 ozs. I am also using three batteries and I have put them where you did but I need 36 ounces.

Also, thanks for all the other great ideas. Ask and yee shall receive should be the motto of this forum!

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

pettit; Whats the Brass Cup Hook used for that is shown in you picture, sitting behing the vent line?

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

The cup hook will keep the spark plug wire from hitting the muffler. The yellow hose is the tank vent tube and will go out the bottom of the cowl away from the muffler too.

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

I also can not believe 12 ounces will balance that plane. We will see after the first flight. Hope all goes well.

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

Do your planes have those factory installed weights bolted to the sides of the engine box?

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

Yes, on both sides. I am using a pretty sensitive balance machine for my CG. I don't even have a pilot in yet!

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

Your pilot will be behind the CG too.

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

Yes.

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

Dang pilot.....tell em to lay off the good german beer!

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

Not the beer so much as the bratwurst.

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

Petit,

Check your CG right side up with gear down and see where your at. You may see a difference.

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

I balanced a FW190 right side up once and when I took off, she handled fine until I retracted the gear changing the balance; then she was tail heavy! I believe this was due to the retracts forward rake which threw weight forward when down. This in my opinion would work for other warbirds but I wouldn’t do it on the 190.

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

The manual and the designer (David Johnson) recommends balancing the plane with the gear retracted and upside down.

When the gear is extended it gets a little nose heavy, which is a good thing on landing.

Alsdo, I under-estimated the amount of lead Iput under the engine box. It was more like 22 ounces. I initially was going to use 14 ounces but it balanced a bit "tail down" so I added another 8 ounces .

I forgot about that additional 8 ounces when I posted the weight needed to balance.

So, 22 ounces it is.

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

Mine ended up takeing 1 lbs and 10 oz. Shes ready for madien

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

How did you go about adding your weight? did you balance yours inverted, gear retracted?

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

Awesome Tfarmer, are you going to take some video of the event? I can't wait to see this guys bigger brother in flight..;)

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

I put 2 14/20 bolts into the bottom of the motor box. i also put some rtv on the box and the firewall. I balanced it upside down with the retracts retracted per the book. If Jimmy would get his finger out and finish that p47 and the weather would break we will be making the trip to Oklahoma City for a maiden weekend.

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

I'm guessing that's a Block of Lead, with the Bolts screwed through the inside of the Engine Mounting Box? Are you using a Pilot Figure that has contributed to the CG/Weight problem?

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

Hey Terry the paint will be finished Friday then it's the final assembly. Definitely want to see the monster and baby wolf in the air

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

Yes thats a block of lead i made. it started out as 2 lbs and i cut it down until the balance was good. The finished product has bolts all the way through. the rtv was put on the lead between the bottom of the box and the firewall this way the holding power is not just in the 1/4 20 bolts. I have never had a warbird i havent had to put lead in the nose.....ok well one and that was the tarheel hal arf i just put 2 lbs more motor in it.

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

Just a heads up about the removable top hatch. The plastic sheeting on it is VERY fragile and any rough handling, like trying to remove the hatch by pulling on the sides rather than in the center, will break the plastic.

Don't ask...

Ithen ordered a replacement hatch from Tower, It arrived today, packed in a cardboard box with a number of those plastic "air bags" protecting it. Too bad the SAMECORNER of the hatch that broke originally was hitting the cardboard and this one was broken too, in the exact same place!

Tower is sending me a third one and I recommended that they use bubble wrap and don't pack it too tightly.

Time will tell.....

RE: TF FW190 GIANT ARF
 

Make you wonder why this area wasn't engineered better considering its high use. I'm sure there is a simple fix to it.